ER

Jim 1990s

Aired: 1994-2009(NBC)ERt

DAD: Dr. Peter Benton (Eriq La Salle) / Single

DAD’S JOB: Emergency Room Surgeon

KIDS: Reese (Matthew Watkins) (4)

WHERE’S MOM?: Carla (Lisa Nicole Carson), the ex-girlfriend, is married to Someone Else

STAND-IN “MOM”: Jackie (Khandi Alexander), Benton’s sister

Let me tell you *why* I loathe this show: every day I get more and more mail about what’s wrong with descriptions of the relationship between Dr. Benton, Reese, and Reese’s mother, Carla. I’m getting to the point where I’m starting to think people running fan sites about this show don’t even watch the same series.

Here’s the part that seems to be in agreement: Dr. Benton and Carla were dating and wound up having a baby. Dr. Benton loves his son Reese and sought custody of his child when Reese’s mom was going to move to Germany with her husband. He has custody, but still has visitation from the mom, who wound up not moving to Germany after all. Dr. Benton’s son is hearing-impaired, and Dr. Benton spends a lot of time seeking identification as to what exactly is the extent of the hearing loss.

There is a great quote from Dr. Benton about his son, a quote I think I’ve heard from lots of single parents (both custodial and non-custodial):”I wake up in the morning, that little boy is the first thing on my mind. I go to sleep at night, he’s the last.”

Credit for this show goes to Alert Viewer and radio producer Neil Martin of WBZ-1030 AM Boston’s “Jordan Rich Show.” Thanks, Neil!