Both Randolph Mantooth and Kevin Tighe wanted more accuracy on Emergency!

Both actors strived for a more realistic perspective that defied "escapism TV."

January 10, 2025, 2:43PM By MeTV Staff

The Everett Collection

Emergency! left a lasting impact on many viewers who tuned in to NBC each week, but perhaps its most important impact was in the field of emergency medical services (EMS).

Paramedic units had begun to emerge within fire departments across the country. What is so common today was influenced by Emergency!

No matter the show's ratings, its two top paramedics, John Gage (Randolph Mantooth) and Roy DeSoto (Kevin Tighe), could rest assured they had done something worthwhile.

When the series premiered, All in the Family was its biggest competition. Both shows had a lot to say about the current state of the world, and neither was afraid to display the best and worst parts of humanity.

In a 1973 interview with The Des Moines Register, Mantooth and Tighe spoke candidly about the series' producer, Jack Webb, and explained why the series was such a success.

"He (Webb) runs this production like a boot camp," Mantooth said.

"He is an interesting man to work with as an actor," Tighe said. "Technically, he's perfect. We have an open invitation to go in and see Webb any time. You can go in if you feel like listening for five to 10 minutes."

While Webb was rumored to be difficult to work with— due to his high standards— his particularities helped propel the series higher in the Nielsen ratings.

However, Mantooth and Tighe wanted more accuracy from the series. While it made a significant difference in the lives of many, teaching people how to better prepare for emergencies and potentially save their own lives, both actors strived for a more realistic perspective that defied "escapism TV."

"The problem with the show, if I may be so bold, is that it doesn't show fire departments as they really are," Mantooth said. "They show it as fire departments would like to be. The direction is unrealistic."

"I'm frankly idealistic about the show," Tighe added. "I'd like to see it a little more realistic."

Another problem, according to Mantooth, was that the paramedics always came out as the winners.

"The public doesn't want to see weaknesses in its heroes," Mantooth said. "We're fighting like hell to lose a patient once in a while. You can only see a person saved from a heart attack just so often."

Despite the changes the actors wanted, the public saw what they had to see. Emergency! went on to change communities and TV for decades to come.