Third Watch

Third Watch is an American crime drama television series created by John Wells and Edward Allen Bernero that aired on NBC from September 23, 1999, to May 6, 2005, with a total of 132 episodes spanning over six seasons. It was produced by John Wells Productions, in association with Warner Bros. Television.

The show takes place in New York City, and was filmed on location there. It stars an ensemble cast of characters, the storylines centered on the lives of police officers in the New York City Police Department (NYPD) and the firefighters and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Personnel in the New York City Fire Department (FDNY), all working the same fictional precinct during the 3:00p.m. to 11:00p.m. shift, also known as the "third watch".

After the September 11 attacks hit New York in 2001, season three opened with the episode "In Their Own Words", which aired on October 15, 2001, and featured interviews with real-life NYPD and FDNY members who responded to the attacks. The following episode was titled "September Tenth".

Premise The series followed the exploits of a group of police officers, firefighters, and paramedics in the fictional NYPD 55th Precinct and the fictional FDNY Squad 55/Ladder 100/Battalion 24 firehouse, whose shifts fell between 3 pm and 11 pm, the "third watch". The precinct and fire station were located on the fictional corner of King Boulevard and Arthur Street; hence the nickname "Camelot". Exterior and interior shots of the 55th Precinct and the firehouse were filmed in Long Island City, Queens; however, in the show, they are located somewhere between Midtown Manhattan, Inwood, and the Bronx.

Third Watch succeeded in presenting all three branches of New York City's emergency services in the same show, reviving a failed attempt to do so nine years prior with the similarly themed H.E.L.P. The show balanced numerous single-episode events with other, ongoing storylines, some of which spanned multiple seasons. Though it gained much acclaim and eventually won an award for its emotional and honest portrayal of 9/11 and its aftermath, Third Watch was also criticized in some circles for extremely detailed violence, and extensive (by network standards) profane language. The show was created, produced, and written by John Wells and Edward Allen Bernero. The theme song for the show was "Keep Hope Alive" by The Crystal Method, except for the pilot episode, when "Right Here, Right Now" by Fatboy Slim was played during the opening sequence.

In the spring of 2005, NBC decided not to renew Third Watch, making the sixth season its last. The series' finale, "Goodbye to Camelot", aired in the United States on Friday, May 6, 2005. Several major newspapers, including the New York Times and the Bergen Record, have since listed it as a TV show that was cancelled too early.

Conception John Wells had wanted to do a show about paramedics for some time due to his work on ER, but did not think he had enough material to make such a show. Ed Bernero, a former Chicago cop, had wanted to do a police drama partly based on his own experiences. The two worked together on the short-lived show Trinity and, after that show was cancelled, Wells asked Bernero if he wanted to co-create a show with him.<ref></ref>

Originally, the show was only going to be about the police and paramedics, but firefighter Jimmy Doherty was added to the show after Eddie Cibrian auditioned for the role of Bosco. Cibrian lost out to Jason Wiles, but because of the attention he received from women due to his good looks, the producers decided to put him in the show as a new character. Bernero reportedly commented that they did not have any firefighters, and the fire aspect of the show was added.<ref></ref>

Episodes

The series consists of six seasons with a total of 132 episodes, produced and broadcast from September 23, 1999, to May 6, 2005.

Crossovers

"Unleashed" — Yokas and Bosco help Dr. Susan Lewis find her drug-addicted sister and her niece, who went missing. The story begins on ER in the episode "Brothers & Sisters". "Disaster" — An AWOL soldier arrested for a jewelry store robbery that left a friend of Sully's dead contracts a virus that begins to spread. The story concludes on Medical Investigation in the episode "Half-Life".

Main cast

Third Watch's original ensemble cast in the series' first season consisted of Michael Beach, Coby Bell, Bobby Cannavale, Eddie Cibrian, Molly Price, Kim Raver, Anthony Ruivivar, Skipp Sudduth, and Jason Wiles.

Eddie Cibrian also portrayed the contract-role of Cole on Sunset Beach while appearing on Third Watch at the same time until Sunset Beach'''s cancellation on September 17, 1999.

In 2000, Amy Carlson was added to the cast as paramedic/firefighter Alex Taylor. In 2001, series regular Bobby Cannavale willingly left the series after he asked to be written out due to lack of character use and development.<ref></ref>

At the start of season three, Chris Bauer was added to the main credits as Fred Yokas after being a recurring guest star previously. Tia Texada became a recurring guest star, and later, a full cast member, in 2002. Carlson left the show in 2003. Later that year, Nia Long was introduced as Officer Sasha Monroe (her rank was changed in season six in one of the show's most shocking plot twists). Yvonne Jung became a recurring guest star also in 2003, although she had been a guest in season-three episode "Act Brave" as a lawyer defending Kim in her custody battle with Jimmy. Also in 2003, Bonnie Dennison was added as Emily Yokas, previously being recurring.

In 2004, just after celebrating the show's 100th episode, Eddie Cibrian and Michael Beach left the show. Cibrian's departure marked the first time a main character was written out of the show without dying. Series regular Molly Price's character, Faith Yokas, made very few appearances in season five of the series because Price was pregnant throughout much of the season. The writers for Third Watch explained her absence by her character being seriously injured in a shootout, and then trying to recuperate at home. In the few scenes Price was in, her growing belly was frequently hidden by blankets piled on top of her while she lay in bed. Cara Buono joined the cast as Paramedic Grace Foster late in the show's fifth season in 2004.

Kim Raver decided to leave the show after the show's sixth-season opener and became a series regular on 24. Josh Stewart was introduced as a main cast member of season six as Probationary Officer Brendan Finney. After a several-month absence, Dennison reclaimed the role of Emily Yokas for the rest of the final season, while Chris Bauer left the show to pursue his new show Tilt, which coincidentally co-starred his former Third Watch castmate, Eddie Cibrian, but made sporadic guest-star appearances in season six. Beach, Cibrian, and Raver rejoined their former co-stars in the series finale, "Goodbye To Camelot".

Main cast Actor Character Seasons as main cast Seasons as recurring/guest Episodes (as main cast)Michael Beach FDNY Paramedic Monte "Doc" Parker 1–5 6 1–103Coby Bell NYPD Officer Tyrone "Ty" Davis, Jr. 1–6 1–132Bobby Cannavale FDNY Paramedic Roberto "Bobby" Caffey 1–2 1–38Eddie Cibrian FDNY Firefighter/Lieutenant James "Jimmy" Doherty 1–5 6 1–101Molly Price NYPD Officer/Detective Faith Yokas 1–6 1–132Kim Raver FDNY Paramedic Kimberly "Kim" Zambrano 1–5 6 1–111Anthony Ruivivar FDNY Paramedic Carlos Nieto 1–6 1–132Skipp Sudduth NYPD Officer John "Sully" Sullivan 1–6 1–132Jason Wiles NYPD Officer Maurice "Bosco" Boscorelli 1–6 1–132Amy Carlson FDNY Paramedic/firefighter Alexandra "Alex" Taylor 2–4 26–88Chris Bauer Frederick "Fred" Yokas 3–5 1–2, 6 45–110Tia Texada NYPD Sergeant Maritza Cruz 4–6 4 80–132Nia Long NYPD Officer/IAB Detective Sasha Monroe 5–6 4 89–132Bonnie Dennison Emily Yokas¹ 5–6 1–4 89–132Cara Buono FDNY Paramedic Grace Foster 6 5 111–132Josh Stewart NYPD Officer Brendan Finney 6 113–132

¹ <small>The Yokas' oldest child Emily was portrayed by P.J. Morrison in seasons one-three in a recurring role. Dennison took over the role in season four and received star billing in the final two seasons in the episodes in which she appeared.</small>

Recurring cast These cast members are listed by the season in which they were introduced:

Actor Character Seasons as recurring cast NotesDerek Kelly FDNY Firefighter Derek "DK" Kitson 1–6 Real-life FDNY firefighter; real-life husband of Molly PriceBill Walsh FDNY Firefighter/Lieutenant William "Billy" Walsh 1–6 Real-life FDNY firefighterPatti D'Arbanville Rose Boscorelli 1–6 Bosco's motherJeremy Bergman Charles "Charlie" Yokas 1–4 Faith and Fred's youngest childLonette McKee Maggie Davis 1–4 Ty's motherMonica Trombetta Dana Murphy 1–2 ER NurseJames Rebhorn NYPD Captain "Stick" Elchisak 1–3 NYPD Captain of 55th PrecinctP.J. Morrison Emily Yokas 1–3 First actress to portray characterKristopher Scott Fiedell Joseph "Joey" Doherty 1–3 Kim and Jimmy's sonEva LaRue NYPD Officer Brooke Doherty 1–2 Jimmy's second wifeLisa Vidal Dr. Sarah Morales 1–2 Attending at Mercy Hospital; Doc's love interestWendell Pierce NYPD Officer Conrad "Candyman" Jones 1 Cop with long and spotty history partnered with Davis' fatherNick Chinlund NYPD Detective Tancredi 1 Ernest Mingione NYPD Lieutenant Kowalski 1 Peter Vack "The Rod Rodney" 1 Jon Seda Mateo "Matty" Caffey 1–2 Bobby's ex-con brotherSaundra McClain Nurse Mary Proctor 2–6 Primary nurse at MercyJohn Michael Bolger FDNY Lieutenant Johnson 2–4 Savannah Haske Tatiana Deschenko 2–4 Wife of SullyNick Sandow FDNY Firefighter Joseph "Joe" Lombardo III 2 Carol Woods NYPD Lieutenant Rice 2 Anne Twomey Catherine Zambrano 2 Mother of KimJoe Lisi NYPD Lieutenant Robert "Bob" Swersky 3–6 Sterling K. Brown NYPD Officer Edward Dade 3–5 Charlie Day Michael "Mikey" Boscorelli 3–5 Brother of BoscoBrad Beyer NYPD Sergeant Jason Christopher 2–3 Charlie McWade NYPD Officer Steven Gusler 3 A squeamish new officer training under Yokas and BoscoDarien Sills-Evans Dr. Fields 4–6 Attending at MercyJames Remar NYPD Detective Madjanski 4 Yvonne Jung FDNY Paramedic Holly Levine 5–6 Love interest of Carlos, real-life wife of Anthony RuivivarJoe Badalucco NYPD Detective "Jelly" Grimaldi 5–6 Yokas' partner once she was promoted to detectiveCharles Haid NYPD IAB Captain Cathal "CT" Finney 6 Corrupt; father of BrendanManny Pérez NYPD Officer Manny Santiago 6 Partner to CruzAidan Quinn NYPD Lieutenant John Miller 6 Partner and eventual love interest to YokasJason Shaw FDNY Firefighter Stu "Lotta Zs" Szczelaszczyk 6

Main crew

Directors Guy Norman Bee Peter Ellis (5 episodes, 2002–2003) Jesús Salvador Treviño (4 episodes, 2001–2002) Vincent Misiano Christopher Chulack (3 episodes, 1999–2004) Charles Haid (3 episodes, 2000–2005) Félix Enríquez Alcalá (3 episodes, 2003–2005) Gloria Muzio (3 episodes, 2003–2005) Skipp Sudduth (3 episodes, 2003–2005) Edward Allen Bernero (3 episodes, 2004–2005) Nelson McCormick (3 episodes, 2004–2005) Chris Misiano (2 episodes, 1999–2000) Bryan Spicer (2 episodes, 1999–2000) R.W. Goodwin (2 episodes, 1999) Jace Alexander (2 episodes, 2000–2001) Nick Gomez (2 episodes, 2000–2001) Michael Fields (2 episodes, 2000) Julie Hébert Stephen Cragg (2 episodes, 2004–2005) John E. Gallagher (2 episodes, 2004–2005) Paul Michael Glaser (2 episodes, 2004–2005) Rosemary Rodriguez Matt Earl Beesley (2 episodes, 2004) Brooke Kennedy

Writers Edward Allen Bernero (132 episodes, 1999–2005) John Wells (132 episodes, 1999–2005) Janine Sherman (13 episodes, 2000–2005) Scott Williams (11 episodes, 2001–2004) John Ridley (6 episodes, 1999–2001) Charles Murray (5 episodes, 2003–2005) Lance Gentile (4 episodes, 1999–2000) Bonnie Mark (4 episodes, 2000–2001) Angela Amato (4 episodes, 2003–2005) Terri Kopp (3 episodes, 1999–2000) John Romano (3 episodes, 1999–2000) Julie Hébert (2 episodes, 2000–2001) Kyra Keene (2 episodes, 2000–2001) Victor De Jesus (2 episodes, 2004)