'9-1-1' Star Shares Secrets Behind the Show's Unbelievable Rescues

According to '9-1-1' star Rob Lowe, the hit drama series is rooted in real-life emergencies that may seem too unbelievable to be true. Lowe, who plays Capt. Owen Strand in the Austin-based spin-off that ran for five seasons until its finale this past February, explains that the show's writers often draw inspiration from actual news articles to craft the series' most dramatic rescue scenarios.

"If you think about it -- in the world of however many millions of people there are -- this stuff is bound to happen to somebody," says Lowe's co-star, singer LeAnn Rimes. "Every time we think it hasn't really happened, there's an article for that that shows you it has." Rimes recalls being initially skeptical of the show's realism, but says she quickly became "totally into their own reality" after a few episodes.

The '9-1-1' team's commitment to grounding the series in authentic emergencies has clearly paid off, captivating viewers with its blend of outrageous rescues and relatable human drama. As Lowe notes, "We have the craziest rescues, which is what's so interesting" -- a formula that has kept fans hooked for the past five seasons.