SYNOPSIS
Most of the episodes of this
quirky police comedy opened with morning roll call, as had the critically
acclaimed
Hill Street Blues,
but this loony series more closely resembled
Police Squad.
The central character was Detective Paul Gigante, a reserved officer who relocated from Washington,
D.C. following a separation from his wife, to start a new life on the police
force of Bakersfield, California.
Half Black and half Italian, Paul
was the only black cop on the force and was often taken for a criminal simply because of his race.
Wade, his partner, was a well-meaning redneck and a trivia freak. Sgt.
Hampton, a 22-year veteran of the force, was the long-suffering aide to
inept, indecisive Capt. Stiles. Hampton spent much of his time covering for
Stile's mistakes and making decisions for him.
Also seen were Officer Boyer, a
hunky but incredibly dumb officer and his partner, Ramirez, who was highly
emotional and sensitive.