NOTE: Episode Guides will just be a short text summary and slide show of screenshots from the episode. Videos only done up on the Pilot/First Episode. (Videos are way TOOOO much work LOL!)
Emergency Pilot Episode
Wedsworth-Townsend Act
Based on how the paramedic program got its start in California. Those in support of the program and
those opposed are quickly brought to light. After rescuing an electrocution victim who later dies at the hospital, firefighter John Gage reconsiders his views on the new paramedic training program being more than just turning rescue men into ambulance attendants. After going to headquarters and filling out an application, John is convinced by Roy DeSoto to sign the application. Roy was one of the six men who took the first paramedic class out of Harbor General Hospital. Roy is present to assist with the first class taught out of Rampart General Hospital. Even though he is against the paramedic program, Dr. Kelly Brackett grudgingly trains the class along with Dr. Early and Nurse Dixie McCall. State Assemblyman Mike Wolski finds out after the graduation ‘ceremony’ of the second class of paramedics that Dr. Brackett opposes the program. John and Roy are teamed together out of Station 51 and must sit back in frustration while nurses perform the medical procedures on patients which they are unauthorized to perform until bill PM11307 is passed. Dr. Brackett reconsiders his position on the bill after someone close to him (Dixie McCall) almost dies and only survived by John and Roy treating her and two other victims of an automobile accident on their own and against orders. Dr. Brackett then flies to Sacramento to testify on behalf of the bill. Dr. Brackett puts his own career and reputation on the line in the middle of the aftermath of a tunnel explosion which also proves the necessity of paramedics as first responders.
Character and Show Facts:
The original airing of the 'Wedsworth-Townsend Act' was in Dec. 27, 1975 & Jan 3, 1976 in Season 5 as a 'flashback' episodes.
The paramedic bill referred to in the movie was PM 11307.
Ron Pinkard (Dr. Morton) plays Dr. Tom Gray in the pilot movie.
Only episode Joanne DeSoto appears in.
Roy DeSoto's role in the second paramedic class was never really defined clearly in the pilot movie. We can presume being he passed the first course out of Harbor General that he was assisting with the training.
Dixie spent time in a field hospital in Korea, bought the unit citation
Dr. Brackett graduated from John Hopkins, Interned at the Mayo Clinic, Medical Jack of all Trades and master of them all.
Dr. Early is a neurosurgeon. Dr. Brackett proclaims that Dr. Early still knows his way around the nervous system.
At Dixie's party, Dr. Brackett mentions Dr. Early has a private practice says that Dr. Early was one of his interns who took a wrong turn somewhere and ended up being successful. Dr. Early says he donates his time to the ER (medical madhouse). Some of this banter could be interpreted as a 'kidding.'
Paramedic training 90-days (referring to Dr. Early's comment about '90-day Kildares').
Continuity error: When you see Johnny and Roy going down the tunnel to help the men trapped by the trencher they are not carrying the biophone. Biophone is present when they are treating the minor with the bad heart who they pulled out from under the trencher's blades.
Art Gilmore is uncredited as a Battalion Chief in the pilot movie and his actual name never appeared in subsequent appearances on the show (always credited as Battalion Chief).
The actual name of the real bill was the Wedworth-Townsend Act signed into law by then California Governor Ronald Reagan on July 15, 1970. Link to additional information and history.
Interesting...
The fellow at the beginning of the line looks awfully familiar. Remember, Marco Lopez didn't have a mustache during the two seasons of Emergency!. Shows up in Johnny's paramedic class...
Rings Worn by Bobby Troup and Julie London
Anybody else ever notice the similarly designed rings worn by both Bobby Troup and Julie London? Guessing they are wedding bands, BUT if anybody has knowledge about these rings we would love to know it here as well. If you pay attention when you're watching other Emergency! episodes you'll see them when you look at the actor's hands.
Equipment Shown in The Wedsworth-Townsend Act Video
Thought it was interesting to see all this equipment. Don't know what most of it is, except for what's familiar to most of us non-medical people from the show.