Cop Rock
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Cop Rock was a short-lived Steven Bochco television series on the American Broadcasting Company (ABC) in 1990. It was an attempt to combine the police drama (a format in which Bochco had been very successful earlier with Hill Street Blues) with musical theater. For example, one scene in a courtroom had the jury break into song, proclaiming the verdict "He's Guilty" in Gospel style. Another episode had a lineup of Hispanic suspects proclaim in song "We're the local color with the coppertone skin / And you treat us like we're guilty of some terrible sin." The theme song, "Under the Gun", was performed by Randy Newman, opening each episode with a music video style credit sequence featuring Newman performing.
The show featured crossover appearances from other Bochco series. In one episode, James B. Sikking reprises the role of (Lt. Howard Hunter) from Hill Street Blues, while another episode featured cameos by LA Law stars Jimmy Smits and Michele Greene.
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[edit] Negative Critical Reaction and Cult Status
The series produced widely divergent opinions. During its initial run, many television critics, expecting the show to be like Bochco's previous cop show Hill Street Blues, hated Cop Rock and dubbed it "the worst television show ever". This opinion was echoed by viewers, who stayed away from the show in droves.
ABC, which had signed off on the series sight-unseen and had given Bochco complete creative control, cancelled the show after 11 episodes. In the final episode, cast members Ronny Cox and Vondie Curtis-Hall talk about the cancellation, and bring the whole cast in to sing one final song, "It Ain't Over Til the Fat Lady Sings" -- a song which does in fact end with a "fat lady" singing.
Despite the show's rapid demise, Bochco's career quickly bounced back with ABC, who greenlighted Bochco's follow-up series NYPD Blue, a more traditional cop show. Cop Rock meanwhile was sold into syndication and aired on VH1 and Trio networks, who flaunted the "worst television show ever" reputation of the series. Cop Rock has gone on to become a cult classic in the "so bad it's good" genre. There is also a small but vocal fan base who enjoy the show as a genuine musical drama, and don't regard it as camp.
[edit] Cast
- Teri Austin - Trish Vaughn
- Anne Bobby - Ofcr. Vicki Quinn
- Barbara Bosson - Mayor Louise Plank
- Ronny Cox - Chief Roger Kendrick
- Vondie Curtis-Hall - Det. Warren Osborne
- David Gianopoulos - Ofcr. Andy Campo
- Larry Joshua - Capt. John Hollander
- Dennis Lipscomb - Sidney Weitz
- Paul McCrane - Det. Bob McIntire
- James McDaniel - Ofcr. Franklin Rose
- Ron McLarty - Ralph Ruskin
- Mick Murray - Det. Joseph Gaines
- Peter Onorati - Det. Vincent LaRusso
- William Thomas Jr. - Det. William Donald Potts
[edit] Episode List
- Episode 1: Cop Rock: Pilot Episode - Airdate: September 26, 1990
- Episode 2: Ill-Gotten Gaines - Airdate: October 3, 1990
- Episode 3: Happy Mudder's Day - Airdate: 10 October 1990
- Episode 4: A Three-Corpse Meal - Airdate: 17 October 1990
- Episode 5: The Cocaine Mutiny - Airdate: 24 October 1990
- Episode 6: Oil of Ol' Lay - Airdate: 31 October 1990
- Episode 7: Cop-a-Felliac - Airdate: November 7, 1990
- Episode 8: Potts Don't Fail Me Now - Airdate: November 21, 1990
- Episode 9: Marital Blitz - Airdate: December 5, 1990
- Episode 10: No Noose Is Good Noose - Airdate: December 12, 1990
- Episode 11: Bang the Potts Slowly - Airdate: December 26, 1990
