He achieved fame as Hollywood's perennial bachelor, but George Clooney has sparked a multimillion-dollar bidding war by agreeing to return to the television series ER in the unfamiliar role of a married, middle-aged father of twins.
Broadcaster NBC recently announced that it was tripling the price of 30-second advertising slots
during the show's last-ever episode, a two-hour special, from the usual rate of US$135,000 (NZ$273,000) to between $425,000 and $500,000. Its decision came amid growing public excitement about the remaining four episodes of the 15-year-old medical drama, which will feature guest appearances from Clooney and Susan Sarandon, along with a string of prominent ER alumni.
Viewers will also see veteran Noah Wyle slip back into the overalls of Chicago's County General Hospital for the 331st episode and last hurrah of the programme, which is due to air on April 2. Julianna Margulies, who played Clooney's on-screen love interest, nurse Carol Hathaway, has also announced her imminent return to the show, which was once America's hottest drama, and has won 21 Emmys.
Plot details remain a closely guarded secret. However, Margulies has revealed that she and Clooney had spent two days filming at Warner Studios in Burbank, Los Angeles.
The appearance of Hathaway with Clooney's alter ego, Dr Doug Ross, will provide a "happily-ever-after" footnote to their off-on romance which was never properly concluded. Fans will learn that the couple are married, and we will see their nine-year-old twin girls.
"You pick up a slice of their life now. It's very satisfying," revealed Margulies in an interview with US TV Guide. She added: " Half the crew is still there, God bless them . .. It was like coming home."
* The final season of ER will play on TV2 this year, according to TVNZ
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