Emergency! (1972) - 44 mistakes in entire show

Continuity: Season 2, episode 2, 'Kids': During the raging brush fire, the scoop stretcher is sent down the cliff to the paramedics in the canyon. Once Gage has it and then drags it towards DeSoto, the boxes and gear switch positions between shots.

Continuity: Season 1, episode 3, 'Botulism': When DeSoto and Gage arrive at Rampart their black helmets are not hanging in Squad 51, when they enter the hospital. A moment later, when they're dispatched, both helmets are hanging in their proper place behind the seat. The distance between the squad and ambulance has also increased.

Continuity: Season 2, episode 5, 'Peace Pipe': Before being shot at, when Gage and DeSoto climb up to the scaffolding, Gage lifts the man's head to rest on the scaffolding and stays that way in each of the following close-ups, but in the following four wideshots his head still hangs over the side.

Continuity: Across whole show: In many of the interior shots of the paramedic cab, as it heads to the destinations, there is a rear view mirror on the windshield. In all the exterior shots there is no rear view mirror.

Continuity: Season 2, episode 6, 'Saddled': When DeSoto joins Gage at the kitchen table they discuss Gage's bright idea of rodeos. In all the shots facing DeSoto his hands are clasped together with the coffee cup on the table, but in all the shots facing his partner, he's holding the cup of coffee. The magazine ends up under DeSoto's arms between shots as well.

Revealing: Across whole show: Squad 51 has a flashing light-bar mounted on the roof of the vehicle. There is about 4-5" of space between the length of the light frame and the roof, which means that Squad 51's surrounding environment is easily visible through that gap in normal shots. The hiccup here are certain close-ups of Gage and DeSoto while they're 'driving', because that gap is covered (with red to match the vehicle) and sometimes, when it's daylight, the gap is dark. The same thing happens with the space behind the cab unit (seen through the window), with the red blocking the opening.

Continuity: Across whole show: On the front end of Squad 51's hood, the letters of the word 'DODGE' appear either in silver or in red, or sometimes it's not there altogether.

Continuity: Season 1, episode 10, 'Dilemma': Responding to the elevator call, in the overhead shot, Rescue Squad 51 pulls up adjacent to the street awning when Gage and DeSoto get out, but in the next ground shot the Squad is 20-25 feet farther down.

Revealing: Season 3, episode 6, 'Snakebite': After Gage gets bitten by the Rattler, when the driver of Tractor 2 begins ascending the cliff, there is a nice close-up as he passes and this young stuntie is most certainly not the older driver seen in this scene. Not to mention the watchless driver suddenly acquires a black watch.

Continuity: Across whole show: In nearly every episode, it's amusing to note how the dark blue jackets that Gage and DeSoto wear suddenly appear and/or vanish and then reappear, numerous times, while en route in their squad. or when they pull into the stationhouse.

Continuity: Season 2, episode 5, 'Peace Pipe': When DeSoto and Gage arrive at the corner shop for the gum ball machine rescue, in the overhead shot the front end of the parked RV is beside the lamppost, but in the next shot half its body is past the fixture.

Continuity: Season 2, episode 5, 'Peace Pipe': When Kelly and Gage have at it about the portrayal of Native Americans in film, DeSoto quips, "What are you picking on me for?" as he faces Gage in front of him. Gage then walks to the other side of the table and after he says, "We call that white man royalty syndrome," he puts his arm around Kelly, standing beside him. We are then shown DeSoto's reaction shot, who still faces Gage in the same direction as his earlier quip, and we also see Kelly behind him, but no Gage.

Continuity: Season 1, episode 8, 'Publicity Hound': When John first explains how to rescue the little girl in the hole, he wraps his left hand around his right wrist, but in the next shot it's his right hand that's around his left wrist.

Continuity: Season 1, episode 4, 'Cook's Tour': At the station, when Gage and DeSoto are eating the meal DeSoto prepared, the sealed milk container is suddenly open and then sealed again, between shots. It changes position as well.

Continuity: Season 2, episode 10, 'Dinner Date': When the paramedics and the rest of the firemen gather round the failed pacemaker patient, their positions change and in DeSoto's close-ups the Captain isn't seen (for the camera angle's sake), although in other shots he's right beside Gage.

Deliberate "mistake": Season 1, episode 6, 'Dealer's Wild': At the stationhouse, Gage is washing dishes and talking about his idea for a new poker game. In this shot the camera is positioned behind the kitchen's top/lower cabinets and sink, facing Gage. We see the back side of the cabinetry and the paper towel dispenser, which hangs over the sink, is gone.

Continuity: Season 1, episode 6, 'Dealer's Wild': When Frankie lands the Cessna, the red seatbelt is in place behind him. When Gage and DeSoto reach the plane that seatbelt has been pulled across the side wall, over the door, with its end pushed between the windshield and ceiling. Done deliberately so Gage can enter that door unhindered.

Continuity: Season 1, episode 6, 'Dealer's Wild': When the firemen cover the tanker in foam, the paramedics and ambulance drivers extract the tanker driver and place the patient on the stretcher they all get covered in foam, including the stretcher. Next shot, the stretcher, the patient and the men are all clean.

Audio problem: Season 2, episode 15, 'Professor': At the site of the crashed plane, when the trapped pilot screams, "Help, I can't get out..., the doors are jammed," his mouth movements do not sync with the words we hear.

Revealing: Season 2: In at least three episodes, which include 'Saddled', 'Peace Pipe' and 'Women', the same corner restaurant/hot dog stand (with a striped orange/white awning and green vinyl bar stools) is featured. That would be fine, if it weren't for the fact that in each episode the street it is located on has a different name and different cross streets. It is obviously a set on the Universal Studios lot.

Continuity: Season 2, episode 12, 'Helpful': When DeSoto starts to crack about what's upsetting him, Gage places a mop beside another mop, up against the door and it falls over. Next shot both mops are upright and in different positions as well.

Continuity: Season 2, episode 9, 'Women': Gage and DeSoto arrive at the apartment complex, home to the guy trapped in the couch. They park the vehicle and walk on the gated balcony to the apartment. In the exterior shot, when they enter the doorway the inside wall to their left is bare and the corner of the balcony's iron gate is to the doorway's left. Next interior shot, now there is a large painting on that previously bare wall and the iron gate is directly in front of the door. When they leave, their vehicle is farther away, positioned differently.

Continuity: Season 2, episode 7, 'Fuzz Lady': At the stationhouse, when DeSoto and Gage are discussing the detective, in the shots facing Gage, DeSoto holds a cup of coffee in his hands, but in the shots facing DeSoto his cup is on the table.

Visible crew/equipment: Across whole show: When the guys are wearing their helmets, multiple head set lights are usually reflected on the black surface, more often than not.

Continuity: Season 2, episode 1, 'Decision' (aka 'Problem'): When the guys begin to use the pulley system to lift the car engine off the injured man, the women stand to the officer's left (viewer's right), but in the next close-up it is switched, then back again in the wideshot.

Continuity: Season 1, episode 6, 'Dealer's Wild': When Gage plays the new game of poker with Kelly, the entire left side of the table is visible as the two begin. Next shot, DeSoto is suddenly sitting at that end, with an additional cup and saucer, opposite Kelly and Gage.

Continuity: Season 1, episode 7, 'Nurses' Wild': When Gage rides in the ambulance with the cardiac and gunshot patients, the windows between him and the drivers are opaque glass. In the next exterior shot, as they drive down the street, those interior windows are transparent.

Revealing: Season 2, episode 12, 'Helpful': En route to the pick-up truck hanging from the freeway on-ramp, there is a flipped shot of Engine 51 and Squad 51 as they drive under the freeway before the camera pans in towards the car. Some giveaways are the reversed '51' on the Engine and the reversed 'road construction ahead' sign.

Continuity: Season 2, episode 10, 'Dinner Date': When DeSoto and Gage arrive on scene at the traffic accident, the boy and his bicycle lying on the ground change positions between wideshot and close-up.

Continuity: Season 2, episode 9, 'Women': When Christy walks into Station 51's kitchen, the bag strap is on her shoulder, but close-up it is gone, only to be back next shot when she removes it a moment later.

Continuity: Season 2, episode 5, 'Peace Pipe': After Gage catches fire from flammable hose 'water' and removes his jacket outside, when DeSoto walks to his Engine Co., the gloves he holds switches hands between shots.

Revealing: Across whole show: When Squad 51 is dispatched from the stationhouse, the exterior shots show buildings, traffic, trees, etc., they pass along the way. In some close-up shots of Gage and DeSoto while en route, too much of the vehicle's left and/or right sides are visible, which actually shows nothing but a blank screen behind them.

Continuity: Season 2, episode 1, 'Decision' (aka 'Problem'): At the stationhouse, when the captain draws the diagram of the plastics company set-up on blackboard, the chalk drawing differs between shots.

Visible crew/equipment: Season 1, episode 11, 'Hang up': At Rampart, when Dixie walks over to Dr. Brackett, who stands behind the station, the tape mark is visible on the floor, just before she steps precisely on it.

Continuity: Season 1, episode 6, 'Dealer's Wild': When Engine 51 and Squad 51 are dispatched to the first call, both vehicles change their appearance from the first shot as they leave the firehouse, the shot en route, and when they reach their destination.

Continuity: Season 1, episode 6, 'Dealer's Wild': When Frankie flies the Cessna, he places an oxygen mask on his father. The style of the mask changes from either a round, large type, to a smaller, square type.

Continuity: Season 1, episode 4, 'Cook's Tour': When Squad 51 arrive at the house with the woman in labor, first there is a wideshot of the home and front yard. In the next close-up, the actual style of the house changes - note the roof and its three dormers, and bushes appear/disappear.

Continuity: Season 2, episode 9, 'Women': The shaving foam on DeSoto's face changes between the face-on shots and the reflection shots, and in the reflection he shaved from cheek to chin, but in face-on shots only to the neck.

Continuity: Season 2, episode 5, 'Peace Pipe': To send the drug box up to Gage and DeSoto on the scaffolding, Kelly loops the rope and ties a knot, but in the next shot, when Gage pulls it up it's a different kind of knot and loop.

Revealing: Across whole show: When Engine 51 and/or Squad 51 are dispatched, the shots of the vehicles while en route to the call or even en route to Rampart, in many instances, are stock footage or repeat shots which show the same traffic, same parked cars, same people, etc., from previous episodes. The same occurs when they actually pull out of Stationhouse 51 - it's actually pretty amusing to see the same cars across the street, in countless episodes.

Revealing: Across whole show: In many of Dixie's close-ups the use of the soft focus lens is rather apparent. This could be an acceptable directorial decision, were it not for the fact that in some shots where there's movement (of a hand, for example) that passes through the corners of the shot, the thick 'hazy cloud' is blatantly visible and quite distracting.

Continuity: Season 2, episode 1, 'Decision' (aka 'Problem'): After the guys lift the car engine off the man and Kelly maneuvers the car backwards, the same close-up of the officer and two women that was shown a few shots earlier is shown again, even though the car is now moving farther back.

Continuity: Season 1, episode 4, 'Cook's Tour': At Rampart, after delivering the baby, when Gage flirts with the two nurses the amount of soda pop in the nurse's bottle increases considerably between shots.

Continuity: Across whole show: When Squad 51 is dispatched and headed to their destination, interior shots looking out the windshield are shown. It is only in these shots that the Dodge truck's red hood has vents on its right and left sides. There is no such thing in any exterior shots of Squad 51. The hood's style also changes.