William Shatner may boldly go... where he has gone before. But it's still cool to think Rescue 911 is coming back, with Shatner once again as host.
Variety reports a reboot of the CBS series is now in the works from CBS Television Studios. CBS itself isn't attached at this point -- no network is attached yet -- but a source told the outlet this Rescue 911 reboot has picked up a lot of interest in the market. The popular original docudrama series ran from 1989 to 1996, featuring real footage and reenactments of 911 call emergencies.
This new version would have some updates, including a new weekly, two-hour format offering a live look at first responders taking real emergency calls every week. (No pressure, first responders, but millions may be watching and judging.) William Shatner hosted the original series, and this time he'd be joined by a panel of pros, including EMTs, firefighters, and police officers discussing the calls live!
That may sound like A&E's Live PD, which premiered in 2016. It's very possible the success of that current show, and maybe COPS, which premiered the same year as Rescue 911 and is still chugging along after 30 season, led execs to consider reviving this series.
The original run of Rescue 911 was such a hit, it was adapted in 45 countries. It even led to the specials "100 Lives Saved" and "200 Lives Saved," following viewers who said the show basically turned them into superheroes -- because they watched it, learned life-saving techniques, and used them to save other lives.
No wonder Captain Kirk wants back in -- this is the work of real action heroes.
The world has changed a lot since the original run ended in 1996. Some of us are old enough to remember a time before cell phones, when making emergency calls was a lot more difficult and a lot more time was likely to have passed before help arrived. It'll be interesting to see and hear from these first responders on how the role of modern technology has changed the basic human need for immediate help. Plus, 21st century visual effects should help make the show look a lot less cheesy.
William Shatner will always be best known as Star Trek's original Captain James T. Kirk, but his filmography has been packed with an impressive range since the 1950s. With that recognizable voice, it's no wonder he's picked up a lot of hosting and narrating work, including narrating the WWE reality series Breaking Ground.
So far, this Rescue 911 reboot/revival doesn't have a network, so it doesn't have an air date, but stay tuned for updates. In the meantime, you can always watch Fox's scripted 9-1-1 show, which is currently airing Season 2 on Monday nights. And check out William Shatner in The Indian Detective Season 1, now streaming on Netflix.
