Tommy Kinard returned to 9-1-1 in a way many may not have expected.
The firefighter, last seen during 9-1-1 Season 2 Episode 16, was part of a much different 118 than we’re used to. And he moved on from the firehouse right before it truly became the close-knit, found family that’s captured the hearts of so many.
Tommy’s return during 9-1-1 Season 7 Episode 3 came during a nail-biting rescue, which saw Tommy flying over treacherous waters to help save the day alongside firefighters from his past and firefighters who would soon become a part of his immediate future.3
Lou Ferrigno Jr., an actor with a series of credits to his name, including S.W.A.T. and Outer Banks, has played Tommy since his introduction during 9-1-1 Season 2.
Returning after a five-season gap between appearances, Ferrigno Jr. was ecstatic to return to a show he loved working on.
“It’s always fun to rescue a capsized cruise liner,” Ferrigno Jr. told me when we met up on a Zoom call to discuss a multitude of topics revolving around his return to the current darling of network television.
“It’s tough, dangerous work, Whitney, but someone’s got to do it. No, I love this show. I have loved this show since I was on it. I loved this show from when it first aired.
“I’m also on a show called S.W.A.T., and it came out right before this one, and no show made me concerned. I was like, ‘S.W.A.T.’s much better.’ But this was always just a great, great, great show.
“I love the crew. The last scene in Bobby Begins Again, we shot it when we were driving on the freeway. And I remember that day I was just so sad because I thought to myself, I’m not coming back.
“And it was the only show I’ve ever felt good about myself afterward for a myriad of reasons. But I am beyond thrilled to have been asked back and in the capacity I have been.
“I’m just excited for what’s to come.”
Coming back during 9-1-1 Season 7, Tommy was initially shown to be an old acquaintance helping during an emergency, but his appearance was never envisioned as a one-off.
“I met Tim Minear briefly during 9-1-1 Season 7 Episode 3, and Tim’s always been just incredible,” Ferrigno Jr. remarked when asked about what those talks surrounding his return were like.
“He communicated to me that he is a big fan, which is amazing. I am a Scorpio. He’s a Scorpio. He called me up, and it was no big deal.
“So, it happens in phases. My manager said 9-1-1 called, and I was like, ‘Cool.’ And then he is like, ‘All right, well, they called for an arc.’ And I’m like, ‘Four episodes? Cool.’
“Then I had to talk to Tim, and Tim just called me. He had my number and said there would be a make-out, kiss scene, whatever, what have you. But everything was kind of contingent on that.
“And I understood that that was the love angle they were trying to go for. Admittedly, it was a challenge for me. It was something I hadn’t done. It was absolutely nothing I couldn’t do.
“It was just a matter of what was the right role for me. And the more we talked about it, the more Tim built Tommy to be the coolest guy who’s ever lived. This guy, he does everything and saves lives? And I love when Buck’s like, ‘Is Tommy cool?’ I mean, he flew into a hurricane on the belly of a cruise ship.
“You have to admit, it’s pretty cool. It’s fucking cool.
“And so I couldn’t say no. I had no idea that it was going to be the hundredth episode and the Bachelor crossover, but I knew that given this context, given the player that I’ve already established myself as, which is, as far as anyone is concerned, a guy’s guy of a firefighter, I knew it was going to come as a tremendous surprise to a lot of people.