In the modern age, the first responder television show is one of network television's most lucrative subgenres next to crime serials. All of these main networks have their own versions of the first responder show, but with that comes renewed audience awareness of the shows' clichés and underresearched moments. A firefighter on YouTube got creative in his response to these shows, as he green-screened himself into scenes of Fox's 9-1-1 to reveal how absurd those sequences can be.
The YouTube channel that uploaded the video is called Fire Department Chronicles, where a firefighter uploads comedic videos that provide a lighthearted look into the world of fire departments and EMS workers. The YouTube channel doesn't exclusively focus on first responder shows, but also provides funny videos about the daily lives of those departments.
But the YouTube channel's owner made some excellent points when he uploaded the video poking fun at first responder shows. He inserted himself into scenes from 9-1-1, particularly in high-stress emergency situations. His jokes criticize the poorly-researched dialogue moments from the show, including first responders claiming that a patient had a heart attack just by looking at her, a doctor taking a call during an emergency, and a woman calling someone asking for directions on how to perform an emergency tracheotomy.
The jokes highlight the importance of strong, well-researched writing in network television shows, but they also provide a laugh for viewers who might be looking for one. To see the firefighter explain his expertise as the show's first responders fumble through their emergencies is not only funny but serves to add a layer of disappointment from the content of the show. Fans of 9-1-1 and similar first responder shows might notice the inconsistencies between the TV characters' actions and real-life practices, and they might wish for first responder shows with writing that is much more accurate to those real-life practices.
In fairness to writers, most network shows have just over 40 minutes to tell a full story. So, while it certainly leads to plenty of noticeable mistakes for those with some first responder and medical knowledge, it is arguably understandable as to why writers take some shortcuts with the limited time they have.
In the meantime, however, fans of first responder shows will surely be laughing along with Fire Department Chronicles--while also laughing at the doctor taking the call during the emergency. NBC currently airs Chicago Med, Chicago Fire, and Chicago P.D. on Wednesday nights, while Fox airs 9-1-1 and CBS airs FBI.
Source: Fire Department Chronicles