 |
| Cable web resurrects 70's NBC blockbuster series |
| (New York, NY - January 4, 1999) -- The classic TV series "Emergency" has been resurrected from the vault, and has begun its new life as part of TVLand's daytime schedule. The series, which first aired in the early 1970's, is Must-See-TV for the generation of firefighters who never knew the members of LA County Fire Station #51. |
| Interestingly enough, Emergency premiered at about the same time as the issuance of the legendary "Report From Engine Company #82" (Dennis Smith) and the Federal study "America Burning". Both publications, along with their visual counterpart "Emergency", prompted the fire service to take a closer look at the issues and problems facing America's firefighters. The way we do business today is a direct result of the exposure that these media provided the fire-rescue services. |
| Randy Mantooth & Kevin Tighe |
 |
| In the early 1970's legendary TV producer Jack Webb (Dragnet, Adam-12) sought a new theme to satisfy the viewing public's taste for action television. Using his successful law enforcement formula, he turned to the fire-rescue services for new content. In doing so, he created one of the most successful TV series of all time, Emergency. |
| "Johnny" (Mantooth) during one of the show's 7 years of rescues. |
| Prior to its premier episode, very few civilians had ever heard the term "paramedic", let alone understand the nature of the job. But within a few short years, dozens of communities benefited from Advanced Life Support programs, many utilizing the LA County design and protocol. The series also created a new public awareness about the fire-rescue services, and during its tenure, "Emergency" helped recruit more volunteers than any other venue that had been tried before, or since. |
| Firefighting as Entertainment? |
 |
| Blazing New Ground |
| Webb and Executive Producer R.A. Cinader proved to network executives that the viewing audience not only loved programming about fire, rescue and EMS, they wanted more. The other networks attempted versions of Emergency, most notably two short-lived series Fire House and Code Red, but neither CBS or ABC were ever capable of duplicating Webb's formula and unseating Emergency". |
| Emergency continued captivating audiences every Saturday evening on NBC for nearly 8 years. And unlike most other programs, which are canceled due to poor audience ratings, Emergency maintained a Top-30 position until its last episode. It never really died, Gage and DeSoto were simply promoted. |
 |
| To this day, the pilot episode of Emergency (San Francisco) remains one of the best produced, best-photographed dramatic television programs about the fire service. |
| The NBC series followed the exploits of Firefighter/Paramedics Johnny Gage and Roy DeSoto, who were assigned to a light utility squad out of mythical Station #51. Little did Webb know that this new series would change the face of the fire service forever. |
| Because the demand for fire-rescue programming remained, the producers attempted to continue the popular format by changing location from LA to San Francisco. |
 |
| America's Fire Station |
| In a very real sense, Station #51 became America's fire station. It was the extreme ride-along! Although those of us who operated on the East Coast didn't always understand LA County jargon and tactics, we all began to emulate various parts of the show. My favorite upon hearing the tones,"That's Us, Let's Roll!" Even our dispatchers back East began transmitting alarms, just like on the TV, "Cross Street, Jackson". And if a department, by chance, shared the 51 call sign, there was the ultimate compliment. "Engine-51 Responding!" |
| LA County Station 127 served as the mythical Station 51 |
 |
| Like NBC's current hit ER, Emergency's actors were convincing in their portrayal of things medical and firefighting. In addition to Gage and DeSoto's prowess as street medics, Engine-51's crew were damned good as a hoseteam, handling an inch and 3/4 like veteran jakes. And the pumper's driver/operator was actually an LA County firefighter. |
| Even though the programming genre' was an important component to the show's success, it was strong, sound technical advice that made the program a hit. Emergency had the best TA in the business, Jim Page, a Battalion Chief with the LA County Fire Dept.. Unlike today's programs, where TA's serve simply as expert witnesses during stunt foul-ups, Jim served an integral role in the series. And he performed his duties well. |
| Actors Turned Firefighters |
| The fact of the matter is that he trained the series regulars to become pretty damn good firefighters. Mike Stoker, the only real firefighter in the group, was always relegated to the Engineer's position, operating the pumper. So Page was instrumental in choreographing the performances delivered by the "real actors" who made-up Engine-51's crew. |
| Actors Tim Donnelly and Marco Lopez could handle an inch and a half as well as any crew that I've worked with, and to this day they remain Hollywood's best example of "hosers". And how about Mike Norell as Captain Stanley. His radio reports did more for Radio Shack scanner sales then full page ads in Firehouse Magazine. |
| Ask any dispatcher who worked during the busy 70's and they'll tell you that Norell's character single-handedly changed the way firefighters communicate via radio. Whenever he "keyed" his handi-talki, Captain Stanley was calm, to the point and so very professional |
| And it rubbed off on fire officers throughout the country. By the mid-70's, engine and ladder officers throughout the USA tried to outdo one another during radio transmissions. In my own department, I often emulated Norell's lines without any idea what the hell I was saying. |
| Emergency: The Ultimate Training Video |
| It's been a generation since Emergency originally aired, and in that short period of time, the fire service has progressed more than it did in its first 200 years. So, for younger firefighters (not that I'm old) watching the series teaches a very important lesson - namely "where we've been, and how we've gotten here!" |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Emergency services porgramming produced by Lou Angeli |
| Firefighting As Entertainment: by Lou Angeli A behind the scenes look at this nation's most televised profession. |