9-1-1 First Look: Lou Ferrigno Jr. Returns to Save Bobby and Athena — What’s Next for Tommy Kinard? (Exclusive)
Another familiar face is returning to 9-1-1 this season, and not a moment too soon. Tommy Kinard, a former member of the 118 played by Lou Ferrigno Jr., will be back to help save Bobby and Athena in Thursday’s conclusion of the show’s three-part premiere.
This is the first time we’ll see Tommy in the present day; he previously appeared in three “Begins” episodes throughout 9-1-1′s second season.
“Originally, when the 118 needed a pilot to get them to that overturned cruise ship, Lucy was my first thought,” showrunner Tim Minear tells TVLine of Arielle Kebbel’s character, now a member of the LAFD’s air support team. “But she couldn’t be my pilot… because she got a pilot,” he adds, referring to Kebbel’s casting in the Fox lifeguard drama Rescue: Hi Surf.
Minear still needed a pilot, and he “didn’t just want it to be some generic pilot guy that they enlist.” He wanted it to be somebody “who had a connection to the lore of the show.” That’s when Tommy popped into Minear’s mind.
Tommy has actually come to the 118’s aid more times than you may realize — he just hasn’t always been seen. In the Season 2 episode “Broken,” Chimney called for water to be dropped over a burning neighborhood, and it was Tommy to the rescue. “We established that Tommy had moved to some air service unit in the fire department, so you never actually saw [Lou Ferrigno Jr.] in that episode, but it’s Tommy that he calls.”
And this isn’t just a one-off visit from Tommy. “He’s going to be around for a little bit,” Minear says. “He’s not going to be a member of the 118 again, but he is going to be involved in some stories.”
Check out more exclusive first-look photos from Tommy’s return below, then drop a comment with your thoughts on 9-1-1 Season 7 thus far.
Glad to hear that Tommy is sticking around for awhile, I like him. Not to sound like a jerk but also kind of glad it’s him and not Lucy…no offense to Arielle, she’s absolutely lovely, the show just really fumbled the bag with her character.
9-1-1 bringing back the worst characters as always. I thought we were past that. Are they going to do the same as they did with Taylor Kelly or the Buckleys, and just forget how awful he was in the begins. He literally was misogynistic homophobic and racist against Hen and Chimney, are we supposed to ignore that when he comes back as the white saviour?
We literally just want to see Ravi and Linda, but I guess their skin colour doesn’t match well with the storylines.
Careful, your racism is showing.
It’s not MY racism, I’m literally calling out the writers who always do this. They bring back white problematic characters like Taylor Kelly and Tommy Kinard, and then forget about their great poc characters that people love.
Bringing black people to be antagonist like Vanessa is ok for them, but god forbid they decide to actually held accountable any of the white regulars.
We only see Linda and Ravi to be the comic relief, to save people we need Taylor Kelly, Josh, Sue, and now Tommy.
Same with their love interests, the only ones that had anything interesting going one were the white ones, Natalia, Ana and now Marisol don’t even have surnames.
I didn’t think that Ana and Natalia were particularly interesting, but both characters had surnames from their first appearances. Ana was literally introduced as Ms. Flores, and we learned quite a bit about her and Natalia’s work.
Your arguments are contradicting themselves.
The show is very diverse — and not just that — very inclusive. The POC and LGBTQ characters actually have story, lives, background, history, and drive plot and action. Athena’s entire family and extended family, Hen and Karen and their family which includes Hen’s mother, Chim and his brother Albert. There is also Carla who comes back periodically. Of the dispatchers, outside of Josh and Maddie, Linda has the most episodes, even more than Sue.
Regards Tommy, if you watch the Begins episodes, the old 118 Captain is the vocal misogynist and possibly racist. Tommy and Sal don’t say or do much outside of standing back and hazing the probies. By the end of each of Hen’s and Chim’s episodes Tommy apologizes for being a jerk and they are all good. In fact in Hen’s episode, the old captain is fired and it is because other other firefighters complained about his treatment of Hen and it is implied that Tommy might have been one of them. By the time Bobby comes along Tommy, Hen and Chim are all friends and easy co-workers with each other. They are all actually a little jerkish to Bobby when he starts.
Yeah, it is.
Well, I for one am excited for Tommy’s return! Especially looking forward to his scenes with Hen…I appreciated the way that his character evolved in ‘Hen Begins,’ because you don’t usually see that growth in a procedural TV episode (also prepared to receive 20+ downvotes and/or negative responses to this innocuous statement, because 911 comment sections always get so toxic 😭)
I think that’s awesome. It’ll be nice to see him working with the 118 again and catch up with what he’s been doing at the 217
This 3 part repeat “Poseidan Adventure “circa1970’s is disappointing and unbelievable !! A fan of the show from episode 1-this trilogy left me sad and shaking my head. 😞
Probably should avoid Mandy Patinkin’s latest show then. ;)
Right? They could’ve at least gotten Gene Hackman to do a cameo.
I agree. Now, perhaps the show will get back to the reason we watch it.
Ugh why must Tommy Kinnard (who looks like Buck‘s older brother) OUT OF ALL PEOPLE become Buck‘s newest love interest (we’re not stupid, we know it’s going to happen)? He is basically a male version of Taylor Kelly. I‘m not against BiBuck, but NOT WITH THIS GUY. Buck (and the fans) deserve do much better than this🤮🤮🤮.
I saw those rumors on Tumblr, and those people said that they only had info through episode 4…No one actually knows how this is going to play out or if that info is even real. People need to chill. I think the whole “brothers” thing would be way worse than Buck and Tommy would be.
We LOVE you Tommy
Ooooo it’s the guy from SWAT!!
Love the commentary of all the actors and actresses on this show. There should be more people like them in the world… It would be a better place. So much excitement and trauma but always leaves me feeling good! I’m a big fan! The writers are fabulous and so is the crew 😉
What about all the people in the lifeboats… They certainly did not have time to row away from that huge wave And away from the storm!
I love 911 its my favorite show.cant wait for next episode to come out.thank you for making another season .keep it going.the crew is awesome.
Have watched each part of the premier at least twice!!
Hey, for once I would like to thank Fox. Anything to keep that awful character (and worse actress) off of our beloved show. Her character was a disaster from the start and took so many scenes from other characters in the biggest waste of time since bringing Taylor Kelly back and pretending she wasn’t horrible. Not to mention Kristen turning Evan Buckley into a cheater for absolutely no reason?! I’m glad she’s no longer running (ruining) the show. I’m actually interested to see what kind of growth and change we may see from Tommy after all this time.
I am retired so most of my days are sitting on the couch watching TV. I missed the first 2 seasons of 911 but now it has become my favorite show. I believe it’s one of the best casting of characters I have seen in sometime. I have always appreciated Angela Bassett and Jennifer Love Hewitt as actresses but the other cast members are new to me. Together they make the show worth watching and I am so glad that the series was picked up after being cancelled by Fox. Thank you for having great story lines
I am glad they used someone who has been on this show before. Glad Bobby and Athena and the rest got rescued.
Followed 911 and 912 Lone Star every episode. Cannot watch new season as it’s on a channel we do not have!! Really disappointed to say the least.
I think it was a great ideal bringing in Tommy since they have history and a pilot. I missed his other appearances,but this felt right. Can’t wait to see more. 😊
This show it’s the best #911. I get the goose bumps every time I see this show. I love how they ride for each other is epic!! I’ve watched all seasons n still watching keep it coming number 1 show in my list. Can’t wait till the next episode ❤️❤️
What an awesome beginning to the season. I’ve never been on a cruise and I wanted to go on one but I don’t know if I will now lol. Awesome show awesome casting and awesome in general. One of my top favorite shows on TV right now. I also think Tommy should join the 118 👍🙏
yes please more tommy
Excellent season so far! Love Tommy – hope he stays around for awhile! I will definately contonue to watch 9-1-1!!
I’m not surprised at Buck turning out to be “Bi-sexual.” But why did you have to let it be with Tommy?