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How the Finch Stole Christmas

Season 6, Episode 9, Aired Dec 16, 1999

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8.4

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Lucy desperately tries to find a way for a young woman to receive a new heart in order to stay alive, going to Romano's house in the middle of the night to find the only doctor qualified to perform the surgery. Corday tries to convince Dean Rollins to have surgery on his leg. Carter gives away the ER's Secret Santa gifts as part of a guns-for-toys exchange. When Kate comes down with a fever, Carol takes the twins to the ER, where Luka takes care of them. Alcoholic teenager Chad Kottmeier returns; Cleo enters him in an alcohol treatment facility, taking him away from his mother. Carla tells Benton that Reese will be staying in Chicago because her husband lost his job transfer.moreless

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Cast & Crew

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GUEST STAR
Myndy Crist

Valerie Page
GUEST STAR
Roxanne Hart

Mrs. Kottmeier
GUEST STAR
Emile Hirsch

Chad Kottmeier

Paul McCrane

Dr. Robert "Rocket" Romano
Noah Wyle

Dr. John Carter
Laura Innes

Dr. Kerry Weaver
Kellie Martin

Lucy Knight
Julianna Margulies

Nurse Carol Hathaway
Goran Visnjic

Dr. Luka Kovac

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Fan Episode Reviews (3)

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Gifts for guns...

9.2

"Superb"

By Parricida, Dec 31, 2007

A Christmas episode and really good one. They have had good Christmas episodes before but this one.. the guns theme.. and Lucy taking helping patient to the new level. It was so good to see her on the action again as I have felt like lately - she has been much on the background, not getting character development and not being so much on action. But this episode - the goodness and the sincereness of Lucy - it was all there with her not giving up attitude. To go to Romano's door - it was brave.

I did not like only Elizabeth storyline - maybe because all the other storylines were just perfect. Oo.. and Carol back on hospital, just with her kids but still.. And Kovac... Is it only me or is there some sparkles?

beautiful episode and lovely title choice.moreless
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Another Christmas episode of ER. Again a mixture of funny and tragic. Best news is for Benton as Reece will not be moving to Germany.

9.0

"Superb"

By linseyt67, Jun 16, 2006

Its Christmas in Chicago. Carol brings in the twins as she is worried about Kate. Luka works on her, but she is fine. At the end of the shift he takes them home and shares eggnog with Carol.
John treats a GSW patient and finding a gun on him starts offering gifts for guns. He makes quite a collection by the end of the shift. Sadly the original GSW victim returns and a 7 year old boy has been killed in the process, making John wonder just why he bothered. He also treats a little boy who has caught himself in his zipper. The father's expressions are just brilliant, especially when John says he is going to have to cut it off meaning the zipper!!!

Cleo is once again treating a boy who drinks too much, but who's Mother does too and doesn't see it as a problem. Cleo manages to get him admitted for detox, thus stealing his Christmas.

Anspaugh gives both Benton and Corday advice, when they both have emotional patients to deal with. Corday is still treating the kidnapper/murderer, who is refusing surgery for a clot in his leg. Benton gets good news from Carla, they are no longer going to Germany.

Lucy treats a young woman, (Valerie) her own age, who is in heart failure and needs a new heart now. She manages to get hold of a device which will prolong her life, but has to go to Romano's house to persuade him to do the operation. He does, but afterwards, when seeing the recovering patient, he tells Lucy he will have to punish her, or his reputation will be damaged. Valerie calls Lucy 'doctor'
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9.0

"Superb"

By Shana868, Mar 02, 2006

The best thing about the episode was probably Lucy and her efforts to help a young woman. Lucy really showed us what she was made of this episode, a lot of guts and determination, and it was nice to see.

Amazingly cute were Carol's twins! How adorable! And especially the Luka/Carol interaction, they have great chemistry.
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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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TRIVIA (0)
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QUOTES (10)
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- Dean Rollins: Say It. (Pause) Say It. Dr. Corday (Looking intently, almost hot): I care. Dean Rollins:Then let's do it.
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- Haleh: The Sixties were from 1961 to 1970. Conni: What about 1960. Lily: That was the last year of the Fifties. Haleh: Which means the new millenium really starts in 2001. Chuny: Then why am I spending half my paycheck on New Year's Eve plans? Lily: You and the rest of the world.
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- Valerie: I cannot thank you enough, Dr. Knight. Lucy: I'm not a doctor yet. Valerie: You are to me.
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- (when presented with a child whose penis is caught in his zipper) Carter: I'm afraid we're going to have to cut it off. Parents (in unison): What?! Carter: The zipper, I meant the zipper.
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- Luka: (to Carol) Welcome to parenthood!
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- Romano: Oh Miss Knight, you're going to have to come by my office next week to discuss suitable disciplinary action. Nothing too severe, but I do have a reputation to maintain.
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- Corday: I'm curious about something. Dean Rollins: Me too. Are you a natural red head? I'd like to see for myself.
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- Finch: Is it always this busy on Christmas eve? Yosh: Like the malls the day after Thanksgiving.
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- Romano: Well, it's nice to see that when the cat's away, the mouse still jumps. Benton: What's going on? Romano: Just teaching Ms. Knight the finer points of an L-VAD implantation. You know, from now on, I think I'm only gonna do favors for people who come begging at my doorstep. Which leads me to ask, Peter, why wasn't it you? Benton: I never even considered it. Romano: O ye of little faith. Knight: Dr. Romano, I again just wanna tell you how much I appreciate you doing this. Romano: Eh, that's enough sucking up, Lucy. Cut please.
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- Kerry: It's not a good idea to shock a patient who's wide-awake.
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NOTES (3)
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- Though spelled correctly when he is listed as the series creator in the opening credits, Michael Crichton's last name is incorrectly spelled "Chrichton" when he is listed with the other executive producers in the end credits of this episode. This mistake was repeated in most of the Season 4 episodes and in all of the Season 6 episodes.
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- Music: "Happy Xmas (War is Over)," John Lennon
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- Although in the opening credits, Anthony Edwards and Erik Palladino do not appear in this episode.
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ALLUSIONS (3)
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- When Dr. Romano is performing surgery and Dr. Benton walks into the operating room (in response to a page from Dr. Romano), Dr. Romano says, "Good to see that while the cat is away, the mouse still jumps." This is an allusion to the English idiom, "While the cat's away, the mouse will play." It is about having control of the children while the parents are away.
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- Carter: (to Weaver, after she makes it clear that she has no use for Christmas) Bah! Humbug. This is an allusion to the 1843 novel A Christmas Carol, written by Charles Dickens. Ebenezer Scrooge, the lead character in the book, often used the expression to show his disdain and disgust for all the tradition, sentiment, and emotion attached to the holiday season.
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- Title: "How the Finch Stole Christmas" The title of this episode is a play on the name of the Dr. Seuss book How the Grinch Stole Christmas.
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