ER

WHEN WE LAST SAW THEM Dr. Carter (Noah Wyle) and girlfriend Kem (Thandie Newton) had lost their baby, Abby (Maura Tierney) had become a doctor, and just enough other stuff was happening to keep us from switching to ''Without a Trace.''

WHAT'S CHANGING Shane West, pictured (''Once and Again,'' ''A Walk to Remember''), signs on as Ray Barnett, a charming (and hot) new intern. Meanwhile, Dr. Elizabeth Corday (Alex Kingston) leaves the show.

WHY WE CARE Face it: ''ER'' has been in dire need of a heartthrob transplant since George Clooney ditched County General. Sorry, but Carter is too nerdy and Luka (Goran Visnjic) is too tortured to be much fun.