T,J, Hooker starring William Shatner, Adrien Zmed and after the first season Heather Locklear ran from 1982 through 1986 (switching networks for the last season) and was created by Rick Husky, who later went on to serve as executive producer of the long running Walker Texas Ranger.

Frankly I am surprised the series ran as long as it did.  Hooker encapsulates the tired TV stereotypical cop—non-nonsense, divorced and clashing with his superiors over his tactics but is tolerated because “he gets the job done.”  Sound a lot like Dirty Harry to me except Hooker wears a uniform not a plain clothed detective.

His partner is played by none other than Adrien Zmed and his role as Hooker’s partner is considered the zenith of his career.  What a bummer.

Working behind the desk at the police precinct, Vicki Taylor (April Clough) was a female officer who usually spent time dodging pick-up comments from Vince Romano (Zmed).  Introduced at the start of the second season was Officer Stacy Sheridan (Heather Locklear), the daughter of Captain Sheridan and Hooker’s younger partner-in-command, who attended the police academy and replaced Vicki.  Initially brought in to fill Officer Vicky Taylor’s shoes, by the end of the season she had progressed to patrolling with Jim Corrigan (James Darren), another veteran cop much in the mold of Hooker.

From the third season onward, Hooker and Romano (Unit 4-Adam-30), and Stacy and Corrigan (4-Adam-16), usually worked together to tackle cases.  The addition of Corrigan and Sheridan’s partnership was an obvious attempt to save the show by adding an extra dimension.

I know I’ve used the word cliché a couple of times already but I can’t help it.  It has everyone it the book.  Well you can see for yourself in the clips.  I can’t believe the show lasted as long as it did.  What does that say about the typical American TV show or the TV viewer?