S.W.A.T. (TV series)
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| S.W.A.T. | |
|---|---|
 S.W.A.T. title screen |
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| Format | Action/Crime/Drama |
| Created by | Robert Hamner Lee Stanley |
| Starring | Steve Forrest Rod Perry Robert Urich Mark Shera James Coleman Ellen Weston |
| Country of origin |  United States |
| No. of seasons | 2 |
| No. of episodes | 37 (3 unaired) |
| Production | |
| Executive producer(s) | Leonard Goldberg Aaron Spelling |
| Running time | 60 min., incl commercials |
| Broadcast | |
| Original channel | ABC |
| Original run | February 17, 1975 – April 3, 1976 |
S.W.A.T. is a 1970s American television series about the adventures of the WCPD's Olympic Division Special Weapons And Tactics (S.W.A.T.) team operating in an unidentified California city.
A big-screen adaption of the series starring Colin Farrell and Samuel L. Jackson was released in 2003. A direct-to-DVD sequel titled S.W.A.T.: Firefight, which has very little connection to either the series or the 2003 film, was released in 2011.
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[edit] Synopsis
S.W.A.T. starred Steve Forrest as the unit's leader, Lt. 'Hondo' Harrelson, and Rod Perry as Hondo's second-in-command, Sgt. David 'Deacon' Kay. The show also featured early starring roles by Robert Urich as Officer Jim Street, James Coleman as Officer T.J. McCabe, and Mark Shera as Officer Dominic Luca.
The series is most famous for its fast tempo theme song which became a number one hit single in 1976 for Rhythm Heritage. The title sequence that used that piece was also familiar with the principal characters responding to a muster signal, grabbing their weapons and running to their specially-equipped transport van driven by "Sam," an uncredited, non-speaking role.[1]
[edit] History
S.W.A.T. was a spin-off of The Rookies (1972–1976) another police drama airing on ABC, and was a mid-season replacement, running on ABC from February 1975 to April 1976. Also, like The Rookies, it was produced by Aaron Spelling and Leonard Goldberg. Its short life (thirty-odd episodes) was in part because it was considered too violent at the time.[citation needed]
As with The Rookies, Starsky & Hutch, and a later Spelling/Goldberg cop series, T.J. Hooker, the setting was rarely, if ever, specified and the shoulder patch the team members wore on their uniforms said, "W.C.P.D.". Richard Kelbaugh, a former member of LAPD's S.W.A.T. team, was the technical advisor for the series.
At the end of the film adaptation, Steve Forrest has a cameo role as the officer who drives the van. Rod Perry also has a cameo in the film as the uncle of "Deacon" Kay character.
As of March 2009, the show can be purchased on iTunes, and can be streamed for free in the US on Crackle. As of 1 October 2011, S.W.A.T. can be seen Saturdays on Antenna TV.[2]
[edit] Cast
- Steve Forrest as Lt. Dan "Hondo" Harrelson (team leader)
- Rod Perry as Sgt. David "Deacon" Kay (second in command)
- Robert Urich as Officer Jim Street
- Mark Shera as Officer Dominic Luca
- James Coleman as Officer T.J. McCabe (scout/sniper)
- Ellen Weston as Betty Harrelson (Hondo's wife) (recurring role)
- Rose Marie as Hilda (brought donuts to the team room) (recurring role)
[edit] Episode list
[edit] Season 1 (1975)
12 episodes:
| № | Title | Airdate |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | "The Killing Ground" | 1975·Feb·24 |
| 2 | "A Coven of Killers" | 1975·Mar·03 |
| 3 | "Death Carrier" | 1975·Mar·10 |
| 4 | "Pressure Cooker" | 1975·Mar·17 |
| 5 | "Hit Men" | 1975·Mar·24 |
| 6 | "Jungle War" | 1975·Mar·31 |
| 7 | "Death Score" | 1975·Apr·07 |
| 8 | "The Bravo Enigma" | 1975·Apr·28 |
| 9 | "The Steel-Plated Security Blanket" | 1975·May·05 |
| 10 | "Omega One" | 1975·May·12 |
| 11 | "Blind Man's Bluff" | 1975·May·19 |
| 12 | "Sole Survivor" | 1975·May·26 |
[edit] Season 2 (1975-1976)
25 episodes:
| № | Title | Airdate |
|---|---|---|
| 13 | "Deadly Tide (Part 1)" | 1975·Sep·13 |
| 14 | "Deadly Tide (Part 2)" | 1975·Sep·13 |
| 15 | "Kill S.W.A.T." | 1975·Sep·20 |
| 16 | "Dealers in Death" | 1975·Sep·27 |
| 17 | "Time Bomb" | 1975·Oct·04 |
| 18 | "The Vendetta" | 1975·Oct·11 |
| 19 | "Criss-Cross" | 1975·Oct·18 |
| 20 | "Vigilante" | 1975·Oct·25 |
| 21 | "Courthouse" | 1975·Nov·01 |
| 22 | "Ordeal" | 1975·Nov·08 |
| 23 | "Strike Force" | 1975·Nov·15 |
| 24 | "The Swinger" | 1975·Nov·22 |
| 25 | "Terror Ship" | 1975·Nov·29 |
| 26 | "Murder by Fire" | 1975·Dec·06 |
| 27 | "Silent Night, Deadly Night" | 1975·Dec·13 |
| 28 | "The Running Man (Part 1)" | 1976·Jan·24 |
| 29 | "The Running Man (Part 2)" | 1976·Jan·24 |
| 30 | "Lessons in Fear" | 1976·Jan·31 |
| 31 | "Deadly Weapons" | 1976·Feb·21 |
| 32 | "The Chinese Connection" | 1976·Feb·28 |
| 33 | "Dragons and Owls" | 1976·Mar·06 |
| 34 | "Any Second Now" | 1976·Mar·13 |
| 35 | "Soldier on the Hill" | 1976·Mar·16 |
| 36 | "Dangerous Memories" | 1976·Mar·20 |
| 37 | "Officer Luca, You're Dead" | 1976·Apr·03 |
[edit] DVD releases
The first season of S.W.A.T. was released on DVD on June 3, 2003[3] to tie in with the release of the feature film.
Season Two's episode "Time Bomb" was actually produced for Season One and, as such, "Time Bomb" is Episode 8 on the Season One DVD set. The Season One DVD set has a total of 13 episodes.
On February 10, 2012, it was announced that Shout! Factory had acquired the rights to the series and will be releasing the second and final season on DVD on May 22, 2012.[4]
[edit] References
- ^ Season 2, Episode 17, "Time Bomb"
- ^ S.W.A.T. on Antenna TV
- ^ http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00008YLVB
- ^ http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/SWAT-Season-2/16515
[edit] External links
- S.W.A.T. at the Internet Movie Database
- S.W.A.T. at TV.com
- S.W.A.T. at epguides.com
- S.W.A.T. at Jump the Shark
- American Broadcasting Company network shows
- Television series by Sony Pictures Television
- Television series by Spelling Television
- 1975 television series debuts
- 1976 television series endings
- 1970s American television series
- Television shows set in California
- Fictional portrayals of the Los Angeles Police Department
