If you’re a perfectionist, there’s a good chance that you’re very rarely satisfied with something unless you get it done yourself. The saying goes that if you want something done right, you’ve got to do it yourself. A keen eye and an analytical brain served Robert A. Cinader well when he created Emergency! However, it also kept him up to his ears in work.

In addition to co-creating the show, Cinader also served as a producer on the hit series. There, he frequently edited and re-wrote Emergency! scripts. In an article for the Associated Press, Cinader explained that he had a specific vision of what the television series should be.

“The scripts are never good enough,” said Cinader during the interview. “That is to say, they’re not right enough. I have in my head the only image of Emergency! that exists. Because of human nature, no one can come as close to that concept as I can. I don’t judge a script by whether it’s good or bad. I judge it by whether it meets my concept.”

Watch Emergency! on MeTV!

Weekdays at 5 PM

*available in most MeTV markets

While Cinader’s methods might have seemed a bit unorthodox to some, it certainly paid off. Emergency! dominated the television industry, and it was at least partially due to Cinader’s effort to reach an underserved demographic.

“No television show has universal appeal,” said Cinader. “Even All in the Family doesn’t appeal to everyone. You look for the areas where it doesn’t appeal. And that’s to the action-oriented kids. You design a show around kids.”