"The Rookies" (1972) TV series 1972-1976

Creator:

Rita Lakin

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4

Release Date:

11 September 1972 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

The exploits of three rookie police officers in a large unnamed Southern California city are followed in this weekly series...

Plot Keywords:

Police | Nurse | Married To A Police Officer

Cast

Sam Melville	...	Off. Mike Danko (92 episodes, 1972-1976)
Kate Jackson	...	Jill Danko (92 episodes, 1972-1976)

Runtime:

60 min (92 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Filming Locations:

20th Century Fox Studios - 10201 Pico Blvd., Century City, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Spelling-Goldberg Productions

Movie Connections:

Featured in TV in Black: The First Fifty Years (2004) (V)

Doesn't hold up, unfortunately

I remember "The Rookies" as one of my favorite shows as a boy, but unfortunately, it doesn't hold up well today. The acting is first-rate, the location work is excellent, and the production has a polished sheen to it - it was obviously a class act from the get-go. But the story lines have dated badly, particularly the "every week we attack another social problem in a bland way" format. Especially annoying is the constant reverse racism of having Ontkean's character set up as the "over-eager white guy" who has to be taught, over and over again, how little he knows about how society really works. It's as insulting a stereotype as Stepin Fetchit, and more common than you realize. Great theme by Bernstein, though. A good trip back for the nostalgia, but you won't keep watching.