The Rookies

infobox television
show_name = The Rookies


caption =
format = Drama
runtime = 60 min.
creator = Rita Lakin
starring = Georg Stanford Brown
Sam Melville
Michael Ontkean
Kate Jackson
Gerald S. O'Loughlin
country = USA
executive_producer = Aaron Spelling
Leonard Goldberg

network = ABC
opentheme =
camera =
first_aired = September 11, 1972
last_aired = March 30, 1976
num_episodes = 92
num_seasons = 4
tv_com_id = 1638
imdb_id = 0068126
website =

"The Rookies" is an ABC television series running from 1972 until 1976. It followed the exploits of three rookie police officers in an unidentified city for the fictitious Southern California Police Department (SCPD).

History

It began as a made-for-TV movie in 1972 on March 7 which also served as the pilot for the series. The success of Joseph Wambaugh's book, "The New Centurions", as well as NBC's ratings success with "Adam-12", had sparked interest at the time in a more realistic depiction and storytelling of the typical uniformed police officer. Although various incidents in the late 60's and early 70's, particularly in California, had sparked controversy and negative feelings towards police officers in general, "The Rookies" tried to better humanize the character of a police officer and show the struggles new, younger men and women (who were often Vietnam-era military veterans and/or college graduates) faced in their lives as law enforcement persons sworn to serve and protect the public. This 'new breed' of cop was a main theme, especially in the early years of the series.

The TV movie featured five rookies newly arrived at a police academy in southern California: cadets Jared Whitman (Robert F. Lyons), Kevin Lassiter (Jeff Pomerantz), Mike Danko (Sam Melville), William "Willie" Gillis (Michael Ontkean), and Terry Webster (Georg Stanford Brown), all coming from different backgrounds including the military, college, and social work. The cadets' training sergeant was Eddie Ryker, played by Darren McGavin. (In the series, Sgt. Ryker had been recently promoted to lieutenant and was played by Gerald S. O'Loughlin.) The character of Jill Danko also appeared in the movie pilot, but was played by another actress, Jennifer Billingsley, and the part was recast for the series with Kate Jackson as Jill Danko, a registered nurse.

An early 1975 episode served as a pilot for the spin-off series "S.W.A.T.".

ynopsis

"The Rookies" TV series centered around three rookie officers, Danko, Webster, and Gillis, and their superior officer/mentor, Lt. Ryker. The show was produced by Aaron Spelling and Leonard Goldberg. Each episode showcased highly dramatized versions of police cases and activities, often intertwined with the off-duty lives of the officers and their significant others. Mike Danko was the only rookie in the series who was married.

After the second season, the character of Willie Gillis was replaced (Ontkean left the show over complaints in the story writing) with a new rookie, Chris Owens, played by Bruce Fairbairn.

Cast

DVD

The DVD set of "The Rookies", season 1, was released on July 17, 2007 from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment.

Trivia

*Although Sam Melville played a hero in this dramatic series, he could also play a convincing villain as well as in episodes of "Hawaii Five-O" or "Gunsmoke."
*A similar storyline was used over 10 years later for the making of another TV show pilot, originally titled "The Protectors"," but later changed to "T.J. Hooker" starring William Shatner as a police patrol sergeant who mentored younger officers. Shatner also appeared in one episode of "The Rookies" as veteran police officer Luke Harris.
*Rick Husky, who wrote and produced other Aaron Spelling TV shows like "T.J. Hooker," wrote several episodes of "The Rookies".
*Georg Stanford Brown was married to actress Tyne Daly during his tenure on "The Rookies". Tyne Daly appeared in some of the episodes of "The Rookies", including one directed by her husband.
*In addition to playing Kate Jackson's husband on the show, Sam Melville also played the ex-husband of Kate Jackson on her show "Scarecrow and Mrs. King."
*Willie and Terry's radio call sign for their patrol car was "Ludlo-9." Mike's was "Redlo-7."
*The series was last seen in reruns on TV Land in 2003, but only episodes from the first two seasons were shown.
*The series marks the beginning of Kate Jackson's career with Aaron Spelling shows. The season following the end of "The Rookies", she went on to star in "Charlie's Angels" for its first three seasons (1976-1979).
*In season one, the wardrobe was furnished by The Gap.

External links

*
* [http://www.tv.com/the-rookies-1972/show/1638/summary.html "The Rookies" at TV.com]
* [http://www.the-rookies.com/ The Rookies Online]