"S.W.A.T." (1975) TV series 1975-1976

Creators:

Robert Hamner
Lee Stanley
(more)

Seasons:

1 | 2

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 | SWAT Team | Acronym In Title | Famous Opening Theme | Entire Title Is Capitalized Acronym

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Steve Forrest	...	Lieutenant Dan 'Hondo' Harrelson (37 episodes, 1975-1976)
Robert Urich	...	Officer Jim Street (37 episodes, 1975-1976)
Mark Shera	...	Officer Dominic Luca (37 episodes, 1975-1976)
James Coleman	...	Officer T.J. McCabe (37 episodes, 1975-1976)
Rod Perry	...	Sergeant David 'Deacon' Kay (36 episodes, 1975-1976)

Series Directed by
George McCowan		(10 episodes, 1975-1976)
Bruce Bilson		(3 episodes, 1975-1976)
Harry Falk		(3 episodes, 1975)
Bernard McEveety		(3 episodes, 1976)
Earl Bellamy		(2 episodes, 1975)
Phil Bondelli		(2 episodes, 1975)
Gene Levitt		(2 episodes, 1975)
Sutton Roley		(2 episodes, 1975)

Series Writing credits
Robert Hamner		(26 episodes, 1975-1976)
Rick Husky		(24 episodes, 1975-1976)
Robert I. Holt		(4 episodes, 1975-1976)
Walter Black		(3 episodes, 1975)
Charles Eric Johnson		(3 episodes, 1975)
Edward J. Lakso		(2 episodes, 1975-1976)
Herb Bermann		(2 episodes, 1975)
Benjamin Masselink		(2 episodes, 1975)
Bob Mitchell		(2 episodes, 1976)
Esther Mitchell		(2 episodes, 1976)
Lee Stanley		(unknown episodes)
Shirley Ulmer		(unknown episodes)

Series Produced by
Leonard Goldberg	....	executive producer / producer (31 episodes, 1975-1976)
Aaron Spelling	....	executive producer / producer (31 episodes, 1975-1976)
Shelley Hull	....	associate producer (29 episodes, 1975-1976)
Robert Hamner	....	producer (16 episodes, 1975-1976)
Gene Levitt	....	producer (13 episodes, 1975-1976)
Barry Shear	....	producer (3 episodes, 1975)

Series Original Music by
Barry De Vorzon		(6 episodes, 1975)
Jack Elliott		(2 episodes, 1975)
Allyn Ferguson		(2 episodes, 1975)

Series Cinematography by
Tim Southcott		(19 episodes, 1975-1976)

Series Film Editing by
Clay Bartels		(9 episodes, 1975-1976)
James Baiotto		(8 episodes, 1975-1976)
Leon Carrere		(7 episodes, 1975)
Richard Malek		(4 episodes, 1975-1976)
Jim Faris		(3 episodes, 1975)

Series Casting by
Claire Newell		(13 episodes, 1975)

Series Art Direction by
Tracy Bousman		(19 episodes, 1975-1976)

Series Set Decoration by
Raymond Paul		(14 episodes, 1975)
Bob Signorelli		(4 episodes, 1976)

Series Makeup Department
Les Berns	....	makeup artist (19 episodes, 1975-1976)
Naomi Cavin	....	hair stylist (19 episodes, 1975-1976)

Series Production Management
Norman Henry	....	executive production manager (19 episodes, 1975-1976)
Russel Wiles	....	post-production supervisor (15 episodes, 1975)
Al Kraus	....	production manager (13 episodes, 1975)
Wilbur D'Arcy	....	production manager (6 episodes, 1975-1976)
Dick Reilly	....	post-production supervisor (4 episodes, 1976)

Series Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
John M. Poer	....	second assistant director (12 episodes, 1975)
Bill Derwin	....	assistant director (5 episodes, 1975-1976)
Bill D'Arcy	....	assistant director (5 episodes, 1975)
Chris Christenberry	....	assistant director (4 episodes, 1975)
Wilbur D'Arcy	....	assistant director (2 episodes, 1975)
John Ashley Hamilton	....	trainee director (2 episodes, 1976)

Series Art Department
Bob Henderson	....	property master (19 episodes, 1975-1976)
Gordon Kirschbaum	....	construction coordinator (19 episodes, 1975-1976)

Series Sound Department
John Oliver	....	sound engineer (19 episodes, 1975-1976)

Series Special Effects by
Dutch Van Derbyl	....	special effects (19 episodes, 1975-1976)

Series Stunts
Glenn R. Wilder	....	stunt coordinator (13 episodes, 1975)
Fred Waugh	....	stunt coordinator (6 episodes, 1975-1976)
Craig R. Baxley	....	stunts (5 episodes, 1975-1976)
Gregory J. Barnett	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Jean Coulter	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Monty Jordan	....	stunt driver (unknown episodes)
Ronnie Rondell Jr.	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Rick Sawaya	....	stunt double (unknown episodes)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Allan Gornick Jr.	....	underwater cinematographer (2 episodes, 1975)

Series Casting Department
Claire Newell	....	casting supervisor / casting (6 episodes, 1975-1976)

Series Costume and Wardrobe Department
Ray Phelps	....	costumes / costumer (19 episodes, 1975-1976)
Sylvia Liggett	....	costumes / costumer (16 episodes, 1975-1976)

Series Music Department
Steve Livingston	....	music editor (37 episodes, 1975-1976)
Barry De Vorzon	....	composer: theme music (31 episodes, 1975-1976)
Rocky Moriana	....	music supervisor (19 episodes, 1975-1976)

Series Transportation Department
Jim Martell	....	transportation coordinator (unknown episodes)

Series Other crew
Doris DeHerdt	....	script supervisor (18 episodes, 1975-1976)
Rick Kelbaugh	....	technical advisor (12 episodes, 1975)
John Robert Miller	....	technical advisor (3 episodes, 1975-1976)
Shirley Ulmer	....	script supervisor (unknown episodes)

Production Companies

• Spelling-Goldberg Productions

Distributors

• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1975) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• Columbia Pictures Television
• Columbia TriStar Domestic Television
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• Shout! Factory (2012) (USA) (DVD) (the final season)
• Sony Pictures Television (2002-)

Other Companies

• Ford Motor Company  automobiles

Also Known As:

Runtime:

60 min (34 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

L.A.P.D. Hollywood Station - 1358 Wilcox Avenue, Hollywood, 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 The Other Guys (2010)

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.