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| Long Awaited NBC Series To Premier On Thursday |
| (New York, NY) -- The executive producer of the superhot series "ER", John Wells, is out to do it again. His mission - to create America's next Megahit TV series. This time, he's taken the nitty gritty action of the emergency room and moved it outdoors to the mean streets of New York in the new NBC series "Third Watch". For the Fire-EMS and Rescue community, this is the Fall program that's been the talk in stations nationwide. And if the premier episode is any indication of overall series quality, the program's actors should plan on making metro New York their home for the next several years. |
| According to Emmy award winning producer Wells, "We try to tell stories that have universal human appeal ...that's been the case in ER and I'm hopeful that will be the case on 'Third Watch". But be advised, "TW" no meager spin off of "ER", it has its own flavor, style and character. |
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| The show focuses on a rough and tough team, of paramedics, firefighters and law enforcement officers who work the 3-11 shift, or as they call it, "Third Watch". They operate from a complex known as "Camelot", a mythical precinct house and fire station at the intersections of King and Arthur. In an incredible display of technical accuracy, the show's producers have managed to maintain the notion of competitive spirit (I'm putting it mildly) that exisits between FDNY's medics, suppression personnel and cops. Touches like these provide the program with much needed personal conflict. And, in what many consider to be a mastermind move, Wells has mixed in the police element in order to draw from the vast audience of law enforcement afficiandos. And they won't be unhappy. |
| Certainly no network show to date has been as ambitious as this one. Nearly the entire program is shot outside on the streets, a location manager's nightmare when working in New York. I'm told that each episode take 10 days to complete. "It's like doing a mini-film each week" says co-star Michael Beach, who gained network fame in his recurring role on ER. In TW he plays a seasoned paramedic detailed to a busy NY district. And Beach is right about one thing, "Third Watch" is massive in scope. |
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| Actress Kim Raver became a regular at FDNY stations. |
| To prepare for the program, many of the cast members partcipated in medic and police ride-alongs in Harlem and Brooklyn. This taste of streetside reality has prepared them for the challenege of making it all look real when the cameras roll! For actress Kim Raven, who plays a medic, these ride alongs were an eye opener. "It's literally like learning another language, ' says Raven about the paramedic tech speak used on the show. 'At the same time, you're learning how to intubate, add an IV, then fake it all for the camera." You won't see these actors lounging in the fire station. "Third Watch" is a street drama, that only allows the viewer to gulp a breath during commercial breaks. |
| Wells' tried and true formula sustains the action by jumping from one medic team, to a patrol unit, to another ALS team, to a responding Engine in a matter of minutes. And when they all meet at the emergency scene, you can be sure the action is red, hot and wet. It's this mix that will keep the viewers glued to their sets, and wishing for more at the end of the show. Some of you may remember a similar 1990 NBC series known as "H.E.L.P", which co-starred Marjorie Monaghan, the female firefighter/medic lead on "Rescue-77". It too portrayed the unlikely combo of Fire, EMS and Police Emergency Services. But "H.E.L.P" lacked the down and dirty reality of Wells' formula, which is the single element that will guarantee TW's success. |
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| Of course, the issue of TW's technical accuracy will be taken to task by Medics and Firefighters nationwide. Indeed, Wells smash hit "ER" is often ridiculed by physicians and medics alike as being a technical nightmare. As they did with Spelling's "Rescue 77", I predict that the purists and naysayers in the Fire-EMS industry will give TW a thumbs down. Certainly, those of you who are FDNY buffs will cringe when you view some of the scenes. And there will be others who will claim that Wells' often negative presentation of the emergency services brings dishonor to such a noble profession. Sure, fires and emergencies are the most obvious "bad guys" of our jobs, but we tend to make quick work of those nasties. The real culprit that causes us the most angina, is US - and our self effacing personalities. Bravo to Mr. Wells and staff for identifying that antagonist and taking it head on. |
| Third Watch is destined to become a hit among international audiences. |
| Last year's "Rescue-77", a solid show in my book, lost the game for three reasons. It was sold to the wrong network, pitched to the wrong audience and received little promotion. "Third Watch" comes to the table with a dream hand -- NBC, a Sunday evening time slot, and a one minute rock and rescue promo each and every night. Here's hoping that John Wells and his squad of dedicated writers can do justice to a programming theme, that hasn't seen success since the 1970's hit "Emergency". |
| Series Premiere: "Welcome To Camelot" NBC TV, Thursday, September 23 at 10pm Eastern/Pacific, 9pm Central (Stereo: HDTV; TV14) Starring: Michael Beach, Kim Raver, Bobby Cannavale, Anthony Ruivivar, Skipp Sudduth, Coby Bell, Jason Wiles, Molly Price, Eddie Cibrian |
| Bobby Carnevale and Kim Raver serve aboard one the show's ALS units. |
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| Television, Films and Firefighting: by Lou Angeli Reviews and behind the scenes comments about this nation's most televised profession. |
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