By ERIC GRIFFITH / Many say that "ER" isn’t the same without George Clooney. It’s likely those claims are from women who don’t find Noah Wyle as attractive. The show, now in its sixth season, is as powerful a drama as ever.

After a couple of hokey storylines and the much-ballyhooed departure of Clooney’s Dr. Doug Ross, there was concern it would take a lot to resuscitate the show that costs NBC a small fortune ($13 million per episode, to be exact). In response to the anticipated weakened pulse, "ER" went cast-addition happy during the summer, adding a few relative unknowns (Goran Visnjic as Croatian doctor Luka Kovac and Michael Michele as Dr. Cleo Finch). The series has also added well-knowns Rebecca De Mornay and Alan Alda to spice things up with shadowed nudity and medical disagreements, respectively.

Meanwhile, the always contemptible Dr. Robert "Rocket" Romano (expertly played by Paul McCrane) is now a series regular and has become hospital administrator to make everyone’s lives a bit harder.

But the highlight of this season so far is Dr. Kerry Weaver (Laura Innes) returning to her roots as "ER's" foremost bitch on wheels.

Like all of the show’s regulars, Weaver has a mixed past of being a candidate for sainthood in some episodes and a self-doubting boob in others; but more often than not, she’s the epitome of detestable ass-kissing and political ladder-climbing in the workplace.

In the opener, she agreed with Dr. Mark Green (series lead Anthony Edwards) to oppose Dr. Romano’s promotion. Later, when Green bravely steps forward to tell a gathering of doctors -- including Romano -- that he has deep reservations about the man’s ability to lead, Weaver doesn't back Green up. Instead, she says Romano would be a great boss. It was a scene that brought me right up out of my recliner, yelling at the television and scaring my dogs.

In a calculated gesture, Weaver's manipulation inspires Romano to give her the ER chief job she supposedly no longer covets, and her character easily and convincingly slips back into overseer mode. It all happens quickly, in just two episodes, but with "ER’s" pacing it feels natural.

"ER" is not as much about medicine as it is about working in an emotional setting and how that environment affects people, both positively and negatively. Weaver’s latest character arc is an excellent look at how power (even in an emergency room), can corrupt.

In six years, "ER" has never deviated much from its formula. But there’s no reason it should change -- it still works.

"ER" airs Thursdays at 10 p.m. on NBC.