Third Watch is an NBC television drama set in New York City that ran from September 23 1999 to May 6 2005. It followed the exploits of a group of police officers, firefighters, and paramedics in the fictional 55th Precinct and Station 55 whose shifts fell between 3 p.m. and 11 p.m, the "third watch." The precinct and fire station were located on the corner of King St. and Arthur St.; hence the nickname "Camelot." Exterior shots of the 55th Precinct and the Firehouse were filmed in Long Island City, Queens. Third Watch succeeded in presenting all three branches of New York City's emergency services in the same show, reviving a failed attempt to do so nine years prior with the similarly-themed H.E.L.P. running for only one season in 1990.

The show balanced numerous single-episode events with other, ongoing storylines, some of which spanned multiple seasons. While Third Watch was lauded for its emotional and honest portrayal of the events surrounding the 9/11 terrorist attacks, it was also criticized in some circles for extremely detailed violence and prevalent (by network television standards) profane language. The show was created, produced, and written by John Wells and Edward Allen Bernero. The theme song for the show was "Keep Hope Alive" by The Crystal Method.

Third Watch was not renewed by NBC in the spring of 2005, making the sixth season the show's last. The series' finale, "Goodbye to Camelot," was aired in the United States on Friday, May 6, 2005. It was listed in the Bergen Record, The Times and other newspapers as a TV show that was canceled too early.

On March 27, 2002, the special non-fiction episode "In Their Own Words" which told the real stories of the police officers, firefighters, paramedics, emergency services personnel, and their families in the aftermath of 9/11/01, received the prestigious George Foster Peabody Award for Excellence in Broadcasting.

The 100th episode was shot as a series of 10 minute continuous takes.

In early episodes, the fire house has a Dalmatian called "Mantooth", named after Randolph Mantooth who played paramedic John Gage in "Emergency!" (1972)

Bosco's full name is Maurice Louis Boscorelli, and before he joined the NYPD he was a U.S. Army Ranger.

The term "Camelot" that is used as a nickname for the 55th precinct station refers to an actual NYPD station that is located on the corners of King and Arthur and is also called Camelot.

Bobby Cannavale (Bobby Caffey) trained with doctors and paramedics for 2 months.

Bobby Cannavale (Bobby' Caffey) asked to be released from the show due to a lack of character storyline.