In the 1980s, the small screen was dominated by police procedurals, with shows like 'Hill Street Blues' and 'Magnum P.I.' captivating audiences. However, amidst this sea of crime dramas, there were some gems that have since been forgotten. Today, we take a look at five such cop shows from the '80s that still hold up today, despite being overlooked over the past few decades. These shows, ranging from gritty dramas to light-hearted comedies, offer a fascinating glimpse into the past and provide a unique perspective on the evolution of television.
One such show is 'Crime Story,' a Michael Mann-produced series set in the 1960s that helped lay the groundwork for the prestige shows we know and love today. Its complex narrative structure and season-spanning story arcs were ahead of their time, and its dark tone and rich storytelling were a refreshing change from the lighter fare that dominated the airwaves. However, despite attracting 30 million viewers and earning critical praise, 'Crime Story' was canceled after just two seasons, leaving a void in the television landscape.
Another show that has fallen into obscurity is 'Matt Houston,' a mixture of 'Dallas' and 'The Rockford Files' created by Aaron Spelling. The show followed the adventures of Matt Houston, a mustachioed oil baron's son from Texas who used his wealth to solve crimes in California. While the show was a success during its three-season run, it has since been largely forgotten, with few people able to recall its titular character or his lawyer sidekick C.J. Despite its light-hearted tone and mix of humor and detective work, 'Matt Houston' was unable to maintain its audience, and its decline in ratings ultimately led to its cancellation.
'Crazy Like a Fox' is another show that has been largely forgotten, despite being a lot of fun. The series followed Harrison Joshua 'Harry' Fox, a private investigator played by Jack Warden, and his son Harry Jr., a lawyer who was often dragged along on his father's cases. The show was popular enough to spawn a TV reunion film not long after its cancellation, and lead actor Jack Warden even scored a couple of Emmy nominations for his work on the show. However, despite its witty dialogue and splendid acting, 'Crazy Like a Fox' was canned following a ratings drop due to a network shuffle after just two seasons.
'Spenser: For Hire' is a stylish, Boston-set series based on Robert B. Parker's 'Spenser' novels. The show followed Spenser, a private investigator who was once a professional boxer and a veteran of the Vietnam War. Despite its passionate fanbase, the show was bounced around ABC's schedule recklessly and ultimately canceled. However, watching or re-watching the show today is a rewarding experience, with one Redditor noting that it 'has held up really well' and comes from 'excellent source material'.
Finally, 'The Renegades' is the most obscure entry on this list, but it's also a show that deserves to be re-watched. The series centers around a street gang that is coerced into fighting crime to avoid jail time, and it stars Patrick Swayze in the lead role. While it might look like an awful cop show at first glance, 'The Renegades' is actually held up surprisingly well and offers a unique perspective on the '80s, with its catchy theme song and early role for Patrick Swayze making it a must-watch for fans of uber-80s television.
In conclusion, these five cop shows from the '80s offer a fascinating glimpse into the past and provide a unique perspective on the evolution of television. While they may have been overlooked over the past few decades, they still hold up today and are well worth watching or re-watching. Personally, I think that these shows deserve to be better remembered and that their legacy should be celebrated and explored further.
