I have been an avid fan of ER for years.  About 4 months ago my
husband introduced me to Chicago Hope.  I love the show!  I TiVo it
everyday from the Discovery Health Channel.  The character
development is much better than ER (although I still watch ER).  My
husband and I take an hour every day to watch Chicago Hope.  I just
watched the episode where Jeffery came back to the hospital and
fired most of the cast.  What happened?  Did the cast want out, were
they demanding more money, or did the show tire of them?  Now I'm
watching these new doctors and miss the old ones.  I even miss Kate,
who you love to hate.  Poor Poor lonely girl - she only wanted to be
loved, but was afraid to give herself.  Christine Lahti is great as
Kate.  She is now in Jack & Bobby (which I watch because of her). 
Please tell let me know if you know the behind the scenes scoop.  I
appreciate it!

 During the show's season five finale, Jeffrey Geiger came back and fired a bunch of characters becuase he felt they weren't "good doctors." Billy Kronk for running off to Africa for sabbaticals, and Lisa Catera for "sounding like a car commercial," and a few others.

 

David E. Kelly had actually come back to revamp the show, it was at the bottom of CBS's ratings list, and if nothing had been done the show would have (and probably should have) been cancelled.