A Substantial Gift (The Broken Promise)

Episode aired Mar 4, 1982
TV-PG
24m

IMDb RATING

8.3/10

1.3K

YOUR RATING

Kathryn Leigh Scott and Terry Wills in Police Squad! (1982)

Comedy Crime

Frank investigates a murder case at a bank where a robber shot the clerk and then another staff member, Sally, shot the robber. The autopsy, however, shows differently.Frank investigates a murder case at a bank where a robber shot the clerk and then another staff member, Sally, shot the robber. The autopsy, however, shows differently.Frank investigates a murder case at a bank where a robber shot the clerk and then another staff member, Sally, shot the robber. The autopsy, however, shows differently.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

8.3/10

1.3K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Photos30

+ 25

User reviews5

8.31.2K

Featured reviews

9grantss

What a start!

Sally, a bank clerk, urgently needs money to pay her orthodontist's bill. Out of desperation she steals the money from the bank, shooting the teller and a customer and making it look like the customer held up the store. Detective Frank Drebin of Police Squad is on the case.

Absolutely hilarious start to the series. I've already watched the Naked Gun movies and Flying High so the comedy style is not a surprise but it's still incredibly funny. More than just sight gags and plays on words the comedy is incredibly clever. It's also not always in-your-face: some of the funniest things are hidden in the background.

A pity there's only six episodes of this (if you exclude the Naked Gun movies).

9RogerDelG

Pure Genius

This is not at all a review of the pilot but I truly loved it! Hence the 9 out of 10 stars. For the record I have two episodes rated a perfect 10!

Every now and then I watch the episodes again. I've seen them too many times to count. They never fail to make me laugh. Pure comedy gold!

You really have to watch the show carefully as there was so much time taken to have things carefully crafted in the background....that were hilarious. On occasion I notice something I didn't notice before. Just fantastic.

Police Squad deserved much better than six episodes....but fortunately we would see Frank Drebin again later in the late 80's in the "Naked Gun" franchise.

Highest recommendation!

Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
Numerous jokes in this episode were later reused in the three Naked Gun films: The exchange: "Cigarette? "Yes, I know." was reused in Naked Gun 33 1/3. The "Little Italy" joke was reused in The Naked Gun. The gag where Frank screams when a wig is thrown on his face was reused in Naked Gun 2/12 (except there, it was a hot towel). And the short-range shootout gag was also reused in Naked Gun 2 1/2.

Goofs
Drebin is referred to at different times in the episode as a captain and as a lieutenant. This was done on purpose as a joke.

Quotes
Mrs. Twice: Oh, PLEASE go away. Please go away! I don't want to answer anymore of your questions.
Det. Frank Drebin: We're sorry to bother you at a time like this, Mrs. Twice. We would have come earlier, but your husband wasn't dead then.