Emergency! (1972–1979)
The Gist: An action-packed drama following the daily lives of two Los Angeles County Fire Department paramedics and the hospital staff they work with, pioneering a new kind of rescue procedural.
Before there was ER or Chicago Fire, there was Emergency!. From the mind of producer Jack Webb (of Dragnet fame), this series had a similar documentary-style realism, focusing on the nuts and bolts of a then-new profession: the paramedic. The show revolved around firefighter-paramedics John Gage (Randolph Mantooth) and Roy DeSoto (Kevin Tighe) of Squad 51, and the medical team at Rampart General Hospital, including Dr. Kelly Brackett (Robert Fuller) and Nurse Dixie McCall (Julie London).
Each episode typically featured several rescue missions, ranging from car accidents and industrial mishaps to heart attacks and house fires. The show meticulously detailed the procedures, from the radio call (“Squad 51, KMG-365”) to the on-scene assessment and the tense communication with the hospital. It was part action show, part medical drama, and it was utterly captivating. Audiences were fascinated by the life-saving work and the calm professionalism of the characters in the face of chaos.
The show’s authenticity was its calling card. The creators worked closely with the Los Angeles County Fire Department, and the medical jargon and procedures were, for the time, highly accurate. This dedication to realism had a profound real-world effect. According to the Library of Congress, which has preserved television history, the show is widely credited with helping to popularize the concept of pre-hospital emergency care across the United States. It inspired countless communities to establish their own paramedic programs and encouraged thousands of viewers to learn CPR.
Why It Mattered: Emergency! wasn’t just entertainment; it was a public service. It demystified the role of paramedics and turned them into household heroes. It essentially created the template for the modern rescue show, a genre that remains incredibly popular today. Its unique hybrid format—splitting time between the field and the hospital—was innovative and kept the pacing dynamic.
Rewatch Cues: Pay attention to the structure. Notice how the small-scale “still alarm” rescues build tension alongside the major incidents. The camaraderie at Station 51, with its practical jokes and mundane conversations, provides a perfect counterbalance to the high-stakes drama of the rescues. The show is a fantastic time capsule of 1970s technology, fashion, and automobiles, all seen through the lens of those who race to the scene of a crisis.
