Editor’s note: Seems most of you noted the date of the article — Happy April Fool’s guys! Thankfully, nothing in this article is true.
By EMS1 Staff
NEW YORK — Producers of a new EMS drama have announced that the series has been greenlit by CBS for its Fall 2011 schedule. ''Ambulance Drivers’’ will focus on the exploits of a fictional ambulance service, and producers promise it will be the most realistic depiction of the EMS profession ever seen on TV.
“The skill required in driving patients safely from accident scenes to the hospital is totally underappreciated, and we seek to shine some positive light on these hidden heroes,” said producer Maura Nick.
“I like to think of them as Super Cabbies, in the fondest sense of the word. I hope that the series will help bring the term ‘ambulance driver’ back into vogue, as it’s something I hear less and less of nowadays.”
Series producers say the biggest challenge will be coming up with storylines each week, given the narrow range of responsibilities handled by the show’s medics. One idea has been to employ a series of special guest stars from past notable TV shows as patients; Dustin Diamond, best known as “Screech” from “Saved by the Bell,” will appear in episode three as a birthday clown suffering an epileptic attack.
“It’'s been a struggle, there’s no doubt about it. But we’ve enlisted top writers to make sure we explore the deeper meaning behind the profession and capture what makes these guys tick,” said Nick, noting that Aaron Sorkin has contributed a standout episode featuring a steamy ambulance sex scene amid a downtown riot.
Despite the challenges, producers say they believe the show will be very appealing to advertisers given the significant opportunities for product placement, capitalizing on the fact that each episode features at least one visit to a fast food chain restaurant. And Red Bull has signed a six-figure deal to be the exclusive can on the floor of the ambulance cabs.
The series will debut on Sept. 21 with a special two-hour episode focused on the fallout after an ambulance gets a flat tire.
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Editor’s Note: Lest anyone think otherwise, this article is a work of parody without a speck of truth, and we’re confident CBS would never actually greenlight a series with so insensitive a title, nor would Dustin Diamond or Aaron Sorkin lend their talents to such a ridiculous endeavor. Not sure about Maura Nick, however. Happy April Fools’!