Originally Posted By: Barry the Pirate
Adam 12 was more free flowing. Mostly little vignettes with a wrap up at the end. Or not. Most weren't working one case, like the Dragnet formula. But they were street guys having to deal with bikers like the Monkee's Mickey Dolenz and people that open fire during traffic stops. The amount of gunplay was outrageous. Popping some hippie in the back that's running away from a pot deal was perfectly acceptable.

Can you get more straight arrow than Jim Reed? That was a new approach, you saw what a typical day of the street cop was, not following a single investigation to the end like many other shows. I am sure it influenced shows like NYPD Blue greatly. In some episodes, Jim Reed would complain about turning over the case to detectives.

Originally Posted By: Barry the Pirate

Let's not forget the other Webb vehicle Emergency. In depth look at the real lives of paramedics. It's on after the Dragnet/ Adam 12 block. I loved it as a kid, but I have no interest now. Too much hanging in the kitchen at the station.

Paramedics was a pilot program being developed in LA County when that show came on, it was a radical idea that the Fire Department would be a first responder for medical situations.

I am sure that this show helped greatly to spread the adoption of paramedics through the country.
Originally Posted By: Barry the Pirate

Honestly I love the back and forth of Dragnet. It's such a full package of overacting and poorly written but incredibly sincere dialog.

I believe Harry Morgan commented once that there was no rehearsal on Dragnet. The actors read their lines from cue cards or a teleprompter. Jack wanted flat readings to emulate how people would actually act in real life and not be melodramatic (although some of the actors did ham it up a bit).

It think it comes from the radio genesis of the show. Many of the regular cast members did time in radio. It is not a visual show at all, you can simply listen it if you want and get everything. That is why I think the sets are very minimal and there aren't many facial reactions.

Some episodes are great, others are dismal. The "child Jesus" episode is very boring to me, so is the guy threatening to kill himself with pills. I love the episodes with G.D. Spradlin, Anthony Eisley, Stacy Harris, John Sebastian, Jack Sheldon and Buddy Lester. If any one of those actors is in the episode, it is usually entertaining. Some episodes have more than one of those actors.
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"I'm a minor character in my own story", Steve Coogan as Tony Wilson in 24 Hour Party People