The ending of ER has been a long time coming – and, some would argue, several years overdue - but ever since NBC announced that the medical drama's current season would be its last, rumours have been swirling that George Clooney might deign to return to his television roots. However, due to his busy filming, gallivanting and mustache-cultivating schedule, the Oscar winner remained mostly mum about his intentions and whenever one of Clooney's reps would comment, the pattern was to deny, deny, deny.

"He is on record as saying he is not coming back," Clooney's publicist, Stan Rosenfield, told Reuters last fall. "It is something he has already done. He is busy making movies."

But it appears that Rosenberg was either mistaken or – gasp – lying, as Entertainment Tonight broke the news yesterday that Clooney is returning to the ER set this week (Dr. Doug Ross in the house!) along with fellow ER alum Julianna Margulies, though whether they will appear in the same episode has yet to be revealed. (It's probably a safe bet, though.)

While the series finale is scheduled to air April 2, Clooney's episode will probably attract more attention to ER since… well, since Clooney left the show in 1999. Now if only they could get him to shave off that giant caterpillar on his upper lip.

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