Hello to all "Emergency!" fans! 
Sincerely, Ruth Buzzi 2002

Ruth Buzzi

as

Amy Merkle

Episode:
"Grateful"

Air date:
February 7, 1976

Watch out, everyone! It's time for our anniversary celebration dinner and here comes "Amy Merkle" with her famous "Trout a la Amy." (Uh oh, there goes the smoke alarm again!) Making an appearance at our celebration is Ruth Buzzi, best known to 1970's "Emergency!" fans as the lovable curmudgeon, Gladys, from the mega-popular show "Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In." Ruth Buzzi is a household name in comedy. Her talent of blending comedy and acting left us gasping for breath in laughter each week (where DID she get that hairnet for Gladys?!) One of the truly great ladies of comedy, Ms. Buzzi proved she was just as accomplished as an actor. Ruth Buzzi and Dick van Patten as the Merkles provided "Emergency!" with one of its more memorable comedic episodes, "Grateful."

(PS: Note to Ms. Buzzi: check your mail! You'll be receiving a copy of "Grateful" soon!)

Character Description: 

Johnny and Roy save the lives of Carter (Dick Van Patten) and his wife Amy (Ruth Buzzi) after they are in a car accident. Carter and Amy are so “Grateful” to the paramedics that they start hanging around Station 51 trying to help out. In some very funny scenes, the Merkles become a major nuisance. The guys at the station have to figure out how to get rid of these two very “helpful” people without hurting their feelings.
 

Letter transcript:

"Sorry that this is probably too late! It got in the middle of the XMas rush!!! Ha! My memory says "Woosh!!" when I think of my guest starring on "Emergency!". Reason? My first scene was at the beginning of the show as a vehicle drove through the side of the restaurant where my character and others were eating in a booth. I had to act passed-out of course, and just all the "rigamarole" medics go through checking your body signs and attaching you to IV's etc. etc. was something else!! Very real feeling and almost scary. It was quite a unique experience. I remember feeling extremely happy eating dinner at home that night and I'd look down at my arms and legs that were unscathed!! Everyone was absolutely terrific and fun to work with. Super professional!! It's nice to see Randy is as handsome as ever! What a gentleman he was! Wonderful! Now you've got me realizing how much I'd love to see that tape again to watch what they did to me!!! "Woosh!!"

Fabulous memory!! Thanks, guys."
- Ruth Buzzi