Following the success of their hit parody film Airplane!, the Zucker Brothers, David and Jerry, along with partner Jim Abrahams set their sights on creating a send up of the police procedurals that ruled the day. Rather than tackling another film, they decided to pitch the idea of a television spoof to ABC. The trio decided not to shoot an entire pilot, but instead got the show green lit on the strength of the hilarious opening credits sequence that perfectly sets the tone for the series. Police Squad! debuted on ABC in 1982 and lasted all of six episodes before it was cancelled. Although it was a mere blip on the radar for the network, the series garnered a huge cult following and eventually spawned The Naked Gun film series several years later.
Police Squad! follows Frank Drebin (Leslie Nielsen), Detective Lieutenant Police Squad, who works for a special branch of the police force that takes on unique cases. Alongside him is Captain Ed Hocken (Alan North), who is always on the scene to give Frank a rundown of the case at the beginning of each episode. The beauty of this series is how seriously the performers treat the absurd material they are given. The show at its core is extremely similar to the Lee Marvin cop show M Squad, except this show is filled with extreme sight gags, wordplay and non-sequiturs. Nielsen and North are fantastic comedic talents that really sell that these characters are not in on the joke.
Police Squad! is a show that is said to have failed because it was a television show that people actually had to watch, which seems extremely likely. If you do not pay 100% attention to the screen while you are watching the show, you will miss over half of the jokes. The show is definitely one that rewards multiple viewings, as there are so many jokes packed in the frame from scene to scene. The episodes are also meant to stand on their own, but those who watch in order will be rewarded by gags that build from episode to episode. This series is a perfectly tuned comedy machine that stands as one of the most innovate comedy series of the 1980s.
Video Quality
Police Squad!: The Complete Series makes it’s way to Blu-Ray with a 1080p transfer in its original 4×3 aspect ratio. The new Blu-Ray is a considerable improvement from the DVD that was released over a decade ago, but there are a few issues that keep it from being perfect. There are some noticeable specks of damage throughout the series along with the occasional flickering to the image. This does improve as the series goes on, but it is worth noting for those expecting a crystal clear image. The uptick in detail is substantial, and the flesh tones are pretty solid for the most part. The black levels are not as strong as one would hope, but depth of field is good in other regards. While it would have been nice to have the series cleaned up a little more, fans of the show should be very pleased to have it looking the best it ever has.
Audio Quality
The Blu-Ray provides the series with a robust DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack. Police Squad! is a series with a lot of sounds happening at once from sound effects to music to dialogue in the middle of lively settings like a crowded sidewalk or a boxing match. Thankfully, this track handles all of these elements very well, balancing everything in just the right way. From the opening credit theme that hits you like a truck with its horn section, you can tell that the audio track is going to have some power behind it. There is no noticeable damage to this audio presentation. Dialogue is the most important weapon for this series, and it is always clear and positioned right in the center channel.
Special Features
- Audio Commentaries for the Following Episodes:
- A Substantial Gift:David Zucker, Jerry Zucker, Jim Abrahams, and Robert K. Weiss
- The Butler Did It:David Zucker, Jerry Zucker, Jim Abrahams, and Robert K. Weiss
- Testimony of Evil:Robert Wuhl
- Gag Reel: A nearly five minute compilation of flubs from the series. Not the most uproarious reel, but still worth a watch.
- Leslie Nielsen Interview: A nine-minute interview where Nielsen chats about making the series and why it was cancelled so soon into its run.
- Behind the Freeze Frames: A dangerous, never-aired ending freeze frame is shown while the creators discuss the concept of the recurring end credits gag.
- Casting Test – Ed Williams: The actor who plays scientist Ted Olsen is shown auditioning for the role.
- Casting Test – Alan North: The actor who plays captain Ed Hocken is shown auditioning for the role.
- Producer’s Photo Gallery: A minute long virtual pan over a corkboard showcasing photos from the production of the series.
- List of Celebrity Death Shots: 17 deaths are outlined over two pages as part of a recurring gag in the opening credits.
- Production Memo Highlights: Production notes from the network censors are highlighted with requested alterations to unsuitable jokes.
Final Thoughts
Police Squad! is one of those special shows that is truly groundbreaking, but too far ahead of its time to succeed with the audience of the day. These shows are the ones that inspire devotion from those that were lucky enough to appreciate the greatness while they had it. The level of humor that this show is cranking out in just these six episodes is truly impressive. Paramount Home Media Distribution has given new life to this show with a substantial upgrade to the audio and video presentation. They have also included all of the extras from the original DVD, which really ties this set together. This is one disc you should not hesitate to add to your collection. Highly Recommended
Police Squad!: The Complete Series is currently available online at various digital retailers.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.
