TV Cops: Some Old, Some New, All Blue Quiz

Answer: Robert Blake

Robert Blake starred as Detective Anthony Vincenzo "Tony" Baretta on the 1975 series, "Baretta".

Baretta was known as a street wise undercover detective who sometimes used a variety of disguises to protect his identity while investigating crimes. Baretta lived in a run down inner city apartment with his pet cockatoo, Fred. While his methods were sometimes unorthodox, Baretta helped to curb crime in his 53rd precinct.

"Baretta" aired 82 episodes over four seasons (1975-1978).

A notable aspect of the series was the jazzy theme song, "Keep Your Eye on the Sparrow", sung by famed entertainer Sammy Davis, Jr.

Answer: Hal Linden

Hal Linden starred in the title role as Captain Barney Miller, commanding officer of the 12th precinct of the New York Police Department. The precinct station covered the Greenwich Village section of New York.
Captain Miller supervised a group of detectives who brought in a steady stream of weird, unusual and eccentric characters to their squad room for interviews and sometimes incarceration.

"Barney Miller" aired for eight seasons (1975-1982), and offered a comical look at the day to day activities of a busy police station.

Answer: George Kennedy

George Kennedy starred as Officer Bumper Morgan, an ageing veteran member of the Los Angeles Police Department, who chose to remain a uniformed patrolman in the less affluent downtown section of the city. Bumper Morgan was the "beat cop" who knew everyone in his district, and everyone knew and respected him.

"The Blue Knight" aired for two seasons (1975-1976), with 24 hour-long episodes.

The series was preceded by a two-hour TV movie, "The Blue Knight" in 1973, with William Holden in the starring role.

Answer: James Arness

James Arness starred as Detective Jim McClain in the 1981 crime drama series "McClain's Law". The series aired in the 1981-1982 television season with 16 episodes.

Jim McClain was a detective who was forced to take a medical retirement after being wounded during a line-on-duty gun battle.
McClain spent the next 17 years working with his partner on a fishing boat. When McClain's partner was killed during a robbery, he felt that the detectives investigating the crime we not doing enough to find the killer.
McClain's solution was to seek reinstatement to the police department to avenge the death of his partner. Over the objections of the current detective commander, McClain was reinstated after re-qualifying, and easily completing a modified police academy training course. McClain was reinstated to his former rank of Detective. McClain's investigative methods, which are viewed by the younger detectives as being outdated and primitive, proved to be effective in solving the case.
McClain then elected to remain on the department to share his law enforcement experiences and expertise with the younger generation of detectives.

Answer: Henry Fonda

Henry Fonda starred as Detective Sergeant Chad Smith on the 30-minute family-drama series "The Smith Family".

The series aired for two seasons (1971-1972) with 38 episodes.
The stories followed veteran detective Chad Smith as he balanced his job with his family life. Chad Smith lived in a quiet community with his wife and three children. Chad Smith had little problem being a compassionate husband and father as well as a dedicated police officer.

The role of Chad Smith's 17-year old son, Bob, was played by Ron Howard, former Opie Taylor and future Ritchie Cunningham.

Answer: Fred Dryer

Fred Dryer played the tough maverick homicide detective sergeant, Rick Hunter, on the action packed police series "Hunter". Hunter, and his partner, Detective Sergeant Dee Dee McCall (Stepfanie Kramer) aggressively handled their cases often using force, intimidation, and lethal consequences as a means of solving tough crimes.
Episodes of "Hunter" were often punctuated with high-speed car chases and shoot-outs with the bad guys.

"Hunter" aired 153 episodes during its seven season run (1984-1991).

Answer: Burt Reynolds

Burt Reynolds was Lieutenant Dan August on the 1970 crime drama series, "Dan August".

Working in his home town of Santa Luisa, California, August investigated and solved homicides in the community. His investigations often brought him into contact with many of the people he grew up with.

"Dan August" aired for one season with 26 episodes. The series was canceled after the first season due to less than impressive ratings.
The series gained renewed interest several years later, after the film acting career of Burt Reynolds began to flourish in the 1970s.
Reruns of the series appeared on a different network from 1973 to 1975, and were more successful in the ratings than they were during the series original run.

Answer: Broderick Crawford

Broderick Crawford starred as Dan Mathews, chief of a state law enforcement agency on the syndicated action crime drama series "Highway Patrol".

Mathews wore a suit, but always drove a marked black and white highway patrol vehicle throughout the series.
A classic and signature scene on practically every episode was Mathews, standing outside of his car, leaning into the window with his radio microphone in his hand, barking rapid-fire orders to his dispatcher or to his officers. Mathews spoke with his gravelly voice, using his signature phrase, "21-50 to Headquarters".
Mathews and his officers enforced the laws in a never identified Western state, and responded to all types of criminal calls.

"Highway Patrol" aired for four seasons (1955-1959) with 156 half-hour episodes, all shot in black and white.

Another signature on the series came at the end of each episode, when Crawford, in the character of Dan Mathews, would invite viewers to tune-in next week for another exciting episode. Mathews would then deliver a brief public safety message. A few the campy statements were: "Try to be a driver as good as you think you are" ... "Leave your blood at the Red Cross, not on the highway" ... "It isn't the car that kills, it's the driver" ... "The laws of your community are enforced for your protection, obey them".

Answer: Lloyd Bridges

Lloyd Bridges starred in the title role of the crime drama series, "Joe Forrester".

Joe Forrester was a veteran police officer in Los Angeles, California, who chose to spend his career working as a uniformed foot patrol officer, in the inner city. Joe Forrester formed a special bond with the merchants and people he encountered daily on his beat.

"Joe Forrester" aired 23 hour-long episodes during its only season in 1975.

The series was a spin-off from NBC police anthology series "Police Story" (1973). The episode, "The Return of Joe Forrester" aired during the second season of that series.

Answer: Don Johnson

The police drama series, "Nash Bridges", starred Don Johnson in the title role.
"Nash Bridges" was broadcast for six seasons (1996-2001), producing 122 hour-long episodes.

Nash Bridges, an Inspector with the San Francisco Police Department, and his partner, Inspector Joe Dominguez (Cheech Marin), patrolled the streets in Nash's yellow 1971 Hemi engine Plymouth Barracuda convertible as part of an elite Special Investigation Unit.