January Survival Kit: Radical Reading, Rescue TV Drama, & a Cake You Can't Have

“The state of public city hospitals these days makes a MASH unit look like a health spa.”

© Shmuel Thaler, 6/3/03. Jon Bailiff, the late Alex Peabody, and John Alexiou saving a woman who got stuck in a cave north of Lighthouse Point.

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SCREEN TIME: January's Emergency Programming

My partner Jon is a retired Marine Rescue Guard and EMT. It was gnarly. We watch a lot of “emergency gnarly” TV— and I think for him, it’s vicarious. I grill him about all the details I don’t understand.

What’s my excuse?

The characters and bigger background have to hook me, and then I’m along for the rush. That’s why I loved House and Homicide. I also need boa-constrictor-tight action, lots of sexy jargon I barely understand, and ridiculously good-looking players.

This January, TV streamers have a couple new tough kids on the block:

• The Pitt (MAX)

• On Call (Prime)

The Pitt is about the docs, On Call is the cops, so let’s chop’em up!