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‘E.R.’ films "You surf!"
episode on Oahu
By Tim Ryan
tryan@starbulletin.com"Well, yeah, I lived in Hawaii, you know."
"I thought you were going to say you were president of the science club or something."
"Cut, print," says a smiling "E.R." director John Wells, who also produces and created TV's No. 1 drama for NBC.
Anthony Edwards, who plays lead character Dr. Mark Greene, and on-screen daughter Rachel (Halee Hirsh) have just completed a scene aboard the USS Missouri at Pearl Harbor in the show's season-ending episode, "On the Beach."
The hourlong drama, now in its eighth season, centers on medical professionals in the emergency room of a Chicago hospital. Edwards' character is a senior attending physician who this season has suffered from a terminal brain tumor. He brings his daughter to Hawaii to show the 14-year-old where he grew up.
"Why do you have to leave?" a fan says to Edwards during a break in the shooting on the bow of the battleship. "We love you!"
"I know, it's terrible isn't it, but it's time to go. Gotta go," says Edwards, dressed in baggy khaki shorts, a green checkered short-sleeved shirt, denim golf hat and tennis shoes without socks.
"He does look like he could be president of the science club," a woman watching the scene says.
Day one's production Monday took place on Ford Island and aboard the Missouri, which remained open to the public during filming.
Visitors were thrilled by Edward's surprise visit and the "E.R." filming.
"It's icing on the cake," said Glen Sakamoto of Oakland, Calif., video camera in hand taping a scene. "'E.R.' is my favorite show."
Meanwhile a production assistant was urging, "People, keep moving; you're being filmed; please don't take pictures of the filming or look at the camera."
When the assistant attempted to stop a couple from taking pictures of Edwards and Hirsh rehearsing a scene, a Missouri public affairs person informed her that the agreement to use the Missouri did not include prohibiting photography by visitors.
Some Missouri visitors may end up in the show. Those who did not want to be photographed "should leave this area immediately," a sign warned.
Edwards was friendly to local crew and extras but was leery of mingling with the public when he passed between the dock and ship set. Despite the watchful eye of his Hawaii bodyguard Charlie Long, two female fans at different times were able to grab hold of Edwards for quick pictures.
The production is filming today and tomorrow at the Sheraton Moana Surfrider Hotel, where Edwards will have an opportunity to show off his surfing skills when he teaches "Rachel" to surf.
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