NJRadioGuy
-
Posts
818 -
Joined
Content Type
Blogs
Gallery
Downloads
Discussion
Posts posted by NJRadioGuy
-
-
On 5/2/2024 at 2:17 AM, Dowel Jones said:
That's some Blues Brothers level driving going on.
Well, it is Chicago, so....
♫♪ She caught the Katy,
Left me a mule to ride....♫♪ -
34 minutes ago, possibilities said:
Some places might be better than others, but I don't think the companies are an unfair target for how this episode portrayed them, even if the details were absurd.
At least here in NJ, I was told that a lineman cannot get within either three or five feet of a 13.2kV primary without supervision present. Every piece of safety gear is tested daily (gloves, boots, insulated devices, etc) and processes around voltages north of 240VAC (which they call "low voltage") is very slow and very deliberate.
There are really no second chances with that level. Vince would almost certainly have died on contact with that Halligan if the truck was fully energized, although ground contact might have been survivable with third degree burns and likely permanent heart damage (according family in the fire service and EMS). Remember, the electric chair is supposed to be an instant death and those were typically 2500-3000 Volts from what I read years ago. Primary lines are over 10kV pretty much everywhere, some as high as 17kV. If you are between 10kV and earth....have a nice day. It'll be a short one, but real exciting--briefly.
-
1
-
-
What got me was the whole powerline garbage. First off, a downed primary is a priority one call for every utility. One simply doesn't fuck with ~14kV and live to tell the tale. Also, shutting those lines off is not something that would be done from a central office. They'd have to roll a truck and pull the cutouts from an upstream pole. Each primary line has a cutout, usually coupled to a lightning arrestor and often with a fuse in the door, that is opened to do work on a primary line or to isolate a segment in case this very type of thing happens.
Even dumber is the lines being re-energized without a supervisory level employee verifying in person that the scene is safe; again, for precisely the reason of what happened. Yes, there are automatic reclosers but those are for momentary faults, etc. (i.e. why you'll lose electricity very briefly but it comes back right away--think a squirrel that gets fried touching two phases, etc).
Frankly I'd be somewhat surprised if fire crews didn't have hot sticks to lift the lines (carefully) and training in their use. I've been dealing with local utility workers on powerline arcing issues for the last six months and the professionalism they display on every job site is beyond awesome. How they portrayed them here is frankly disgusting to me.
As for the Genevieve draaaaaahma, I didn't hate how it went, and I also didn't hate the Three Rock story. That part was very watchable, and for TV drama storylines, I've seen far worse. I'm guessing the "camp closure" plot point was in case the show didn't get renewed, and they'd have had two episodes to tie the ribbons on the various characters' arcs.
But with the renewal, I think they have to move beyond Inmate Bode to ex-con Bode and the beginning of his slow journey to Captain Bode (and what I think is the inevitable killing off of Manny).
They've said that acts of heroism can knock 12 months off a sentence. Bode had, what, three years left out of a five year bit, but has done so many crazy rescues he should have been paroled sometime around the fourth episode of the first season. Time to move the plot forward at the conclusion of this season.
-
3
-
1
-
-
15 hours ago, Sarah 103 said:
If people are not watching a network show at least three-seven days after it airs, then it probably will get canceled. The networks look to see how many people are watching the day the day it airs, or at least three days after.
To be clear, they don't give a damn about how many people are watching any particular show. It's how many are watching the commercials that dictates renewal or cancellation. The C3 and C7 are about ad impressions, not total eyeballs. And the only numbers that matter are the 18-49 demo numbers. Neilson stopped publishing those publicly last year, IIRC.
I'll admit I'm a bit surprised that a show with modest numbers in its second season got chopped. Not sure if there will be enough episodes to warrant a run on Netflix or some other streamer, so it's also possible this will be pulled from streaming offerings after the finale.
-
2
-
2
-
1
-
-
18 hours ago, Ancaster said:
I don't remember seeing his wife before, but Dr Abrams is certainly punching above his weight . . . .
18 hours ago, mrsbagnet said:When they first introduced her a few seasons ago, the hospital staff all assumed she was with him only for his money, but it turned that she was more wealthy than him.
Considering the actor is 56 YO, assume his character is about the same age. As a top-notch neurosurgeon and chief at a major city hospital he'd likely have been doing that job at least 25 or 30 years. So figure they probably met when he was in his 30s. Although I don't think they said how long they'd been together, I assume it isn't recent. As someone who was already wealthy, finding a partner who is independently wealthy in his own right (as neurosurgeons generally tend to be) would have been a plus for her. Or maybe he rewired her brain to find his abrasiveness attractive :).
-
1
-
-
On 4/13/2024 at 2:35 AM, Dowel Jones said:
"Let's get some water on that fire, folks! Let's knock it down!" I think you're a bit behind the power curve there, boss.
Why would those words even need to be spoken to actual firefighters rolling up to a scene like that? The kicker, though? They were exactly the wrong words. "Defensive operation. Let's keep it contained" might be a better tactic here.
On 4/13/2024 at 6:11 AM, Danielg342 said:I looked at that as more about stopping the fire from spreading as opposed to saving the log cabin. There were a lot of trees surrounding the cabin so it'd be a risk to allow that fire to spread.
Exactly this. You've got a fully involved wood frame structure and one engine with, what, 500 or so gallons of water in the tank? What are they going to do after they empty the tank in a futile two minute attack? The best hope is to knock down any brush that lights up and (IRL) hold the line until more water and more manpower arrives to prevent this from turning into a massive forest fire.
-
2
-
-
On 4/4/2024 at 5:35 PM, eel2178 said:
I have serious concerns about their problem solving skills on the job.
This. Plus an interesting factoid about firefighters for those who don't know. I can't speak for California, but in my part of the universe, when a brother (or sister) shows a weakness or does something dumb they're often subject to relentless taunting or even given lifetime nicknames. Tell someone you don't like lima beans? Guess what's going to be served with every meal. You can bet there will be Rebus puzzles all over their respective firehouses, taped to their bunks or turnout gear, etc.
-
3
-
6
-
-
On 4/5/2024 at 10:50 PM, DanaK said:
I enjoyed it overall
At least Vince and Sharon had their very important conversation while hiding under the truck from the fire tornado instead of having it standing in the open while the tornado was bearing down on them
That was pretty enjoyable. Vince and Sharon are the only reason I'm sticking with this glorified train wreck of a soap opera.
And in a nice nod to Twister, I love how they were all in a shed with dangling, swinging implements of potential impalement and destruction. At least they weren't saw blades and scythes, though, so there's that.
1 hour ago, Bulldog said:In an event where fire is swirling around in the air, is taking shelter under a giant box full of gasoline really the smartest play?
In all fairness, the Engine is diesel powered and it's hard as hell to get that fuel to combust. Not impossible, but not exactly easy either. You can drop a lit match into a drum of diesel and the match will just go out.
-
4
-
-
I wasn't expecting to read the word "heart" in that sentence. Just sayin'. Damned near killed him.
-
1
-
-
I always enjoy stories where a central character has issues with faith/religion, and I have to say this episode was very well done. Two excellent actors pulled it off wonderfully. But with that said, nothing will ever beat the Jesuit-raised Det. Pembelton's issues with Catholicism in Homicide: Life On The Street. Those scenes in specific cemeted Andre Braugher as one of my favourite actors of all time, and it was also some of that show's best writing as well. I'm really hoping this show can occasionally explore these themes since Ramón has the chops to pull it off.
-
5
-
2
-
-
4 hours ago, DonnaMae said:
What has happened to Dr. Charles' girlfriend? Did they break up?
Good question. I hope she wasn't a permanent victim of NBC's budget cuts. There's clearly more story to tell there.
-
3
-
-
On 2/29/2024 at 3:43 AM, Dowel Jones said:
Maybe it's just me, but I would have had the crew pass up an attack line and flooded that room through the ceiling vent. The heat coming through that vent would have been brutal.
And I call shenanigans on tools not being able to pop that door. Plus a K12 would have been quicker and safer for all involved.
QuoteI hope they bandaged that crook up just a bit better before handcuffing him.
I hope they didn't.
-
1
-
-
On 2/26/2024 at 3:26 PM, KeithJ said:
Tony really thinks Sylvie is going to have her wedding and reception in a fish store?
Probably a subtle dig on a certain press conference at the Four Seasons...Landscaping offices. And/or the show couldn't get permission to film inside the actual Shedd Aquarium.
-
At least they paid lip service to HIPAA laws this week, so there's that. Definitely enjoying this season more than that past few, but Zola can go away any time now. However talented she is as a physician, I wouldn't want her treating me or having anything to do with my family.
-
4
-
-
Blessing, no. But support and recommendation absolutely. A respected boss going to bat for you opens a lot of doors.
-
2
-
-
28 minutes ago, iMonrey said:
By the same token I can easily see the show ending after this season. From what I gather the Chicago franchise is bleeding the network dry.
IIRC the franchise is crazy-expensive to produce, but it's also their highest rated scripted block. If they can keep the production costs down it can still work in their favour. So we get cheesier VFX and probably more character-driven episodes than before but the show's still a winner. For now.
-
Speaking of turnout coats, the writers flubbed one here big time. Mouch's coat has always said McHolland on the back from the beginning. It's a requirement, in fact. Just go back to any episode in the past and it's plain as plain.
Also, a nickname will never go away. Especially if the person wants it to.
The props department went super-cheap with the alleged e-bikes. Obviously the real things are far too dangerous to mess around with, but they could have tried a wee bit better, maybe? They just looked like regular pedal-powered bicycles with a road flare under the center bar. The rotating tire on fire did look cool, though, so the DoP got a great shot there.
14 hours ago, FnkyChkn34 said:Remember, Tony is a real firefighter and not an actor. 😉
Well, he's got his card so he's both. Just like in Emergency!, where FF Mike Stoker (the chauffeur of E51) was a real-life chauffeur of LA County FD Engine 69, and Marco Lopez was also a firefighter with the County. Both used their real names in the show.
22 hours ago, TAG42481 said:- They magically run into Kylie? Yeah, she wants to make her own way, but Chicago is pretty big, the odds are that she wouldn't be working immediately next to them in the city.
Not implausible, really. There are always multiple trucks and engines at a working fire, and the bigger it is the more they call out so the chances are good that if she had been on the same shift she'd be there. Unless she got assigned to a firehouse on the other side of town, of course. Boden, as DDC, could easily have made sure she got assigned to a house under his jurisdiction; remember, his position in the show would put him in command of a handful of houses, although they never show him in that role.
So if Cruz gets a bugle, I guess he's going to have to learn how to command an engine company, since Hermann could be put out to pasture. If Severide leaves the show I guess they could put him on Squad. But we're getting a lot of officers now and fewer and fewer places to put them.
But here's another problem I'm having now with both Mouch and Herrmann. The actors are presently 61 and 59 YO, respectively, and their characters' careers would likely be well beyond the 25-and-out typical career path for such a physically demanding job. I can easily see either or both actors leaving the show in the next year or two.
-
1
-
1 hour ago, Sake614 said:
The latter is why closed captioning was invented Lol! I’ve reached the point where I can’t watch anything without it anymore 😫
Ditto. I can't really watch anything without it.
-
1
-
-
Call me the odd-man-out here, but I always liked Stellaride. Until now. When Van Meter expressed surprise that he gave up an extremely prestigious career at a national level because SWMBO* didn't approve? Nope, nope and more nope. And you could clearly see the resentment in his face in that scene too. Is this setting the stage for Taylor's exit down the road?
I recall that pre-strike they were saying the One Chicago shows had to reduce production costs by a fairly significant amount, and cast members would have limited numbers of episodes, so expect more leaves of absence/training assignments/etc, and fewer complicated rescues, I suspect.
Not gonna lie, I'm going to miss Brett. But it was inevitable after Jesse decided to leave the show.
Glad to see Kylie is thriving as a candidate. In a way I'd have liked to see her get assigned to E51 to keep her on the show, but I guess cast budget issues put paid to that. They could have gotten a lot of mileage out of having her stick around.
Also going to miss Gallo, but he's been more comic relief/Greek Chorus with Cruz than anything else lately. So now we're going to need a new truckee to replace him, and a new paramedic to replace Brett, the downsides being a lot of character development episodes to come, which can really throw off the momentum of a show. Not a good thing when hoping for decent ratings in old/expensive shows.
Still not a fan of Carver, to be honest, and I'd rather they'd lost him than Gallo. Carver always seems to suck the oxygen out of the room in his scenes. Removing oxygen is a good thing in fire chemistry, but not in Chicago Fire chemistry.
*SWMBO: She Who Must Be Obeyed. </rumpole>
-
2
-
1
-
-
The way they were focusing on Hermann at the end makes me think he suffered some injuries-to-be-determined-later during that incident.
Dumb question, but when you roll up on a fully involved vehicle fire where the cargo (not the fuel) is burning that ferociously with oddly-colored smoke, why in the hell weren't the crews fully masked up, at the very least? Roll Hazmat to the scene, have PD close off the overpass and let it burn until personnel are fighting it in a fully safe manner. My first thought was it was transporting Lithium Ion batteries or it was an electric truck whose battery pack was in thermal runaway, very real and extremely hazardous fires that urban departments now face daily; usually from e-bikes stored/charged in apartments but also cars on occasion.
-
3
-
-
11 hours ago, mrsbagnet said:
They turned on the lights! I never understood why this show was so dimly lit.
it's really noticeable when a Chicago PD or Chicago Fire story brings them to Med in their respective shows, and the lighting is completely different (bright).
My two pet peeves for modern television is that the lighting is so dark, and voices are muffled. Not a good combo for older viewers whose vision and hearing aren't what they used to be.
-
9
-
-
My understanding is that for most scripted series, cast members' contracts run for six seasons, with an option for a seventh. After that, the cast will want astronomically high salaries to come back. Unless the show is a mega-hit in the ratings it will probably be cancelled in the sixth or seventh season. It's also why there are usually cast changes in longer-running series, as actors' salaries make them financially expendable.
The "One Chicago" trilogy is a typical example of this. Those shows are at the top of the NBC scripted lineup and are not really losing money, but it's very easy to drop a handful of longer-term actors and replace them with younger/cheaper talent to keep the show financially viable.
Of course, when a network sees a bubble show that's lost its creative steam it's a good bet that it won't be renewed. New Amserdam fell into this category. If it had One Chicago's ratings they'd have just turned most of the cast over, fired the writers and gone off in a different direction, but with bad ratings and bad storytelling it was a goner following the two-season renewal.
-
1
-
-
I'm just surprised that Grrrrr was so polite to him when he booted his ass out of HK. A line chef in Michelin-starred restaurants should be orders of magnitude more talented than he was.
Glad Ryan lived to fight another day, too. He did his best with those crap ingredients in that one challenge and I think that worked in his favour. I still don't think he's getting to the finale, however, but I absolutely can see him as a head chef in a fine-dining restaurant.
-
2
-
-
Oh what I wouldn't pay to see a failing restaurant serve him one of his frozen meals as a "before" dish and have him spit it out. Of course that would never make it to air, but dang that would be funny.
-
1
-
1
-
S11.E10: Buried Pieces
in Chicago PD
The story really hit hard and I'm glad it had a positive resolution. Very unusual for this show. But on the downside, we have Felony Barbie at her worst. Gaaaah. Begone, witch.
I hope Ms. Petrovic becomes a series regular next year. I didn't hate the dunk cop storyline either, and it gives her a good backstory moving forward. She's very easy on the eyes, and she can command a scene, so I'm all in if they want to give her the lead female role.
I'm also hoping we get back to (and finally resolve) the victims-in-barrels story.