Those damn TV shows.

So, for my first actual post on here, lets get the fire started tv style, with a new little show called Trauma. A show that the EMS community despised so much that letters were written to the heads of NBC, and boycotts were threatened.

So first off... what the hell? Really? It's a tv show, find something better to do with your time.

I mean, I get it, "it portrays EMS professionals in a negative light". Once again, lighten up, it's TV. Not to mention, it sure is a good thing nobody decided to boycott FX over a couple of small shows called "The Shield" and "Rescue Me" Both amazing shows. Neither celebrating the "we are holiness" of the FD or PD. Hell, I know fire crews who never miss an episode of Rescue Me.

And why is this? Because they don't take themselves so damn seriously. We in EMS are so used to being the step children, so used to having to defend ourselves all the damn time, that we can't even relax for an hour.

Now don't get me wrong, as my following comments will show, the first episode was EFFING horrible. But hey, it got a little better.

What follows in my response on a message board about this very subject. If any lonely soul comes across this page... I enjoy a heated discussion.


Ya know, when the show first came on, I hate it. I hated the premier. I felt it an assault to every fiber of my being, both as a medic and a tv viewer. As a medic, I hated the way the job was portrayed professionally. I felt as though the show has zero technical advisement. And as tv viewer, it just seemed to try to hard for it's own damn good. The writing and dialogue of the premier were horrible. And the actors were stiff like cardboard.

Now, as to how the crews were portrayed on a personal level (the part that most of the EMS over achievers took issue with) didn't bother. Yes, most of the characters came across as being totally morally bankrupt. But the fact of the matter is, if you've worked in this business long enough, in busy enough systems, you've met each one of those people, and probably have some stuff in common with a few of them.

So like I said, at first I hated. But, after recently learning it was going to be cancelled, I decided to give it another chance. I figured I was bored, and it would at least give me something to laugh at.

Second episode... a little better. Third... a little better. Yes, I still laughed at the stupid mistakes they made. Even contemplated making a drinking game where you take shots when the crews go "full-on Rain Man". But a funny thing happened while i was laughing, I started to enjoy the damn show. As a few episodes went by, you started learning a little more about the characters. By the time I was a few episodes in, the show seemed to manage to make the switch from "an action packed adrenalin shot to the heart" (btw NBC...that tag line was 100% grade A cheese), to being a really decent, action filled, character driven show.

And while I am sure I'll catch shit from my somewhat more uptight brothers and sisters in the field, I'm actually sad it's to be cancelled. Do I think it would be one of the greatest shows on television? Not in any way. But if nothing else, with the way it's improving, it could be a good 3-4 season show.