
Binge TV for Parents: Chicago
Box Sets, Hubs, Netflix, Prime, Now and much more..: Chicago
During lockdown families have watched a variety of sources for screen entertainment. There has not been a lot new on terrestrial TV, but the online has been mined for series. These series are more for adults, but no harm if children are around.
We review some: Chicago!..Chicago Fire, Med, PD. Producer: Dick Wolfe (known for Law and Order)
These are interlinked series, that we believe started with Chicago Fire, and others have been spin-offs.
Chicago Fire www.nbc.com/chicago-fire has more humour than the others. The characters banter all the time, and one can appreciate the busy high adrenaline activity, alternated with downtime at work and days off, where firefighters have second careers.
Some of them have invested in a bar where sometimes the police or hospital staff also relax, but mainly the Fire Department and Ambulance people
The ambulance service is run out of Station 51 so obviously there is a tie-in with:
Chicago Med www.nbc.com/chicago-med where the busy medical practitioners have to balance patient care, family liaison, and hospital finance, plus the romances. The good old surgeons’ egos duelling about treatment, and medics making mistakes, or successful rare diagnosis, mirror other shows, but well done. There are also romances with fire fighters, and romance and relatives with police officers and a tie in with:
Chicago PD www.nbc.com/chicago-pd where the gritty sergeant of the Intelligence Squad, gets things done his way. At first we really disliked him. BUT, if we wanted somebody on our side, he would be the one. The Chicago politics, and deals on handshakes, plus corruption all around, some for the purposes of good, perhaps does not show the City in good light. It is entertaining though.
All three have a soap-opera feel, and there are sometimes lingering looks that seem typical of US daytime soaps. The storylines have to be accepted as a cynic can blow holes through the logic. Some minor storylines just seem to get dropped without closure after a few episodes. Take it all as entertainment and relax, to just enjoy the occasional intermingling between the different shows of the storyline, and regularly characters showing up in each, Yes it’s all fun!
Having been to Chicago a few times, I found the city great. I think they shoot the series in winter as weather is shown as consistently poor, when I found it warm and not even windy! Didn’t hear any shots, car crashes, nor big fires. Only for the high action in these shows. The sets and stunt work are remarkable.
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By Penny McCarthy
Penny McCarthy is a seasoned entrepreneur and co-founder of Parents News UK, a pioneering publication launched in 1993 to serve the needs of busy parents in Southwest London. Alongside her husband, Fergus McCarthy, Penny played a crucial role in the rapid expansion of the printed edition, which grew from a local startup to a widely circulated monthly publication with a reach of 192,000 copies across Kent, South London, and beyond. Under Penny’s leadership, Parents News quickly became a trusted resource for families, providing valuable information on education, entertainment, sports, and family-friendly events. Her vision helped the publication extend its influence with franchises in Northern Ireland and Cornwall, catering to a growing demand for accessible, family-oriented content. In 1997, recognising the importance of digital media, Penny spearheaded the launch of Parents News UK Online. The website initially mirrored the content of the printed editions and has since evolved into a comprehensive online resource for parents, achieving significant popularity with up to 700 daily hits. In 2017, the publication transitioned fully to an online platform, continuing to inform and engage families across the UK. Today, Penny remains deeply involved in the ongoing success of Parents News UK, focusing on innovative advertising opportunities and future growth plans. Her dedication to supporting families through accessible and practical content has made Parents News a cherished name in households across the country.
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