The goodbye for ER just got a bit longer. NBC has ordered three additional episodes of the series, which is currently airing its 15th and final season. Originally slated to be a slightly shorter season, ER has continued to perform well for NBC.

However, a big part of the deal for the new episodes also involves a brand new series – The additions to ER  were part of a larger deal that will bring ER  producer John Wells' new series Police to the air. As the Hollywood Reporter notes, Police was part of a very intense negotiation between NBC and the show's producer Warner Bros, who also produce ER . The Reporter says that Warner were reluctant to agree to NBC's 12-episode midseason order, on the heels of NBC making the dramatic decision to completely stop producing scripted television at 10:00pm for The Jay Leno Show next season.

One question about ER's season being extended is how the new NBC drama Kings will be affected. That show was supposed to debut on March 12th in ER's Thursday, 10pm slot, and promotion has already begun.