Voting Station

Dragnet

Please vote to return to collections.

TV Series

The Resume

    (January 3, 1952- )
    First-run on NBC
    Jack Webb as Sergeant/Lieutenant Joe Friday
    Barton Yarborough as Sergeant Ben Romero (1951)
    Ben Alexander as Officer/Sergeant Frank Smith
    Herbert Ellis as Officer Frank Smith (1952)
    Barney Phillips as Sergeant Ed Jacobs (1952)
    George Fenneman as Announcer (C.1952-1959)
    Harry Morgan as Officer Bill Gannon (1967-1970)
    Merry Anders as Officer Dorothy Miller (1967)
    Theme: ‘Dragnet March (Danger Ahead)’ by Walter Schumann and Miklos Rosza
    Syndicated title: ‘Badge 714’
    A Mark VII Production

Why Dragnet might be annoying:

    It took a lawsuit for Rosza to receive credit for the theme, once credited exclusively to Schumann.
    The Los Angeles Police Department wanted virtual carte blanche over the program’s sponsor, including (quite unreasonably) portrayal of its members in a positive light at all times.
    It led to a barely remembered movie in 1987 and an even less memorable remake in 2003 — both of which used the number 714 badge after it was supposedly retired!
    On top of that, the remake had Friday (Ed O’Neill) ranked detective instead of sergeant!
    Early on, Friday’s opening narration included ‘I’m a cop.’ Following complaints from several officers, it was changed to ‘I carry a badge.’
    The dates given for each storyline were random, with virtually no thought to the actual calendar year.
    Webb selected the badge number in conjunction with the number of home runs scored by Babe Ruth!
    One of the most famous catch phrases from the show, 'just the facts, ma'am,' never was actually used.

Why Dragnet might not be annoying:

    The title is an actual term for any system of cooperative methods used to bait and nail suspected or proven offenders.
    Webb traveled with actual police officers to learn how they acted and spoke during duty. Hardly any detail was spared.
    Some episodes skipped the unfolding of the crime and went straight to the trial.
    At the start of most episodes, Friday gave a brief narrative about either Los Angeles and its environs or his job.
    The personal lives of the officers, imperfections and all, never overshadowed the storyline.
    At the end of each episode, the announcer indicated the outcome of the trial, hearing, or examination and the subsequent fate of those involved.
    The 1987 movie was a parody and continuation of (and tribute to) the series, where Gannon achieved the rank of Captain.
    The theme was used for ‘Mathnet’ on PBS’ Square One Television.
    It inspired two no-less successful spinoffs, Adam-12 and Emergency!
    After Webb died at the tail end of 1982, while working on yet another revival, the badge was ‘officially’ retired and city office flags were lowered to half-mast.

Credit: Cool It All Right?


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    For 2024, as of last weekly ranking, Out of 2 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2023, Out of 6 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 3 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 21 Votes: 14.29% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 88 Votes: 42.05% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 12 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 11 Votes: 27.27% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 4 Votes: 25.00% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 29 Votes: 20.69% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 9 Votes: 55.56% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 12 Votes: 41.67% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 16 Votes: 25.00% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 24 Votes: 16.67% Annoying
    In 2010, Out of 19 Votes: 52.63% Annoying
    In 2009, Out of 63 Votes: 41.27% Annoying
    In 2008, Out of 43 Votes: 46.51% Annoying
    In 2007, Out of 108 Votes: 44.44% Annoying
    In 2006, Out of 158 Votes: 41.77% Annoying