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  • ABC
  • Mar 7, 1972
  • ABC
  • Mar 7, 1972
The Rookies

Summary First, there was COPS, then Real Stories of the Highway Patrol, and then L.A.P.D. Life on the Beat. Now, there is The Rookies, the first law enforcement reality show to focus on brand new out of the academy rookie officers on their first nights on the street. Can they take the heat? Will they drop out or be rejected as unsafe? It's all e...

Created By: Rita Lakin

  • ABC
  • Mar 7, 1972
  • ABC
  • Mar 7, 1972
The Rookies
Season 1
Season Premiere: Mar 7, 1972
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Summary First, there was COPS, then Real Stories of the Highway Patrol, and then L.A.P.D. Life on the Beat. Now, there is The Rookies, the first law enforcement reality show to focus on brand new out of the academy rookie officers on their first nights on the street. Can they take the heat? Will they drop out or be rejected as unsafe? It's all e...

Created By: Rita Lakin

Season Episodes

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Episode 0 • Mar 7, 1972 • 1 h 13 m
Pilot
Three new officers in a large metropolitan police department adjust to their new jobs and way of life.
Episode 1 • Sep 11, 1972 • 51 m
Concrete Valley, Neon Sky
At the request of Lt. Ryker, Officer's Webster and Gillis volunteer to work with a street gang on their own time. But just when they think that they are getting through to them the leader of the gang is shot, threatening their progress.
Episode 2 • Sep 18, 1972 • 51 m
Dead, Like a Lost Dream
Episode 3 • Sep 25, 1972 • 51 m
The Informant
Officer's Webster and Gillis try to help a young man break away from two thugs who are using him as their wheel-man for robberies they are committing. But when the thugs take his girlfriend hostage it complicates their efforts.
Episode 4 • Oct 2, 1972 • 51 m
The Commitment
Gillis is severly injured during an armed robbery. The doctors inform him that further surgery could leave him paralyzed leaving the police officer not knowing what to do.
Episode 5 • Oct 9, 1972 • 51 m
Covenant with Death
Episode 6 • Oct 16, 1972 • 51 m
Time Is the Fire
Frank Queenlin has a grudge against the rich and kidnaps wealthy Andrea Sloan. The top police brass disagree on how to handle the case, leaving the rookie cops in disarray. Sloan maid Tina seems to know more then she should.
Episode 7 • Oct 23, 1972 • 50 m
The Bear That Didn't Get Up
Willie struggles to cope with the death of a young man he shot during a break-in who appeared to be unarmed. That is until an unidentified caller gives reason to believe another person might be responsible for his death.
Episode 8 • Oct 30, 1972 • 51 m
Dirge for Sunday
A sophisticated criminal (Roddy McDowall) takes Danko hostage and will blow him up unless the city trades him for a syndicate bookkeeper currently in custody (Vincent Gardenia).
Episode 9 • Nov 13, 1972 • 51 m
The Good Die Young
When three women are killed by someone who writes "please" with their lipstick after killing them, two female cops are sent to live in a singles apartment, and Webster and Gillis are sent to keep an eye on them.
Episode 10 • Nov 20, 1972 • 51 m
To Taste of Terror
Episode 11 • Nov 27, 1972 • 51 m
A Deadly Velocity
Danko and his crew are assigned to protect controversial General Brooker who has just been fired. Terry disagrees strongly with his methods while Willie begins a seeing his daughter Laurie. Danko learns of a misdirection about the case.
Episode 12 • Dec 11, 1972 • 51 m
A Bloody Shade of Blue
Investigating a shooting, the Rookies learn the victim Miller wore a police uniform as a costume. In the next attack, Webster loses his sight temporarily; despite this disability, he helps break the case.
Episode 13 • Dec 18, 1972 • 52 m
A Very Special Piece of Ground
Danko's veteran partner (Earl Holliman) loses his family ranch and unborn son in a single day. Danko doesn't want to add to his woes by reporting on his growing rage on and off the job.
Episode 14 • Dec 25, 1972 • 51 m
Rabbits on the Runway
A shady man claims to be the father of a runaway teen who's recently crossed the path of Gills. The rookies set out to find her for him unaware he has lied to them from the start.
Episode 15 • Jan 8, 1973 • 51 m
Tarnished Idol
Gills arrests a washed up fighter (Lou Antonio) who's still connected enough to get bailed out in hours. The bitter drunk decides to fire bomb Gills for revenge.
Episode 16 • Jan 15, 1973 • 51 m
Crossfire
Webster teams with veteran African-American cop RC Taylor who's biased against the urban community. Everyone heads out to help at a camp for troubled youth where Mark claims to have seen a crime but Taylor doesn't believe him.
Episode 17 • Jan 29, 1973 • 51 m
Snow Job
Country, a small time hood with a cocaine addiction, learns that police HQ is storing a large amount of drugs. He becomes involved to steal the cache before it's destroyed. Webster is taken hostage trying to help Country beat his problem.
Episode 18 • Feb 5, 1973 • 51 m
Point of Impact
Terry (Georg Stanford Brown) investigates an old friend's apparently purposeless attack on a cop.
Episode 19 • Feb 12, 1973 • 51 m
Three Hours to Kill
Episode 20 • Feb 19, 1973 • 51 m
The Wheel of Death
Widower father Frank Essex (Mike Farrell) targets a local criminal organization to pay for his son's hospital stay. On the run from both sides of the law, he doesn't know that he's the only donor who can save the boy's life.
Episode 21 • Feb 26, 1973 • 51 m
Life Robbery
Ryker helps out old friend Haskell when a death in his jurisdiction occurs during a burglary. Webster and Gillis don't enjoy the transfer to the richer district but discover a connection between crimes and gas station owner Fred Cox.
Episode 22 • Mar 5, 1973 • 51 m
A Farewell Tree from Marly
Episode 23 • Mar 19, 1973 • 51 m
Easy Money
Danko, Gillis, and Webster's assignment is to uncover an extortion ring. Their focus zeros in on JJ who looks to operate out of his pool hall with muscle Crater and Dude. It also involves Cal, brother of a nurse Susan they know.

Top Cast

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Georg Stanford Brown

Officer Terry Webster, Terry Webster

Sam Melville

Officer Mike Danko, Off. Mike Danko, Mike Danko

Gerald S. O'Loughlin

Lt. Ed Ryker, Lt. Ryker

Kate Jackson

Jill Danko

Michael Ontkean

Officer Willie Gillis, Willie Gillis

Bruce Fairbairn

Officer Chris Owens, Off. Chris Owens

Robert Harland

Sgt. Older, Desk Sergeant

Jerome Guardino

Frank Massey, Joe Fabiano, Officer Louden

Ron Stein

Police Officer, Radio Dispatcher

Tyne Daly

Amy Kennedy, Lucille Baker, Marly Devon

Jared Martin

Buzz, John Jordan, Slavens, Tom Kelch

Frank Lugo

Sgt. Pilar, Sergeant Pilar

Mark Slade

Bernard Amazeen, Cliffy, Don Richardson

Darleen Carr

Jobina Fair, Nancy Leigh, Pip Brent

Ken Swofford

Mr. Felker

Bill Williams

Capt. Whitfield, Captain Johnson

Anthony Eisley

Ben Kendall, John Cortney, Martin St. John

Antony Carbone

Frank Larabee, Gosa, Muren

Kenneth Tobey

Officer Corbett, Officer Rankin, Radio Officer

Sally Carter-Ihnat

Audrey Tyson, Mrs. Potter, Mrs. Stafford

View All Cast & Crew

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