Zeus

Pioneers of Television: Crime Dramas (2011)

• Director
  • Steve Boettcher
• Writer
  • Mike Trinklein
• Stars
  • Kelsey Grammer
  • Pat Crowley
  • Mike Connors

  This episode deal with police and crime show on early American television. Dragnet (1951) started on radio and it seemed a natural to take to TV. Producer and star Jack Webb demanded a flat, emotionless delivery of all dialogue that became the show's trademark. The Untouchables (1959) was a huge success but was among the first shows to raise public concern about violence on the small screen. Mannix (1967) featured a caring private eye while Mission: Impossible (1966) had intricate plots. I Spy (1965) was the first show to have an African-American in a leading role. Hawaii Five-O (1968) also featured a largely ethnic cast, another first. Women were well represented in the genre with the The Girl from U.N.C.L.E. (1966), _"Honey West" (1965/I)_ and Police Woman (1974) all featuring female protagonists. _"Columbo" (1971)_ and the The Rockford Files (1974) had their own take on crime and were hugely successful.