Had an interesting semi-encounter last night.
Those of you old enough to remember the show "Emergency" will probably also remember that it was a primary reason for hundreds if not thousands of people to become EMT's and Paramedics.
The lives of Johnny Gage and his partner Roy DeSoto were made exciting and entertaining, mostly due to the show's producers ongoing relationship with the Los Angeles County Fire Dept. and their Paramedic program. I work regularly with retired Paramedics and Firefighters who were consultants on the show.
In the ensuing years, Randolph Mantooth, who played Firefighter/Paramedic Johnny Gage has stayed involved on the outskirts of EMS, he's a popular speaker at EMS conventions and he has helped raise a boatload of money for the L.A. County Firefighters Museum. The actor who played his partner, Kevin Tighe has kept a much lower public profile.
So last night I'm in my local independent bookstore, I look up and sitting at the same table is a face that I recognize, it's Kevin Tighe, or as he's better known to some of us, Firefighter/Paramedic Roy DeSoto. I argue internally whether or not to say hello to him cause I'm one of the many people who ended up becoming an EMT at least partly because of his show. I now work in the entertainment industry as a Set Medic and I'm usually pretty good about being around celebrities, I'm also aware that Tighe apparently doesn't like being in crowds of people or having a fuss made over him. At any rate I'm just about to give him my regards when another customer walks up and asks him if he's an actor, Tighe responds that he is but that he's trying to read, the other guy sorta fades away after that and I decide not to follow up on my plans to say hello.
I'm kinda kicking myself for not just quietly thanking him and moving on. If I ever see him in there again, I will.
Just a brief semi-encounter that I enjoyed even without the personal contact. I've always thought that Tighe never really got the credit he deserved for his acting, not only on "Emergency" but in other roles he's had. In particular he did a guest appearance a couple of years ago on "Law and Order: Criminal Intent" that was really great. He played a doctor who kills some of his own patients. Hope I get another chance to tell him how much I've admired his work and how at least one role he played influenced another person.
That's it.
John E
Those of you old enough to remember the show "Emergency" will probably also remember that it was a primary reason for hundreds if not thousands of people to become EMT's and Paramedics.
The lives of Johnny Gage and his partner Roy DeSoto were made exciting and entertaining, mostly due to the show's producers ongoing relationship with the Los Angeles County Fire Dept. and their Paramedic program. I work regularly with retired Paramedics and Firefighters who were consultants on the show.
In the ensuing years, Randolph Mantooth, who played Firefighter/Paramedic Johnny Gage has stayed involved on the outskirts of EMS, he's a popular speaker at EMS conventions and he has helped raise a boatload of money for the L.A. County Firefighters Museum. The actor who played his partner, Kevin Tighe has kept a much lower public profile.
So last night I'm in my local independent bookstore, I look up and sitting at the same table is a face that I recognize, it's Kevin Tighe, or as he's better known to some of us, Firefighter/Paramedic Roy DeSoto. I argue internally whether or not to say hello to him cause I'm one of the many people who ended up becoming an EMT at least partly because of his show. I now work in the entertainment industry as a Set Medic and I'm usually pretty good about being around celebrities, I'm also aware that Tighe apparently doesn't like being in crowds of people or having a fuss made over him. At any rate I'm just about to give him my regards when another customer walks up and asks him if he's an actor, Tighe responds that he is but that he's trying to read, the other guy sorta fades away after that and I decide not to follow up on my plans to say hello.
I'm kinda kicking myself for not just quietly thanking him and moving on. If I ever see him in there again, I will.
Just a brief semi-encounter that I enjoyed even without the personal contact. I've always thought that Tighe never really got the credit he deserved for his acting, not only on "Emergency" but in other roles he's had. In particular he did a guest appearance a couple of years ago on "Law and Order: Criminal Intent" that was really great. He played a doctor who kills some of his own patients. Hope I get another chance to tell him how much I've admired his work and how at least one role he played influenced another person.
That's it.
John E
