NBC’s Trauma: Local streets are becoming backlots, but are you watching the final product? October 7, 2009
Posted by californiabeat in San Francisco.Tags: NBC, ratings, San Francisco, Trauma, viewership
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There’s a good chance by now you know that a television series is being filmed right here in San Francisco. NBC’s “Trauma” — a pricey production that the ailing network is banking on to keep Monday night ratings afloat — focuses on a group of San Francisco Fire Dept. paramedics and their daily tribulations responding to some of the most chaotic of calls in the City by the Bay.
So, naturally, we’re wondering if and why you’re watching it. If it’s not for the local scenery (hey! that’s my house), is it for the plot line? Or maybe you were there when a car drove into a street fair at Justin Herman Plaza (that was this past Monday’s episode). Perhaps you drove by the tanker truck on Interstate 280 in March that “exploded” in the pilot episode that aired two weeks ago.
The critics are already predicting the demise of this series. Low-ratings and a nonexistent storyline are just some of the reasons why people aren’t liking Trauma.
Maybe it’s all the action that gets some people to watch . . .
Next week’s episode has a deranged gunman shooting up office workers in Downtown San Francisco. The paramedic team is tasked with getting wounded citizens to safety but end up confronting the armed lunatic inside the high-rise.
Mundane Hollywood stuff, right? Well, the episode rekindles memories of the 1993 101 California massacre where Gian Luigi Ferri, a disgruntled businessman, shot and killed 8 people and wounded 9 others on the 34th floor of the skyscraper.
It was and still is the city’s worst shooting massacre ever.
So is it for the historical reenactment of key San Francisco events? When will the 1989 Loma Prieta Earthquake be featured in the episode. (You just know that a series on disasters and accidents filmed in San Francisco has to include at least one catastrophic earthquake.)
Nonetheless, the filming of this television series — whether it be successful or not — is pumping millions of dollars into San Francisco’s coffers and the local economy. No one should argue there: that’s what struggling businesses and city government needs in this economy.
S0, are you watching? And why? Tell us in the comments below.
Gotta say that the wife and I really wanted to give the first episode a chance… Bad TV, we had to change the channel half way through it. Seen one emergency tracheotomy, seen them all.
I’ve been watching Trauma, although not on Monday nights. I’ve been catching it On Demand or online, but I really do like the show. Yeah, I like spotting all the familiar SF spots I see, but I also like the storyline. Rabbit’s funny as hell and I think Nancy will warm up some day. But I can definitely understand why someone in Wyoming doesn’t care about this show. They’ve got ER reruns, Grey’s Anatomy, Mercy… I’m sure there are other medical shows that people are into and adding another one on top of it just doesn’t fit in the game plan.
I must say, there are a lot of good shows on this season and if I sat down for each one at it’s original time, I would never finish my homework, eat or shower; I probably wouldn’t have much of a life. Plus, Monday night is a hard time to be a TV show if you’re up against football fanatics (I’m living with one).
I hope the show lasts because it’s got a special spot in my SF-loving heart, 70% because of where it’s shot, but 30% because the characters and their stories, which are slowly being revealed, have me wanting more.
Provocative wording from Twitter: “Millions for the local economy by filming of NBC’s Trauma but are you returning the favor & watching it?”
Worth noting that no one is doing any “favors” here. Like all network programming, this is a purely financial venture – and from the looks of the previews and ads, not sufficiently distinct from the dozens of shows like it for me to venture a peek. The new standard of TV excellence is Mad Men; “Trauma” allure in that shadow is non-existent.