"S.W.A.T." (1975) TV series 1975-1976

Creators:

Robert Hamner
Lee Stanley

Seasons:

1 | 2 | unknown

Release Date:

17 February 1975 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Crime | Drama

Plot:

The missions of the Los Angeles Police Department's Special Weapons and Tactics unit.

Plot Keywords:

Police | Vietnam Veteran | SWAT Team | SWAT | Famous Opening Theme

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Steve Forrest	...	Lieutenant Dan 'Hondo' Harrelson (36 episodes, 1975-1976)
Robert Urich	...	Officer Jim Street (36 episodes, 1975-1976)
Mark Shera	...	Officer Dominic Luca (36 episodes, 1975-1976)
James Coleman	...	Officer T.J. McCabe (36 episodes, 1975-1976)
Rod Perry	...	Sergeant David 'Deacon' Kay / ... (35 episodes, 1975-1976)

Runtime:

60 min (34 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

20th Century Fox Studios - 10201 Pico Blvd., Century City, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Spelling-Goldberg Productions

Trivia:

This show was introduced as a two-hour episode of "The Rookies" (1972): "The Rookies: S.W.A.T. (2hr Pilot) (#3.20)" (1975).

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Recess: School's Out (2001)

Soundtrack:

Theme from S.W.A.T.

SWAT is a great example of '70s police action episodic TV

This was my favorite show as a kid! It's one of the best of the '70s cop shows, and never fully got the recognition it deserved. It gave the audience a look at a police unit many didn't even know existed at the time. Aaron Spelling and Robert Hamner showed them as a group of men who had to depend on each other and work as a team in very difficult situations.

Back then, people WANTED to see action shows, but the writers still had a lot of restrictions on content and visuals. What's called `violence' in this show you can find in children's television these days. This show managed to get the violence of crime across without the gore most shows rely on today.

SWAT also had a very good ensemble cast. Steve Forrest (as Lt. Harrelson) obviously had a bit more to do, but the writers did a great job of showing the personal and professional sides of all the characters. In the '70s, these shows were truly episodic - there were no story arcs or follow-ups to an episode, unless, of course, it was a two-parter. A story began, developed, and wrapped in an hour. Yet, the writers managed to give some depth to these characters (and the actors something to work with) from time to time.

Robert Urich (Jim Street) was a good actor, and I think because he was considered the `GQ' man of the group, he was given a bit more screen time than the others. I absolutely loved him in `Vegas'. Rod Perry (`Deacon Kay'), Mark Shera (`Dominic Luca' - the object of MY personal teenage crush), and James Coleman (`T.J. McCabe') ALL gave consistently good performances and delivered in every episode.

In my opinion, SWAT is a great example of '70s police action episodic television. And personally, I'm VERY glad they've put it on DVD.