NEWS                    ER confidential

SUSAN'S BACK Wasn't it always something you dreamed of happening?? Well it's actually happening; Susan's back! After 4 years of being absent in ER, she'll be back in season 8. Sherry Stringfield is as excited as the rest of the world! Sherry told Variety News, "I just felt like really working again, and it was the obvious choice for me. It's a great show and I certainly didn't leave on bad terms. The only reason I left was I just needed a life and I have absolutely no regrets because I got one. I got married, I had a baby girl in March. And it will be cool to work together with everyone again." This ensures that at least 2 of the original cast members will remain until season 10, as Noah Wyle signed a contract for three years. Eriq La Salle is still debabting whether or not to continue with ER. His contract ends the end of next year. I can't wait to see Mark's reaction, since she was his true love. And what will happen, since he's with Elizabeth now. God I can't wait

ALEX KINGSTON HAS A BABYGIRL Alex gave birth to a babygirl on 28 March. Alex and her husband Florian named her Salome Violetta.

SHERRY STRINGFIELD HAS A BABYGIRL Not only Ming Na (in November) and Alex Kingston (in March) gave birth to a babygirl, but also Sherry Stringfield. She and her husband Larry Joseph became proud parents of litlle Phoebe in March.

MING NA HAS A BABYGIRL Ming Na gave birth to a little babygirl last November. She named her Michaela.

WILLIAM H. MACY IN JURASSIC PARK III William H. Macy, known as dr. Morgenstern in ER, will be in Jurassic Park III beside Sam Neill (Dr. Alan Grant)and Tea Leoni.

LASALLE HANGING UP STETHOSCOPE? It looks like Eriq La Salle may be moving out of the operating room and into the editing room. The ER star, who has played headstrong Dr. Peter Benton on NBC's top-rated drama for seven years, has indicated he plans to discharge himself from his acting duties and concentrate on building a career behind the camera. Although La Salle's exit has been suspected for some time, ER producer John Wells seemed to confirm as much to TV Guide Online, saying the actor could follow fellow original cast member Anthony Edwards out the door after the 2001-02 season, when their contracts expire. "He wants to continue directing, and acting in a series and directing at the same time is tough," Wells tells the magazine. "Those two ambitions don't go together, and that's been the difficulty in the negotiations." In his down time from ER, La Salle's been working on a residency in filmmaking: In 1996 he completed two short films, Rebound: The Legend of "Earl the Goat" Manigault and Psalms of the Underground, as well as the Showtime pilot for Soul Food and the indie feature Crazy as Hell.

While all signs are pointing to the actor's departure, Wells says he remains hopeful producers can keep La Salle in scrubs and on call for as long as possible. "I think we'll work something out," Wells says. "I'm very anxious for it." Reps for LaSalle had no comment on Wells' comments. But, if he leaves as expected, ER would head into the 2002-03 season with only two original cast members remaining: Noah Wyle and Sherry Stringfield. Wyle has extended his contract through the 2002-03 season, the show's 10th, while Stringfield, who played Dr. Susan Lewis in the show's first three seasons, has recently returned to the ensemble.

EDWARDS TO LEAVE ER? July 26, 2001 | At last night's Los Angeles premiere of his new film, 'Jackpot,' "ER" doc ANTHONY EDWARDS confirmed to ET that this will be his last year on the hit show. Production on the series is underway, but returning cast member SHERRY STRINGFIELD has not yet begun to work. The return of Stringfield's character may cause problems for Edwards' new TV marriage, but he would not comment on the plotline.

ALEX KINGSTON TO DIRECT ER New mum Alex Kingston has returned to work on the hospital drama ER, this time on the other side of the camera. The British actress, who's Ralph Fiennes' ex-wife, is directing her first episode of the top-rated TV show. Producers of ER are always encouraging their actors to take an active role in the series and cast members Anthony Edwards, Laura Innes and Eriq La Salle have all directed episodes. Alex, who's married to German journalist Florian Haertel gave birth to her first child, daughter Salome Violetta, in March this year. To ease herself back into work, she decided to take the plunge and direct an episode of ER before returning in front of the camera.

EIGHT SEASON, LASALLE'S LAST LOS ANGELES (The Hollywood Reporter) --- Eriq La Salle will hang up his scalpel at the end of the upcoming eighth season of Warner Bros. Television's top-rated NBC drama "ER." The studio had been in talks with the actor on signing a new deal that would keep him on the show through its ninth season in 2002-03. But La Salle is said to be eager to devote himself full time to developing film and TV projects through his Warner Bros.-based Humble Journey production banner.

LaSalle has been with "ER" since its 1994 debut, earning three Emmy nominations for his role as intense surgeon Peter Benton. "ER" will lose two of its original cast members at the end of next season, when Anthony Edwards is also set to exit the series. "It is extremely difficult to lose a cast member that is so integral to our show," "ER" executive producer John Wells said. "Eriq La Salle has been one of the central figures on 'ER' from Day 1, and we are disappointed that he will be departing the series after this season." Said NBC Entertainment president Jeff Zucker: "We're sorry that Eriq won't continue on 'ER,' but we're thrilled that he'll still be around for one more season, and we thank him for his enormous contributions in making the series America's top-rated drama for seven years." La Salle recently finished directing and starring in the indie feature "Crazy as Hell," and he just wrapped "The Salton Sea," which he produced with Frank Darabont through Humble Journey for Castle Rock.

KELLIE MARTIN WILL CLERK ON ABC 'COURT' DRAMA HOLLYWOOD (Variety) - Life goes on for Kellie Martin, who has joined the cast of midseason ABC drama ``The Court'' opposite Sally Field. Martin replaces Alicia Witt (``Cybill''), who initially signed on to star as a Supreme Court clerk. ABC picked up the show as a midseason entry, but Witt departed the series earlier this summer. Martin will inherit the role of Claudia Padgett, an ambitious young law clerk who works under tough, liberal Supreme Court Justice Audrey Karlin (Field). It's the first TV role for Martin since the actress departed ``ER'' in the 1999-2000 season. Her character was killed off in one of the hospital drama's pivotal February sweeps episodes of the season. Prior to ``ER,'' Martin starred in the short-lived NBC drama ``Crisis Center'' and CBS drama ``Christy.'' She's also known for her long-running stint on the ABC family drama ``Life Goes On,'' as well as myriad TV movies in the mid-1990s, such as ``Her Hidden Truth,'' ``Her Last Chance'' and ``Hidden in Silence.'' ABC has scheduled ``The Court'' on Mondays at 10 p.m. after ``Monday Night Football'' concludes its run.

YVONNE ZIMA WILL BE REPLACED Yvonne Zima, who has been playing  Marks daughter Rachel since 7 years will be replaced by 13 year old actress Hallee Hirsh. Apparently the producers  have made this decision without even discussing it with Yvonne. We will see the new Rachel in the 8th season of ER.

ERIK PALLADINO, LEAVING ER? A sourse close to the show said yesterday that there will be another key departure (aside from Eriq La Salle's departure at next season's end.): Erik Palladino, who has played Dr. Dave Malucci since 1999, will also be leaving during the season, after he commmits "a big mistake" in the ER.