Chicago Fire is off to a good start with an online sneak preview of the premier pilot episode which will broadcast on NBC on Wednesday, October 10, 2012 at 10:00 p.m. ET/9:00 p.m. CT.
Chicago Fire — produced by Law & Order creator Dick Wolf — follows the lives of the firefighters and paramedics working for the Chicago Fire Department at the firehouse of Engine 51, Truck 81, Squad 3, Medic 61, and Battalion 25. The front driveway of the fire station has Willis Tower as a backdrop.
The characters are introduced well in the pilot, and the realism of the crash and fire scenes, while not perfect for the demanding and seasoned firefighter, should be accepted by a large audience as the real deal.
Considering how well this pilot played out, and that veteran Dick Wolf and creators Derek Haas and Michael Brandt will likely develop this series with some interesting twists, this should be exciting and addicting Wednesday night television. ‘Chicago Fire’ combine the grit and local feel of 1980’s ‘Hill Street Blues’ with the heroic episodes of 1970’s EMERGENCY! and this is a formula that fans will enjoy. Coincidentally, Chicago Fire’s engine signature has the same number as in EMERGENCY! — Engine 51 … and the fire station, too. Station 51.
Taylor Kinney plays an arrogant Lieutenant Kelly Severide, and Jesse Spencer plays a dedicated Lieutenant Matthew Casey. Charlie Barnett plays firefighter/candidate Peter Mills on Truck 81, and looks to be an interesting newbie that will be used to help illustrate for the audience some of the inside information about the firefighting career and firefighter traditions. Joe Minoso as truckie Joe Cruz will be very likable as Mills’ unofficial mentor.
Eamonn Walker as ‘Chief Walter Boden’ (left) and Taylor Kinney as ‘Kelly Severide’ (Photo Credit © 2012 The Cardinal — Arlingtoncardinal.com). More photos on Facebook.com/CardinalEmergencies …
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The action-driven drama stars Taylor Kinney (“The Vampire Diaries”), Jesse Spencer (“House”), Monica Raymund (“The Good Wife”), former Chicagoan David Eigenberg (“Sex and the City”), Eamonn Walker (“Kings”) and Lauren German (“Hawaii Five-0”).
Eamonn Walker is cast well, and has the look of a seasoned Chicago Fire Department Battalion Chief, but his voice could be a little louder and more commanding. Directors might have him as a silent giant type, but he’d be more interesting with a little more force in his voice on scene. The pilot episode showed him planning strategy and giving orders well; it will be interesting to watch that mature through the series episodes.
Taylor Kinney as ‘Kelly Severide’ (left) and Joe Minoso as ‘Joe Cruz’ (Photo Credit © 2012 The Cardinal — Arlingtoncardinal.com). More photos on Facebook.com/CardinalEmergencies …
Dick Wolf is a producer of crime stories, such as the television series Miami Vice (supervising producer) and NBC’s Law & Order, which he created. Plots of Law & Order were often based on real cases that recently made headlines (“Ripped from the Headlines”), and lasted for 20 seasons. Episodes were shot in New York City with emphasis on local characters, dialects, neighborhood customs, history and cityscapes. The ‘Chicago Fire’ pilot already threw in the mention of a western suburb of Chicago. A little more of that can’t hurt the authenticity of the show, especially among Chicagoans.
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