Cop Rock
Mr A Hacker
Reception
The show was a critical and commercial failure and was canceled by ABC after 11 episodes.[1] Owing to the combination of its bizarre nature (a fusion of musical performances with serious police drama) and its high-powered production talent, it became infamous as one of the biggest television failures of the 1990s.[2][3] The series' final episode, which aired on December 26, 1990, concluded with the cast breaking character and joining crew members in performing a closing song. (That final episode featured Sheryl Crow appearing as a back-up singer.)
Despite its overwhelmingly negative reception and short run, the series still has been rebroadcast in later years, with VH1 and A&E Network airing it on separate occasions later in the 1990s, and Trio airing it in the 2000s.
Cast
Main cast
- Anne Bobby - Off. Vicki Quinn
- Barbara Bosson - Mayor Louise Plank
- Ronny Cox - Chief Roger Kendrick
- Vondie Curtis-Hall - Cmdr. Warren Osborne
- David Gianopoulos - Off. Andy Campo
- Larry Joshua - Capt. John Hollander
- Paul McCrane - Det. Bob McIntire
- James McDaniel - Off. Franklin Rose
- Ron McLarty - Ralph Ruskin
- Mick Murray - Det. Joseph Gaines
- Peter Onorati - Det. Vincent LaRusso
Recurring cast
- Teri Austin - Trish Vaughn
- Dennis Lipscomb - Sidney Weitz
- William Thomas, Jr. - Det. William Donald Potts
- Kathleen Wilhoite - Patricia Spence
DVD release
On May 17, 2016, Shout! Factory released the complete series on DVD in Region 1.[4]
Episodes
| No. | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | Production code |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Pilot" | Gregory Hoblit | Steven Bochco & William M. Finkelstein | September 26, 1990 | 2101 |
| 2 | "Ill-Gotten Gaines" | Gregoy Hoblit | Steven Bochco & William M. Finkelstein & John Romano | October 3, 1990 | 0X02 |
| 3 | "Happy Mudder's Day" | Charles Haid | Steven Bochco & William M. Finkelstein & John Romano | October 10, 1990 | 0X03 |
| 4 | "A Three-Corpse Meal" | Fred Gerber | Story by : Steven Bochco & William M. Finkelstein & John Romano Teleplay by : William M. Finkelstein & John Romano & Toni Graphia | October 17, 1990 | 0X04 |
| 5 | "The Cocaine Mutiny" | Arlene Sanford | Story by : Steven Bochco & William M. Finkelstein Teleplay by : Steven Bochco & William M. Finkelstein & John Romano | October 24, 1990 | 0X05 |
| 6 | "Oil of Ol' Lay" | Michael Fresco | Story by : Steven Bochco & William M. Finkelstein & John Romano Teleplay by : Steven Bochco & William M. Finkelstein & Toni Graphia & John Romano | October 31, 1990 | 0X06 |
| 7 | "Cop-a-Feeliac" | Arlene Sanford | Steven Bochco & William M. Finkelstein & Michael A. Graham & John Romano | November 7, 1990 | 0X07 |
| 8 | "Potts Don't Fail Me Now" | Brad Silberling | Steven Bochco & William M. Finkelstein & Michael Graham & John Romano | November 21, 1990 | 2108 |
| 9 | "Marital Blitz" | Gilbert M. Shilton | Story by : Steven Bochco & William M. Finkelstein & John Romano Teleplay by : Steven Bochco & William M. Finkelstein & Toni Graphia & John Romano | December 5, 1990 | 2109 |
| 10 | "No Noose Is Good Noose" | Michael M. Robin | Story by : Steven Bochco & William M. Finkelstein & John Romano Teleplay by : Steven Bochco & William M. Finkelstein & Toni Graphia & John Romano | December 12, 1990 | 0X10 |
| 11 | "Bang the Potts Slowly" | Fred Gerber | Story by : Steven Bochco & William M. Finkelstein & John Romano Teleplay by : William M. Finkelstein & Toni Graphia & John Romano | December 26, 1990 | 0X11 |
Awards and nominations
| Year | Award | Result | Category | Recipient | Episode |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | Emmy Award | Nominated | Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Drama Series | Robert Appere, Gary D. Rogers, Ron Estes, and Mark Server | "Oil Of Ol'Lay" |
| Nominated | Outstanding Directing in a Drama Series | Gregory Hoblit | Pilot | ||
| Nominated | Outstanding Achievement in Music and Lyrics | Ron Boustead and Greg Edmonson | "Oil Of Ol'Lay" | ||
| Won | Outstanding Editing for a Series - Single Camera Production | Joe Ann Fogle | Pilot | ||
| Won | Outstanding Achievement in Music and Lyrics | Randy Newman | Pilot |
International broadcasts
In the United Kingdom, Cop Rock was televised on BBC1 in 1991.
See also
- Hull High - Another television series with musical segments that debuted (and was canceled) in 1990.
- Viva Laughlin - A 2007 television drama with musical segments. The show was canceled after just two airings due to poor ratings.
References
- ^ "ABC Cancels 'Cop Rock'". The New York Times. November 13, 1990. Retrieved August 28, 2008.
- ^ Weinraub, Bernard (November 11, 1991). "A Series Makes the Starting Gate". The New York Times. Retrieved August 28, 2008.
- ^ Tucker, Ken (June 4, 2004). "Flops 101: Lessons From The Biz". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved August 28, 2008.
- ^ Lambert, David (February 4, 2016). "Cop Rock - Shout! Factory Surprises Us with 'The Complete Series' on DVD!". TVShowsOnDVD.com. TV Guide Online. Retrieved April 1, 2016.
External links
Categories:
- 1990s American television series
- 1990 American television series debuts
- 1990 American television series endings
- American Broadcasting Company network shows
- American crime television series
- American drama television series
- American musical television series
- English-language television programming
- Fictional portrayals of the Los Angeles Police Department
- Police procedural television series
- Television series by 20th Century Fox Television
- Television series created by Steven Bochco
- Television shows set in Los Angeles