Paramedics are not EMTs. Or fire fighters. Or cops. But they do ride around in ambulances (and drive) to help to save lives. It's a stressful job and in this classic episode we shine a light on this noble profession.
AI Summary
In this episode, Josh and Chuck dive deep into the history and current state of paramedics and emergency medical services in America, tracing how what seems like an obvious idea—having trained medical professionals in ambulances—didn't really become standard practice until the 1960s. They explore the fascinating evolution from battlefield stretcher-bearers to modern paramedics, the grueling training required to become certified, and the surprisingly broken patchwork system that emerged after the federal government stopped funding EMS in 1981. Along the way, Chuck shares a wild personal story about a jeep accident from his youth, and they unpack why paramedics don't run to emergency scenes and how perverse financial incentives are actually making the system worse rather than better.
"I think emergency, maybe Adam 12 is like the direct spin-off of Dragnet. — Josh speculates that Adam-12 may be a spin-off of Dragnet, both created by Jack Webb."
— Josh
Bringing Out the Dead
1999
2h 1m
★ 6.6
"It's better than Nicholas Cage and bringing out the dead. — Chuck references the Nicholas Cage movie Bringing Out the Dead as an example of paramedic-related content while discussing paramedic downtime and HBO."
— Chuck
"He's the dude from Dragnet, Sergeant Friday. Yeah, I guess I need to think about that. — The hosts discuss Jack Webb's involvement with both Dragnet and Emergency! shows."
— Chuck
Dragnet
1954
NR
1h 29m
★ 6.1
"He's the dude from Dragnet, Sergeant Friday. — Josh mentions Jack Webb's role in the TV show Dragnet while discussing Webb's involvement with the show Emergency!"
— Josh
Emergency!
1972
TV-G
★ 7.9
"Emergency with an exclamation point. It ran until 77. — Josh discusses the TV show Emergency! and its role in raising public awareness about paramedics and emergency medical services in America."
— Josh
Ghostbusters
1984
1h 47m
★ 7.5
"The Ecto-1, the Ghostbusters ambulance is a modified Cadillac hearse. — Josh references the Ghostbusters ambulance as an example of a hearse being used for transport, making a joke about the morbid implications."
— Josh
M*A*S*H
1970
1h 56m
★ 7.0
"We had a, Emily and I had a long conversation about M.A.S.H. the other day. — Josh mentions having a conversation about M*A*S*H and discusses the show's survival through major cast changes and its final episode."
— Josh
Roadhouse Girl
1953
NR
1h 10m
★ 4.9
"He was the owner. He's a character. He owned the Double Deuce. — Chuck references Kevin Teague's role as the owner of the Double Deuce in the movie Roadhouse while discussing the actor from Emergency!"
— Chuck
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