THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, September 23, 1995 TAG: 9509220061
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY LARRY BONKO, TELEVISION WRITER
LENGTH: Short : 48 lines
W HILE THE new NBC series ``JAG'' is produced with no cooperation from the Navy or Department Defense, a military-themed syndicated series premiering today at 5:30 a.m. on WTKR has the blessing of people in high places.
That includes the commander of the Coast Guard motion picture and television office.
And why not such cooperation?
``Coast Guard: The Series'' from Tam Communications in San Jose, Calif., is a testimonial to the courage and heroism of Coast Guard crews based nearby at the Elizabeth City, N.C., air station and bases throughout the U.S.
It's also corking good television.
On an average day, the Coast Guard saves 15 lives, recovers over $1.5 million in property, inspects dozens of ships, responds to crises caused by spills, interdicts lots of illegal aliens and seizes pounds and pounds of illegal drugs.
``We hope we capture the intensity of the Coast Guard's dangerous missions,'' said series creator and executive producer Tam Fraser. He said it is likely that rescues logged by the Elizabeth City crews will be featured ``in every other episode or so.''
In the premiere episode of ``Coast Guard: The Series,'' the Elizabeth City helicopter crews rescue a family of four, including a 4-month-old infant, trapped aboard a 64-foot sailboat about to be swamped as a hurricane approaches.
The Marine Flower II, with the Ira Hubbard family aboard, was sailing from Norfolk to Bermuda when it encountered 25-foot-high seas about 360 miles east of the Virginia coastline.
There are tense moments when chopper crews and swimmers including Lt. Cmdr. Dave Gunderson and petty officer Mario Vittone face heavy seas and high winds to make the rescue. They pull it off flawlessly.
``It's an example of the compelling and unique individual stories we will be doing,'' said Fraser. The first episode also includes the rescue of a climber on a steep cliff in Oregon and a segment on boating while intoxicated on a Michigan lake.
Note to boaters: Consider a designated driver if partying is in the plans. by CNB