ER

Obama campaign manager gets seven-figure book deal David Plouffe, President Barack Obama's campaign manager, has agreed to a seven-figure deal to write a book about last year's presidential election. The Audacity to Win: The Inside Story and Lessons of Barack Obama's Historic Victory will be published by Viking, an imprint of Penguin Group, next fall. Interest was strong for Plouffe's book. His literary representative told the Associated Press that 17 imprints (some within the same publishing house)

Who knows Dr. Doug Ross (George Clooney) of "ER" better than Nurse Carol Hathaway (Julianna Margulies), the woman who made an almost-honest man out of him?Her final assessment of Ross last week after he unilaterally decided to help a mother euthanize her dying son, violating a raft of hospital policies and promises to colleagues, came down to this: "You don't need anybody else, Doug. You are a country unto yourself. You just make decisions, ruin people's lives -- narcissism elevated to a high art."

Life-imitates-art note: Sinai Hospital will be promoting its new emergency room this week by buying all the local ad slots on the television shows "ER" and "Chicago Hope."Jill Bloom, a hospital spokeswoman, said she could not discuss the cost of the ads "for competitive reasons," but that it would mark the kickoff of a campaign, costing "several hundred thousand dollars," promoting Sinai's new emergency department on billboards and in print and radio ads.The spots -- four on "Chicago Hope" and two on "ER" -- will feature tours of different sections of the $16 million facility, which opened last month.

In all our complaining about television, we forget how special a great series can be. If you feel like you need to be reminded in this season of network misery, make an appointment tonight to see "ER."The episode titled "The Good Fight" is a textbook on the hourlong drama: near-perfect point-counterpoint, plot-subplot writing and not a false note of acting. Noah Wyle has never been better, and Kellie Martin provides just the kind of pluck and enthusiasm needed to keep the story from getting too dark.

LOS ANGELES -- If money changes everything, as the saying goes, how will the unprecedented $13 million an episode that NBC agreed to pay for the hit series "ER" alter television?That's the question being asked by almost everyone here in the network and television production community, the day after NBC and Warner Bros. Television, which owns "ER," announced a deal worth $858 million over the next three years.The math is staggering. NBC will pay Warner Bros. $286 million a year for the right to air 22 episodes of the medical drama each season, starting next fall and continuing through the 2000-2001 television season.

THE SHOW IS CALLED "Homicide: Life on the Street," but fortunately for Baltimore, it has nine lives. NBC announced last weekend that it was renewing for a seventh season the police drama set and shot in Charm City.That's good news for the superlative crew and cast members, who admitted surprise that they heard this early in the season, if at all, that the show was to continue. Though the series has won two Peabody Awards and been praised by television writers, solid ratings (and Emmys) have been missing.

HittingDarren Bragg, Red Sox: 2-for-3.Jeff Conine, Royals: 3-for-4.Jose Cruz, Blue Jays: 3-for-4.Chili Davis, Yankees: 2-for-3, HR.A.J. Hinch, Athletics: 3-for-3.Aaron Ledesma, Devil Rays: 3-for-4, 3 RBIs.Orlando Palmeiro, Angels: 2-for-3, game-tying single forced extra innings.PitchingKelvim Escobar, Blue Jays: 8 2/3 innings, 7 hits, 1 ER, 1 walk, 7 strikeouts.Julio Santana, Devil Rays: 9 innings, 5 hits, 9 ER, 3 walks, 3 strikeouts.Pub Date: 8/28/98

ONCE, YOU HARDLY needed a television guide to know which shows could be found where. The stations were fixed on the dial ever since you watched your the first "Romper Room." One network always carried football, another brought you Jim McKay's Olympics as assuredly as spring follows winter. Families huddled around the "tube" and took comfort in finding Chet and David or Uncle Walter at the same time in the same place on the TV dial, night after night.That era has vanished -- from television and from life itself.

Strong performances by longtime favorites, such as "ER" and "NYPD Blue," have been the salvation of network television this fall.Now that executive producers Steven Bochco and David Milch have only "NYPD Blue" to worry about, the series seems reinvigorated. They transformed the loss of actor Jimmy Smits into a brilliant story arc on the death of his character, Bobby Simone.This week, they took a successful first step in plugging Rick Schroder into the ensemble as Det. Bobby Sorenson. Funny how all the "Silver Spoons" jokes and wisecracks about Schroder's career as a kid actor have stopped once people saw him in the role.

Thursday night during a sweeps month: All of NBC is first-run programming, which means that's the place viewers should first turn."Friends" (8 p.m.-8: 30 p.m., WBAL, Channel 11) -- Fact one: Robin Williams and Billy Crystal have a new movie coming out. Fact two: It is to their advantage to promote said film. Fact three: NBC's "Friends" is one of the most popular series on TV. Fact four: Tonight on "Friends," Williams and Crystal make cameo appearances. Are these facts related? You make the call.

Long before helicopters started falling on doctors and chemical spills were threatening to wipe out Chicago, ER was a show where two guys could disappear in a game of basketball and talk about life or about nothing at all. (For more, go to baltimoresun.com/toydept)

Series Survivor: Tocantins: : A fake immunity idol is introduced into the game. (8 p.m., WJZ-Channel 13) ER: : This one-hour retrospective features clips from the past 15 seasons, along with interviews with past and present cast members. (8 p.m., WBAL-Channel 11) CSI: Crime Scene Investigation: : Academy Award winner William Friedkin directs the 200th episode of the series. (9 p.m., WJZ-Channel 13) ER: : Alexis Bledel and Ernest Borgnine guest star in the series finale, which features the appearance of some former series stars.

Series In the Motherhood: : This bright, new sitcom revolves around three moms (Megan Mullally, Cheryl Hines and Jessica St. Clair) who juggle busy lives. (8 p.m., WMAR-Channel 2) American Idol: : Smokey Robinson and former Idol winner Ruben Studdard perform, and the viewers' voting results are announced. (8 p.m., WBFF-Channel 45) Samantha Who?: : Todd and Samantha go on a double date with Andrea and her fantasy crush, a pro basketball star. (8:30 p.m., WMAR-Channel 2) Supernatural:: Sam and Dean get a glimpse of what their lives would have been like if they never had become hunters in an episode titled "It's a Terrible Life."

Seinfeld's TV show won't have comic in it Jerry Seinfeld is returning to NBC as producer of a comic reality series where celebrities and a referee try to help squabbling couples make peace. But Seinfeld said he has no plans to step in front of the cameras for The Marriage Ref or, for that matter, to ever star in a television series again. The hour-long episodes will introduce the couples through filmed reports and show them fighting. A panel of celebrity guests will weigh in to offer advice and observations before the final arbiter, a "ref" who hasn't been selected yet, will settle things.

Series The Chris Isaak Hour: : Trisha Yearwood is the first guest on the new series. (10 p.m., Biography) American Idol: : Three more finalists are named. (8 p.m., WBFF-Channel 45) : : ER: : Dr. Carter (Noah Wyle) tries to jump back into working at County, and Sam (Linda Cardellini) is shocked when her mother (Amy Madigan) comes into the ER. (10 p.m., WBAL-Channel 11) Specials Stevie Wonder: In Performance at the White House: The Library of Congress Gershwin Prize: : President Barack Obama presents the prize to Stevie Wonder.

Obama campaign manager gets seven-figure book deal David Plouffe, President Barack Obama's campaign manager, has agreed to a seven-figure deal to write a book about last year's presidential election. The Audacity to Win: The Inside Story and Lessons of Barack Obama's Historic Victory will be published by Viking, an imprint of Penguin Group, next fall. Interest was strong for Plouffe's book. His literary representative told the Associated Press that 17 imprints (some within the same publishing house)

'SNL' goes country, inviting singer Tim McGraw to host the show on Nov. 22 Tim McGraw's spokeswoman said he will host Saturday Night Live on Nov. 22, joining a short list of country stars to host the show. Garth Brooks was the last one, and that was back in 1999. Other country singers to host SNL include Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson and Dolly Parton. McGraw says he isn't exactly known for playing comedy in his movies, but fans who come to his concerts know he has a sense of humor. Hanging out with Vince Vaughn and Reese Witherspoon might help.

Steel Pulse comes to the Recher The British reggae band Steel Pulse, which puts the fight against racism into song, will team up with Baltimore's Jah Works to perform at the Rech er Theatre, 512 York Road, Towson. The tickets for the 8 p.m. show are $25. Call 410-337-7210 or 410-547-SEAT or visit ticketmaster.com.

Thousands of celebrants ignored the sultry weath er last weekend to take part in the annual Bless ing of the Fleet Festival in Shady Side. The highlight was the procession of workboats that floated un der the watery arc pro vided by the fireboat Lady Anne.

Concert A man at work Former Men at Work lead sing er Colin Hay performs at Rams Head Tavern, 33 West St. in Annapolis, tonight at 8. Tickets are $23.50. For more informa tion, call 410-268-4545 or go to ramshead tavern.com.