A fish-out-of-water sitcom about a black police officer from Washington, D.C. who transfers to Bakersfield, California to find himself the first black cop on the decidedly odd small town force. Despite likable lead performances and a gently surreal style, it seemed too much like watered down Hill Street Blues and Hooperman to gather a following before its swift cancellation.
1st Season 1993
Production credits:
Rock Island Productions in association with Touchstone Television
Creator/executive producer: Larry Levin
Co-executive producer: Dennis Klein
Producers: Richard Dresser, Dean Parisot
Produced by David Latt
Creative consultant: Jeff Nathanson
Coordinating producer: Barry M. Berg
Associate producer: Jeff Henry
gs: Cynthia Bond [ Deirdre Gigante ], Shaun Baker [ Winston ], Tim Dezarn [ Frank ], David Basulto [ Jerry Tyron ], Rick Najera [ Dispatcher ], Wendy Gordon [ Newscaster ]
Washington, D.C. cop Paul gets a rude welcome to Bakersfield when his new partner commandeers his car.
b: 14 Sep 93 pc: _________ w: Larry Levin d: Dean Parisotgs: Laura Innes [ Darcy Wilkes ], Allan Wasserman [ Dr. Harbour ], David Wiley [ Walter Leeds ], Flora Burke [ Mrs Carson ], Jean Ford [ Distraught Woman ], Make Wakefield [ Tom Cruise Lookalike ], Nick D'Egidio [ Frank Sinatra Look-a-Like ], Arlen B. Pantel [ Bruce Springsteen Look-a-Like ], Gregory Wolfe [ Rod Stewart Look-a-Like ]
Paul and Wade search for a con artist -- not helped by a police sketch artist who'd rather be drawing celebrities -- while the rest of the force prepare for their annual psychiatric evaluation.
b: 21 Sep 93 pc: P404 w: Larry Levin & Jeff Nathanson d: Dean Parisotgs: Patrick Kilpatrick [ Dwight ], Marianna Elliot [ Eden ], Tom Towles [ Riley ], Sonia Jackson [ Nurse ], Christopher Michael Moore [ Fireman ]
Wade falls madly in love with the girlfriend of a burglary suspects; Chief Stiles is reluctant to participate in the annual blood drive.
b: 28 Sep 93 pc: P403 w: Larry Levin d: Dean Parisotgs: Diane Delano [ Jessie Preston ], Marnie Crossen [ Wife ], Rolanda Molina [ Criminal ]
Sgt. Hampton's out of town, so an indecisive Capt. Stiles decides to make Paul his right-hand man -- and decision -maker.
b: 5 Oct 93 pc: _________ w: Dennis Klein & Richard Dresser d: Bryan Gordongs: Todd Field [ Lewis ], Andrew Craig [ Prisoner ], Gwen Van Dam [ Doug's Mother ], Courtney Gains [ Doug ]
When Paul finally gets invited to the gang's regular poker night, he winds up the big winner -- or does he?
b: 12 Oct 93 pc: P406 w: Dennis Klein d: Dean Parisotgs: Jenny Gago [ Carmelina ], Michael Kaufman [ Chambers ], Steve Fitchpatrick [ Drug Dealer #1 ], Earl Billings [ Drug Dealer #2 ], John Fleck [ Clown ], Abe Adams [ Paulie Gigante ], Phil Forman [ Dr Glassboro ]
Paul tells Wade the very personal reason he had for moving his family to Bakersfield, and it doesn't take much detective work for the other officers to learn the secret.
b: 19 Oct 93 pc: P402 w: Richard Dresser d: Dean Parisotgs: Bill Nunn [ Troy Davis ], Greg Germann [ Hood ], W. Earl Brown [ Mobster #1 ], Nicholas Mele [ Mobster #2 ]
Wade is jealous when Paul's former partner comes to town, and Capt. Stiles ponder the future amid rumours that Sgt. Hampton may retire.
b: 26 Oct 93 pc: P408 w: Dennis & Jeff Nathanson & Richard Dresser d: Nick Marckgs: Richard Bradford [ Mayor Miller ], Sherrie Rose [ Kimberly ], Jane Lynch [ Michelle Hathaway ], Lee Arenberg [ leon ], Larry Brandenburg [ Gonzo ], Sara Melson [ Shauna ], Charles Noland [ Fred ], Ryan Tomlinson [ Jack ]
During a sting, Capt. Stiles hides in a restroom rather than deal with a madam's black book containing the names of several influential johns.
b: 2 Nov 93 pc: P407 w: Richard Dresser d: Nick Marckgs: William H. Macy [ Russell Karp ], Nancy Lenehan [ Amy Baker ], Allan Royal [ President Childs ], Kevin Page [ Ken Fields ], Lorna Scott [ Operator #1 ], Christine Cavanaugh [ Operator #2 ]
Capt. Stiles and Sgt. Hampton are taken hostage by an unhappy cable employee; Wade tries to get Paul to loosen up.
b: 9 Nov 93 pc: P409 w: Dennis Klein & Richard Dresser & Jeff Nathanson d: Ken Kwapisgs: Joe Santos [ Himself ], Beth Grant [ Donna Stiles ], Lee Garlington [ Judy Hampton ], Mark Boon, Jr. [ Ed ], Norm Skagas [ Leo ], John Bowman [ The Perp ]
Wade is overwhelmed when one of his crimeshow heroes ( Joe Santos of The RockfordFiles) visits the station to r eport the theft of his car radio, and persuades him to participate in the real-life investigation; meanwhile, Paul feels the strain of his long distance marriage.
b: 16 Nov 93 pc: P410 w: Jeff Nathanson d: Dean Parisotgs: Willie Carpenter [ Agent Wilder ], Jeremy Roberts [ Agent Kreton ], Jim Haynie [ Jefferson K. Wallace ], Pat Crawford Brown [ Woman ], Abe Adams [ Paulie Gigante ], Kristopher Logan [ Brenner ], Fred Pinkard [ Chuck Lopez ]
Most of the department is left out of the loop when Secret Service agents arrive to protect the Presidential motorcade as it passes through town.
b: 23 Nov 93 pc: P411 w: Larry Levin & Jeff Nathanson d: Ken Kwapisgs: Beth Grant [ Donna Stiles ], Jonathan Gries [ Ray Coombs ], Christine Estabrook [ Ann Lester ]
Thief Ray Coombs is released from prison and comes to Bakersfield to exact revenge on Capt. Stiles, the man who caught him 10 years earlier.
b: 30 Nov 93 pc: P412 w: Dennis Klein & Jeff Nathanson & Larry Levin d: Michael Englergs: Janel Moloney [ Sarah ], Melora Walters [ Marnie Archer ]
Inadequacy strikes Stiles; Wade and Paul fall for a missing cow's owner; suspended Denny is forced to sell underwear from his car.
b: 21 Dec 93 pc: P413 w: __________ d: Dean Parisotgs: Meagen Fay [ Mrs Selwyn ], Tony Perez [ Jerry Obstler ], Karen Landry [ Gail Boyer ], Charles Noland [ Fred ], Bruce McGill [ Captain Stocker ], Anna Kerkorian [ Opera Singer ]
The city is up in arms, so to speak, when a severed limb is found in the civic water supply.
b: 7 Jul 94 pc: P414 w: __________ d: Ken Kwapisgs: Shaun Baker [ Zebra T ], Ramon Franco [ Tom Tom ], Brandon Maggart [ Uncle Powell ], Leslie Jones [ Hakim ], Jeanette O'Conner [ Cousin Linda ], Jeff Norman [ Cookie ], Tiny Ron [ Indian ]
Paul wants to buy a house in Denny's neighborhood, to Denny's discomfort.
b: 21 Jul 94 pc: P415 w: __________ d: Tim Huntergs: Jodie Markell [ Brenda James ], John Glen Bishop [ Kyle Pruitt ], Gloria Dorson [ Shelly Krane ], Jim Cody Williams [ Roy ]
Paul and Wade seek a missing psychic; a secretary has cosmetic surgery.
b: 28 Jul 94 pc: P416 w: __________ d: Dean Parisotgs: Dan Castellaneta [ Darian Ferguson ], Tom Towles [ Fireman Riley ], Christopher Michael Moore [ Fireman #1 ], Geraldine Farrell [ Joanne Hibbler ], Lorna Scott [ Terry Croodell ], Kathy Kinney [ Mrs Blaisher ], Steven M. Porter [ Max Davis ], John Volstad [ Suspect #1 ], Christopher Darga [ Suspect #2 ], Patrick Dollaghan [ Suspec t #3 ], Rick Mansfield [ Suspect #4 ], Tony Colitti [ Suspect #5 ], Doug Arnold [ Prisoner ]
The captain wants a spa in the men's locker room; Wade surprised Paul by revealing a caring side to his nature; Denny gets a surprise after he picks a fight with the fire department.
b: 18 Aug 94 pc: P417 w: __________ d: Dean ParisotEpisode descriptions have been adapted from those provided on-line by TV Guide and Touchstone Television.
