Cops

(Interesting how relatively few reviews there are for such a successful show!)

I used to be a COPS junkie - watched it faithfully, and still enjoy it, but that has been waning considerably over the past few years.

Interviews years ago with the show's producers revealed that they were under constant pressure from some special interest groups concerned that too much of the show featured certain demographic groups - unfairly, in their opinion, but the reasonable response was the most exciting and serious events were picked for each episode regardless of race, colour, or city/town location.

Watching COPS now obviously indicates that they've caved in to that pressure.

Now, it's mostly boring domestic disputes and impaired driving, of a different demographic, events seemingly now picked for appeasement to those aforementioned special interest groups?

I'll still watch, but only maybe once a month, or two now. Very "pc", for the most part.

At its best, `Cops' either shows officers in action, or officers working and living with members of their communities. On a weekly basis, "Cops" illustrates the courage, integrity, and resilience these officers must possess. To date, there has been no other television show willing to show Americans what happens behind the scenes, and to offer honest portraits of those brave men and women who protect us on a daily basis.

When `Cops' started in 1989, it was pure sensationalism, and still charges of prurience are leveled at this show. It has matured over the years to have an almost uplifting theme of good vs. evil. Television would be poorer if it were removed from the airwaves.

COPS is a fine show if you want to watch a bunch of white trash people in wife beaters(if they have a shirt on at all) make total asses out of themselves. Most of the crimes depicted on COPS are crimes like drug use, domestic abuse, breaking and entering and so on. The funniest one I think I ever seen on COPS was a guy pushing a hot water heater down the road and the cops stopping him then going into a local business that had broken into and the hot water heater had been stolen from, and then still claiming his innocence. It's amazing how stupid people that are getting arrested on this show are, but I guess if they weren't that stupid they wouldn't be on COPS and/or the show wouldn't be as entertaining as it is.

Personal Note: This one is a staple in our house. My wife and I have watched since SHOW #1, and will catch the first run shows on FOX on Saturday night, as well as the ones running on CourtTV and FX.

No hidden agenda. No arranged marriages. No tribes that form alliances. No forced drama between room mates. No fake mega-rich farm boy to pass off as a billionaire. No crap. That's Cops.

I watched on and off since the show began, and recently discovered reruns on BOTH (!) Court-TV, and the FX network in the U.S.

At times it's funny watching some pathetic moron try and get out of being arrested when we have him doing the crime on video. Some times it's sad, seeing folks, who will never be much more than what they are, get into trouble. I hate seeing shows where small children see their stupid parents get hauled away.

Cops is an enduring piece of modern television, sticking with the exact same formula right from the start of its debut season. We ride shotgun with the men and women of the law enforcement community as they respond to calls for help, chase down suspects and detect dodgy dealings.

The highlight of any episode is the high-speed car chase that inevitably ends with the offender crashing or abandoning their vehicle as they realise running is pointless. Before we know it, the police car with the camera is just one of ten cars on the same job and the suspects are always found.

Then comes the moment when four guys will capture and slam the mindless offender violently to the ground and keep the situation safe, while other officers gather evidence from the scene.

The cops of the show's title go into each job not knowing what to expect and the show illustrates the courage and difficulty the officers face each day of their job.

No matter what episode it is, or if it's a repeat episode, you'll never be disappointed by the excitement and dedication of the individuals doing their job.