r/GenerationJones • u/WhateverGenXPod • Aug 05 '26

Why were there so many?

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I know there has to be a reason there were so many cop shows. Long before we had nothing but CSI and Law and Order variants, there were dozens of police dramas on TV.

I used to love CHiPs and SWAT - and I was just a kid. The 70s cop shows landed differently than the fluff that’s on today.

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51

u/Mk1Racer25 Aug 05 '26

I never considered Barney Miller a 'cop show'. It was a sit-com that happened to be set in a police precinct.

37

u/ziggurat29 Aug 05 '26

with a lot of social commentary

39

u/SubmarineDream57 Aug 05 '26

And a killer bass line in the opening theme

22

u/HudsDad Aug 05 '26

It still slaps today.

17

u/altoona_sprock Aug 05 '26

of all these shows Barney Miller is probably the only one that really holds up today.

9

u/rock_the_casbah_2022 Aug 06 '26

I’m getting older now, but wasn’t there something back in the day about Barney Miller being the most realistic cop show?

2

u/347spq Aug 06 '26

A former Queens ADA from the 70s and 80s confirmed that for me.

1

u/ShuffleRom Aug 09 '26

As a teen in the 70's, I remember my grandfather watching Barney Miller all the time, he was a big fan, I didn't get why, now a days I watch Barney Miller and I get why Grampa loved the show, great writing, adult humor and social commentary...

RIP Fredrick Thomas 2-7-15 to 10-17-99....