Tuesday, August 09, 2022
COZI TV Celebrates Emergency! 50th Anniversary with Documentary; Kaley Cuoco Heads to Peacock for Comedic Thriller Series

Celebrating the lasting impact of one of television’s most iconic action dramas, COZI TV will premiere a special anniversary celebration documentary, Emergency! 50! The Show That Saved Your Life, to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Emergency! The 60-minute special will air on Saturday, August 13 and re-air on Saturday, August 20 and Monday, September 5 (check local listings). The original COZI TV documentary will explore the long-term impact of the show and the many lives it influenced – including those inspired to enter service as a first responder.
The special will include interviews with cast members, Randy Mantooth (Johnny Gage) and Kevin Tighe (Roy DeSoto). It will also provide an insider’s look at the Los Angeles County Fire Museum, where the show’s original emergency response equipment is housed and will include interviews with from museum representatives Capt. Paul Schneider, Capt. Ernie Ramirez, Capt. Joe Woyjeck, Capt. Paul Oyler. Other guests who will share their personal Emergency! stories will be, Gary Davis, one of LA’s original paramedics; Greg Enslen, author of Emergency! A Binge Guide to the Series; Paul Bergman, UCLA Law Professor; Tim Perkins, EMT and writer; Rev. Tim Polley, a superfan and collector; Eric Wright, firefighter paramedic and collector; Elena Miranda, writer and superfan and more.
Emergency! broke new ground in both the entertainment industry and in fire and emergency services. Often referred to as the first reality-based television show, Emergency! introduced the American public, and the world, to the then-revolutionary concept of using specially trained firefighters in the field to provide advanced life-saving services. According to the Los Angeles County Fire Museum, when Emergency! debuted on January 15, 1972, only twelve paramedic squads were in service in the entire country, with eight of them located in Los Angeles County. By the end of the show’s seven-year run, paramedic services grew substantially with over half of the U.S. population located within four-to-seven minutes of advanced lifesaving care. COZI TV, the national multicast network is today's television home of Emergency!, airing weekdays at noon and Saturdays at 6:00 PM (check local listings). NBC4 was the program's original television home, which aired Saturday nights in Los Angeles and across the country from 1972 through 1977.
Peacock announced that two-time Emmy Award-nominee Kaley Cuoco (The Flight Attendant, The Big Bang Theory, 8 Simple Rules) will star in the leading role of the highly-anticipated dark comedic thriller Based on a True Story, from Emmy Award-nominated Craig Rosenberg (The Boys, LOST, Preacher). Cuoco will play a married woman named Ava Bartlett. All other details are being kept under wraps. A dark comedic thriller inspired by a bizarre true event, Based on a True Story is about a realtor, a plumber and a former tennis star whose lives unexpectedly collide, exposing America's obsession with true crime, murder and the slow close toilet seat.
Rosenberg will serve as writer, showrunner and executive producer. Jason Bateman (Ozark, The Outsider) will executive produce alongside Michael Costigan for Aggregate Films. Roxie Rodriguez serves as co-executive producer for Aggregate Films. The series will be produced by UCP, a division of Universal Studio Group. Cuoco was nominated for an Emmy award again this year (for the second year in a row) for her performance in The Flight Attendant in the category Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series. She is currently shooting the action-thriller Role Play.
Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows
Wednesday, July 9
Shifting Gears - "Gummies" (ABC, 8:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Riley is horrified when she finds weed gummies in Carter’s pocket, prompting surprising advice from Matt. Meanwhile, Eve inadvertently lands Gabriel and Stitch in hot water after asking them to donate to a charity auction.
Shifting Gears - "Kiss" (ABC, 8:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
When Jimmy returns with a new job and a proposition for Riley and the kids to move into his house, Riley is torn between her past and her future. Meanwhile, Matt's feud with Eve flares up once again after she damages his car.
Abbott Elementary - "Volunteers" (ABC, 9:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Ava announces the school district is sending a group of volunteers to help out at Abbott; however, when they arrive, things don’t go as planned.
Abbott Elementary - "100th Day of School" (ABC, 9:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
During Abbott’s 100th day of school celebrations, Barbara receives a surprise from her daughter. Melissa, Jacob and Mr. Johnson join forces to conduct a search party.
It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia - "The Gang F***s Up Abbott Elementary" (FXX and FX, 9:00PM ET/PT)
Months after the Gang visited, Abbott's Principal Ava walks viewers through some of the unseen footage of the Gang's volunteerism and reveals their true intentions.
It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia - "Frank Is in a Coma" (FXX and FX, 9:33PM ET/PT)
The five stages of grief set in for Dee as Frank lies on his deathbed; the Guys plot their new path forward by pitching their business ventures to Philadelphia's elite.
Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of July 7)
Wednesday, July 9
- Anthony Anderson (black-ish/Guys with Kids/All About the Andersons) - Anthony guest hosts Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
- Salma Hayek Pinault (The Sinbad Show) - Watch Salma on a repeat of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
- Jean Smart (Hacks/Samantha Who?/Center of the Universe/In-Laws/Style & Substance/Designing Women) - Jean is a guest on a repeat of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
- Cole Escola (Human Resources/Search Party/Mozart in the Jungle/Difficult People) - Cole appears on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
- Richie Moriarty (Ghosts), Betsy Sodaro (Ghosts/Duncanville/Disjointed/Animal Practice) and Punam Patel (Ghosts/Return of the Mac/Kevin from Work) - Richie, Betsy and Punam are guests on a repeat of After Midnight at 12:37am on CBS.
- Ronny Chieng (Young Rock/Ronny Chieng: International Student) - Ronny hosts Comedy Central's The Daily Show at 11pm.
- Tika Sumpter (mixed-ish/Final Space/The Game) - Tika sits down with the Tam Fam to talk about her new children's book I Got It From My Mama a repeat of Tamron Hall, so check your local listings.
- Isabela Merced (100 Things to Do Before High School/Growing Up Fisher) - Isabela chats about her film Superman on Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.
- Anna Camp (Perfect Harmony/Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt/The Mindy Project) and Justin Bartha (The New Normal/Teachers) - Anna and Justin discuss their film Nuked on Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.
- Simon Helberg (The Big Bang Theory) - Simon talks about Peacock's Poker Face on Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.
New on DVD and Blu-ray
01/28 - Wait Till Your Father Gets Home - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
02/04 - The Wayans Bros. - The Complete Series
03/11 - Frasier (2023) - Season Two
04/01 - Abbott Elementary - The Complete Third Season
05/13 - The Drew Carey Show - The Complete Series* (missing 4 episodes and some music has been replaced or altered)
06/06 - Shoresy - Season 2
06/17 - Looney Tunes - Collector's Vault - Volume 1 (Blu-ray)
07/22 - Bewitched - The Complete Series - 60th Anniversary Special Edition (Blu-ray)
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