Greatest cop shows

[Jake_Taylor]

I had forgotten how much I liked The Unusuals until I saw the list. Was also glad to see Happy Valley make it. That's a really good show.

Having SVU ahead of flagship L&O is a joke. Anybody remember the episode with the monkey in the basketball? What did that even have to do with sex crimes?

 

[Buck]

Barney is at 15? And is it true Police Squad was only SIX episodes? I had no idea.

I was at a meeting when I looked at it. Must've missed it.

'Police Squad' was extremely short-lived.

 

[DanOregon]

I'd also include DaVinci's Inquest and Intelligence.

 

[da man]

Barney is at 15? And is it true Police Squad was only SIX episodes? I had no idea.

Barn should have been No. 1. My recollection is it was voted the most realistic cop show on the air at the time by NYPD officers.

And Columbo is the best-written and acted detective show in TV history. What is it about a mystery that creates suspense? Who did it, how and why. Columbo gave you those in the opening scene, and yet the show was still incredibly compelling and suspenseful because of the writing and Peter Falk's portrayal of the character.

 

[swingline]

From a standpoint of richly drawn complex characters, Southland is tops for me.

Other thoughts:
Equating Andy Griffith to police dramas is like equating Gomer Pyle to Full Metal Jacket.
The L&O mothership is the gold standard for that franchise, with Criminal Intent a close second and SVU, like, in fifth place (I realize it was three shows). And CSI ahead of L&O is a joke.
Columbo started the trend of leaving a room but turning around and saying, "Just one more thing ..." that's so prevalent in shows today.
Hill Street Blues was groundbreaing in its day, but it's incredibly dated.
Reno 911! is not a cops show. Nor is 24.
If Streets of SF is on there, so should be Police Woman.

The Wire is the best, but that last season came off the rails.

 

[justgladtobehere]

There was at least a fourth L&O. I think Bebe Neuwerth was in it.

 

[Batman]

I appreciate that they went with some offbeat choices like Sledge Hammer! and Police Squad!, as well as some old shows like Naked City and Columbo. For the most part, it wasn't a, "Ooh, look at me and the awesome shows I've seen that you never have" type of list.
But, again, no Dragnet?
Not just too low, but omitted altogether?
How does that happen? That's an iconic show that should've been in the Top 5. It's like making a list of greatest sci-fi movies and forgetting to put Star Wars and Star Trek on there.
Adam-12 is also a glaring omission. Between Dragnet, Adam-12 and Emergency!, Jack Webb helped inspire an entire generation of kids to become cops and firefighters.

 

[HC]

There was at least a fourth L&O. I think Bebe Neuwerth was in it.

Law & Order: Trial by Jury

 

[BDC99]

Emergency! was my favorite show as a kid. Nothing better than watching that and CHiPs back to back.

 

[Abe Vigoda]

Barn should have been No. 1. My recollection is it was voted the most realistic cop show on the air at the time by NYPD officers.

Damn right.

 

[ChrisLong]

I'm hooked on "Blue Bloods." But the Bridget Moynahan factor might be a key reason.

 

[da man]

Damn right.

You carried all of them, Abe. Well, all of them except Jack Soo.

 

[TigerVols]

This is the best cop show of the past decade:

 

[Chef2]

Hill Street Blues.
Still remember the line after everyone was dismissed...
"Let's be careful out there"

 

[da man]

Hill Street Blues.
Still remember the line after everyone was dismissed...
"Let's be careful out there"

Uttered by the estimable Sgt. Phil Esterhaus (Michael Conrad):

 

[HC]

This is the best cop show of the past decade:

Love this show and am now trying to get my hands on the Swedish series which friends say is even better. Unfortunately, it has been removed from Canadian Netflix.

 

[Amy]

Love this show and am now trying to get my hands on the Swedish series which friends say is even better. Unfortunately, it has been removed from Canadian Netflix.

I think I would have liked it better if I hadn't read the Wallender books first.

Dragnet was awful in such a great way. It should have made the list.

I'm going with Homicide: Life on the Street.

 

[HC]

Homicide: Life on the Street is my all-time All Star.

 

[Riptide]

Count me among those who wonder why the original "Hawaii Five-O" wasn't on the list.

And fairly high on the list, for that matter.

 

[DanOregon]

Coming back from a day at college and not having cable I watched H50 a lot (since the alternatives were soaps, shopping networks and religious programming) - I was surprised how dark some of them were.