Cops on Television, Past and Present Quiz

Answer: "Dragnet"

Actor Harry Morgan portrayed Officer Gannon in the 1967 version of "Dragnet." Gannon was the partnered with no-nonsense Sgt. Joe Friday (Jack Webb). Harry Morgan later played Col. Sherman Potter of the hit television series "M.A.S.H." For his positive portrayal of the Los Angeles Police Department, Jack Webb was honored by the department as being the only civilian ever to be presented with an authentic LAPD badge.

Answer: "Car 54, Where Are You?"

Paul Reed played Capt. Block, who commanded the NYPD's 53rd Pct., in this 1961 comedy series. The series starred Joe E. Ross as Officer Gunther Toody, and Fred Gwynn as his partner, Officer Francis Muldoon. Gwynn went on to play Herman Munster in the television series "The Munsters." Actor Al Lewis, who played Officer Leo Schnauser in "Car 54, Where Are You", also starred with Gwynn in "The Munsters" in the role of Granpa. One interesting fact was that the patrol car used by Toody and Muldoon was an exact duplicate of those used by the NYPD. Because the show was filmed in black and white, the car was actually painted red and white to distinguish it from real police cars during filming, which was mostly done on location. On home TV screens, red and white looked identicle to the dark green and white of genuine NYPD police cars.

Answer: "The New Breed"

Leslie Nielson played the head of the elite LAPD Metropolitan Squad in this 1961 series. The police unit solved their cases through the use of scientific means when traditional crime solving techniques failed. While this was a serious drama series, the star, Leslie Nielson became best known for his role as bumbling Det. Sgt. Frank Drebin in the "Police Squad" television series, and as Lt. Frank Drebin in three "The Naked Gun" movies.

Answer: "Baywatch"

Gregory Alan Williams played Sgt. Ellerbee, the LAPD beach patrol officer who backed up the Baywatch lifeguards for seven seasons.
Baywatch was seen for the first time as a made-for-television on April 23, 1989.
The series was cancelled after only one season by the network.
Through alternate funding, much of which was provided by series star David Hasselhoff, Baywatch went into first run syndication from September, 1991 until September 2001.
In 1992, one of the more popular characters, Casey Jean (C.J.) Parker (Pamela Anderson) joined the cast.

Answer: "240 Robert"

John Bennett Perry played the role. This 1979 followed the cases of the Los Angeles County Sheriff Department's Emergency Service Detail. Using all terrain vehicles, boats, and helicopters, the characters were often involved in search and rescue operations. The series also starred Mark Harmon as Deputy Dwayne Thibideaux, Trap's partner. Perry is the father of "Friends" star Matthew Perry. Perry was best known as the sailor in the Old Spice commercials.

Answer: "Police Woman"

Angie Dickinson played the role in this 1974 series that followed the cases of an undercover officer with the Los Angeles Police Departments Criminal Conspiracy unit. This series was a spin off from the "Gambler" episode of another series of the time, "Police Story."
Series star Angie Dickinson (born Angeline Brown in 1931) won her first movie role in 1955 opposite John Wayne and Dean Martin in the movie "Rio Bravo." She was also married for 15 years to famed award winning composer Burt Bacharach.

Answer: "Blue Thunder"

James Farentino played helicopter pilot Frank Chaney in this 1984 series about an advanced prototype police helicopter, and its ground support unit. Also in the cast were Dana Carvey (Officer Clinton "Jafo" Wonderlove), Bubba Smith (Officer Lyman (Bubba) Kelsey), and Dick Butkus (Officer Richard "Ski" Butowski). The series was based of the movie "Blue Thunder", which was released in 1983.
Carvey is probably best known for his eight years on "Saturday Night Live", where he impersonated numerous political figure such as George Bush Sr., Jimmy Carter, and Ross Perot.
Dick Butkus and Bubba Smith, who played the ground support officers for the Blue Thunder unit were both former National Football League players. Both men were first round draft choices for their teams. Butkus was elected to the NFL Hall of Fame. Smith was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame.

Answer: "Walker, Texas Ranger"

Clarence Gilyard played the role of Sgt Cordell Walker's (Chuck Norris) partner for the nine year run of this 1993 series.
Gilyard also played the role of Conrad McMasters in the "Matlock" TV series for five years.
Norris, an accomplished actor is also an accomplished martial artist,
having been a 6-time world karate champion and founder of two martial art styles: Chun Kuk Do and American Tang Soo Do.
Norris has a 10th degree black belt in Tang Soo Do, and also an 8th degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do.

Answer: "Hunter"

Stepfanie Kramer played the role for seven of the eight year run of the series. Her partner in the series was Detective Sgt. Rick Hunter, who was played by Fred Dryer. Dryer was a former college football Hall of Fame inductee, and played professional football for 12 years in the NFL.
Because of the difference in their height, (Dryer was a full foot taller than Kramer) Kramer had to stand on an egg crate while they were in the same shot so that they both could be seen.

Answer: 10-8:Officers On Duty

Ernie Hudson played the role of a tough Los Angeles Sheriff training officer in this short lived 2004 series. Danny Nucci also starred as Deputy Rico Amonte, as the rookie deputy.
Hudson also had movie roles on "Ghostbusters", "Ghostbusters II", "Miss Congeniality", and "Miss Congeniality 2:Armed and Fabulous. Austrian born actor Danny Nucci had movie roles in
"Eraser", "Crimsome Tide", "The Rock", and "Titanic".