description Adam-12 Overview
Created by Jack Webb and Robert A. Cinader, Adam-12 aired on NBC from 1968 to 1975. The American police procedural follows Los Angeles Police Department patrol officers Pete Malloy and Jim Reed, pairing a veteran with a rookie. Episodes move through the calls encountered during patrol, making routine duties and encounters with the public central to the storytelling rather than concentrating solely on a single elaborate investigation.
Its semi-documentary presentation follows the approach associated with Webb's earlier Dragnet, with attention to procedures and the practical details of police work. The show suits viewers interested in classic television and the patrol-focused branch of the procedural genre. Its intended realism is part of its identity, but it remains a dramatized portrayal shaped by its production choices. That distinction matters when using the series to understand how television presented policing to a general audience.
help Adam-12 FAQ
Who created the television show Adam-12?
Adam-12 was created by Jack Webb and Robert A. Cinader. Jack Webb is also famously known for creating and starring in the earlier police procedural Dragnet. The series was produced by Webb's production company, Mark VII Limited, and aired on NBC from 1968 to 1975.
What does the call sign Adam-12 mean in the show?
In the LAPD radio alphabet used during the era, "Adam" stands for the letter A, designating a two-officer patrol car. The "12" simply represents their specific unit number within the patrol division. The series follows veteran Officer Pete Malloy and his rookie partner, Officer Jim Reed.
Who played Officers Malloy and Reed in Adam-12?
The veteran officer Pete Malloy was played by Martin Milner, while the rookie Jim Reed was portrayed by Kent McCord. Their realistic, by-the-book partnership was the central focus of the NBC series. The show aimed to accurately depict the day-to-day lives of Los Angeles Police Department patrol officers.
How many seasons of Adam-12 were produced?
The original Adam-12 television series ran for seven seasons, totaling 174 episodes. It aired on NBC from September 1968 until May 1975. The show's realistic depiction of police work heavily influenced later police procedural television dramas.
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