Complete first season of the television program focusing on the paramedic Squad 51, staff of Rampart Hospital, and the Los Angeles Sheriff and fire departments. — Genre: Television — Rating: NR — Release Date: 23-AUG-2005 — Me... more »dia Type: DVD« less
L. S. Tucker | Port St. Lucie, FL USA | 06/03/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"While I realize this won't be released for a couple of months, I have a copy of all the episodes on video tape and just can't wait for the clarity of DVD. If you're too young to remember this 70s favorite, you need to watch. This series singlehandedly changed the face of emergency medicine by showing the U.S. how paramedics made a difference. The series inspired thousands to become firefighters, paramedics, nurses, and doctors. The paramedic program was, within one year, at least 20 years ahead of what it would've been without it. As the prior reviewer said, Universal, you rock! Now, let's get cracking on the other seasons' episodes."
A Groundbreaking TV Show's Beginning
Erik Rupp | Southern California | 08/20/2005
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Emergency was a revolutionary TV show. It portrayed the work of firefighters, paramedics, and doctors pretty much the way it happens in real life. Prior to Emergency medical based shows tended to lean towards soap opera style dramatics to create compelling stories. With Emergency the writers used the real jargon spoken by these professionals ("51 start an IV, D5W TKO," "We're transmitting EKG," "We're sending you a strip, vitals to follow. Pulse is 160, the victim is in extreme pain, Rampart. V-fib!"), and it showed how lives were really saved.
The danger of firefighters' work was really shown for the first time in Emergency, and while the show did tend to glamorize firefighters to a small degree it also showed the dedication that they have to their jobs. Decades before the movie Backdraft you saw firefighters risking their lives on nearly a daily basis. Realism was goal one for the producers, and they achieved that goal.
Season 1 has some great episodes, but it also lacks the cast chemistry that came a year or two later with the addition of Michael Norell as Captain Stanley. The cast - filled with great personalities like Randolph Mantooth, Kevin Tighe, Robert Fuller, Bobby Troup, Ron Pinkard, and Julie London - spent the first season finding their footing with their characters. By season 2 most of them had their characters pegged and developed great interplay with each other.
The other firefighters on the show, played by Tim Donnelly, Marco Lopez, and Mike Stoker also deserve mention because although some of them were given very little to stretch them as actors they did have the perfect personalities to play those characters.
Jack Webb co-created Emergency, and it was his desire to make the show in as close to a "documentary" style as possible. The realism of Emergency ultimately paved the way for later medical shows such as ER.
This is definitely a show that should have its entire run on DVD. Hopefully this first season sells well enought to see the rest of the show released on DVD. To quote Captain Stanley, "Station 51, KMG 365.""
Very Infuencial
TV Tuner | USA | 06/04/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Emergency! without a doubt is the single most important program of our time.With the exception possibly of "Americas Most Wanted" and "Unsolved Mysteries",Emergency! made more of a difference than any other "fluff" show on TV.Who had ever heard of Paramedics,or rescue squads before this show? Anyone who has ever dialed 9-1-1 and requested medical assistance,can thank Jack Webb,Mr Cinader,Johnny and Roy and everybody else associated with this groundbreaking show for urging nationwide EMT coverage.Remember,in the old days,ambulances could not perform lifesaving treatments and could only transport the injured.Many died enroute to the hospital not due to the severity of their injuries,but due to the lack of initial treatment,and no possible diagnosis of how serious their injuries were.Yup....every American today and from 1972- up to today owes a debt of gratitude to this amazing show.Forget CSI,ER,and Law & Order.....they are lightweights compared to the reach of this production.To this day,the Crown engine,the Ward LaFrance engine,and the 72 Dodge squad along with all surviving cast members are....every one...legends.Get ready for Emergency! mania once this DVD is released....It deserves it...and its the least we can do to honor the incredible program that we are fortunate to have.
"
Most exciting TV on DVD release this year!!!
April Musgrove | Beavercreek, OR United States | 07/19/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Okay, now that I have caught my breath from the total elation I just experienced when I happened on this soon to be released DVD series. I am a huge TV on DVD fan and have collected many of my old childhood favorites. Emergency!, I have to say, tops my list. This was one of my favorite shows as a child, I was so in love with Randolph Mantooth!! A few years back I was able to get some of the episodes on VHS, and the show was still as great as ever, it was fun to watch with my children, not something you can do with todays prime time offerings. Highly, highly recommended series for any who have not watched it. I can't praise this series enough."
Where would EMS be today without Emergency?
D. McSherry | Dallas, Texas United States | 09/08/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Emergency! was a little accident of history that changed the face of the fire service forever. The History of EMS in all of these other reviews is correct, and Emergency! was a very clean show. (where's family hour today?) My mother made me be good in church on Saturday evening, and if I wasn't, I couldn't watch Emergency! when we got home. I was one kid who enjoyed it, and I entered a volunteer fire department in 1989, in part because of "Emergency!"
In 1998, I was a gift basket presenter at the "Emergency!" convention. At least 500 people showed up. Randy Mantooth, Kevin Tighe, Bobby Troup, Robert Fuller, Marco Lopez, Mike Stoker, and Tim Donnelly were there. ALL of them were enthusiastic and friendly. NONE were treating anyone like "here's your autograph, bye." I would say at least 300 of the 500 convention attendees were either doctors, nurses, paramedics, EMT's, firefighters, police officers, medical professionals, etc. who came to say "thank you." What other TV show has had that? Jim Page would say, "that simply would not have happened, without the impact of Emergency!"
The Journal of Emergency Medical Services speaks favorably of Emergency!. Gary Ludwig of the Memphis FD said that Emergency! was one of the most positive images of the fire service on Television (I concur), and Randolph Mantooth paid tribute to Jim Page at the last EMS convention I attended. The next time you get on your truck, thank Jack Webb, R.A. Cinader, and Jim Page. Also thank those from the first paramedic classes whose perseverance was a big help in those early days. Where would you be today without the trailblazers? Would ambulances still be the "you crash we dash method?" Think about it.