Added by GemLil

on 22 Mar 2008 10:03

Vote!

36711 Views 3 Comments

Cop Shows

Sort by:

Showing 33 items

2125

7.3

1. CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (2000)

The orignal CSI; based on the night shift crew, of a CSI lab in Las Vegas. Detective Jim Brass is the resident 'cop' in this series.

GemLil's rating:

966

7.8

8.1

2. Pushing Daisies (2007)

P.I Emerson Cod enlists the help of pie maker, Ned, who can bring the dead back to life. Together they investigate murder cases and collect the rewards, simply by asking 'who murdered you?'.

GemLil's rating:

1240

7.4

8.1

3. Bones (2005)

A group of forensic anthropologists use their analytical skills to solve murder cases; along side FBI agent Seeley Booth. Loosely based on the forensic crime novels of Kathy Reichs.

GemLil's rating:

2193

8.3

9.1

4. Dexter (2006)

Based around Dexter Morgan a blood pattern analyst at Miami Metro PD. Did I mention..he also happens so be a serial killer? Adapted from the novel Darkly Dreaming Dexter by Jeff Lindsay.

GemLil's rating:

7.3

8.1

5. Ashes to Ashes (2008)

GemLil's rating:

6.4

7.7

6. New Tricks (2003)

Three grumpy and retired police officers are recruited to work for the Unsolved Crime and Open Case Squad (UCOS).

GemLil's rating:

326

7.5

8.5

7. Life on Mars (2006)

GemLil's rating:

1437

6.4

6.3

8. CSI: Miami (2002)

GemLil's rating:

1164

6.6

6.7

9. CSI: NY (2004)

Spin-off CSI series; set in New York. This CSI focuses mainly on the lives and trials of yet another cop duo Det. Stella Bonasera and Det. Mac Taylor.

GemLil's rating:

6.9

7.7

10. Rebus (2000)

Based on Scotland's favourite, surely law enforcer; Inspector Rebus. Rebus cleans up the streets of Edinburgh in this series; based on the Rebus novels, by Ian Rankin.

GemLil's rating:

1041

7.1

7.8

11. Monk (2002)

Obsessive, compulsive detective Monk, proves that mental illness has an up side.

GemLil's rating:

5.2

6.7

12. Heartbeat (1992)

ITV cop drama in the quiet town of Goatland, Yorkshire, set in the 1960s.

GemLil's rating:

1769

7.7

8.8

13. The X Files (1993)

FBI agents Fox Mulder and Dana Scully are put in charge of investigating a series of the unsolved and paranormal cases...cop duo of the century.

GemLil's rating:

8.1

8.5

14. Cracker (1993)

GemLil's rating:

5.8

6.7

15. Diagnosis Murder (1993)

Medical, nose-butter, Dr. Mark Sloan helps solve crimes with his son doctor who solves crimes with the help of his son, a homicide detective played by his real-life son Barry Van Dyke.

GemLil's rating:

109

6.1

16. Due South (1994)

The first man I ever fell in love with;Constable Benton Fraser of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Fraser and his wolf Diefenbaker clean up the street of Chicago...with sexy results.

GemLil's rating:

6.1

17. The Bill (1984)

Long running British police drama/soap (1985-present). Follows the bobbies and detectives in the made up town of Sun Hill, London.

GemLil's rating:

6.6

7.3

18. Taggart (1983)

GemLil's rating:

233

6.3

7.5

19. Miami Vice (1984)

GemLil's rating:

134

7.3

20. Columbo Murder by the Book (1971)

Peter Falk plays Lieutenant Columbo, a homicide detective with the Los Angeles Police Department.

GemLil's rating:

5.9

7.1

21. Kojak (1973)

No nonsense cop, Detective Lieutenant Theo Kojak; graces the streets of New York with a great hat and an iconic one liner.

GemLil's rating:

7.2

22. Midsomer Murders (1997)

GemLil's rating:

234

5.8

7.5

23. Magnum, P.I. (1980)

Thomas Magnum, private investigator. Not entirely a cop show; but adhering to so many cop show cliches; it just has to be here.

GemLil's rating:

128

6.4

24. Starsky and Hutch (1975)

Det. Dave Starsky and Det. Ken Hutchinson, the tough guy and the smart guy; cleaning up the seventies with the help of Huggy Bear and a '74 Torino.

GemLil's rating:

6.9

25. The Sweeney (1975)

70's cop duo, an elite branch of the British police force specialising in armed robbery and violent crime.

GemLil's rating:

5.8

6.7

26. Cagney & Lacey (1981)

GemLil's rating:

7.2

8.1

27. The Professionals (1977)

3 tough cops are recruited as members of CI5. A law enforcement department, instructed by the Home Secretary to deal with crimes that have gone beyond police capacity. By any means necessary!

GemLil's rating:

6.3

7.4

28. Hawaii Five-O (1968)

GemLil's rating:

6.2

7.9

29. Dragnet 1967 (1967)

GemLil's rating:

138

6.3

7.5

30. NYPD Blue (1993)

GemLil's rating:

6.5

8.1

31. 77 Sunset Strip (1958)

GemLil's rating:

5.1

7.4

32. Z Cars (1962)

GemLil's rating:

6.1

33. Dixon of Dock Green (1955)

GemLil's rating:

This list goes out to all the men and women in law enforcment.

A mix of British and American cop shows; including the FBI and specialist task forces. This list is ranked from my most to least favourite. If you think of any more, please let me know. If the adaptation is based on a series of novels; I've placed a link to the author rather than a specific book.

The 'Cop Show' here, is generic term for any show following an individual or body of law enforcement, be it P.C, F.B.I, C.S.I or P.I.

'Interesting' aside
Slang terms for

Bacon: Derived from Pigs: often used in the structure "I smell bacon" to warn of the approaching presence of an officer.

Bizzies: Common Liverpool slang term for the police, it was invented as the police were always too "busy" to help.

Bobby: This can occur with a mixture of affection and slight irony in the phrase "village bobby", nowadays referring to the local community police officer.

Boys in blue: A reference to the blue uniform worn by some officers.

Brass: Term originating from the brass badges that police carry in order to identify themselves.

Cop or Copper: While commonly believed to be an acronym for Constable On Patrol, the term refers to "one who captures or snatches".

Ducks and Geese: Cockney rhyming slang for police.

Feds: Usually used in the United States to refer to higher federal law enforcement agencies, especially the F.B.I.

Filth: a widespread term used in several countries, very popular in London, where it is pronounced "Filf".

(Name of city)'s Finest: Used in either admiration, or slightly derisive irony, in the United States.

Fuzz: This North American term first appeared in the 1920s and gained popularity in the 1930s.
The Gaver: Cockney rhyming slang for the police - unknown origin - London.

The Guards: Irish term for the Garda Síochána

The Heat: American; putting the heat on someone.

Heavy or Heavies: Cockney rhyming slang for the Flying Squad, from the Heavy Mob.

Jake: A common term used and created in New York City, New York

John Law or Johnny Law: Used across the United States.

Johnny Hopper: Cockney rhyming slang for copper

Law or The Law: Probably an abbreviation of the phrase "The long arm of the law".

The Man: A derisive term popular during the 1960s and 1970s during the anti-establishment and anti-authoritarian movements.

Mr. Plod, P.C. Plod or Plodder: a British term that arose from the Noddy books by Enid Blyton, in which Mr. Plod was the village policeman.

Nickers : A uncommon British term being a pun on "knickers" (female underwear). As well as the term 'nick', London slang for in 'to arrest'.

Old Bill/ OB: A term in use in London among other areas, inspiring the television series The Bill.

Pigs: This term became especially popular during the 1960s and 1970s in the underground hippie and anti-establishment culture.

Po-po or Po: A term used commonly by North American youth and rap artists.

Po-9: A term originating from "po-po", used mostly in the southern US.

Rashers: British slang derived from pigs.

Rozzers: A British term. To Rozz was slang for to roast in the East End of London.

Scuffers: An old British term, which came to prominence in the 1960s Merseyside-set BBC television series Z-Cars.

Scum: Used across Britain, as an insult to say that the police are lower than the criminals.

Snippers: An African-American term used mostly in North America.

Sweeney: Cockney rhyming slang for the Flying Squad, from Sweeney Todd, inspiring the television series The Sweeney.