240-Robert


240-Robert is an American drama series that ran on ABC from August 28, 1979 to March 21, 1981. The series title is a reference to the call-sign designation for the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department's search and rescue/paramedic teams.

Synopsis

The series chronicles the missions of "240-Robert", a specialized unit of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, that utilized four wheel drive vehicles and a helicopter. Most of the assignments were sea/air/land search and rescue operations in the extensive, who created the hit series CHiPs two years earlier for NBC.
The vehicles used at that time were 1979 Ford Broncos, while the helicopter was a Hughes HA-500C.
The series was based on real life cases encountered by the LASD's Emergency Services Detail. The real life ESD is actually headquartered in East Los Angeles. Rick Rosner took artistic liberty and portrayed the headquarters as a beach-side station. The actual filming location was at a State of California ranger station located at Sycamore Cove in Ventura County, California. The series was inspired, in part, on the experiences of Officer Charles Thibaudeau of the Hermosa Beach Police Department.

Cast

Cassidy and Hensley both had an expert helicopter pilot take over for them in the actual helicopter flight sequences; this regular stunt pilot was Charles 'Chuck' Tamburro who wore a wig to give the appearance of a female pilot.

Cancellation

Harmon and Cassidy left the series when their contracts expired after the first season. Burns and Hensley were brought in to replace them, but the second season only lasted three episodes before ABC cancelled it due to poor ratings.

Episode list

Season 1: 1979

Season 2: 1981