Last Will and Testament

Premise

The series followed the exploits of a group of police officers, firefighters, and paramedics in the fictional NYPD 55th Precinct and the fictional FDNY Squad 55/Ladder 100/Battalion 24 firehouse, whose shifts fell between 3 pm and 11 pm, the "third watch". The precinct and fire station were located on the fictional corner of King Boulevard and Arthur Street; hence the nickname "Camelot". Exterior and interior shots of the 55th Precinct and the firehouse were filmed in Long Island City, Queens; however, in the show, they are located somewhere between Midtown Manhattan, Inwood, and the Bronx.

Third Watch succeeded in presenting all three branches of New York City's emergency services in the same show, reviving a failed attempt to do so nine years prior with the similarly themed H.E.L.P. The show balanced numerous single-episode events with other, ongoing storylines, some of which spanned multiple seasons. Though it gained much acclaim and eventually won an award for its emotional and honest portrayal of 9/11 and its aftermath, Third Watch was also criticized in some circles for extremely detailed violence, and extensive (by network standards) profane language. The show was created, produced, and written by John Wells and Edward Allen Bernero. The theme song for the show was "Keep Hope Alive" by The Crystal Method, except for the pilot episode, when "Right Here, Right Now" by Fatboy Slim was played during the opening sequence.

In the spring of 2005, NBC decided not to renew Third Watch, making the sixth season its last. The series' finale, "Goodbye to Camelot", aired in the United States on Friday, May 6, 2005. Several major newspapers, including the New York Times and the Bergen Record, have since listed it as a TV show that was cancelled too early.

Conception

John Wells had wanted to do a show about paramedics for some time due to his work on ER, but did not think he had enough material to make such a show. Ed Bernero, a former Chicago cop, had wanted to do a police drama partly based on his own experiences. The two worked together on the short-lived show Trinity and, after that show was cancelled, Wells asked Bernero if he wanted to co-create a show with him.<ref>Minds, Criminal (January 31, 2008). "Edward Allen Bernero "Third Watch" Interview 2004". Criminalmindswriters.blogspot.com. Retrieved May 29, 2013.</ref>

Originally, the show was only going to be about the police and paramedics, but firefighter Jimmy Doherty was added to the show after Eddie Cibrian auditioned for the role of Bosco. Cibrian lost out to Jason Wiles, but because of the attention he received from women due to his good looks, the producers decided to put him in the show as a new character. Bernero reportedly commented that they did not have any firefighters, and the fire aspect of the show was added.<ref>"Third Watch Dot Net". Thirdwatch.net. Retrieved May 29, 2013.</ref>

Episodes

The series consists of six seasons with a total of 132 episodes, produced and broadcast from September 23, 1999, to May 6, 2005.

Crossovers

"Unleashed" — Yokas and Bosco help Dr. Susan Lewis find her drug-addicted sister and her niece, who went missing. The story begins on ER in the episode "Brothers & Sisters".

"Disaster" — An AWOL soldier arrested for a jewelry store robbery that left a friend of Sully's dead contracts a virus that begins to spread. The story concludes on Medical Investigation in the episode "Half-Life".

Main cast

Third Watch's original ensemble cast in the series' first season consisted of Michael Beach, Coby Bell, Bobby Cannavale, Eddie Cibrian, Molly Price, Kim Raver, Anthony Ruivivar, Skipp Sudduth, and Jason Wiles.

Eddie Cibrian also portrayed the contract-role of Cole on Sunset Beach while appearing on Third Watch at the same time until Sunset Beach's cancellation on September 17, 1999.

In 2000, Amy Carlson was added to the cast as paramedic/firefighter Alex Taylor. In 2001, series regular Bobby Cannavale willingly left the series after he asked to be written out due to lack of character use and development.<ref>Clark, Tim (November 26, 2001). "Thesps on the rise: Bobby Cannavale". Variety. Retrieved October 26, 2007.</ref>

At the start of season three, Chris Bauer was added to the main credits as Fred Yokas after being a recurring guest star previously. Tia Texada became a recurring guest star, and later, a full cast member, in 2002. Carlson left the show in 2003. Later that year, Nia Long was introduced as Officer Sasha Monroe (her rank was changed in season six in one of the show's most shocking plot twists). Yvonne Jung became a recurring guest star also in 2003, although she had been a guest in season-three episode "Act Brave" as a lawyer defending Kim in her custody battle with Jimmy. Also in 2003, Bonnie Dennison was added as Emily Yokas, previously being recurring.

In 2004, just after celebrating the show's 100th episode, Eddie Cibrian and Michael Beach left the show. Cibrian's departure marked the first time a main character was written out of the show without dying. Series regular Molly Price's character, Faith Yokas, made very few appearances in season five of the series because Price was pregnant throughout much of the season. The writers for Third Watch explained her absence by her character being seriously injured in a shootout, and then trying to recuperate at home. In the few scenes Price was in, her growing belly was frequently hidden by blankets piled on top of her while she lay in bed. Cara Buono joined the cast as Paramedic Grace Foster late in the show's fifth season in 2004.

Kim Raver decided to leave the show after the show's sixth-season opener and became a series regular on 24. Josh Stewart was introduced as a main cast member of season six as Probationary Officer Brendan Finney. After a several-month absence, Dennison reclaimed the role of Emily Yokas for the rest of the final season, while Chris Bauer left the show to pursue his new show Tilt, which coincidentally co-starred his former Third Watch castmate, Eddie Cibrian, but made sporadic guest-star appearances in season six. Beach, Cibrian, and Raver rejoined their former co-stars in the series finale, "Goodbye To Camelot".

Main cast

¹ <small>The Yokas' oldest child Emily was portrayed by P.J. Morrison in seasons one-three in a recurring role. Dennison took over the role in season four and received star billing in the final two seasons in the episodes in which she appeared.</small>

Recurring cast

These cast members are listed by the season in which they were introduced:

Main crew

Directors

Guy Norman Bee [1]

Peter Ellis (5 episodes, 2002–2003)

Jesús Salvador Treviño (4 episodes, 2001–2002)

Vincent Misiano [2]

Christopher Chulack (3 episodes, 1999–2004)

Charles Haid (3 episodes, 2000–2005)

Félix Enríquez Alcalá (3 episodes, 2003–2005)

Gloria Muzio (3 episodes, 2003–2005)

Skipp Sudduth (3 episodes, 2003–2005)

Edward Allen Bernero (3 episodes, 2004–2005)

Nelson McCormick (3 episodes, 2004–2005)

Chris Misiano (2 episodes, 1999–2000)

Bryan Spicer (2 episodes, 1999–2000)

R.W. Goodwin (2 episodes, 1999)

Jace Alexander (2 episodes, 2000–2001)

Nick Gomez (2 episodes, 2000–2001)

Michael Fields (2 episodes, 2000)

Julie Hébert [3]

Stephen Cragg (2 episodes, 2004–2005)

John E. Gallagher (2 episodes, 2004–2005)

Paul Michael Glaser (2 episodes, 2004–2005)

Writers

Edward Allen Bernero (132 episodes, 1999–2005)

John Wells (132 episodes, 1999–2005)

Janine Sherman (13 episodes, 2000–2005)

Scott Williams (11 episodes, 2001–2004)

John Ridley (6 episodes, 1999–2001)

Charles Murray (5 episodes, 2003–2005)

Lance Gentile (4 episodes, 1999–2000)

Bonnie Mark (4 episodes, 2000–2001)

Angela Amato (4 episodes, 2003–2005)

Terri Kopp (3 episodes, 1999–2000)

John Romano (3 episodes, 1999–2000)

Julie Hébert (2 episodes, 2000–2001)

Kyra Keene (2 episodes, 2000–2001)

Victor De Jesus (2 episodes, 2004)

Siobhan Byrne (unknown episodes)

Paul Golding (unknown episodes)

Brooke Kennedy (unknown episodes)

Jorge Zamacona

Broadcast and ratings information

All six seasons of Third Watch were originally broadcast on NBC in the United States and simulcast in Canada on CTV .

Third Watch was also broadcast worldwide including Africa, Europe, Latin America, Asia, Oceania and the Middle East.

Home media and syndication

Warner Home Video released Season 1 of Third Watch on DVD in Regions 1, 2 and 4. Season 2 was released in Region 1 on July 7, 2009.

Music licensing issues delayed the release of the first two seasons and as of January 2026 there have been no updates regarding the release of the remaining seasons on DVD, however, in September 2025, the four remaining seasons, as well as a “series-complete box set”, became available for purchase via online streaming platforms such as YouTube and Apple TV. However, some post-broadcast releases include episodes slightly modified, with music different from the original broadcasts.

The first three seasons of Third Watch were available for streaming on Crave TV from March 2015 until 2021.

In December 2021, The Roku Channel added all 6 seasons of Third Watch to watch for free (with the exception of Season 4, Episode 12). In December 2022, Roku stopped offering the show for streaming, only to re-add it again in late March 2023.

In February 2023, Tubi added all 6 seasons of Third Watch to watch for free. However, some users will not be able to access it depending on which country their IPN identifies as their location (it isn't available in all countries). It is noticeable in this release that several of the songs used in the show have been changed to overcome the initial musical licensing issues.

In February 2026, all six seasons of Third Watch were available for streaming on Apple TV.

Third Watch also aired in Syndication on A&E at various times between the fall of 2002 and 2011. As of April 2023, it can be seen on HLN weeknights in a four-hour block from 8:00 PM to 11:00 PM (Eastern Standard Time).

Reception

The series won the Peabody Award for Season 3 episode "In Their Own Words", in which series regulars Michael Beach, Coby Bell, Amy Carlson, Eddie Cibrian, Kim Raver, Anthony Ruivivar, Skipp Sudduth, and Jason Wiles introduced clips of interviews with real-life NYPD and FDNY members who responded to the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center. Series regular Molly Price was interviewed in a segment because she is married to real-life FDNY firefighter and Third Watch recurring guest star Derek Kelly.<ref>61st Annual Peabody Awards, May 2002.</ref>

Many Third Watch former cast members were nominated for awards for their work on the show. Among them, both Bobby Cannavale and Anthony Ruivivar were nominated for ALMA Awards for their positive portrayals of Latino characters. Nia Long also won several NAACP Image Awards for her portrayal of the African-American character Sasha Monroe. Other cast members, including Michael Beach, Molly Price, and Tia Texada also were nominated for various awards. The show itself was nominated for several Primetime Emmy Awards including Outstanding Stunt Coordination and Outstanding Sound Editing for a Series, which it won in 2000.