Exclusive: `Saved` Producer Discusses New EMS Show
A protective canine guards the door of his ailing master. Taking charge of the situation, Wyatt convinces his fellow paramedic friend Sack to act as a moving decoy, thereby diverting the pet's attention so he can work on resuscitation undistracted.
This scenario may strike a chord with actual EMS professionals who have confronted hostile pets on the job. "We are working with a loose network of paramedics and EMTs and ER docs that have been put together by one of our writers," described David Manson, who is executive producer of TNT's new series, 'Saved'.
Airing Mondays at 10 p.m., Saved tells the story of a medical-school dropout and compulsive gambler who works as an EMT in Portland, Oregon. Between arguments with his demanding chief of medicine father and sexually tense moments with his ex-girlfriend doctor, Wyatt (played by Tom Everett Scott) spends his days traveling the city in his ambulance with Sack.
Many events in the drama mirror real-world events, according to Manson. One scene, for example, depicted an intoxicated driver needing treatment for an accident he spurred. The inspiration for this came from a real world incident when an elderly man lost control of his car and plowed into the Santa Monica open market, killing many in the process.
Manson acknowledged, however, that none of the show's writers themselves have professional EMS experience, and he cautioned viewers not to expect complete realism.
"We're making every effort to continue to be as accurate as we can," prefaced Manson. "That being said, the reality is that it is a drama and not a documentary and occasionally we are going to take license where we think it's not egregious."
Also not egregious are the smooth-talk and sex appeal almost required by law in a TNT show. Yet commentary of interest to EMS workers can be found there as well.
Consider Wyatt's father. "What you got isn't a career. It's a hobby!" he chides.
Upon picking up a dead body while on the job, Wyatt laments to Sack, "We're not paramedics, we're garbage men."
Over 5.1 million viewers on June 12 made Saved the highest rated scripted cable series debut of the year, based on Nielsen ratings. Manson credits at least some of this to the show's lead-in:
"I think I owe you a big wet kiss," Manson wrote in an email to producers of 'The Closer'.
Columnists who reviewed the show had differing reviews:
Matthew Gilbert of the Boston Globe wrote it's "worth taking one more heart-defibrillating, chest-pounding ride": Click here
"You're welcome to try TNT's Saved - but only if you lower your expectations to simmer," bemoans Robert Bianco of USA TODAY: Click here
