Who was your favorite Caucasian cop--Swanhauser ("Swanee") or Hopkins ("Hoppy")? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

EccentricGenius · 04-01-2017, 06:59 PM

Two recurring characters on "Sanford and Son" during its first season were LAPD officers "Smitty" Smith (Hal Williams) and "Swanee" Swanhauser (Noam Pitnik). Not long after "Sanford and Son" began its second season, Officer Swanhauser was replaced by Officer "Hoppy" Hopkins (Howard Platt). There were noticeable differences between "Swanee" and "Hoppy"; "Swanee" was serious and to-the-point, whereas "Hoppy" was bumbling and clueless.

Who was your favorite Caucasian cop on "Sanford and Son"--Swanhauser or Hopkins? Which one do you think was a better foil for the easy-going "Smitty"?

Drop me a line...I'd love to hear from you! Enjoy your evening, everyone!

Ohio8 · 05-11-2017, 10:02 PM

Hoppy.

gopyle · 08-19-2017, 06:36 PM

I thought both were good characters and well-played.

Yong Fang · 08-06-2018, 04:47 AM

If I were Smitty, would rather have Swany watch my back than Hoppy.

Noam Pitnik looks like Jose Menendez the father of the Menendez Brothers who killed him.

AMackII · 08-21-2018, 03:29 PM

Hopkins aka Hoppy

Cloud9 Lorraine · 06-26-2019, 02:57 PM

I preferred Swanny because I liked the "schtick" better -- Smitty translating all the police jargon . . . funny!

dakert · 06-26-2019, 03:38 PM

Hoppy was "right up" um "right on" ha ha. They were both good

TMC · 09-19-2025, 12:19 AM

Quote:

We explain the story of why Swanny Scott, Noam Pitlik left Sanford and Son and what happen to him after.

Road Dog · 10-14-2025, 01:17 PM

Hoppy.

But the actor who played Swanny (Noam Pitlik) later became a well-known TV director and directed episodes of popular TV sitcoms like Taxi, Barney Miller, One Day At A Time, Mr. Belvedere, and Wings.

howilu · 10-15-2025, 09:51 AM

Hoppy was hilarious. Howard Platt, who portrayed Hoppy to me sounded a lot like Jack Burns of the Burns & Schreiber comedy team.

TheLittleFaerie · 10-16-2025, 03:25 PM

While Swany was a more competent cop, I preferred Hoppy. Hoppy was a more established character, Swany just wasn't around long enough to really leave an impression IMO

04-01-2017, 06:59 PM	#1
EccentricGenius Member Forum Regular Join Date: Dec 30, 2015 Posts: 766	Who was your favorite Caucasian cop--Swanhauser ("Swanee") or Hopkins ("Hoppy")? Two recurring characters on "Sanford and Son" during its first season were LAPD officers "Smitty" Smith (Hal Williams) and "Swanee" Swanhauser (Noam Pitnik). Not long after "Sanford and Son" began its second season, Officer Swanhauser was replaced by Officer "Hoppy" Hopkins (Howard Platt). There were noticeable differences between "Swanee" and "Hoppy"; "Swanee" was serious and to-the-point, whereas "Hoppy" was bumbling and clueless. Who was your favorite Caucasian cop on "Sanford and Son"--Swanhauser or Hopkins? Which one do you think was a better foil for the easy-going "Smitty"? Drop me a line...I'd love to hear from you! Enjoy your evening, everyone!

05-11-2017, 10:02 PM	#2
Ohio8 Member Forum Star Join Date: Jul 29, 2003 Location: Wherever you aren't. Posts: 18,899	Hoppy.
	__________________ "Shorter of breath and one day closer to death." -- Pink Floyd

08-19-2017, 06:36 PM	#3
gopyle Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Oct 22, 2011 Posts: 235	I thought both were good characters and well-played.

08-06-2018, 04:47 AM	#4
Yong Fang Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Aug 04, 2009 Location: Memphis Tennessee Posts: 3,072	If I were Smitty, would rather have Swany watch my back than Hoppy. Noam Pitnik looks like Jose Menendez the father of the Menendez Brothers who killed him.

08-21-2018, 03:29 PM	#5
AMackII Member Forum Star Join Date: Oct 23, 2015 Location: St. Louis Posts: 17,206	Hopkins aka Hoppy

06-26-2019, 02:57 PM	#6
Cloud9 Lorraine Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Feb 10, 2007 Location: NY Posts: 342	I preferred Swanny because I liked the "schtick" better -- Smitty translating all the police jargon . . . funny!

06-26-2019, 03:38 PM	#7
dakert Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: May 10, 2007 Location: Altoona PA Posts: 3,411	Hoppy was "right up" um "right on" ha ha. They were both good

10-14-2025, 01:17 PM	#9
Road Dog Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Apr 30, 2004 Posts: 94	Hoppy. But the actor who played Swanny (Noam Pitlik) later became a well-known TV director and directed episodes of popular TV sitcoms like Taxi, Barney Miller, One Day At A Time, Mr. Belvedere, and Wings.

10-15-2025, 09:51 AM	#10
howilu Member Senior Member Join Date: Apr 20, 2003 Location: St. Louis Park, MN Posts: 1,959	Hoppy was hilarious. Howard Platt, who portrayed Hoppy to me sounded a lot like Jack Burns of the Burns & Schreiber comedy team.

10-16-2025, 03:25 PM	#11
TheLittleFaerie Member Senior Member Join Date: Oct 15, 2017 Posts: 1,945	While Swany was a more competent cop, I preferred Hoppy. Hoppy was a more established character, Swany just wasn't around long enough to really leave an impression IMO