Search and Rescue

Search and Rescue is the title of a family-oriented adventure television series which was a co-production of the CTV television network in Canada and NBC in the United States during the 1977-1978 TV season. The program was aired in prime time in Canada and on Saturday mornings by NBC. It was later syndicated overseas. The American broadcasts of the series carried the modified title Search and Rescue: The Alpha Team. The series starred Michael J. Reynolds as Dr. Bob Donell, the leader of a unique rescue team that includes his two children Katy and Jim. What makes the team unique is that it conducts its rescues using a veritable zoo of specially trained animals. Each episode would see the Alpha Team utilizing specific animals to handle specific incidents, ranging from birds to dogs. A total of 26 episodes were produced, although the American broadcast of the series was cancelled after thirteen episodes.

Directed by Seymour Berns, Roy Freeman, Will Lorin, Search and Rescue leans on a strong ensemble — Michael J. Reynolds, Donann Cavin, Michael Tough — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The series landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about drama titles of 1977.