Most TV comedies share common ingredients: an intrusive laugh track, lots of inane dialogue, very little plot, and an attractive cardboard cast. "Police Squad!" broke from the pack, and what a funny series it was. Although it was only around for six episodes in 1982, it's part of 1980s TV lore.
Leslie Nielsen established his role as Frank Drebin, probably the dumbest detective ever to appear on the screen. He was supported by Alan North (detective Ed Hocken), Peter Lupus (officer Nordberg), and others. The series had lots of funny running gags, hilarious dialogue, and convoluted plots. An especially funny sequence always had the show's special guest star (Lorne Greene, Robert Goulet, Florence Henderson, and others) killed off during the opening credits! The gags came fast and furious, and the show's situations were always funny and well-done.
"Police Squad!" did not have a laugh track (although the network tried to insert one) and demanded that the viewer pay attention to the plot. This one-of-a-kind show was canceled in short order, reportedly because audiences weren't used to paying attention. I cherish the six episodes that were made...and it's such a shame that we'll never see more of them.
Leslie Nielsen established his role as Frank Drebin, probably the dumbest detective ever to appear on the screen. He was supported by Alan North (detective Ed Hocken), Peter Lupus (officer Nordberg), and others. The series had lots of funny running gags, hilarious dialogue, and convoluted plots. An especially funny sequence always had the show's special guest star (Lorne Greene, Robert Goulet, Florence Henderson, and others) killed off during the opening credits! The gags came fast and furious, and the show's situations were always funny and well-done.
"Police Squad!" did not have a laugh track (although the network tried to insert one) and demanded that the viewer pay attention to the plot. This one-of-a-kind show was canceled in short order, reportedly because audiences weren't used to paying attention. I cherish the six episodes that were made...and it's such a shame that we'll never see more of them.