Approximately four decades back, the television series Police Squad! didn’t spend much screen time with audiences, yet it left a significant impact. After the success of the 1980 parody film Airplane!, which grossed $78 million at the box office (equivalent to $214 million today), directors David Zucker, Jim Abrahams, and Jerry Zucker aimed to create a similar comedy about police officers. Their inspiration was drawn from the 1950s Lee Marvin drama series M Squad. At that time, Michael Eisner, an executive at Paramount who had supported Airplane!, offered them six episodes on ABC and assured them that there would be minimal network interference.
The television series titled “Police Squad!” revolved around the character of bumbling police officer Frank Drebin, played by Leslie Nielsen who was previously renowned for his serious acting roles. According to David Zucker, Nielsen’s ability to deliver deadpan humor was a surprise to many. His co-star, Alan North, appeared in each episode where the plot typically began with the murder of a significant guest character. Notable guests included William Shatner and Florence Henderson; John Belushi filmed a death scene but his appearance was postponed following his tragic demise a day after the pilot aired. “Police Squad!” debuted on March 4, 1982, and received rave reviews from critics for its wit and precision – THR praised it as hitting “the bullseye with uncanny accuracy” – but struggled to attract audiences, resulting in the series being discontinued after four episodes. However, the creators of “Police Squad!” had the final laugh as Nielsen’s character Drebin reappeared in the 1988 film “The Naked Gun“, which David Zucker directed.
Following two continuations, a fresh take on “The Naked Gun” series, titled “The Naked Gun: Return Fire,” will debut in cinemas on August 1st. Liam Neeson portrays Drebin’s son in this revival. Despite not being part of the production, Zucker expresses a sense of disappointment but also feels a sense of pride that the show has garnered new fans: “It has managed to amass quite a dedicated fanbase.
You can find this story in the July 9 edition of The Hollywood Reporter magazine. Consider subscribing by clicking here.
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2025-07-13 20:24