Code Red (American TV series)

Code Red is an American drama television series that ran on ABC from November 1, 1981 to September 12, 1982 and was produced by Irwin Allen.[1] This was Allen's sixth and final television series, and his only series not produced for 20th Century Fox.

Code Red
GenreDrama
Created byLaurence Heath
Written byLaurence Heath
Carole and Mike Raschella
Cliff Ruby
Elena Lesser
Directed byJ. Lee Thompson
Fernando Lamas
Don Weis
StarringLorne Greene
Andrew Stevens
Martina Deignan
Julie Adams
Sam J. Jones
Adam Rich
Theme music composerMorton Stevens
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes19
Production
Production locationsLos Angeles, California, U.S.
Camera setupSingle-camera
Running time90 minutes (pilot), 60 minutes (series)
Production companiesIrwin Allen Productions
Columbia Pictures Television
DistributorSony Pictures Television
Release
Audio formatMonaural
Original releaseNovember 1, 1981 (1981-11-01) 
September 12, 1982 (1982-09-12)

Overview

The series stars Lorne Greene as Battalion Fire Chief Joe Rorchek and his family, some of whom, his elder sons Ted (Andrew Stevens) and Chris (Sam J. Jones), serve as firemen under his direct command as part of the Los Angeles Fire Department. In addition, Haley Green (Martina Deignan), the first female firefighter in the LAFD, is under Rorchek's command and serves with distinction both professionally and as a friend of the Rorcheks.

In addition, Joe Rorchek's preteen adopted son, Danny Blake (Adam Rich) serves as a member of the Firefighter Explorers organization, complete with his own uniform and turnout gear. Although still a child, Danny dreams of joining the family profession and enjoys privileged access to his family's professional activities. As a result, he has numerous adventures of his own armed with a cool head in the face of crisis and considerable fire safety and first aid skills for his age. Despite the danger, the male members of the Rorchek family have the full support of Ann Rorchek (Julie Adams), Joe's wife, who is proud of her family's calling.

In addition to family drama, the characters have numerous adventures with the various fires and other emergencies that happen in their operating area.

The series began with a television movie as Joe Rorchek as an arson investigator who is pursuing a dangerous arsonist who uses firebombs to start serious blazes that Rorchek's sons have to fight. Meanwhile, Green, recently assigned to the Rorcheks' unit, strives to prove herself to skeptical fire fighter Al Martelli (Jack Lindine). When the series was approved for production, Greene's character was reassigned to command the task force "Station 1" (in actuality, the real LAFD Station 49, which was used for establishing and exterior shots during the show's production), located on the city's waterfront as a more suitable premise for the series. The station is a large one, equipped with not only a varied ground fleet of vehicles including a personal car for Chief Rorchek, but also a helicopter piloted by Chris Rorchek and a fireboat moored at a dock built into the station.

Given that the series was scheduled for early Sunday evening for a family audience, many episodes end with a coda where a cast member addresses the audience about fire safety and first aid.

Episode list

Title Directed by Written by Original air date
0"Code Red"TBATBASeptember 20, 1981 (1981-09-20)
90-minute pilot episode.
1"A Saved Life"TBATBANovember 1, 1981 (1981-11-01)
2"Death of a Fireman"TBATBANovember 8, 1981 (1981-11-08)
3"Dark Fire"TBATBANovember 15, 1981 (1981-11-15)
4"The Little Girl Who Cried Fire"TBATBANovember 22, 1981 (1981-11-22)
5"The Land of Make Believe"
"All That Glitters"
TBATBANovember 29, 1981 (1981-11-29)
6"Fireworks"Phil BondelliRick Edelstein (t),
Carole Raschella (s/t),
Mike Raschella (s/t)
December 6, 1981 (1981-12-06)
7"Framed by Fire"TBATBADecember 13, 1981 (1981-12-13)
8"From One Little Spark"Fernando LamasRick EdelsteinJanuary 3, 1982 (1982-01-03)
9"Wildfire"TBATBAJanuary 10, 1982 (1982-01-10)
10"My Life Is Yours"Don WeisRick EdelsteinJanuary 17, 1982 (1982-01-17)
11"Happy Birthday"TBATBAJanuary 31, 1982 (1982-01-31)
12"Revenge"TBATBAFebruary 7, 1982 (1982-02-07)
13"Burnout"Phil BondelliB.W. SandefurFebruary 14, 1982 (1982-02-14)
14"Trapped by Time"TBATBAFebruary 21, 1982 (1982-02-21)
15"Trial by Fire"TBATBAFebruary 28, 1982 (1982-02-28)
16"Riddle in the Flames"TBATBAMarch 14, 1982 (1982-03-14)
17"No Escape"Phil BondelliCliff Ruby,
Elana Lesser
March 21, 1982 (1982-03-21)
18"Fire Below"TBATBAJuly 11, 1982 (1982-07-11)
19"Land of Make Believe"TBATBAN/A

References

  1. Dennis Fischer (17 June 2011). Science Fiction Film Directors, 1895-1998. McFarland. pp. 39–. ISBN 978-0-7864-8505-5.
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