"Police Squad!" - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

AKA · 01-20-2004, 03:01 PM

For those of you who aren't familiar with Police Squad!, it's a wonderful series created by Jim Abrahams and the Zucker brothers that only lasted six episodes in 1982. The show, which starred Leslie Nielsen as Det. Frank Drebin, was ahead of its time. Six years after the show aired, a film based on the series was released: The Naked Gun: From The Files Of "Police Squad!" went on to be a box office hit and spawned two sequels.

I would love to see a DVD of the series come out, preferably in a boxed set with all three Naked Gun movies.

Discuss the greatness that was Police Squad!

dlemond · 01-20-2004, 04:13 PM

I watched Police Squad! when it originally broadcasted.

I thought it was hysterical.

I can't believe Abrahams and the Zucker boys have not brought this to DVD- it's only 6 episodes.

****
Frank: Is there a ransom note?

Ed: Yes, the butler found it. It was tied to a window and thrown into the rock garden. I sent the note to the lab. They're demanding a million dollars.

Frank: Why do the boys at the lab want a million dollars.

Ed: The kidnappers made the demands, Frank.

AKA · 01-20-2004, 04:47 PM

I'm too young to remember the original airings of the show, but I remember watching it on CBS in the summer of 1991. They were showing it to promote The Naked Gun 2 1/2 (I believe the show originally aired on ABC, though).

howilu · 01-21-2004, 02:40 PM

Police Squad was a riot! It was well-wriitten, well acted with a lot of puns and non-sequitors but the main reason for the short run was that the show demanded too much attention from viewers due to the abundance of sight gags. The premise fared much better in the Naked Gun movie series.

funky-rat · 01-28-2004, 06:02 PM

I loved Police Squad. Problem is, I think it went over everyone's heads. Most people I talked to never "got" the show.

I loved it when they wanted to go out into the Japanese Garden - it was a bunch of Japanese people "potted" like plants.

jjlthree · 02-03-2004, 01:29 PM

It was a great show and one of the best parts was the opening - the show always started with a celebrity getting killed or being found dead. There was a big controversy while the show was airing because John Belushi had filmed an opener for the show (where he was found floating in a pool) and then inconveniently died; ABC didn't want to air it but Belushi's fans all thought John would think it was hilarious.

Comedy Central aired the show some years ago and I taped and saved them all.

MrMike898 · 02-20-2004, 07:39 AM

All 6 episodes were released on VHS by Paramount years ago. They're still available to purchase at Amazon.com among other places, but are becoming increasingly harder to find.

tvje · 04-04-2004, 03:29 PM

Some of the background music for certain scenes on the Paramount home video releases are changed from the broadcast versions.

Zebra 3 · 04-07-2004, 06:44 PM

I did watch it in its all too short original run.

Does anyone know why this truly great spoof wasn't given a chance to succeed?

01-20-2004, 03:01 PM	#1
AKA Member Forum Star Join Date: Dec 17, 2001 Posts: 15,746	"Police Squad!" For those of you who aren't familiar with Police Squad!, it's a wonderful series created by Jim Abrahams and the Zucker brothers that only lasted six episodes in 1982. The show, which starred Leslie Nielsen as Det. Frank Drebin, was ahead of its time. Six years after the show aired, a film based on the series was released: The Naked Gun: From The Files Of "Police Squad!" went on to be a box office hit and spawned two sequels. I would love to see a DVD of the series come out, preferably in a boxed set with all three Naked Gun movies. Discuss the greatness that was Police Squad!

01-20-2004, 04:13 PM	#2
dlemond Hey, I know you. Moderator Forum Veteran Join Date: Dec 03, 2001 Location: New Jersey Posts: 6,752	I watched Police Squad! when it originally broadcasted. I thought it was hysterical. I can't believe Abrahams and the Zucker boys have not brought this to DVD- it's only 6 episodes. **** Frank: Is there a ransom note? Ed: Yes, the butler found it. It was tied to a window and thrown into the rock garden. I sent the note to the lab. They're demanding a million dollars. Frank: Why do the boys at the lab want a million dollars. Ed: The kidnappers made the demands, Frank. Attached Images

01-28-2004, 06:02 PM	#5
funky-rat Zit Remedy Groupie Frequent Poster Join Date: Jan 14, 2004 Location: PA, USA Posts: 173	I loved Police Squad. Problem is, I think it went over everyone's heads. Most people I talked to never "got" the show. I loved it when they wanted to go out into the Japanese Garden - it was a bunch of Japanese people "potted" like plants.
	__________________ Zit Remedy Worldwide Tour 2004! Featuring the new songs "Everybody STILL Wants Something", "Everybody Wants Something ELSE", and "Everybody Wants Something MORE"! "NO!! Your ages COMBINED would not make you old enough!"

02-03-2004, 01:29 PM	#6
jjlthree Member First Time Poster Join Date: Feb 03, 2004 Posts: 1	Police Squad! It was a great show and one of the best parts was the opening - the show always started with a celebrity getting killed or being found dead. There was a big controversy while the show was airing because John Belushi had filmed an opener for the show (where he was found floating in a pool) and then inconveniently died; ABC didn't want to air it but Belushi's fans all thought John would think it was hilarious. Comedy Central aired the show some years ago and I taped and saved them all.

04-04-2004, 03:29 PM	#8
tvje Member Senior Member Join Date: Feb 26, 2002 Posts: 1,402	Some of the background music for certain scenes on the Paramount home video releases are changed from the broadcast versions.
	__________________ tvje

01-20-2004, 04:47 PM	#3
AKA Member Forum Star Join Date: Dec 17, 2001 Posts: 15,746	I'm too young to remember the original airings of the show, but I remember watching it on CBS in the summer of 1991. They were showing it to promote The Naked Gun 2 1/2 (I believe the show originally aired on ABC, though).

01-21-2004, 02:40 PM	#4
howilu Member Senior Member Join Date: Apr 20, 2003 Location: St. Louis Park, MN Posts: 1,958	Police Squad was a riot! It was well-wriitten, well acted with a lot of puns and non-sequitors but the main reason for the short run was that the show demanded too much attention from viewers due to the abundance of sight gags. The premise fared much better in the Naked Gun movie series.

02-20-2004, 07:39 AM	#7
MrMike898 Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Oct 21, 2003 Posts: 54	All 6 episodes were released on VHS by Paramount years ago. They're still available to purchase at Amazon.com among other places, but are becoming increasingly harder to find.

04-07-2004, 06:44 PM	#9
Zebra 3 Striped Tomato Forum Veteran Join Date: Jun 26, 2002 Location: Bay City Posts: 5,804	'Police Squad!' I did watch it in its all too short original run. Does anyone know why this truly great spoof wasn't given a chance to succeed?