I managed to last for the first five minutes. Once the two paramedics started having sex in the squad instead of like, actually doing their jobs, I switched the channel. My question is, did it get any better? I could always Hulu it tomorrow, after all. They should have opened with a really huge earth-shattering kaboom.

Mods, I used the Search function, and I did a Google search. I could not find a thread already started for this show. I won't be morally offended if this gets deleted.

I couldn't think of a pithy subtitle. Sex in the Squad? I know, I'll show myself out.

I hated the "sex in the squad" but it did get better--at least the action scenes where the paramedics actually do their jobs. I'll give it a chance because pilot episodes are usually shaky until the cast gels together, usually in a few episodes, but if it's going to end up being "Grey's Anatomy--Paradedic Version", I'll end up bailing. I did like seeing Jamey Sheridan again.

They did. You missed it by about two minutes.

I actually liked it, as far as pilots go. I also really didnt expect the first ten minutes to go the way they did, decent special effects and good shock value. Not bad for a beginning and the last few minutes were pretty well done without being overdramatic. I'll give the next few eps a shot.

How cool was the earth-shattering kaboom? I could be convinced to watch if it was a really awesome one. Hell, I even like Jamey Sheridan. However, I think having the two paramedics fucking each other in the first minutes of the show really puts this show into Grey's Anatomy territory. If I get bored this weekend, I'll probably Hulu it. I like explosions.

mustbekarma


There were a couple in there for ya. If you get bored might as well give it a watch.

Idk, it looked too much like what we've seen on ER, Grey's, Third Watch, and CSI, with a little bit of Movie Magic, like a Bruckheimer Produced film with Michael Bay directing. I don't think they can keep up those explosions every week...it costs too much money, and there's only so many Scions you can sell to unemployed 20 yo males who never developed a good work ethic because everyone handed them the world on a platter.

Is it common practice to work with the first few buttons on your uniform undone, or only for pretty blondes? And it wasn't just after the sex in the squad.

Enjoyed Buddy Garrity's appearance, along with Herc.

Did it get better after the sex? Depends on your likes I guess. The guy in the sex scene got paid back for not taking work seriously. He dies in the next scene. IMO this is the first show to be deleted from the DVR que. Just plain bad.

As far as I'm concerned this show "bombed" just like "Mercy". Looks like the writers just can't seem to get a decent story going. Granted, sex disasters, and emotional turmoil are all a part of everyday life, BUT to the extent its displayed on these two shows is beyond enjoyment. Consider the part where chopper pilot is doing the Steve McQueen impersonation in his vintage classic car trying to impress petite co-pilot!!! Give me a f_ _ king break!!!! Pull the plug on both these show and DNR (do not reuiscitate) Poor Jamie Sheridan... he should have had a Groucho Marx disguise on so people wouldn't have recognized him as part of this horrible cast/show.

There must be some kind of law in San Francsco -- Parametics....only hotties and hunks need apply. This was routine network crap with a couple of nice explosions added in but this was for the pilot, of course. In coming weeks I'm sure there will be a tricycle/baby carriage collision. The characters are pure stock, not one member of the team grabbed my attention, the writing is bland and the direction is all in the editing. I'll pass.

The blonde is the sister-in-law from Damages. Her acting hasn't improved..........

I brought this over from the "Cast in Other Roles" Friday Night Lights thread (Kevin Rankin, who played Herc, is a regular and Brad Leland, who plays Buddy Garrity, was the driver who lost his finger. Also Derek Luke played Boobie Miles in the movie). I liked all the explosions - I enjoy fake violence, especially the kind where stuff blows up. And the chopper pilot was gorgeous (the guy). But aside from the explosions, it didn't really hold my interest. The only character I wondered more about was Derek Luke's - seems like he was a cheater trying to reform. And I don't have a clue what any of the characters' names are, which should tell you something. I'll give it another week or two; there isn't much else going on in that time slot for me (I go in and out of watching Intervention).

The electrocution, in the beginning, turned me off to the whole episode. Electrical equipment have safety locks to prevent accidents. If the master switch is turned off, then a lock is placed on the handle to ensure that it stays off. In this way, accidental electrocutions won't occur. That's SOP for equipment like that. That setup meant anyone could come by and switch the power on and off. That part just didn't ring true for me and seemed contrived to lead up to the big helicopter explosion. Maybe I'm being nitpicky but that was a glaring error IMHO. This will probably be a show I watch if I catch it or it will be on in the background because there wasn't really anything compelling to draw me in.

Was I seeing things or was ambulance guy masturbating after the girl got off him?

That whole completely unnecessary scene ruined the show for me. And I'm not a prude.

I watched because I know some of the bit actors and because they filmed by my work and home and other than the locations and spotting people I know there wasn't anything to bring me back.

Lots of flash and noise but little substance. The medical sequences just lack the sheer excitement, action, and adrenaline of early ER, and since this show is supposed to be "ER to the Xtreme!!!!" that's bad news.

The double chopper crash at the beginning was just ludicrous and contrived as hell.

And as a San Franciscan, the need to medevac victims in the city by chopper is just silly. Seriously, this town is pretty tiny by big city standards.

I do see they sucked up with the mayor by having his actress wife cameo (the hot blond accident victim).

I swear I saw that too! I am not a prude either but that was totally gross. Overall not really impressed but may give it another shot. I can't believe that Rabbit was actually driving around in his car like that. As a medic he should def. know better than to endanger his life and the lives of his partner and others on the road esp. since he just worked on a major highway accident where a man was driving carelessly!

Sirfulcrum, I was wondering if the choppers were necessary since it seems like we will be seeing them a lot, but thanks for your imput as a San Franciscan

I was incredibly disappointed by the sex scene within 10 minutes of the start of the pilot of the first show. No way I could possibly take that blond chick, Nancy, even partway seriously from here on out.

That said, I'll give the show a break and keep watching for the views of San Francisco. I love seeing places I've been or I go on TV and movies.

Watching Derek Luke and Cliff Curtis are icing on the cake. Especially hearing Curtis with his native New Zealand accent.

It's particularly egregious because SF General, our Level One Trauma Center,infamously doesn't have a helipad.

It's also about half a mile from where that gas tanker exploded. Lol.

I had to tune in for this one, if only because it takes place in my fair city and I saw part of it being filmed. Okay, well, technically I don't think they were shooting when I passed by the car accident scene, but traffic was diverted and I was wondering what the hell was going on. That's got to count as a semi-brush with fame, right? The scene involved them closing down the freeway off ramp to King Street (a friend of mine lives nearby) and everyone who was trying to come into the city was diverted over to 6th Street. I've got to say, traffic was quite backed up. I hope they don't make a regular habit of closing down the freeway.

I wish I had more positive things to say about the show, but I found it to be a melodramatic mess. I have the feeling I wasn't really supposed to be laughing during the helicopter crash and the car accident, but it just seemed very over-the-top. And the acting wasn't that great, especially with the car-accident kid's mother. She really seemed like she was overdoing it.

Also, I was peeved that the wasn't more diversity in the cast. Hello, this show takes place in San Francisco! Why aren't there more Asian and Hispanic characters? I know Marisa is Latina, and I don't know what ethnicity Rabbit is supposed to be (the actor is Maori), but they really should have had more. It's totally unrealistic to have a show set here with a mostly white cast.

I'm with you on that--I couldn't take the blonde chick as a serious paramedic after that scene--or was the accident that killed her partner supposed to be the wake up call for her? I have to admit I was hoping she'd be the one to die in the helicopter crash.

Someone earlier posted that it was a shame that at the end of it all, did we really learn anything about the characters (other than Rabbit and blonde chick) and we didn't even get the names of most of them?

I'll give it a couple more episodes, mainly because I love the San Francisco scenery and haven't been back there in a long time. But if things continue in this vein, I'll be finding something else to do or watch at this time.

Biakbiak we have a helipad, we just don't have access to it, i.e. no stairs or elevators to that area of the roof. The people of SF have historically voted against helicopters landing in the city due to noise pollution. For sure there is no need for medivac in this city since everything is a 15 min. ambulance ride away. It would mostly be used to transport patients from the outskirts of the city that need tertiary care.

The show? Bad, bad, bad. The two medics getting busy in the rig, the helicopter crash (can we say Romano vs. helicopter x 2?), the attempts to make the medics look like they're all dark, brooding, and mysterious when it just left a bunch of plot holes.

I watched because I love seeing aerial views of San Francisco and I wanted to see my coworkers who got picked to be extras.

Which makes it useless. And why there has been a fight for going on more than a decade about having an actually useable helipad.

The only reason I wish this show will be a hit, even though I think it sucks, is that it actually gices the city tons of money, particularly given the fact that it's not getting the tax credits that the city set aside for film and television in the city because of when it started production.

So did it really suck that bad, or is it a case of it will get better after the pilot? The only reason I'm mildly interested in this show is because one of the paramedics is supposed to be gay. Not sure who, but apparently will know by the fifth ep. If it lasts that long.

Made me think of an old radio soap where they got tired of all the characters so put them in a bus and ran it off a cliff. Monday they had a new cast and new story. Too bad the helicopter didn't take them all out and we could start over with perhaps a watchable show.

... kept waiting for one of them to say, "Rampart, we got a..."

I tuned in to this one because I lived in SF for years, and love the idea of a show set there.

Too bad they didn't set a quirky "Tales of the City" type of series there instead of this. Or a "Northern Exposure/Men in Trees" type of series in Lake Tahoe.

The flash my thoughts on the first scene withe the paramedics tossing the IV bags was how pretty. My brain locked on then it hit me, the volleyball game from Top Gun.

Also the big joke on ER were the chopper crashes.

It was weird when the chopper flew for a call in the middle of the city. How can San Fransisco afford anything spending money like that.

Amen. When the promos first started running months ago, I was jazzed to see Cliff Curtis and immediately concerned that he would turn out to be a red shirt for the pilot. I hope this show sticks around, 'cause the world needs more Cliff Curtis.

I liked Cliff Curtis, too, but I didn't hear a New Zealand accent. Maybe he just doesn't hide his original accent very well? I had the feeling he was going for a vague "tough guy" accent, which almost made him sound like he was from New York.



If you want to spoil yourself, that information has already been revealed here. I'm personally rather meh on this development. I mean, yes, a show set in San Francisco should have at least one gay character, but he seemed kind of bland and uninteresting. I couldn't remember a single thing he said in the first episode. Of course, it's only the pilot. Maybe he won't be such a peripheral character as the series progresses.

That said, I think it's extremely unrealistic that this show has no Asian characters. San Francisco is 33% Asian. It's only 45% white. If they were going for realism, the show should have two white paramedics, two Asian paramedics, a Hispanic paramedic, and maybe a black paramedic. Oh, and the doctor at the hospital should have been Indian, not a middle-aged white guy. It bugs me that TPTB chose not to show the diversity of an incredibly diverse city.



Me, too. I'll probably stick with it just for that. I like to see places I'm familiar with. But if the quality of the show doesn't improve, I'll probably bail out eventually.

Considering Oakland is across the bay, "maybe" should be "definitely" a black paramedic.

True, and there is a black paramedic. However, he's depicted as living in San Francisco, not Oakland. I still say that if they honestly wanted to portray the demographics of San Francisco, it would have made more sense to have swapped the black paramedic for a couple of Asian ones. San Francisco is only 7% black, while it is 33% Asian. If mean, that's only if TPTB had to choose. There's really no reason why they couldn't have had a cast full of Asian, Hispanic, and black characters to begin with. I'm sure there are plenty of talented actors who would have jumped at those roles.

I, too, watched for the S.F. scenery -- my son lives there and I did for one summer in 1969 (without dirty bare feet but slightly hippy oriented). But the aftermat of the sex in the rig (I thought maybe I was the only one who noticed that) and the lack of characterization and identification of the cast left me cold. It the blonde is suppose to be heartbroken she's got a very bland way of showing it. None of the characters were interesting except maybe the Latina pilot -- and I hated the mock Steve McQueen drive that ended in the guy losing a finger which seemed to be kind of played for laughs. Yuck. I probably won't watch this again unless there just isn't anything else on.

Yep--the guy who was having sex in the ambulance ended up finishing things for himself, once the call came in. It didn't bother me so much, since it made sense from practical reasons, and they weren't on a call when they started using the bus as a rolling (well, parked) hotel room, but it didn't dop anything to make me like the characters. Especially the sexy-blonde-who-keeps-her-shirt-cut-low (sigh).

I really, really enjoyed the helicopter crash (it being fictional and all)--the special effects were really good, and I thought it made a lot more sense than anything on ER (the second version of Romano v. Helicopter was one of the straws-that-broke-the-me-ever-watching back, until the final 5 episodes brought me in). I was amazed, though not to the point of disbelief, that "Rabbit" survived, and can see how he'd be a) half believing he can't die, and b) bug-eyed crazy. He would've been my favorite character, until the Steve McQueen imitation and, yeah, the implication that that scene, down to the drunk guy losing a finger, was played for laughs.

Unfortunately, I didn't care about Nasty--er, I mean, Nancy. Seriously, that was what, a 15-car pile-up, and she was going all emo over ONE fatality? Not a good sign for someone doing that job. I didn't care about the guy who's cheating on his wife as a way of "dealing." I was surprised that, after the radio announcement of the 1-year anniversary of the helo crash, and its mention that there would be a memorial that afternoon/evening, none of our survivors was at the memorial. And I couldn't tell, at the end, if Nancy and Rabbit were a "thing" or if that was the first time she ended up at his place (I'm thinking the latter), nor did I care, except for the whole, sad, "Oh, she's one of those women who goes from man to man in the end, huh? The 70's Show Jackie of the group."

I didn't particularly care about any of the people except the kid who got throat-shot by shrapnel. As as others have mentioned, I doubt the show can keep paying for the big-impact disasters. But I'll give it another episode, because this was the pilot.

The pilot is never the final word.

Wow, the pilot was quite boring for us.
Three good things... San Fransisco, some FN love with Herc and Buddy and Billy Lush that I really like in Generation kill (and who seems to not appear in the other episodes of Trauma).
Except for that, that wasn't good at all.

I found it really annoying that Reuben comes back just one year after the crash. Nancy and Cameron's characters weren't really interesting at all... and I still don't get the scene between Cameron and Reuben.

I'm pretty sur I won't watch it again.

There was a german tvshow called Medicopter that did this kind of stuff too.

I didn't hate the pilot, but I wasn't going into it thinking it was going be the next great TV drama. Most TV dramas (before the advent of the L&O"character building? Eh. We'll get to it next season..." type shows) have a romantic element to it. Grey's Anatomy wasn't breaking new ground with what they did, it just was insanely popular, and now every drama since gets compared to it, which is a pain in the ass.

Shows have the right to shine, or suck ass based on their own merits without being compared to something rediculously popular/played out.

The idea that Rabbit survived that chopper crash is a bit nuts. They wrote themselves into a corner with that and just figured "Uh... maybe he just fell out of a spinning, and on fire, helicopter...". The chopper crash was not that far fetched, see the Hudson Crash from a couple of months ago, it does happen, as rare as it is.

My guess is that the pilot episode was written baseing the show in LA (hence the need for the medivacs) but somewhere from the written page to the screen it was moved from LA to SF, and nobody ever thought to ask if the medivac portion of the plot would still be relevant.

Someone upthread asked that more shows be based in SF. Jouneyman was based in San Franscisco, and used alot of local area history as a backdrop. Sadly it was cancelled after one season.

I really don't think Nancy's soon-to-be-really-fricken-dead partner was masturbating in the back of that Bus, I don't think that was what they intended with that scene. Maybe he was shaking "it" off, as you would, or taking off a condom, and it probably isn't even worth discussing, because the guy got 3 lines of dialog and then killed off.

The tanker explosion was pretty, but in a only on TV way. In reality the tanker would have been obliterated and every car within 100 feet would have pretty much been toast. But again, suspending reality by choice in the hopes of being entertained.

People like car crashes, and people like TV, so you'd think people would like tv shows about car crashes. We will see. After all people weren't watching CHiP's for the bitchin hair styles and the disco music.

Saw the second episode and still really into it. Never really watched a medical show, but I trust in the FNL creators. So far, I have been rewarded. I want a little more character and a little less emergency, but the show is definitely exciting.

I saw the second episode last night and remain unimpressed.

I don't watch any other primetime network dramas, so I don't know, but is the acting always so bad? It's like everyone is too earnest and melodramatic. The little boy with the mother in the coma was particularly painful.

The scene with the car crashing through the street fair just made me laugh. I mean, it was more the reactions of the people as the car came through that did it. All the screaming just seemed fake and over the top.

The opening scene, with the mother who hit her head on the counter, where was that supposed to be set? That wasn't filmed in San Francisco, was it? If it was, it didn't look like any part I've ever been. It looked like a really woodsy, rural area.

I'm not sure if I'm supposed to spoiler-tag this information, but the gay character made more of an impression on me this time around. Of course, I still can't remember his name, but at least he had more to do last night. I'll be interested to see how his storyline develops.

The blonde paramedic, Nancy, annoys me. She just doesn't seem very likeable. I can't imagine caring what happens to her character, and I really don't care who she hooks up with. The way she unbuttons her shirt also seems unprofessional, although at least she was a little more covered up than during the premiere. Her beefcake partner was also distracting. I don't remember his name, but it seems like they just threw him in there for the eye-candy.

I must say that it was slightly better than the one like it on General Hospital a few weeks ago.

It's not bad enough to be offensive (so far) but I wouldn't miss it if it were gone tomorrow. I'll probably keep watching because I'm boycotting DWTS this season.

Pretty bland for what should be an exciting show. I will damn this with faint praise by saying I liked it much better than Three Rivers. Just goes to show how baaaad that one is. Definetly DOA.

The trauma guy drives for hours instead of going home since the big heli explosion. I got the sense that his wife accused him of being unfaithful before he was. Instead he was so messed up that he couldn't not take it home and he was always late, whereas before the explosion he went home immediately at the end of his shift. He couldn't explain this to his wife, so she was sure he had an affair.

Both the blonde chick and Rabbit (Robert) (everyone pronounced his name differently) had such attitude and entitlement issues, it's a wonder anyone would work with them. Maybe it's time to consider therapy or a new job instead of flipping out over a death or driving like a maniac, resulting in a finger being chopped off. Rabbit acted like it was no big deal. Please!

I'm going to give this more time, since ll haven't watched the second show, but the posts seem to indicate it will be same old, same old.

I also watched primarily because of the San Francisco location. Not very impressed, it appears to be afflicted with the TV plotting belief that characters need to have outsized personalities/ problems to be interesting. However, I have decided that I could watch Taylor Kinney look concerned and out of his depth for hours, so I will probably tune in again.

I tuned in again last night but didn't see the improvement I was hoping for. I usually give shows 3-4 episodes but the ratings took such a huge dive that I doubt NBC sticks with it for long.

For me, the weak link is Nancy, and that's because our first real introduction to her character was the "sex in the squad" scene! I think that scene would have been more palatable if we'd had a chance to get to know Nancy and the guy (don't know his name and since he was killed off shortly afterwards, I don't really care about him) as serious, professional paramedics BEFORE they got into the sex scene, but instead, my first impression of Nancy was "skank", "slut", "floozy".... After that, I just couldn't see her as being a professional paramedic--that along with the unbuttoned shirt, and her comments about the pool on how long before she sleeps with the new guy left me totally unsympathetic with the character.

But her partner guy IS hot! j/k ITA, I think that it was a mistake to introduce her like that. There's not much depth to her and since she's the only female paramedic (besides that helicopter pilot) I was annoyed. She's overly emotional, skanky-- pretty much every negative stereotype of women they could fit in there. Also, she's been paired with a newbie so we don't even get to see her as a 'kick-ass paramedic' just that her partner is incompetent. Even so, can't bring myself to dislike the character.

My least favorite character right now is the black paramedic. I generally hate characters that are cheaters and his reasoning... just didn't make any sense. He didn't have anyone to talk to? Dude. You work at a HOSPITAL. As in I'm sure there were counselors and psychologists a-plenty after the accident and even now if he wanted.

A main reason I continue to watch is to see scenes of SF, lol so good call on that whoever set it there.

But to be fair to show, I'm starting to really like Rabbit. I wasn't sure during the pilot but now it's official. Though I know that was the point, the scene with him and the kid was adorable. I wish the character was on a different show.

The helicopter pilot chick was booking on Embarcadero. With all the tourists, dogs being walked, buskers and what not usually on that sidewalk, I've never seen anyone run that hard, that long on the wharves near the bay bridge.

I'm hella freaked out by the bugging eyes though. Trauma is starting out like CSI Las Vegas did. Cram every show with as much weird, outlandish stuff as soon as possible. As if they have no faith the show will last so they gotta get it all in.

Derek Luke's character Cameron, aka the Black paramedic, is starting to annoy. Just like with Nancy, aka the slutty, skanky paramedic, we were introduced to the worst of his character without getting a chance to know and like him first. After nailing anything in a skirt he's so concerned about his wife's well being?

I have no problems disliking the Nancy character. Smooching Rabbit in the bar, without his consent, just sealed the deal. I hope he had some Listerine in the car to decontaminate himself after being macked by that walking vat of germs. I suppose Nancy is some male writer's wet dream of a co-worker but she comes off as icky and an embarasment to some women.

The show entertains me for an hour, which is all I really want or care about, although if it were the most intellectually/philosophically stimulating show on earth that would be ok too. I didn't understand about the eyes until someone talked about it to helicopter girl. Hate whiny divorce wife, please divorce her and make her go 'way. She's just a drag in an otherwise decent show.

Were we supposed to recognize the guy at the beginning with the boat, or is that a new character? Will we see him again, or is he just Nancy's hookup of the week?

By wearing the guy's shirt, she gets to have it unbuttoned all the way down. Disappointed that she was wearing a bra -- if only this was a 10pm show. Damn you, Leno!

I was wondering about that because it was Matthew Del Negro who used to play Bram on The West Wing and I liked him even though it was a tiny part. I mean he hasn't been on before but I hope he shows up again. Are they showing the eps in order?