The cancellation of NBC’s Trauma series is upsetting many EMTs and regular viewers. Apparently the San Francisco economy is going to miss it as well.
Trauma follows a group of first responder paramedics in the San Francisco area. The high-action medical drama stars Derek Luke, Cliff Curtis, Anastasia Griffith, Kevin Rankin, Aimee Garcia, Billy Lush, Jamey Sheridan, and Taylor Kinney.
The show’s been struggling in the ratings from the start and NBC announced last week that the network wouldn’t be ordering any more episodes, cancelling the series.
Though many shows have been set there, Trauma is the first show to be completely filmed in the City by the Bay since Nash Bridges went off the air in 2001. Before that, there was Midnight Caller and Streets of San Francisco. As with many out-of-town productions, the filming of Trauma hasn’t all been smooth sailing.
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Plans to film the series in San Francisco nearly got derailed after the pilot. Productions can typically get rebates from local government to entice shooting in their area. The San Francisco Board of Supervisors reportedly changed their program so that rebates went to film productions. The Trauma pilot was ineligible and NBC was none too pleased after spending $8 million on it.
Things eventually got worked out and the network okayed local production of the 12 additional episodes. Around that same time, Mayor Gavin Newsom came under criticism for taking campaign contributions from an NBC exec. Later, the city had to spend an extra $270,000 for a big annual convention that’s usually held in a facility that was rented out for Trauma.
Despite some extra expenses and inconveniences to the locals, Trauma has very been good for the local San Francisco economy. It’s estimated that $3-4 million per episode is spent in the area. That comes from payments of crew, police overtime, permits and catering. There are 150 people employed on the full-time crew, as many as 300 guest actors, extras, and other local labor as well.
If the show had continued, many of the actors who were renting apartments had been talking about buying houses in the area. But now, with the show ending, all of the extra revenue to San Francisco will be stopping as well.
NBC has said that they plan to finish production on all of the previously ordered episodes. It was initially announced that filming would last until mid-December but it’s unknown if the show’s cancellation will curtail that.
What do you think? Did it make a difference that Trauma was actually shot on location? Does seeing a city like San Francisco on a TV show each week entice you to want to visit?
Image courtesy NBC.
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This was a wonderful show. I can’t believe that NBC would cancel such a great show. It just proves to me that NBC executives don’t know their you know what from a hole in the ground. I guess that they would rather spend their money on a cheap reality show than to sink their money into a quality production.
With San Francisco as a backdrop, it was the perfect setting for the show.
“EMT’s being upset about it’s cancellation?? Is that why there is a FB page dedicated to EMT’s, Paramedics, and FireFighters that oppose a show that showcases our profession as a bunch of renegade, cowboys running around acting like prepubescent teenagers. One episode ended with the crews sitting around drinking beer at the beach, then driving the ambulances home… The same episode showed a the cowboy flight medic give a sedative to a patient then swagger away like Elvis in a flight suit…… I, as with many, are happy to see it go.. The public actually believes this crap, and it is an insult to us that spend 2 years in school, then countless hours in continuing education in order to save your butts…….
Terry, You were making such a frustrated but ultimately valid point. Then you lost it in a fit of pique. I don’t remember the episode of which you speak. (It may have been the new one on last night.) It is ideal if dramas convey realistic portrayals of professions depicted but a one hour network drama that actually compresses a story into about 43 minutes can’t hope to sustain audiences without some hyperbole. I’m not certain whether your observations are accurate because I either didn’t see the episode or just missed the scenes you describe. Having their work vehicles with them when they’ve gone out to unwind after duty seems inappropriate. Since you sound like an Emergency Medical Technician, who has trained for two years to do this job, it remains a pity that you refer to saving people as saving their b—s. Compassion and caring for the people served by those in and around the medical profession seem sadly lacking because the educational programs don’t include sufficient training in addressing the emotional needs of patients. Ultimately, maybe this is just you letting off steam. I have a number of health issues and have been a passenger in an EMT ambulance four times. In Manhattan, San Francisco and Iowa. Very different cities. The technicians who took care of me were all — without exception — professional, kind, supportive and considerate. And, to my admittedly patient’s eye, the EMT folks depicted on “Trauma” have been very sensitive with their patients. People in professions depicted in movies or TV dramas often expect letter perfect portrayals of their work and drama is meant to entertain and well as inform. Perhaps you are asking too much.
Terry is right about the medicine, the conduct and about EMT’s hating the show…
I really liked the show, its a shame they have to cut it loose. Maybe if they based in L.A., like the show EMERGENCY from the 70′s, maybe it would have a shot. Well that’s what I think., it would of showed how different L.A., looks from the 70′s.
This show was like ER on steroids, and I loved their exploits, believable or not, and was growing to love the characters a great deal as well. I can’t believe NBC invests all this money into a show and then just pulls the plug. Here’s an idea: fire Conan, move Leno back to his old slot, and let us have our 9pm and 10pm shows back! Mercy and SVU are struggling, and they’re saying it’s Leno. So what are they going to do, cancel everything and keep that moron? Just so angry. So much time invested only to have it be for naught. Shame on you, NBC, and CANCEL LENO!!!
Very Very Sad I live for that show and can’t wait till mondays,
I only watched “Trama” to see if I could identify the locations they were filming.
I’d love to watch them film on location but don’t know how to find that info.
I love Trauma!! Way to go NBC-you are truly a bunch of idiots. You will never have a quality show that requires any character development. And to the person who ragged on those of us over 50-I think putting Leno on every night at 10 is ridiculous and have NEVER watched it. I am sick to death of Law and Order in all its forms. I hate reality TV. And I hope NBC wises up (fat chance) and saves Trauma. Or maybe some other, smarter network will pick it up. What do you think TNT? Trauma is clearly better than Southland! Oh, and do these networks not realize that we RARELY watch our TV shows live anymore? I tape everything on the DVR and watch it when I am in the mood.
WHATS NBC’S PROBLEM?? THEY SEEM DRIVEN ON SEX,VIOLENCE,DRUGS,MURDER..
BUT ALONG COMES A GREAT MEDICAL SERIES,AND THEY’D RATHER GIVE THE LATTER A SECOND AND THIRD CHANCE,AND CAST TRAUMA INTO THE FIRE??
WHY DOES’NT NBC LOOK AT THEIR TRACK RECORD
AND GET IT RIGHT?
HERE ARE THE STATS..ST. ELSEWHERE A GREAT SHOW AT LEAST YOU LET IT RUN AWHILE..KUDOS FOR THAT.THEN THE LONG RUNNING ER..
THIRDLY THE EVER PRESENT “MERCY”,THEN TRYING TO PLAY CATCH IS TRAUMA.
I WILL NOT TAKE THIS ONE WITHOUT A FIGHT!
NBC SHOULD BE BOYCOTTED FOR THEIR LACK OF
NEW SHOWS NAMELY GIVING TRAUMA A GREAT SHOT AT SUCCESS.BUT NO! THEY HAVE TO WANDER DOWN THE PATH TO THEIR OWN DEMISE.
NEED I REMIND YOU BEFORE THERE WERE 5 NETWORKS NBC LAGGED BEHIND IN THE RATINGS NUMBER 4 BEHIND FOX? CUT LOOSE OF TRAUMA AND IT WILL HAPPEN ALL OVER AGAIN.
I THINK A BOYCOTT OF NBC IS A GREAT IDEA..
This is ridiculous that nbc would be canceling this show. It’s one of the few that I actually WANT to see when it comes on (sadly with ota the nbc station in my area doesn’t come in – great job – so I watch online). Perhaps instead of having leno on so much they should just cancel his show then they’d have room for something good instead of the mindless, tired routine that he’s settled into.
This is one of the best shows on TV today. If NBC wants to keep people watching they better keep this on. There aren’t many shows my wife and I agree on to watch together and this is one of them. San Francisco is a great location to have it in and that real street locations make it even more real to us who grew up in “The City”. Remember “There may be no Heven, but there is San Francisco”. Keep this show and let it grow. Leno or Trauma ? I’ll take Trauma.
It’s a shame. It’s a big difference when scenarios are shot on the actual streets instead of within a studio set. YOUdon’t have to be a rocket scientist to see the difference. It also encourages people to WATCH the show when they see it filming on the city streets. I’ve been boycotting NBC for some months, and perhaps I’ll soon make it a few years after Trauma cancels. I must confess also that with the exception of the special effects, the script was lousy, but it has improved greatly – to cancel it is a big mistake. Maybe it’ll be ported over to another channel like CBS or ABC (or even Fox?) and it will be successful, then NBS will again be the network that has all the sleeper series and never makes any headway in the ratings? If that were to happen, then serves NBC right for not sticking it out. If I haven’t watched NBC for months except for Trauma, think of all the others who avoid NBC also…. but they don’t care. The brass at NBC don’t care because they are so high now that they have lost touch with their past audiences till they go the way o the big car companies…. but nobody will be there to bail out NBC. A deserving death of NBC….
nbc, i’m really disappointed in you, i CAN NOT believe they are canceling a great show! its probably one of the best shows on tv right now…it took me a few episodes to warm up to it but now i’m hooked! …please give people a chance! there’s great cast, scenes and its awesome that its actually shot out in the streets and not in a studio.
btw, can you cancel leno while youre at it and put law and order back in a better time slot instead of friday nights? wth was up with that too? you’re sidelining all the best shows that’s why your ratings suck!
OMG, i freaking love this show, what the hell is wrong with these networks, they’re cancelling all the shows i’m currently watching…..
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