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Police Squad!

1982 · Comedy, Crime · 1 season · ★ 7.9

CanceledABC
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Synopsis of Police Squad!

Frank Drebin is a lieutenant detective with Police Squad, a police unit where he works under Captain Ed Hocken. His colleagues include Norberg, a not-too-bright officer, and Ted Olson, a lab technician. Drebin also relies on Johnny the Snitch, a shoeshine man who feeds him information in several cases. The series follows the investigations the unit must solve, with Drebin in charge. Created by David Zucker, Jim Abrahams, and Jerry Zucker, it airs on ABC and stars Leslie Nielsen. It parodies police dramas and other TV and movie genres, with visual gags, wordplay, and punchlines that have nothing to do with what came before.

«There are 8 million stories in the Naked City. Here are six.»

1season
6episodes
25 minper episode
7.9audience scoreTMDB · 461 votes
8.3IMDb rating25,161 votes

Seasons of Police Squad!

Season 1Season 11982 · 6 ep. · ★ 7.5

Cast by Police Squad!

Leslie NielsenLeslie NielsenLt. Frank Drebin6 episodes
Alan NorthAlan NorthCaptain Ed Hocken6 episodes
Ed WilliamsEd WilliamsTed Olson6 episodes
William DuellWilliam DuellJohnny the Snitch6 episodes
Marvin MillerMarvin MillerNarrator6 episodes
Rex HamiltonRex HamiltonAbraham Lincoln6 episodes
Peter LupusPeter LupusNorberg4 episodes
Tiny RonTiny RonAlEpisode 1
Kathryn Leigh ScottKathryn Leigh ScottSallyEpisode 1
Tommy LasordaTommy LasordaEpisode 1
Joyce BrothersJoyce BrothersDr. Joyce BrotherEpisode 1
Connie NeedhamConnie NeedhamJillEpisode 1
Georg Stanford BrownGeorg Stanford BrownEpisode 1
Barbara TarbuckBarbara TarbuckMrs. TwiceEpisode 1
Grand L. BushGrand L. BushEpisode 1
Ken MichelmanKen MichelmanEpisode 1
Rebecca HoldenRebecca HoldenStellaEpisode 1
Dick MillerDick MillerVicEpisode 1
Terry WillsJimEpisode 1
Patrick St. EspritPatrick St. EspritEpisode 1
K CallanK CallanEpisode 1
John AshtonJohn AshtonEpisode 1
Danny DaytonDanny DaytonJoeyEpisode 1
Nicolas CosterNicolas CosterWarnerEpisode 1
Al RuscioAl RuscioEpisode 1
Dick ClarkDick ClarkDick ClarkEpisode 1
Robert CostanzoRobert CostanzoEpisode 1
Lorne GreeneLorne GreeneStabbed ManEpisode 1
Robert GouletRobert GouletExecuted ManEpisode 1
Spencer MilliganSpencer MilliganEddieEpisode 1
Bonnie Campbell-BrittonLanaEpisode 1
Kate O'SullivanMimiEpisode 1
Claudette NevinsClaudette NevinsVeronica RiversEpisode 1
Jerry LayneWillyEpisode 1
Wayne WintonCoronerEpisode 1
Michael FrostHecklerEpisode 1
William ShatnerWilliam ShatnerPoisoned ManEpisode 1
Tessa RichardeTessa RichardeMaryEpisode 1
Florence HendersonFlorence HendersonTargeted HomemakerEpisode 1
William ConradWilliam ConradStabbed ManEpisode 1

Technical Details

Created by
Jerry Zucker, David Zucker, Jim Abrahams
Address
Joe Dante, Jerry Zucker, Paul Krasny, Georg Stanford Brown, Reza Badiyi
Writing
Nancy Steen, Tino Insana, Neil Thompson, Robert Wuhl, David Zucker
Music
Ira Newborn
Photography
Sherman Kunkel
Production
Jim Abrahams, Jerry Zucker, David Zucker
Production companies
Paramount Television
Network or Platform
ABC
Country
United States
Original Language
English
Premiere
March 4, 1982
Last Episode
July 8, 1982 (1x06)
Status
Canceled
Type
Fiction
Awards
Nominated for 2 Emmy Awards; 1 win and 3 nominations in total.
Links
IMDb · TMDB

Trivia about Police Squad!

John Belushi was booked as a guest star for the fifth episode, and a scene was shot of him tied to concrete blocks underwater. After his death in March 1982, the scene was replaced with footage of Florence Henderson.
In its annual Cheers and Jeers edition, TV Guide called the network's explanation for canceling the series the dumbest reason a network has ever given for ending a show.
In 2009, the series' DVD set was nominated for a Satellite Award for Best DVD Release of a Television Program, but lost to the eighth season of The Simpsons.
In 1990, British commercials for Red Rock cider were shot in the same style, with the title cards changed to names like Fraud Squad or Fried Squid, and with Leslie Nielsen as the star.
Johnny the Snitch is the only recurring celebrity in Police Squad! who does not appear in any of The Naked Gun movies.
Matt Groening, creator of The Simpsons, said the series would have succeeded if it had been made twenty years later, because in 1982 the average viewer couldn't keep up with its pace.
Robert Stack was the creators' first choice to play Frank Drebin, but turned down the role; Leslie Nielsen was their second choice.
Police Squad! earned two Primetime Emmy nominations in 1982: Leslie Nielsen for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series, and Jim Abrahams, David Zucker, and Jerry Zucker for writing an episode.

Sources: Wikipedia (Spanish) · Wikipedia (English)

Trailer for Police Squad!

Police Squad! Trailer

Where to Watch Police Squad!

It is currently not available on the major streaming platforms.

Cast of Police Squad! in other movies and series

Leslie NielsenLt. Frank Drebin
Superhero MovieMovieScary Movie 4MovieScary Movie 3MovieFamily GuySeriesSpy HardMovieDracula: Dead and Loving ItMovieNaked Gun 33⅓: The Final InsultMovieThe Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of FearMovie

Top-Rated Episodes

  1. 1x01 A Substantial Gift (The Broken Promise) ★ 8.1
  2. 1x05 Rendezvous at Big Gulch (Terror in the Neighborhood) ★ 7.7
  3. 1x02 Ring of Fear (A Dangerous Assignment) ★ 7.5
  4. 1x06 Testimony of Evil (Dead Men Don't Laugh) ★ 7.4
  5. 1x03 The Butler Did It (A Bird in the Hand) ★ 7.4

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many seasons does Police Squad! have?

Police Squad! has 1 season and 6 episodes in total.

Where to watch Police Squad!?

Police Squad! is not currently available on the major subscription streaming platforms (availability may vary by country). It originally aired on ABC.

Has Police Squad! ended?

Yes. Police Squad! was canceled, and its final episode aired on July 8, 1982.

Who is in Police Squad!?

The main cast includes Leslie Nielsen (Lt. Frank Drebin), Alan North (Captain Ed Hocken), Ed Williams (Ted Olson) and William Duell (Johnny the Snitch).

Who created Police Squad!?

Police Squad! was created by Jerry Zucker, David Zucker and Jim Abrahams.

How long does it take to watch all of Police Squad!?

With episodes of about 25 minutes, watching all 6 episodes takes approximately 3 hours.

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