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Diagnosis: Murder (USA, 1993-2001) - Diagnosis
Murder is a mystery/medical/crime drama television
series starring Dick Van Dyke as Dr. Mark Sloan, a
medical doctor who solves crimes with the help of his son,
a homicide detective played by his real-life son Barry Van
Dyke. The series began as a spin-off of Jake and the
Fatman (Dr. Mark Sloan made his first appearance in
episode 4.19 "It Never Entered My Mind"), became a
series of three TV movies, and then a weekly television
series that debuted on CBS on October 29, 1993.
Read more...
Murder is a mystery/medical/crime drama television
series starring Dick Van Dyke as Dr. Mark Sloan, a
medical doctor who solves crimes with the help of his son,
a homicide detective played by his real-life son Barry Van
Dyke. The series began as a spin-off of Jake and the
Fatman (Dr. Mark Sloan made his first appearance in
episode 4.19 "It Never Entered My Mind"), became a
series of three TV movies, and then a weekly television
series that debuted on CBS on October 29, 1993.
Read more...
Division 4 (Australia, 1969-1975) - Division 4 is an Australian police
procedural television series made by Crawford Productions for the Nine
Network between 1969 and 1975 for 301 episodes. The series was one of
the first dramas to follow up on the enormous success of the earlier
crime show Homicide and dealt with police procedural matters in the
fictional suburb of Yarra Central in the city of Melbourne. Read more...
procedural television series made by Crawford Productions for the Nine
Network between 1969 and 1975 for 301 episodes. The series was one of
the first dramas to follow up on the enormous success of the earlier
crime show Homicide and dealt with police procedural matters in the
fictional suburb of Yarra Central in the city of Melbourne. Read more...
Dixon of Dock Green (UK, 1955-1976) - Dixon of Dock Green
was a popular BBC television series, which ran from 1955 to 1976, and
later a radio series. Despite being a drama series, it was initially
produced by the BBC's light entertainment department. Read more...
was a popular BBC television series, which ran from 1955 to 1976, and
later a radio series. Despite being a drama series, it was initially
produced by the BBC's light entertainment department. Read more...
Dragnet (USA, 1951-1959, 1967-1970, 1989-1991 and
2003-2004) - Dragnet, aka L.A. Dragnet (new title in
USA) is a long-running radio and television police
procedural drama about the cases of a dedicated Los
Angeles police detective, Sergeant Joe Friday, and his
partners. The show takes its name from an actual police
term, a "dragnet", meaning a system of coordinated
measures for apprehending criminals or suspects.
Read more...
2003-2004) - Dragnet, aka L.A. Dragnet (new title in
USA) is a long-running radio and television police
procedural drama about the cases of a dedicated Los
Angeles police detective, Sergeant Joe Friday, and his
partners. The show takes its name from an actual police
term, a "dragnet", meaning a system of coordinated
measures for apprehending criminals or suspects.
Read more...
Ellery Queen (USA, 1975-1976) - Ellery Queen was an American
television mystery series that ran for one season from 1975 to 1976 on
NBC. It starred Jim Hutton as Ellery Queen, and David Wayne as his
father, Inspector Richard Queen. One of several television adaptations
of the Ellery Queen mystery novels. The series was created by the
writing and producing team of Richard Levinson and William Link, who
also created such mystery fare as Mannix, Columbo and Murder, She
Wrote. Read more...
television mystery series that ran for one season from 1975 to 1976 on
NBC. It starred Jim Hutton as Ellery Queen, and David Wayne as his
father, Inspector Richard Queen. One of several television adaptations
of the Ellery Queen mystery novels. The series was created by the
writing and producing team of Richard Levinson and William Link, who
also created such mystery fare as Mannix, Columbo and Murder, She
Wrote. Read more...
The F.B.I. (USA, 1965-1974) - The F.B.I. is an American television
series that was broadcast on ABC from 1965 to 1974. It was sponsored
by the Ford Motor Company. Produced by Quinn Martin and based in
part on concepts from the 1959 Warner Bros. theatrical film The FBI
Story, the series was an authentic telling of or fictionalized accounts of
actual F.B.I. cases, with fictitious main characters carrying the stories.
Efrem Zimbalist, Jr. played Inspector Lewis Erskine, while Philip Abbott
played Arthur Ward, assistant director to F.B.I. chief J. Edgar Hoover.
Although Hoover served as series consultant until his death in 1972, he
was never seen in the series. Read more...
series that was broadcast on ABC from 1965 to 1974. It was sponsored
by the Ford Motor Company. Produced by Quinn Martin and based in
part on concepts from the 1959 Warner Bros. theatrical film The FBI
Story, the series was an authentic telling of or fictionalized accounts of
actual F.B.I. cases, with fictitious main characters carrying the stories.
Efrem Zimbalist, Jr. played Inspector Lewis Erskine, while Philip Abbott
played Arthur Ward, assistant director to F.B.I. chief J. Edgar Hoover.
Although Hoover served as series consultant until his death in 1972, he
was never seen in the series. Read more...
Ein Fall für Zwei (Germany, 1981-present) - Ein Fall für Zwei
(meaning "a case for two") is a German detective show series. The
series, which is situated in Frankfurt am Main, began in 1981 and is (as
of 2006) still on-going. It is unlike other German detective shows in that
the main characters who solve the crimes are not in the police, instead
they are a defense attorney and a private detective who works for him.
Read more...
(meaning "a case for two") is a German detective show series. The
series, which is situated in Frankfurt am Main, began in 1981 and is (as
of 2006) still on-going. It is unlike other German detective shows in that
the main characters who solve the crimes are not in the police, instead
they are a defense attorney and a private detective who works for him.
Read more...
Father Dowling Mysteries (USA, 1987-1991) - Father Dowling
Mysteries (also known as Father Dowling Investigates in the UK) is an
American television mystery series that appeared between 30 November
1987 and 2 May 1991, for its first season the show was on NBC, and on
the ABC network for its last two seasons. It is based on the adventures
of the title character created by Ralph McInerny, Professor of
Philosophy, Director of the Jacques Maritain Center, and Michael P.
Grace Professor of Medieval Studies at the University of Notre Dame.
Read more...
Mysteries (also known as Father Dowling Investigates in the UK) is an
American television mystery series that appeared between 30 November
1987 and 2 May 1991, for its first season the show was on NBC, and on
the ABC network for its last two seasons. It is based on the adventures
of the title character created by Ralph McInerny, Professor of
Philosophy, Director of the Jacques Maritain Center, and Michael P.
Grace Professor of Medieval Studies at the University of Notre Dame.
Read more...
Flashpoint - Flashpoint is a Canadian police drama television series
that debuted on July 11, 2008, on CTV in Canada and CBS in the U.S.
Sniper and Critical Incident were former working titles. The original
2007 pilot for the series was filmed using the Critical Incident title[3]
and Sniper was used when CTV originally announced the series in late
December 2007. Read more...
that debuted on July 11, 2008, on CTV in Canada and CBS in the U.S.
Sniper and Critical Incident were former working titles. The original
2007 pilot for the series was filmed using the Critical Incident title[3]
and Sniper was used when CTV originally announced the series in late
December 2007. Read more...
The Fugitive (USA, 1963-1967 and 2000-2001) - The Fugitive is an American television
series produced by QM Productions and United Artists Television that aired on ABC from
1963-1967. David Janssen starred as Dr. Richard Kimble, an innocent man from the
fictional town of Stafford, Indiana, who is falsely convicted of his wife's murder and given
the death penalty. En route to death row, Kimble's train derails and crashes, allowing him
to escape and begin a cross-country search for the real killer, a "one-armed man" (played
by Bill Raisch). At the same time, Dr. Kimble is hounded by the authorities, most notably
by Stafford Police Lieutenant Philip Gerard (Barry Morse). Read more...
series produced by QM Productions and United Artists Television that aired on ABC from
1963-1967. David Janssen starred as Dr. Richard Kimble, an innocent man from the
fictional town of Stafford, Indiana, who is falsely convicted of his wife's murder and given
the death penalty. En route to death row, Kimble's train derails and crashes, allowing him
to escape and begin a cross-country search for the real killer, a "one-armed man" (played
by Bill Raisch). At the same time, Dr. Kimble is hounded by the authorities, most notably
by Stafford Police Lieutenant Philip Gerard (Barry Morse). Read more...
Funky Squad (Australia, 1997) (Comedy) - Funky Squad was a short-lived 1995
Australian comedy television series which satirised '70s-era U.S. police television dramas,
such as The Mod Squad. Only 7 half-hour episodes were produced, which were broadcast on
the ABC. Real television commercials from the 1970s were shown during the program's
"commercial breaks". Read more...
Australian comedy television series which satirised '70s-era U.S. police television dramas,
such as The Mod Squad. Only 7 half-hour episodes were produced, which were broadcast on
the ABC. Real television commercials from the 1970s were shown during the program's
"commercial breaks". Read more...
Hawaii Five-O (USA, 1968-1980) - Hawaii Five-O is an American
television series that starred Jack Lord and James MacArthur as detectives
for a fictional Hawaii state police department. The show ran for 12 seasons,
from 1968 to 1980, making it the longest running crime show on American
television until the police drama Law & Order surpassed it in 2003. The
twelfth season was repackaged into syndication under the title McGarrett.
Read more...
television series that starred Jack Lord and James MacArthur as detectives
for a fictional Hawaii state police department. The show ran for 12 seasons,
from 1968 to 1980, making it the longest running crime show on American
television until the police drama Law & Order surpassed it in 2003. The
twelfth season was repackaged into syndication under the title McGarrett.
Read more...
Heartbeat (UK, 1992-present) - Heartbeat is a long-running British TV police drama
series set in 1960s Yorkshire. It is made by ITV Productions at The Leeds Studios for
broadcast on ITV. Heartbeat first aired on 10 April 1992. By Autumn 2008, it had reached
its 18th series, clocking up 350 episodes – a feat that few series achieve. Read more...
series set in 1960s Yorkshire. It is made by ITV Productions at The Leeds Studios for
broadcast on ITV. Heartbeat first aired on 10 April 1992. By Autumn 2008, it had reached
its 18th series, clocking up 350 episodes – a feat that few series achieve. Read more...
Heartlanders (Singapore, 2002-2005) - Heartlanders is an English language television drama telecast on
MediaCorp TV Channel 5. Based on the encounters by two officers from the Singapore Police Force, the first
season aired on 5 July 2002, and has since aired another three seasons, with the last season shown from 12 July
2005. There are no indications as yet if a five season would be produced. While the show evoke comparisons with
Triple Nine which was telecast from 1995 to 1999, it was distinctively the first Singaporean English television
series to be based primarily on uniformed patrol officers. The show was set in the Singaporean heartlands and in a
typical public housing setting, hence the name Heartlanders. Read more...
MediaCorp TV Channel 5. Based on the encounters by two officers from the Singapore Police Force, the first
season aired on 5 July 2002, and has since aired another three seasons, with the last season shown from 12 July
2005. There are no indications as yet if a five season would be produced. While the show evoke comparisons with
Triple Nine which was telecast from 1995 to 1999, it was distinctively the first Singaporean English television
series to be based primarily on uniformed patrol officers. The show was set in the Singaporean heartlands and in a
typical public housing setting, hence the name Heartlanders. Read more...
High Incident (USA, 1996-1997) - High Incident is a police drama series produced by DreamWorks Television
for the ABC network. The show was created by Steven Spielberg, Michael Pavone, Eric Bogosian and Dave Alan
Johnson. It first aired on March 4, 1996, running a total of 32 episodes. Read more...
for the ABC network. The show was created by Steven Spielberg, Michael Pavone, Eric Bogosian and Dave Alan
Johnson. It first aired on March 4, 1996, running a total of 32 episodes. Read more...
Highway Patrol (USA, 1955-1959) - Highway Patrol is a syndicated action crime drama series that aired
from 1955-1959. The series was syndicated by Ziv TV. It starred Broderick Crawford as Chief Dan Matthews, the
gruff and dedicated commander of a police force in a large, unidentified Western state. A signature shot of the
series was fedora-wearing Matthews barking "10-4!" and other rapid-fire dialogue into a radio-microphone as he
leaned against the door of his patrol car (call sign ID# "2150"). There were no other regular cast members but
William Boyett, later behind the badge again as Sgt. MacDonald in Adam-12, made numerous appearances as Sgt.
Ken Williams and Officer Johnson. Read more...
from 1955-1959. The series was syndicated by Ziv TV. It starred Broderick Crawford as Chief Dan Matthews, the
gruff and dedicated commander of a police force in a large, unidentified Western state. A signature shot of the
series was fedora-wearing Matthews barking "10-4!" and other rapid-fire dialogue into a radio-microphone as he
leaned against the door of his patrol car (call sign ID# "2150"). There were no other regular cast members but
William Boyett, later behind the badge again as Sgt. MacDonald in Adam-12, made numerous appearances as Sgt.
Ken Williams and Officer Johnson. Read more...
Hill Street Blues (USA, 1981-1987) - Hill Street Blues is a serial police drama that was first aired on NBC in
1981 and ran for 146 episodes on primetime into 1987. It is currently being aired on AmericanLife TV Network
on Sunday nights in the United States, and on weekday afternoons on digital network More 4 in the United
Kingdom. Chronicling the lives of the staff of a police precinct in an unnamed American city, the show received
high critical acclaim and its innovations proved highly influential on serious dramatic television series produced in
North America. Its debut season was honored with eight Emmy awards, a debut season record surpassed only by
The West Wing, and the show received a total of 98 Emmy Award nominations during its run. Read more...
1981 and ran for 146 episodes on primetime into 1987. It is currently being aired on AmericanLife TV Network
on Sunday nights in the United States, and on weekday afternoons on digital network More 4 in the United
Kingdom. Chronicling the lives of the staff of a police precinct in an unnamed American city, the show received
high critical acclaim and its innovations proved highly influential on serious dramatic television series produced in
North America. Its debut season was honored with eight Emmy awards, a debut season record surpassed only by
The West Wing, and the show received a total of 98 Emmy Award nominations during its run. Read more...
HolbyBlue (UK, 2007) - HolbyBlue is a British police drama series that aired on BBC One from 2007 to 2008.
Produced by the BBC, Red Planet Pictures and Kudos for BBC One, it is a spin-off of the successful BBC One
medical drama Holby City, itself a spin-off of the long-running series Casualty. The first series was broadcast
between 8 May and 26 June 2007. A second series of 12 episodes broadcast from on 20 March to 5 June 2008. In
August 2008, it was announced that the showed had been axed by the BBC and would not return for a third series.
Read more...
Produced by the BBC, Red Planet Pictures and Kudos for BBC One, it is a spin-off of the successful BBC One
medical drama Holby City, itself a spin-off of the long-running series Casualty. The first series was broadcast
between 8 May and 26 June 2007. A second series of 12 episodes broadcast from on 20 March to 5 June 2008. In
August 2008, it was announced that the showed had been axed by the BBC and would not return for a third series.
Read more...
Homicide (Australia, 1964 -77) - Homicide was an Australian police procedural television series made by
Crawford Productions for the Seven Network between 1964 and 1977. The series dealt with the homicide squad of
the Victoria police force and episodes revolved around the various cases the detectives are called upon to
investigate. Read more...
Crawford Productions for the Seven Network between 1964 and 1977. The series dealt with the homicide squad of
the Victoria police force and episodes revolved around the various cases the detectives are called upon to
investigate. Read more...
Due South (Canada/USA, 1994-1999) - Due South is
an award-winning Canadian television police
comedy-drama created by Paul Haggis and produced by
Alliance Communications (now part of Alliance Atlantis),
first aired in 1994. It followed the adventures of fictional
Royal Canadian Mounted Police officer Constable Benton
Fraser and his half-wolf companion, Diefenbaker, living
and working in Chicago. Fraser's methods, usually more
sensitive and understanding than is typical for police
work, gave the series a reputation for well rounded
characters. Read more...
an award-winning Canadian television police
comedy-drama created by Paul Haggis and produced by
Alliance Communications (now part of Alliance Atlantis),
first aired in 1994. It followed the adventures of fictional
Royal Canadian Mounted Police officer Constable Benton
Fraser and his half-wolf companion, Diefenbaker, living
and working in Chicago. Fraser's methods, usually more
sensitive and understanding than is typical for police
work, gave the series a reputation for well rounded
characters. Read more...
| Television History The First 75 Years |
| Page 4 |
| Police Shows |
| Descriptions of Police Drama and Comedy Television Shows Past and Present |
Custom Search
Cop Shows Can
Be Educational
Be Educational
While police shows aren’t the
best sources for police procedural
behavior, they frequently
illustrate the wrong way of doing
things. This observation is not
meant to be a criticism. When it
comes to entertainment,
watching TV cops doing
everything the right way would
be pretty boring. While enjoying
the humor in the screw-ups, you
should realize the realism
associated with the screw-ups.
I was watching an episode of the
The Closer starring Kyra
Sedwick. The shows opens with
Lieutenant Provenza (C.W.
Bailey) conducting a murder for
hire sting on a female suspect.
Following the arrest, Lieutenant
Provenza and Lieutenant Flynn
(Tony Denison) are transporting
the suspect and the evidence
back to Los Angeles. While in
route, they stop at a roadside
restaurant for lunch. Provenza
makes certain all the evidence, i.
e. video tape of the sting; money,
and the would be victim’s wallet,
used to convince the suspect that
the hit had been done, are all
secured in the locked trunk of
their car. Provenza even breaks
out the steering wheel club as
Lieutenant Flynn teases
Provenza for his paranoia.
Inside the restaurant, the two
detectives choose a table in front
of a large window directly
overlooking their car. So far so
good, but, the entertainment part
of this wouldn’t work if the
detectives, or one of them, had
seated himself to maintain
constant observation of the car.
The two detectives are seated
with their backs to the window.
The suspect, who up to this point
had not exhibited much
intelligence, begins questioning
the detectives about the
importance of the evidence
against her as she, seated
opposite the detectives, watches
two car thieves break into the
unmarked police car and drive
away. It was pretty easy to see
what was coming, but the actors’
performances made for a very
funny and entertaining scene. I
laughed and nodded as I thought
about the realism the scene
really portrayed.
When you become a police
officer, you’re going to receive
instruction about the absolute
importance of evidence chain of
custody. Whenever the chain of
custody is broken, the
admissibility of the evidence,
assuming it’s subsequently
recovered, will be in serious
jeopardy. If the evidence in
question is susceptible to any
change or alteration, the
admissibility of that evidence
will, in all probability, be denied.
Okay, let’s look at the real world
of police and police behavior. I
guarantee that you’ll work, at
some point, with a police officer
who rarely turns off the engine
of his or her police car. If the
officer stops in at a convenience
store in cold weather, the officer
will let the engine run, with the
key in the ignition, to keep the
heater running; in warm weather
the air conditioner will apply. In
weather where neither apply, the
engine will still run, because that
officer is lazy, incompetent, and
naïve in the belief that people
won’t steal police cars. If you
think that officer’s behavior
would be any different if the
trunk were packed with
evidence, you’d be wrong.
The realism in The Closer scene
is educational, because it
illustrates that even though
Provenza took reasonable steps
in securing the evidence, those
steps proved to be insufficient.
best sources for police procedural
behavior, they frequently
illustrate the wrong way of doing
things. This observation is not
meant to be a criticism. When it
comes to entertainment,
watching TV cops doing
everything the right way would
be pretty boring. While enjoying
the humor in the screw-ups, you
should realize the realism
associated with the screw-ups.
I was watching an episode of the
The Closer starring Kyra
Sedwick. The shows opens with
Lieutenant Provenza (C.W.
Bailey) conducting a murder for
hire sting on a female suspect.
Following the arrest, Lieutenant
Provenza and Lieutenant Flynn
(Tony Denison) are transporting
the suspect and the evidence
back to Los Angeles. While in
route, they stop at a roadside
restaurant for lunch. Provenza
makes certain all the evidence, i.
e. video tape of the sting; money,
and the would be victim’s wallet,
used to convince the suspect that
the hit had been done, are all
secured in the locked trunk of
their car. Provenza even breaks
out the steering wheel club as
Lieutenant Flynn teases
Provenza for his paranoia.
Inside the restaurant, the two
detectives choose a table in front
of a large window directly
overlooking their car. So far so
good, but, the entertainment part
of this wouldn’t work if the
detectives, or one of them, had
seated himself to maintain
constant observation of the car.
The two detectives are seated
with their backs to the window.
The suspect, who up to this point
had not exhibited much
intelligence, begins questioning
the detectives about the
importance of the evidence
against her as she, seated
opposite the detectives, watches
two car thieves break into the
unmarked police car and drive
away. It was pretty easy to see
what was coming, but the actors’
performances made for a very
funny and entertaining scene. I
laughed and nodded as I thought
about the realism the scene
really portrayed.
When you become a police
officer, you’re going to receive
instruction about the absolute
importance of evidence chain of
custody. Whenever the chain of
custody is broken, the
admissibility of the evidence,
assuming it’s subsequently
recovered, will be in serious
jeopardy. If the evidence in
question is susceptible to any
change or alteration, the
admissibility of that evidence
will, in all probability, be denied.
Okay, let’s look at the real world
of police and police behavior. I
guarantee that you’ll work, at
some point, with a police officer
who rarely turns off the engine
of his or her police car. If the
officer stops in at a convenience
store in cold weather, the officer
will let the engine run, with the
key in the ignition, to keep the
heater running; in warm weather
the air conditioner will apply. In
weather where neither apply, the
engine will still run, because that
officer is lazy, incompetent, and
naïve in the belief that people
won’t steal police cars. If you
think that officer’s behavior
would be any different if the
trunk were packed with
evidence, you’d be wrong.
The realism in The Closer scene
is educational, because it
illustrates that even though
Provenza took reasonable steps
in securing the evidence, those
steps proved to be insufficient.