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Police work on TV...

Not talking about "Columbo" or "Kojak" (whom I both like very much), and not talking about "Starsky & Hutch" or "Miami Vice" (another two serials which I like), but talking about the so-called "Reality" formats.

Started in the the good old 70´s with "Hill Street Blues", than later we had "NY PD Blue" and now there is "The Shield".

I would say that without "Hill Street" and "NYPD", a serial like "The Shield" would never become possible. "Hill Street" was innovative, "NYPD" established this kinda format and now- with "The Shield" - the producers are putting things to a new level...

Ok, I know what you are thinking (.... no, wait, that was Magnum, P.I.), and maybe you are right that the producers of "The Shield" are overdoing things (not just) a little bit, but I just can´t help and have to say that I very much enjoy watching this kinda serials. Ok, not on the telly, when they are interupted with commercials 5 times by the hour, but on DVD.
Haven´t ordered the 5th Season of "The Shield" yet, but that is just a matter of time.... The first 4 Seasons I did enjoy very very much...

What is your opinion? Do you like these "Reality" formats? Which one do you like best?

Mr. White, I don't know if you've seen "Homicide:Life on the Street". It was on in the '90s and was (IMHO) an even better police drama than NYPD Blue. What made that show so good was the great acting and intelligent writing. Like "The Shield" and "Hill Street Blues", it focused on the character development of the detectives rather than shootouts and car chases.

I agree with you, "Hill Street Blues" changed how police dramas would be made in the future. The 'Just the facts ma'am' of "Dragnet" type cop shows had gotten old and tired.

BTW, "The Shield" is my favorite show. Vic Mackey is an SOB

...... thanks, bumpy, for reminding me of "Homicide: Life on the Street".

Really forgot about that one. Gotta check whether it is available on DVD.

The entire "Homicide" series is available on DVD box set.

bumpy wrote:I agree with you, "Hill Street Blues" changed how police dramas would be made in the future. The 'Just the facts ma'am' of "Dragnet" type cop shows had gotten old and tired.

....... but would you not also say that nowadays cop series (I mean the actual ones) are either more coming from the "fantastic" side (like Monk - if you count that as a cop series at all) or are at least are very much inspired by all that CSI stuff (like i.e. "Life")?
I mean, don´t get me wrong, especially Life I like very much, but still I am missing an actual cop series that tells stories about a precinct with all that characterization that goes along with this.

Is the time of serials like that over? I hope not, but I am afraid so ........