Rescue Heroes (TV series)
| Rescue Heroes | |
|---|---|
| Created by | Fisher-Price |
| Starring |
Norm Spencer Lenore Zann Martin Roach Joseph Motiki Lisa Messinger (season one) Deborah Odell (seasons two and three) Rod Wilson |
| Country of origin | Canada |
| No. of episodes | 40 |
| Production | |
| Running time | 22 minutes |
| Broadcast | |
| Original channel | Teletoon |
| Original run | October 2, 1999 – December 18, 2002 |
Rescue Heroes is a Canadian animated television series produced by Nelvana. Based on the Fisher-Price toy line of the same name, the TV series tracks the adventures of a team of emergency responders who rescue people from various disasters.
The series premiered on October 2, 1999 and ran for three seasons, concluding on December 18, 2002. In 2003 a film based on the TV series was released, and it was titled Rescue Heroes: The Movie.
Overview
Rescue Heroes is about a group of rescue personnel that travel the world while saving lives from both natural and man-made disasters.
The headquarters, also known as the Mountain Action Command Center, is where team leader Billy Blazes, along with team members Wendy Waters, Jake Justice, Jack Hammer, Ariel Flyer, and Rocky Canyon, reside. Calls for help come into the command center through Warren Waters, the director and chief dispatcher of the Rescue Heroes.
At the end of most episodes the Rescue Heroes would give safety tips and discuss how to handle the conflict presented in the episode. The episode would then usually conclude with the slogan "Think like a Rescue Hero, think safe."
Main characters
- Billy Blazes (Norm Spencer) - Billy, a firefighter, is the leader of the Rescue Heroes who helped choose the other members of the team.[1] He has a younger brother named Bobby, as well as a father. Billy had an uneasy relationship with his father. This was because Bobby chose to become a firefighter like Billy, instead of being a construction worker like his father.[2] It was revealed in the episode "Flashback To Danger" that Billy was chosen to be a Rescue Hero after saving a group of children trapped in a carnival ride that was set ablaze. It was revealed in the episode "Storm Of The Century, Part One" that Billy's family is from Quebec.
- Wendy Waters (Lenore Zann) - Wendy, a firefighter, is effectively the second in command. Her father, Warren, is a Rescue Hero who works at a space station. It was through a combination of a news report about a factory being set ablaze and through her father that lead her to trying out for the Rescue Heroes.[1]
- Jake Justice (Martin Roach) - Jake, a police officer, became a Rescue Hero when he caught a wanted criminal after a televised car chase that made national headlines.[1]
- Richmond "Rocky" Canyon (Joseph Motiki) - Rocky, a mountain climbing specialist, is the youngest member of the Rescue Heroes. When Billy had once considered quitting the Rescue Heroes it was ultimately Rocky, through an audition video, that convinced him to stay, cementing Billy's decision to hire Rocky.[1] The episode "Twister" revealed that his hometown is in Oklahoma, and that his father had died. Rocky's real name, "Richmond", was revealed in the episode "Cave In".
- Ariel Flyer (Lisa Messinger in season one, Deborah Odell in seasons two and three) - Ariel, a bilingual flight and wildlife specialist,[3] was once a stunt pilot who had a rival named Avery Ator.[1] However, Avery's lack of concern for safety has led to Ariel rescuing him on numerous occasions.
- Jack Hammer (Rod Wilson) - Jack, a construction worker hailing from Texas, was originally a contractor hired to build the Rescue Heroes base of operations, but had saved a fellow construction worker in a crane accident. Because of this, he was given the opportunity to try out for the Rescue Heroes.[1] Jack has a younger sister named Jill, who is a member of the Texas Fire Brigade.[4]
Recurring characters
- Al Pine (Edward Glen) - Arctic Rescue Specialist
- Bill Barker (Kent Sheridan) - Ground Patrol Specialist and K-9 Unit
- Bob Buoy (Dorian Harewood) - Scuba Diver and Submarine Operator
- Bob Sled (Andrew Sabiston) - Arctic Rescue Specialist and Snowmobile Operator
- Cliff Hanger (Adrian Hough) - Birdwing Operator and Hang glider
- Gil Gripper (Paul Essiembre) - Scuba Diver and Jetski Operator
- Hal E. Copter (Tony Daniels) - Heli-pack Operator
- Matt Medic (Andrew Pifko) - Paramedic
- Maureen Biologist (Tara Strong) - Ocean Rescue Specialist and Safety Diver
- Pat Pending (Donald Burda) - Chief Equipment Designer of the Rescue Heroes
- Perry Chute (James Rankin) - Parachuter and Para-sailer
- Rip Rockefeller (Cathal J. Dodd) - Construction Worker and Mountaineer
- Rock Miner (David Kaye) - Safety Spelunker
- Roger Houston (Christopher Earle) - Astronaut and Communications Officer
- Sandy Beach (Jesse Collins) - Lifeguard and Surfing Specialist
- Sam Sparks (Vince Corazza) - Firefighter
- Sergeant Siren (Dean McDermott) - Police Sergeant
- Warren Waters (John Bourgeois) - Director and Chief Dispatcher
- Willy Stop (Paul Haddad) - Traffic Officer and Crowd Control Specialist
Episodes
Pilot episode
- 1. Lava Alarm (Never aired on television. Only available on VHS and DVD): A volcano is about to erupt off the coast at Paradise Point. Professor Lott, a naturalist, and his wife are camped close to the volcano while their kids are also exploring, far from safety. It is up to the Rescue Heroes to save the family before it is too late.
Season one
- 2. Peril On The Peaks: During a fire rescue, Rocky Canyon is overly zealous and takes matters into his own hands, ignoring the team plan, and inadvertently putting the others at risk. The Rescue Heroes express the importance and safety of sticking to the plan, and of being a team player. Later, the Rescue Heroes are called in to rescue mountain climbers faced with a fierce, unexpected storm, and subsequent avalanche. Rocky relies on the team plan, and the Rescue Heroes successfully come to the aid of the mountain climbers.
- 3. Wrath Of El Niño: On a remote South American island, unexpected torrential rains cause a volcano filled with water to burst, sending an enormous mudslide heading toward the town below. As the Rescue Heroes come to the town's aid, Jake Justice is faced with an elderly man who insists on relying on an ancient legend to save them.
- 4. Tidal Wave: An earthquake off the coast of South America creates an enormous tidal wave threatening oceanographers in the area, an oil derrick home to several workers, and the entire population of Chile. Wendy Waters, with the assistance of Gil Gripper, must strategically place a detonation device beneath the ocean's surface to help stop the tidal wave before it wipes out all of Chile. Unfortunately, she is ill at ease with underwater rescues because of a scuba diving incident that happened in her childhood. For the sake of the rescue, Wendy faces her fear by trusting the training of Gil Gripper, the professional expert in this field, so that she can deal with the situation at hand.
- 5. Twister: During a tornado which sweeps across his home town, Rocky Canyon is desperate to protect a hot rod (which has sentimental value) from the devastation of the twister. Unfortunately, his childhood nemesis, who continues to antagonize him at every opportunity, is in need of rescuing as well.
- 6. Electrical Storm: A sudden electrical storm throws a town into mayhem as the lightning knocks out power and phone lines, causing fires to erupt, as well as explosions on volatile power plants. During their rescues, the Rescue Heroes are faced with multiple issues that must be overcome, and they are reminded that they must persevere.
- 7. Meteor: After Wendy has a close call and gets injured during a train wreck rescue, she obliges the wishes of her father, Warren Waters, to recuperate on the Space Command Center (a.k.a. "The Hexagon") so that they can spend some time together. During her time there, a meteor shower strikes the Hexagon on its way to Earth, and, as the other Rescue Heroes tend to the devastation on Earth, Wendy works alongside her father to tend to the damage aboard the Hexagon. Warren suggests that Wendy transfer to the Hexagon, where she can enter the Space Training Program and be closer to him. Wendy would rather be stationed on Earth, battling fires and other disasters to help rescue those in need, so she is faced with the difficult task of telling her father that she wants something different for herself than what he wants for her.
- 8. Arctic Spill: The hull of an oil tanker takes a beating from the barrage of massive icebergs in the Arctic until it is ripped apart, causing a major oil spill. The Rescue Heroes utilize the expertise of Jack Hammer to do an underwater construction and repair. The task proves more difficult and time-consuming than Jack had anticipated, and he learns that it is more harmful than helpful to push himself too hard to get a job done when it can be accomplished just as well with the help of others.
- 9. When It Rains, It Pours: When the media hear about Ariel's heroic rescue of a trapped hiker during a forest fire, she is approached by a National Safety Council to become a Spokesperson for Safety. Ariel agrees, since she would love to educate others on safety. Unfortunately, the seminars would take her away from being an actual Rescue Hero. During a flash flood, it becomes apparent to Ariel that her skills are desperately needed, and that being a Rescue Hero is where she can provide the most help.
- 10. Four Alarm Fire And Brimstone: A neighborhood kid accidentally sets fire to Jake's former "little brother" Nick's house. Jake and the Rescue Heroes are called to assist local authorities. The house is damaged and will take time to repair, so Jake offers the Mountain Action Command Center as a temporary home to the family. When Nick stows away on the Hyperjet, he inadvertently causes serious complications during a rescue mission on an active volcano.
- 11. Cave In: Rocky's former professor becomes trapped in an underground tunnel.
- 12. The Fire Of Field 13: The Rescue Heroes are called in to assist local firefighters with a massive forest fire that is heading directly for thirteen natural gas wells. Billy Blazes comes to the aide of his brother, Bobby, who has a difficult time controlling his anger when it comes to handling the fire, therefore putting himself and others in danger.
- 13. Storm Of The Century, Part One: A huge cold air mass takes place in the world, causing storms all over North America. Billy encounters his father when he is called on a rescue mission in his hometown, Quebec. Later, Billy and his father are stuck in the Hyperjet and they must put their differences behind them so they can find a way to get out of the situation.
- 14. Storm Of The Century, Part Two: Billy's father comes to accept the choice Billy has made in his life to help others. They work together and try to get out of a dangerous situation.
Season two
- 15a. Wildfire: A wildfire in an African Wildlife Reserve threatens to destroy the entire area, including a lioness and her three cubs.
- 15b. White Wall Of Terror: Rocky's day on the slopes of Colorado turns into a rescue mission when two teens are buried underneath an avalanche. He, along with Al Pine, will have to face an unstable mountain in order to save the two teenagers.
- 16a. Last Stop - Disaster: The Rescue Heroes must save the passengers on a runaway Japanese Bullet Train.
- 16b. Rock Star On The Rocks: The Rescue Heroes battle a fierce storm and wild animals to rescue a rock star and her dad, whose plane has crashed in a remote mountain area.
- 17a. Houston, We Have A Problem: Roger Houston feels more benchwarmer than Rescue Hero as he watches yet another rescue from space. This will change when an out of control satellite threatens to hit earth and inflict disaster.
- 17b. Trapped Beneath The Sea: While Rocky is trying to solve a puzzle as part of his training, a submarine and a cruise ship collide at sea. The Rescue Heroes are called in to get the sailors out from the submarine trapped on the ocean's floor and put out the fire on the sinking cruise ship.
- 18a. Underwater Nightmare: A boy will have to face his fear of swimming when a marine zoo starts to collapse after an underwater volcano becomes active. The Rescue Heroes will have to save both human and aquatic life before the disaster hits.
- 18b. Eye Of The Storm: A boy who idolizes the Rescue Heroes will learn that heroes come in all shapes and sizes. His father, the town sheriff, will assist Billy when his son needs to be rescued during a hurricane. The father will also come to realize that the Rescue Heroes are not what he first perceived.
- 19a. High Anxiety: Wendy's competitive nature gets the best of her and she jeopardizes a rescue when she tries to prove to Billy that she can do anything he can.
- 19b. Canyon Catastrophe: Three teen mountain bikers get more than they bargained for when they are injured riding on off-limit trails in the Grand Canyon. A young boy, who was deemed chicken by the teens, will assist the Rescue Heroes.
- 20a. Mayhem In The Mist: Chaos occurs when a fog causes a pile-up in England. An injury makes Billy realize that being a good leader also means knowing when to hand over the reins.
- 20b. Sibling Blowout: Jack Hammer is having problems dealing with his little sister, Jill, taking up a career as an oil well firefighter. It isn't until they work as a team to cap one that he understands her passion.
- 21. Smokejumpers: A raging forest fire threatens to consume a national forest and a nearby town.
- 22a. Edge Of Disaster: Rocky gets a chance to prove he is more than just a rookie when he leads a rescue expedition on the world's most dangerous peak.
- 22b. Flood Of Fear: Jake and Jack become at odds when Jack's joking becomes too much for Jake. It will only be when Jake sees how Jack uses humor to diffuse a situation during a flood in a small town that he begins to appreciate Jack's humor.
- 23a. Summertime Twister: A twister hits a campground, putting people in danger, including one teenager's younger sister.
- 23b. The Chilling Championship: The Rescue Heroes must save a team of high school basketball players when their bus plunges into an icy river.
- 24. Flashback To Danger: When Rocky's mistake during a rescue almost costs a life, he decides to quit the Rescue Heroes. In an effort to make him stay, Billy tells Rocky the story about the only other Rescue Hero to quit.
- 25a. Tidal Wave Of Pride: A tidal wave threatens the lives of a seaside community during an "extreme sports" weekend.
- 25b. A Whale Of An Adventure: Bill Barker does not want to do circus training, he would rather just stick to strength training. However, he learns that circus training is just as important as strength training during a water rescue.
- 26a. Shake Up In The Jungle: A group of students get trapped in the Venezuelan jungle after an earthquake.
- 26b. Lights, Camera, - Destruction!: A Hollywood star tries to emulate the Rescue Heroes in order to prepare for a role in his upcoming movie. When the Rescue Heroes are called to help local authorities handle a mudslide, the actor interferes with the mission.
- 27a. Rescue Robots: When Pat Pending unveils the new Rescue Robot, Billy does not approve. However, when Billy gets trapped in a cave, only the Rescue Robot can enter the cave to save him.
- 27b. Race To The Finish: Al Pine and Bill Barker compete in a dog sled race. When a man in the race tries to cheat in order to win, he discovers that cheating does not always end with desirable results.
Season three
- 28. Heroes: At a conference honoring rescue personnel from around the world, Billy is worried that his presentation to a specific rescue group will not reflect the gratitude he and everyone else feels.
- 29a. Ultimate Ride: Jake isn't comfortable using the new ultimate robot vehicle. However, when his motorcycle is damaged during an earthquake, he is forced to use the new vehicle.
- 29b. The Newest Rescue Hero: Jack Hammer thinks he's doing his sister Jill a favor when he gets her a spot on the Rescue Heroes.
- 30a. Blackout: When a city is plunged into darkness, Billy Blazes calls out the Night Force. Billy, Jake Justice, and Sam Sparks descend into a subway system to rescue trapped passengers; meanwhile Aidan Assist, Sergeant Siren, and Willy Stop help land a crippled plane on a city street.
- 30b. Fire Down Under: A series of wildfires rage out of control in New South Wales, Australia, forcing people to evacuate their homes while threatening to destroy wildlife and their habitats. A veterinarian works feverishly to save her wildlife refuge, and the Rescue Heroes aid both her and local authorities to save the animals and put out the fire.
- 31a. Up, Up And Uh-Oh: When Avory Ator neglects to perform routine maintenance on his biplane, the flaps get stuck during an airshow. Ariel Flyer, along with the other Rescue Heroes, must rescue him before his plane crashes.
- 31b. Fiery Differences: Two neighbors embroiled in an argument don't realize that their entire town could go up in flames if a forest fire hits a nearby gas station.
- 32a. On Thin Ice: After a massive snowfall, the Rescue Heroes must evacuate residents of a Seniors Center before the building collapses. Later, Al Pine discovers that his niece and nephew have gone missing. Al, along with the other Rescue Heroes, will have to rescue the two teens and their horse from a frozen lake.
- 32b. Peril In Peru: Ariel Flyer and Rock Miner must rescue a trapped archeologist in a booby-trapped tomb.
- 33. In The Driver's Seat: A car crash and an explosion cause fiery oil to run into a sewer, causing the faucets and hoses to shoot fire.
- 34a. For Better Or Curse: When the Rescue Heroes have to go underwater to save an eccentric treasure hunter trapped in a sunken pirate's ship, Rocky is convinced that it is an ancient curse that is making the rescue difficult.
- 34b. Bat's Life: When an oil drill accidentally pierces a salt vain in a seabed, seawater dissolves through and floods nearby stalactite caves while trapping a mother and daughter inside.
- 35a. The Royal Rescue Hero: Rocky meets a princess who would like to become a Rescue Hero.
- 35b. Foul Weather Friends: Two boys wander off into a forest where a hurricane occurs.
- 36. Quake Me When It's Over: Wendy is sent back in time to the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and must perform rescues without any modern equipment.
- 37a. Rock And A Hard Place: A teenage rock climber feels that he has no need for any weather training. When he does a solo mountain climb, he gets caught in a deadly storm and Rocky must get to him before the elements do.
- 37b. Cruise Into Danger: A floating high school encounters a deadly cyclone and other hazards while cruising the South Seas. A doubtful young man will realize that he has something important to contribute when faced with a deadly challenge.
- 38a. Not On This Planet: A spaceship that a group of students are studying accidentally lifts off, sending them into orbit. They will have to put their differences aside and work as a team to make it back to Earth.
- 38b. Tunnel Vision: When a semi truck carrying explosive material explodes in an underwater tunnel, the Rescue Heroes are called into action.
- 39. Alone For The Holidays: Rocky feels sorry for himself when he learns that he has drawn "Holiday Duty". A rescue encounter and a journey with an Eskimo woman and her son will help him find the true meaning of the holidays.
- 40a. Going With The Wind: When the Santa Ana winds travel across Catalina Island, havoc occurs. Perry Chute and Rip Rockefeller go after a stray hang-glider, Ariel Flyer and Rocky Canyon rescue a stray wind-surfer, and Gil Gripper helps two teenage boys aboard their catamaran.
- 40b. A Bridge Too Frail: A rockslide sets off a sequence of events near the El Chorro Gorge in Spain. Rocky Canyon is appointed team leader; however, his unorthodox decisions lead some of the other Rescue Heroes to question if he's the right man for the job.
References
External links
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