Robert A. Cinader assisted Jack Webb in producing the 1967–70 revival of Dragnet. Together, they created Adam-12 (1968–1975), another Los Angeles-based police procedural thatmoved the focus from detectives to patrol officers. Cindar then co-created another first-responder series, Emergency! (1972-1979), after learning about the Los Angeles County Fire Department testing out their new paramedic program. What is a common municipal service now was not when the show debuted, and the episodic adventures of paramedics John Gage (Randolph Mantooth) and Roy DeSoto (Kevin Tighe), some of which are based on the cases of actual paramedic squads, is credited with popularizing the service across the United States. The Complete Series Blu-ray set contains the pilot TV-movie, all 122 episodes and six additional two-hour television films across 30 discs.
Buy Emergency!: The Complete Series Blu-rayIn the pilot, “The Wedsworth-Townsend Act,” which was signed into law by Governor Ronald Reagan, needs to be passed to allow medically trained firefighters to provide emergency care. Firefighter Gage isn’t so sure he should waste his time if the law doesn’t pass. Firefighter DeSoto has already received his training along with five others in anticipation. He convinces Gage it’s a worthy cause. They become partners, assigned to the new L.A.F.D. Station 51.
The training occurs at Rampart hospital. Dr. Kelly Brackett (Robert Fuller) is chief of emergency medicine. He doesn’t like the idea of the program, but he eventually comes around. Dixie McCall (Julie London) is chief nurse of the emergency room and she’s all for it from the get-go. They have a romantic relationship, which fades away as the series progresses. Neurosurgeon Dr. Joe Early (Bobby Troup) also works at Rampart. The hospital handles serious cases, such as a young girl whose arm was severed in boat accident, to the silly, a woman got epoxied to a toilet seat.
Throughout the series, Gage and DeSoto encounter a similar spectrum of cases around Los Angeles. The TV-movies see them travel to Seattle and San Francisco and get promoted to Captain. In addition to the thrilling action, the comedic camaraderie of the firefighters makes the show appealing as it offers a look at their downtime. Notable characters are Chet Kelly (Tim Donnelly) and Marco Lopez (played by actor Marco Lopez).
The pilot features a quick crossover with Adam-12, officers Pete Malloy (Martin Milner) and Jim Reed (Kent McCord) appear briefly at the hospital with Malloy hitting on McCall. Completely dismissing continuity, Station 51 is watching Adam-12 “Ambush” (Season 4, Episode 8) when they get called away on a call. As a bonus feature with Season Five, the Adam-12 crossover episode “Lost and Found” (Season 5, Episode 4) finds the officers bring a patient to Rampart hospital. In what was almost a crossover episode, “905-Wild” (Season 4, Episode 22) is a backdoor pilot that wasn’t picked up.
Guest stars throughout the seasons, some who became known after the fact, include actors and athletes including Robert Alda, Dick Butkus, John Carradine, Michael Conrad, Jamie Farr, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Richard Kiel, Donny Most, Mort Sahl, Mark Spitz, Larry Storch, John Travolta, Dick Van Patten, Adam West, Wolfman Jack, and Jo Anne Worley.
The video has been given a 1080p/MPEG-4 AVC displayed at the aspect ratio of 1.33.1. Colors appear in bold hues with the red engine and orange flames popping. Blacks are inky. Some dark scenes lead to crushing. The focus is sharp and reveals fine texture details. The audio is available in DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono. Dialogue is clear throughout. Station alarms ring out loudly, drawing the attention of the firefighters and the viewer. The music and effects blend well in the mix with the dialogue.
Emergency! fans are guaranteed to enjoy owning The Complete Series. While the pacing is of its time, the combination of compelling characters the cast brings to life and the variety of action should engage modern audiences. The Blu-rays high-definition presentations deliver very good picture and sound.
