Archie Morris - Professional Advancement

Professional Advancement

Morris was made Chief Resident in Season 12, allowing his character to further antagonize other characters (Grimes became a series regular at this time). He achieved this coveted position due to a lack of competition (the more capable Greg Pratt turned down the post), an eleventh hour push of publications, and an elaborate presentation for the interview. As Chief Resident, Morris's inflated ego often led to clashes with colleagues, though he often acted as if he were beloved by his residents and medical students. His leadership style swung wildly from delegation to micro-management. At the end of Season 11, when Dr. Carter left the show, he told Morris to "set the tone" just as Mark Greene had told him at the end of Season 8. Morris was drunk and didn't recall the phrase when Carter asked him years later.

In Season 12, it was revealed that Morris had donated sperm many times earlier in his life. Three red-headed children and one African American child showed up at the hospital and declared that Morris was their father. Although shocked by this, his comical attempts to be a "good dad" became a recurring theme for the character in subsequent episodes. Later in the season, we learn that Morris was hired by a pharmacy laboratory. In the season finale, "21 Guns," he is preparing to leave the hospital when a shooting occurs in the ER. Morris's quick and competent response to this crisis marked something of a professional turning point for him.