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Rating:  -
I had remembered watching this series when I was a kid. I watched an episode on cable and then ordered the DVD's. After really getting into it, I ordered the book and was very impressed. The episode guide is comprehensive. There are a lot of details about how the series was born, behind the scenes information, and info on the actors. There is also a lot of information for firefighters or firefighting enthusiasts that many will enjoy. As has been mentioned, there are some editing mistakes which forced me to give it 4 stars instead of 5, but overall, it is a great book for any Emergency! fan.
Rating:  -
I've read this book and as a writer/filmmaker, it gives me a unique insight into what it took to make a series of this type. On another edge, as a person who follows and admires the work of our firefighters/EMS, this is also an insight into what the early days of the Paramedic program were like in Los Angeles County and probably anywhere else in the country that started one of these programs. Finally, if you're not in either one of the groups I previously mentioned and are probably just a self described "TV Junkie", you know this was probably one of your favorite series of the time, so I think it's a must that you read this book and you'll know why you loved this series so much.
Authors Richard Yokley and Rozanne Sutherland have put together a finely crafted book that satisfies everyone's point of view on this series and its impact on every series of this genre that came later. I have to give it a five star rating hands down.
I also recommend Mr. Yokley's other book, "TV Firefighters." It came out before this one and, hold on to your hats, it looks at the entire spectrum of fire and EMS shows from the early fifties till the present time.
All of it is excellent reading!
Rating: -
This Book is a great book to Read if you have the TV Series it tells you
about the Show and Behind the Scene from the EMERGENCY! TV Scries,This
Book is a book to have for any Emergency Fan and medical Staff with the EMS Systuem in Los Angeles County. I Rate this Great Book a 20.
Rating:  -
The first thing I noticed about this book is that the publisher, Jones and Barlett, is primarily a medical publisher -- they publish professional books for doctors, nurses and EMS workers. And indeed, in the preface, the authors write that they assume their readers to be primarily firefighters, firefighter hopefuls, and EMS workers. Fans of the tv show "Emergency!" aren't even on the list.
The content of the book is, perhaps due to this confusion, somewhat schitzophrenic. The authors try to do many things, and so fail to do any of them very well.
There is a fairly interesting, but all too brief history of EMS services and the paramedic program in Los Angeles.
There are brief biographies of the actors, including a fairly lengthy list of non-regulars, many of whom went on to bigger and better things. (And, as has been mentioned, they managed to misspell Bobby Troup's name every time.)
There is an excruciatingly detailed discussion of the various vehicles that appeared on the program, both the squads and the engines. Also described in great detail are the important rescue equipment (the biophone, Jaws of Life and so on) and the uniforms.
Then we get extremely brief summaries of the episodes themselves, with guest casts, air dates, and so on. (Information that is available, often in much more detail, from IMDB or other on-line sources.) A few episodes include some background trivia, but none go into any depth.
Finally we are offered information on various spin-off programs and films, tie-in merchandise, and some discussion of the long-term influence of the show.
What is lacking is, to a large extent, much of the 'behind the scenes' stuff promised in the title. Given that the DVD sets themselves are completely lacking in extras (no commentary tracks, documentaries, etc.) I had hoped to be able to read here some detailed discussion of how various stunts were done, memories of cast and crew, and so on. There is precious little of that. Also, presumably due to copyright issues, while there are photos of several real early paramedics and their vehicles, there are no stills from the program.
Rating: -
I bought this book as a suggestion from Amazon when I bought the 3rd and 4th seasons of "Emergency!". I spent a whole weekend reading this book. This is a MUST HAVE for anyone that likes the tv show. Personally, I wish I had been a firefighter, but I had terrible eyes and I couldn't qualify as a fireman, although I eventually became an Advanced EMT. I *so* much wanted to be able to work with John and Roy, and Doctors Brackett and Early. But enough about me. :-)
If you enjoy "trivial trivia" of the series, you'll find it here in this book. Everything from the history of "Station 51", the fire engines (including the cross-country trip of the new pumper), the squad rescue trucks, who everyone was that appeared on every episode, all the people off the screen, and where they all are now.
I'm a fire buff, and I'm telling you - buy this book.
"Squad 51. KMG-365."
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