Rescue 77
Encyclopedia
Rescue 77 is an American television series about the professional and personal lives of paramedic
s in Los Angeles, California
. The show aired in the spring of 1999 on Monday nights on the WB
network.
The creator and executive producer was Gregory Widen
, a former Southern California firefighter
and paramedic
, and the writer of the popular 1991 firefighting drama Backdraft
. His goal for the show was to provide a more realistic depiction of the lives of firefighter
s and paramedic
s than previous emergency medical television series such as Emergency!
.
team assigned to a fictional Los Angeles
fire station
, Station 77. Kathleen Ryan, played by Marjorie Monaghan
, returns to work in the pilot episode following an emotional breakdown after a stressful call. Throughout the series, there is obvious romantic tension between Ryan and her partner Michael Bell (played by Victor Browne), who is dating a nurse and struggling with his father, who wants Bell to quit his paramedic job and work for the family company. The third member of the team, Wick Lobo (played by Christian Kane
), is a young, energetic rookie eager to prove himself. The main characters shared a high sense of duty and loyalty to each other and their commander, Captain Dufree (Richard Roundtree
).
Paramedic
A paramedic is a healthcare professional that works in emergency medical situations. Paramedics provide advanced levels of care for medical emergencies and trauma. The majority of paramedics are based in the field in ambulances, emergency response vehicles, or in specialist mobile units such as...
s in Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
. The show aired in the spring of 1999 on Monday nights on the WB
The WB Television Network
The WB Television Network is a former television network in the United States that was launched on January 11, 1995 as a joint venture between Warner Bros. and Tribune Broadcasting. On January 24, 2006, CBS Corporation and Warner Bros...
network.
The creator and executive producer was Gregory Widen
Gregory Widen
Gregory Widen is an American screenwriter and film director.A student in UCLA's screenwriting program, he sold his script for Highlander while still an undergraduate. Before entering the UCLA program, Widen attended Saddleback College in Mission Viejo, California.Widen worked as a firefighter for...
, a former Southern California firefighter
Firefighter
Firefighters are rescuers extensively trained primarily to put out hazardous fires that threaten civilian populations and property, to rescue people from car incidents, collapsed and burning buildings and other such situations...
and paramedic
Paramedic
A paramedic is a healthcare professional that works in emergency medical situations. Paramedics provide advanced levels of care for medical emergencies and trauma. The majority of paramedics are based in the field in ambulances, emergency response vehicles, or in specialist mobile units such as...
, and the writer of the popular 1991 firefighting drama Backdraft
Backdraft (film)
Backdraft is a 1991 action thriller film directed by Ron Howard and written by Gregory Widen. The film stars Kurt Russell, William Baldwin, Scott Glenn, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Rebecca De Mornay, Donald Sutherland, and Robert De Niro. Jason Gedrick and J. T. Walsh co-star in the film...
. His goal for the show was to provide a more realistic depiction of the lives of firefighter
Firefighter
Firefighters are rescuers extensively trained primarily to put out hazardous fires that threaten civilian populations and property, to rescue people from car incidents, collapsed and burning buildings and other such situations...
s and paramedic
Paramedic
A paramedic is a healthcare professional that works in emergency medical situations. Paramedics provide advanced levels of care for medical emergencies and trauma. The majority of paramedics are based in the field in ambulances, emergency response vehicles, or in specialist mobile units such as...
s than previous emergency medical television series such as Emergency!
Emergency!
Emergency! is an American television series that combines the medical drama and action-adventure genres. It was produced by Mark VII Limited and distributed by Universal Studios...
.
Characters
The show followed the members of a three-person paramedicParamedic
A paramedic is a healthcare professional that works in emergency medical situations. Paramedics provide advanced levels of care for medical emergencies and trauma. The majority of paramedics are based in the field in ambulances, emergency response vehicles, or in specialist mobile units such as...
team assigned to a fictional Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
fire station
Fire station
A fire station is a structure or other area set aside for storage of firefighting apparatus , personal protective equipment, fire hose, fire extinguishers, and other fire extinguishing equipment...
, Station 77. Kathleen Ryan, played by Marjorie Monaghan
Marjorie Monaghan
Marjorie Monaghan is an American actress born in California but raised in Ohio. She is best known for her portrayal in 1997 and 1998 of 'Number One', leader of the Mars Resistance, in the television series Babylon 5....
, returns to work in the pilot episode following an emotional breakdown after a stressful call. Throughout the series, there is obvious romantic tension between Ryan and her partner Michael Bell (played by Victor Browne), who is dating a nurse and struggling with his father, who wants Bell to quit his paramedic job and work for the family company. The third member of the team, Wick Lobo (played by Christian Kane
Christian Kane
Christian Kane is an American actor and singer/songwriter of Native American descent. He currently stars as Eliot Spencer on the TNT series Leverage. He is best known for his roles in the television shows Angel and Into the West, and the movies Just Married and Secondhand Lions.He is the lead...
), is a young, energetic rookie eager to prove himself. The main characters shared a high sense of duty and loyalty to each other and their commander, Captain Dufree (Richard Roundtree
Richard Roundtree
Richard Roundtree is an American actor and former fashion model. He is best known for his portrayal of private detective John Shaft in the 1971 film Shaft and in its two sequels, Shaft's Big Score and Shaft in Africa .-Personal life:Born in New Rochelle, New York, Richard Roundtree graduated from...
).