What could be more compelling than watching an emergency-room team try to save the life of a critically injured patient? Why, pondering the possibility that two of them will fall in love. At least on TV. After only one season, viewers have already taken the multi-Emmy-winning "ER" to heart. And they've stood by as Dr. Doug Ross (George Clooney) and nurse Carol Hathaway (Julianna Margulies) kept the lid on their mutual attraction. But now that her fiancé and his lovers have been tagged and bagged -- figuratively speaking, of course -- will Doug and Carol's repressed passions flatline of finally come back to life? We posed the question -- and many others -- to Margulies and Clooney on the set of "ER."

TVG: How surprised were you that NYPD Blue won the best-drama Emmy?

GC: Surprised. Also, Tony Edwards should have won for best actor. It's simple as that. He captained the best show on TV for a year. Also, he should have won for his performance in Love's Labor Lost.

JM: The way the evening was going, it looked like it was going to be us. But, they should have won last year and didn't. So, maybe next year for us.

TVG: You did have an incredible first season though. What's the hardest adjustment to make after a year on TV's top-rated drama?

JM: I am still not used to people knowing who I am.

GC: Her parents didn't even know who she was.

JM: This summer when I walked down the streets of NY to some of my old places, someone kept saying, "Hey Hathaway, glad you didn't marry that guy. When are you getting back together with Doug?"

GC: Well, it's a little obvious, she wears the Emmy around her neck.

TVG: Where do you keep the Emmy?

JM: On the mantle.(She pauses.) I'm also not used to seeing Hard Copy Cameras every where. I'm in the gym on the StairMaster with somebody taking pictures of me.

TVG: When has invasion of privacy been most egregious?

JM: A guy came up to me in Chicago with pictures of me that were clearly private. I asked where he got them. He said, "I had a telephoto lens the last time you were in Chicago. SIGN IT!!!" Then, he ran because he knew I was going to take the pictures.

TVG: Are you worried about your new competition Murder One?

GC: Murder One is going to have a tough time. ABC is the strongest network but, Thursday's are NBC's.

TVG: So what are your concerns about this year?

GC: One reason our show took off was because it was something you hadn't seen before. But gurneys bashing through the door-that gimmick is old hat now.

JM: We'll have to get more into the characters' private lives instead of relying on Steadicam shots going from one trauma room to the other.

TVG: A romantic tension has always existed between Doug Ross and Carol Hathaway. Would your characters actually make a good love match?

GC: Yeah.

JM: But Doug has to go through a lot of stuff before he'll be ready. Or before Carol would take him back.

TVG: Horse-binder implants, maybe.

GC: This is the year where my character starts to figure out that the way he's skated through life doesn't work anymore. In the seventh episode it comes to a head. I hit rock bottom.

JM: His storyline is pretty outrageous. I can't say much, but you're going to see quite a transformation in Doug Ross.

GC: You'll understand why I do all the dumb things that I do.

TVG: But will Doug and Carol get together again?

JM: I think that's everyone's hope.

GC: We've already gone through the year of the longing looks.

JM: And we've refused to do that any more. The writers are holding off as long as they possibly can.

TVG: Imagine for us the scene when you finally are an item again.

GC: We'll be in a waterbed with two other nurses. That's my idea. I'm willing to listen to whatever ideas Julianna has, though.

JM: I hope it's completely opposite from what anyone would ever imagine. These characters are so passionate about each other. I hope for a hot, great scene.

GC: I'm hoping to see a hot, great scene, too. In fact, I'm willing to rehearse. And I mean rehearse the hell out of it.

JM: Carol and Doug are the kind of people who can look at each other and know exactly what the other is thinking.

GC: I'll know she's thinking, "Hey, I got the Emmy buddy!"

JM: I will look at him and think, "Loser!"

TVG: Let's get back to the love scene.

JM: I haven't had many love scenes. George was only the second guy I kissed on film. I've yet to do a love scene with any sort of passion to it.(Clooney smiles) SIDE NOTE FROM ME: I love when he smiles!!!

TVG: The decision for Doug and Carol to be together or with others seems to be about the choice between passion and security. Which do you choose in real life?

JM: Considering what Carol went through, marrying Tag was all about safety. Doug is danger. I've done security. Now I go for passion. I'm a big enough girl to know what my boundaries are and make it work.

GC: In general, because of our profession, we go for some sort of passion. But the older you get, the less you try to go for things that are just for the excitement. I remember going on a first date with a girl and she moved in with me, and we bought a house after only 23 days together.

JM: Yeesh!!

GC: I've learned my lesson.

TVG: Julianna, you once said you had a hard time with decisions. What did you decide right away about George?

JM: That I was a lucky chick.

TVG: How about you, George?

GC: I wanted her to be a regular on the show. Rod Holcomb, who directed the pilot, created and enhanced the relationship between Carol and Doug to New York to talk with (NBC West Coast president) Don Ohlmeyer and (NBC Entertainment president) Warren Littlefield, I said, "It's too bad Julianna dies." In typical network fashion they went, "She's not necessarily dead."

JM: So George called me- and just in time, I was about to cut my hair, dye it red, and straighten it for a different job.

TVG: What would you like to see happen on the show, just for fun?

GC: I dream about Tony getting killed and me moving up.

JM: I'd love to see Carol in a therapy session just once. I'm assuming she's seeing someone, and I've been begging for this since she tried to commit suicide. Please, Carol needs help!

TVG: If each of your costars were wheeled into the ER-

JM: Which ones would we let die?

TVG: Not just yet. What would their complaint or condition be?

JM: Tony would come in with a dislocated shoulder from-

GC: Running to first base and falling on his butt. Tony's a klutz. Sherry (Stringfield) would come in with exhaustion from flying to New York every weekend. Noah (Wyle) would have some sleep disorder.

JM: Eriq (La Salle) would come in for food poisoning. He's so pure. He eats really well. He'd probably come in for losing control and eating five pounds of cheese.

GC: Cheese overdose.

TVG: How about ( series creator) Michael Crichton?

JM: Too tall.

GC: He can't stop growing. And he'd come in on two stretchers.

TVG: Steven Spielberg (whose company, Amblin, coproduces ER)?

JM: He'd come in with a cash rash.

GC: A hernia from carrying his wallet.

TVG: What personal fantasy did the success of the show allow you to fulfill?

JM: Shoes. And financial stability.

GC: This was something I never thought would happen in my career. I've done so much bad television for so long. Basically, it means I've just bought myself a few more years before I end up doing nighttime soaps.

JM: That's not true. You talk down a lot about yourself.

GC: It's not true about the shoes, either. (he pauses.) I got legitimacy as an actor. That's a great fantasy.

JM: The way my career was going, I skipped 10 huge steps. Casting directors always said, "You were great , but you don't have a name." Now my name is mentioned in meetings.

TVG: You get asked a lot of questions. What do you ask yourselves?

GC: When does the other shoe drop?

JM: I want to smell the roses and enjoy