TV Show ER to do episode on ALS

SueM in MN

combining the teacups with a roller coaster
Moderator
Joined
Aug 23, 1999
Messages
36,337
A friend sent me this information in an email. I believe it's from an ALSA newsletter.
ALSA is the organization of the ALS Association.
Many people know ALS as Lou Gehrig's disease.

ALSA Helps Actor James Woods Play Character with ALS on ‘ER’
Multiple award-winning actor James Woods ("Casino," "Nixon") will star as a person with ALS on NBC's critically acclaimed "ER." The episode, titled “Body and Soul,” is entirely devoted to Woods’ character and is scheduled to air on Thursday, February 2 (check local listings).

ALSA helped actor James Woods prepare for his starring role as a college professor with ALS on the February 2 episode of NBC’s “ER."

“The ALS Association is very grateful to the producers of “ER” for their decision to devote an entire episode of the show to ALS. We also would like to thank the cast and crew for treating this difficult subject with the sensitivity it deserves,” said ALSA President and CEO Gary Leo. “Lastly, we are fortunate that “ER” chose James Woods to play a character with ALS. Obviously the considerable amount of time he spent researching the disease helped contribute to an outstanding performance. He is an actor who takes his craft seriously.”

The technical adviser for the episode was former vice president of ALSA’s Patient Services Department, Mary Lyon, who believes the show does an excellent job of exploring the impacts of ALS and is superior to many previous television attempts.

“The show will take it a step further to raise awareness about exactly how ALS affects individuals,” Lyon said. “It is more than a 30 second explanation. Instead of people saying, ‘I always wondered what ALS was,’ the audience will see first-hand what the disease does to the human body and to the human spirit.”

To gain a better understanding of ALS, before filming began, Woods, who plays Dr. Nate Lennox, once a professor of Dr. Abby Lockhart's (Maura Tierney), as well as the episode’s writer, Joe Sachs and the director, Paul McCrane, met with six people with ALS who receive care from ALSA’s Greater Los Angeles, Orange County and Arizona chapters.

The final script was also based on ALS videos which ALSA provided and the input from Lyon, who was present on the set for eight 12-hour days.

“It is going to be an exciting and provocative show,” Lyon said. “It was very well directed and brilliantly acted. I found it to be spellbinding in many of the scenes with Mr. Woods. It was a beautiful script, very realistic and authentic.”

From the outset, including when Lyon attended the show’s concept meeting, and during the meeting with the ALS patients at Warner Brothers headquarters in Burbank, she said she knew Woods and the people from “ER” were on the right track.

And the key to getting things “right” included the use of the correct technology. Eye Response Technologies in Virginia and Permobil in Tennessee provided the equipment that Woods uses in this “ER” episode. Eye Response Technologies’ innovative system allows Woods’ character to communicate with other actors in the show via a speech generation device that follows eye movements, while Permobil’s powered wheelchair, the C500 Corpus model, gave the actor mobility.

“In the seven and one-half years that I have been working with the ALS community, I felt it was the most important experience that I ever had. The writer, director and actor did a lot of homework. They were committed to getting things right.”

Lyon also believes that people with ALS who watch the show will be able to relate to Woods’ character. “Everyone sort of responds to ALS individually, just as everyone is a different person. Not everyone will have the same reaction as the character does. Some people will live their lives differently. The choices he makes and the things that happen to him are very believable and is the experience for many people."
 
Sue- thanks for posting this. I was asked by the local ALS association to do an interview for an Orlando news station to be aired after the show. I didn't get the email til this morning, plus they wanted to film me at work and I'm off today...and my work location probably wouldn't allow that anyway, so they'll hopefully interview someone else. Oh well, anything to raise public awareness is a good thing. ---Kathy
 
Too bad they won't be interviewing you. I'm sure you would be awesome.
I stopped watching ER a few years ago (too much soap opera to keep track of ), but I will be watching tonight.
 
Thanks for the post, I don't usually watch ER anymore, but will be sure to tape this one!
 

I will be interviewed for newschannel 2 in Orlando for a follow up in a few weeks per ALSA in Tampa. ---Kathy
 












Save Up to 30% on Rooms at Walt Disney World!

Save up to 30% on rooms at select Disney Resorts Collection hotels when you stay 5 consecutive nights or longer in late summer and early fall. Plus, enjoy other savings for shorter stays.This offer is valid for stays most nights from August 1 to October 11, 2025.
CLICK HERE







New Posts







DIS Facebook DIS youtube DIS Instagram DIS Pinterest

Back
Top