20 Years of "COPS"

[Radiobarry]

I was watching the 20th anniversary episode of "COPS" last night, reflecting on the fact that it must be at least one of the top five continuous, longest running programs in television history.

It has done extraordinarily well in syndication as well. Seems that one channel or another, you can find more COPS re-runs than I Love Lucy or MASH these days. And that's saying something.

When it first came on the air in the late 80's, FOX was a toddler network. No NFL, the Simpsons just coming along, not even seven nights a week of programming for its affiliate stations.

This truly was among the first, if not the first, reality shows to hit it big.

What do you think has made COPS such a success?

Comments, please.

[pratt55]

Re: 20 Years of "COPS"

We were watching it also. I was sure they would have my favorite clip in it but not this time although I think they had it for the 10 year show. My favorite clip was when the officer saw smoke and thought a house was on fire in the middle of the night. He started banging on the security door and when no one came to the door he started breaking out the windows. There were like 16 window panes of glass and he broke out every single one until another officer came up and told him it was the house next door.

I am not sure why I love to watch Cops other than it is the best reality show ever.

[Radiobarry]

Re: 20 Years of "COPS"

On COPS, it seems like everyone who is inebriated has had two drinks, two beers, whatever, before being pulled over.

My wife, who is an emergency room nurse, backs this up with the drunks she has to deal with.

Any time they deal with a drunk, they almost always say they've had two drinks. Or a "couple" of beers. Never 1, never 3 or 4, always "two".

Two of my favorites...where the officer helps settle a neighbors dispute over an expensive bird, and the officer gets bitten...and one they showed last night where the officer explains he knew the suspect had been using marijuana...cuz he he had a reefer stuck behind his ear!

[Monorail Man]

Re: 20 Years of "COPS"

What do you think has made COPS such a success?

It was a 'reality' show, long before it became a genre. Add to the fact that we got to see our Police at work, and the situations that it pulled them into, and it's cheap to produce (shoot and edit). All these factors made it a sucessful show. It was as 'real life' television you could get.

[Alchimedes]

Re: 20 Years of "COPS"

20 years of arresting society's greatest.

[Radiobarry]

Re: 20 Years of "COPS"

20 years of arresting society's greatest.

So what do you all think has led to this show's enduring popularity, both on FOX and in syndication?

[Sosai X]

Re: 20 Years of "COPS"



I saw the pilot on Court TV a while ago.. featured 'sherriff' John Bunell chasing drug dealers up in Oregon. Good stuff..

[Alchimedes]

Re: 20 Years of "COPS"

It was a 'reality' show, long before it became a genre. Add to the fact that we got to see our Police at work, and the situations that it pulled them into, and it's cheap to produce (shoot and edit). All these factors made it a sucessful show. It was as 'real life' television you could get.

What he said---^^

So what do you all think has led to this show's enduring popularity, both on FOX and in syndication?

The real reality is the things people don't see, there are far worse situations that happen on a daily basis.

My dad was in it for a few years in the 80's and my mother in the ER in the beginnings of her career as LVN nurse. (now an RN with 30 years)
You have to love it(sarcasm) when the gangsters show up at the back door of a hospital to make sure someone's life has possibly ceased. That's reality.

It's no different then someone rubber necking on the freeway at an accident.

[Radiobarry]

Re: 20 Years of "COPS"

You have to love it(sarcasm) when the gangsters show up at the back door of a hospital to make sure someone's life has possibly ceased. That's reality.

Yep...my wife's an ER nurse (a long-time RN), and she sees it all the time.