Someone once said that the Truth is Stranger than Fiction. You may think that to be a Fiction, and Strange; but it is the Truth! This was a bit of wisdom that my Dear Old Dad, one Clement J. Ryan (1914-1974), had impressed on us during our "growin' up years", which among other platitudes, are only totally understood later, when Dad is gone and we have grownup. Nowhere is this more evident than in this series, simply entitled "COPS" (1989-Ptresent).
Broadcast primarily on Saturday evenings on the Fox Television Network in the 8:P.M. EST Slot, its rerunning episodes are just about seen at every different hour on Fox Stations ^ affiliates, giving it the appearance of being a "Streaming Audio & Video" set up over the Internet. This was a fact that was kidded several Seasons ago by the Producers of the top Fox Comedy, "THE SIMPONS"(also 1989-Present). Upon arriving late at home one evening, Homer is greeted by Bart, who exclaims, "Hi, Dad! You've missed the first Three Episodes of "COPS", but you can still catch the last Four!" And so it is, that the early series of "Reality TV", and possibly the Best Example of this Video Genre. It is constantly on somewhere, being broadcast over One Station or another. And it seems to do rather well in maintaining an immense army of faithful followers.
One feature of endearment that "COPS" follows is in rotating locales. The crews from their production company, Langley Productions/Fox Television Stations, will and have gone just about anywhere, and everywhere to capture Video exposure to the real, unrehearsed, unabashedly universal bizarre and idiotic occurrences of every day tours of duty of "the Men & Women of Law Enforcement." Every week, with the release of new episodes, we are constantly being reminded of a most basic and universal truth. Just remember, to the Beat Cops, those uniformed Patrolmen who answer the radio-dispatched calls for service, nothing is unexpected. Furthermore it matters not where is the locale of the episode. The same silly Sh*t that happens in Chicago could easily be an occurrence in New York, Philly, LA, Louisville, Kansas City, Podunk or Moscow, Russia. Not only that, but it occurs in a serial fashion with the same 'Boyfriend' getting drunk, beatin' up the same girlfriend and callin' the same Policemen, time after countless number of times. And, of course, they'll be back together, day after tomorrow.
The whole situation was nailed perfectly by a stand up comedian who we saw some time ago on THE David LETTERMAN SHOW(whose name I unfortunately cannot recall). He said that whenever he watches "COPS" there's always an episode where the offender A) Gets Drunk and B) Fights the Police. As I said, that nails it.
Although Langley Productions has been filming in some Police Departments of our Suburban Area on, they have never received permission to do some shows in the City of Chicago proper (or improper, even!)* We think they will never do so, as long as Richard M. Daley is on the Throne in City Hall.
On that I'll stake my reputation and experience of being a Chicago Cop for nearly 35 years, but now retired. And you can quote me on that one.
Broadcast primarily on Saturday evenings on the Fox Television Network in the 8:P.M. EST Slot, its rerunning episodes are just about seen at every different hour on Fox Stations ^ affiliates, giving it the appearance of being a "Streaming Audio & Video" set up over the Internet. This was a fact that was kidded several Seasons ago by the Producers of the top Fox Comedy, "THE SIMPONS"(also 1989-Present). Upon arriving late at home one evening, Homer is greeted by Bart, who exclaims, "Hi, Dad! You've missed the first Three Episodes of "COPS", but you can still catch the last Four!" And so it is, that the early series of "Reality TV", and possibly the Best Example of this Video Genre. It is constantly on somewhere, being broadcast over One Station or another. And it seems to do rather well in maintaining an immense army of faithful followers.
One feature of endearment that "COPS" follows is in rotating locales. The crews from their production company, Langley Productions/Fox Television Stations, will and have gone just about anywhere, and everywhere to capture Video exposure to the real, unrehearsed, unabashedly universal bizarre and idiotic occurrences of every day tours of duty of "the Men & Women of Law Enforcement." Every week, with the release of new episodes, we are constantly being reminded of a most basic and universal truth. Just remember, to the Beat Cops, those uniformed Patrolmen who answer the radio-dispatched calls for service, nothing is unexpected. Furthermore it matters not where is the locale of the episode. The same silly Sh*t that happens in Chicago could easily be an occurrence in New York, Philly, LA, Louisville, Kansas City, Podunk or Moscow, Russia. Not only that, but it occurs in a serial fashion with the same 'Boyfriend' getting drunk, beatin' up the same girlfriend and callin' the same Policemen, time after countless number of times. And, of course, they'll be back together, day after tomorrow.
The whole situation was nailed perfectly by a stand up comedian who we saw some time ago on THE David LETTERMAN SHOW(whose name I unfortunately cannot recall). He said that whenever he watches "COPS" there's always an episode where the offender A) Gets Drunk and B) Fights the Police. As I said, that nails it.
Although Langley Productions has been filming in some Police Departments of our Suburban Area on, they have never received permission to do some shows in the City of Chicago proper (or improper, even!)* We think they will never do so, as long as Richard M. Daley is on the Throne in City Hall.
On that I'll stake my reputation and experience of being a Chicago Cop for nearly 35 years, but now retired. And you can quote me on that one.