Paramedics (TV show)

"Paramedics" was a medical-based television reality show that formerly ran on TLC from 1999 to 2001 and now runs infrequently on Discovery Health Channel. A spin-off of "", "Paramedics" follows the activities of teams of EMTs and paramedics around the U.S. in a number of large urban centers. The series was never as successful ratingswise in its original run on TLC as its parent show "Trauma", but it has found a home on Discovery Health Channel, serving in a four-show rotation in the 1800-2000 EST5EDT time block with "Code Blue: New Orleans", "Code Blue: Savannah", and "Trauma: Life in the ER".

The show had no regular cast [ [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0284771/fullcredits IMDB entry for Paramedics] , retrieved January 31, 2008] ; every week featured a different city and a different group of paramedics. Actor Michael McGlone narrated the series. Composer Chuck Hammer scored the series.

The excitement as well as the mundanity of being a paramedic is evident, as many different cases ranging from life-and-death to broken wrists to false calls are all undiscriminatingly presented. This works to provide a realistic look at the job of a paramedic. The show differs from "Trauma: Life in the E.R." in that it doesn't show surgeries and hospital discharges, but rather focuses on the importance of a paramedic's immediate care and social skills in dealing with a variety of (often resistant and combative) people.

3 of the 4 producers of the show, including Neil A. Cohen, also produced "Trauma: Life in the E.R.", and many of the cities featured in the series overlapped with the location settings for episodes of "Trauma: Life in the E.R." shot during the same time frame. "Paramedics" was produced by Discovery Channel Pictures and distributed by The Discovery Channel.

ee also

* "The Critical Hour"
* ""

References