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[[Image:Dragnetsesame.jpg|frame|"I was working the day shift out of robbery..."]]
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[[Image:Dragnetsesame.jpg|thumb|300px|"I was working the day shift out of robbery..."]]
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[[Image:Dragnetsesame2.jpg|thumb|300px]]
'''''Dragnet'''''' is a pioneering police procedural series which originated on radio and spawned three television incarnations, two features, and countless spoofs. Created by writer/actor Jack Webb, the series focused on deadpan Sergeant Joe Friday (Jack Webb) and his partner, as they investigated a range of crimes, loosely adapted from real-life cases. This was announced through the famous opening signature: ''The story you are about to hear is true. Only the names have been changed to protect the innocent''. Other trademarks included the terse delivery and the distinctive "Dum-de-dum-dum" ''Dragnet March'' theme.
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'''''Dragnet''''' is a pioneering police procedural series which originated on radio and spawned three television incarnations, two features, and countless spoofs. Created by writer/actor Jack Webb, the series focused on deadpan Sergeant Joe Friday (Webb) and his partner, as they investigated a range of crimes, loosely adapted from real-life cases. This was announced through the famous opening signature: "''The story you are about to hear is true. Only the names have been changed to protect the innocent''." Other trademarks included the terse delivery and the distinctive "Dum-de-dum-dum" ''Dragnet March'' theme.
   
The [[old-time radio|radio]] series ran on [[NBC]] from 1949 until [[1957]]. Like ''[[Gunsmoke]]'', it smoothly transitioned into television, beginning with a [[1951]] one-off special (featuring original radio sidekick Sgt. Ben Romero, played by Barton Yarborough). The TV series, which had its debut proper in January [[1952]], ran concurrent with the radio show for several years (both with new partner Frank Smith), and remained on the air until [[1959]]. A theatrical film version, with the same cast and crew, was released in [[1954]]. The series was revived in [[1967]], with another partner, Bill Gannon (Harry Morgan). The series ended in [[1970]], and Webb died in [[1982]]. His franchise outlived him, however, first in a [[1987]] spoof version of ''Dragnet'' starring Dan Aykroyd as Friday's nephew and Tom Hanks as his partner, in a [[1989]] syndicated series (with new cast and characters), and in a somewhat grittier[[2003]] revival, with Ed O'Neill as the new Joe Friday (partnered once again with Frank Smith).
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The [[old-time radio|radio]] series ran on [[NBC]] from 1949 until 1957. Like ''[[Gunsmoke]]'', it smoothly transitioned into television, beginning with a 1951 one-off special (featuring original radio sidekick Sgt. Ben Romero). The TV series, which made its proper debut in January 1952, ran concurrently with the radio show for several years (both with new partner Frank Smith), and remained on the air until 1959. A theatrical film version, with the same cast and crew, was released in 1954.
   
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The series was revived in 1967, with another partner, Bill Gannon. The series ended in 1970, and Webb died in 1982. His franchise outlived him, however, first in a 1987 spoof movie version of ''Dragnet'' starring [[Dan Aykroyd]] as Friday's nephew and [[Tom Hanks]] as his partner, in a 1989 syndicated series (with new cast and characters), and in a somewhat grittier 2003 revival, with [[Ed O'Neill]] as the new Joe Friday (partnered once again with Frank Smith).
The series remains a keynote in popular culture. The craze for ''Dragnet'' spoofery began with [[Stan Freberg]]'s 1950s trilogy of audio satires, with titles like ''St. George and the Dragonet'', and has extended to the [[Children's Television Workshop]]. CTW mined the series extensively on ''Square One TV'' (with the droll "Mathnet" segments), but elements of ''Dragnet'' have also surfaced on ''[[Sesame Street]]'' through the years.
 
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The series remains a keynote in popular culture. The craze for ''Dragnet'' spoofery began with [[Stan Freberg]]'s 1950s trilogy of audio satires, with titles like ''St. George and the Dragonet'', and has extended to the [[Sesame Workshop|Children's Television Workshop]]. CTW mined the series extensively on ''[[Square One TV]]'' (with the droll "Mathnet" segments), but elements of ''Dragnet'' have also surfaced on ''[[Sesame Street]]'' through the years.
   
 
==References==
 
==References==
*An early ''Sesame Street'' insert directly parodied the series, with [[Sergeant Thursday]] and his partner [[Ben]] on the hunt for a wanted [[W]], accompanied by a variation of the ''Dragnet March''.
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*An early ''Sesame Street'' insert directly parodied the series, with [[Sergeant Thursday]] and his partner [[Ben]] on the hunt for a wanted [[W]], accompanied by a variation of the ''Dragnet March''. {{first|0395}}
   
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*The song "[[Searchin']]," performed by [[Floyd Pepper]] in ''[[The Muppet Show]]'' [[episode 120: Valerie Harper|episode 120]], mentions Sergeant Friday.
*[[Jane Tuesday]], the detective star of live action film segments beginning in [[Season 35]], is named in homage to Joe Friday.
 
   
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*In [[Episode 1527]] of ''Sesame Street'', [[Big Bird]] pretends to be a detective like [[Sherlock Hemlock]]. [[Mr. Snuffleupagus]] becomes his partner, dubbing himself "Sergeant Thursday."
*''Sesame Street'' [[Season 36]] included a segment called "Cookie Monster: Food Investigator," identified by Sesame Workshop as a parody of ''Dragnet''.
 
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*''Dragnet'' was spoofed in a later ''Sesame Street'' sketch where [[Darlene]] depends on [[D-tective Dave]] to debunk the debacle of her "DOG" word, which is missing its first letter. {{first|3499}}
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*The ''[[Dinosaurs]]'' episode "[[Episode 309: License to Parent|License to Parent]]" had an epilogue over the end credits narrated by [[Gary Owens]] in the style of the ''Dragnet'' trial results, showing the perps and giving their sentences. A variation of the ''Dragnet March'' is used as underscore.
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*[[Jane Tuesday]], the detective star of live action film segments beginning in ''Sesame Street'' [[Season 35 (2004)|Season 35]], is named in homage to Joe Friday.
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*''Sesame Street'' [[Season 36 (2005)|Season 36]] included a segment called "Cookie Monster: Food Investigator," identified by Sesame Workshop as a parody of ''Dragnet''.
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==Muppet Mentions==
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[[Image:Dragnet87.jpg|thumb|300px]]
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*During a car chase in the 1987 film, Sgt. Joe Friday (Dan Aykroyd) and Pep Streebeck (Tom Hanks) crash through a street vendor selling stuffed animals including a [[Big Bird]] and [[Baby Kermit]]. Friday: "Look out! Muppets!"
   
 
==Connections==
 
==Connections==
  +
Several actors from the original ''Dragnet'' starring Jack Webb (including the radio series and both TV incarnations) appeared in Muppet/''Sesame Street'' projects
*[[Kent McCord]] played Officer Jim Reed in ''Dragnet'' (1967)
 
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*[[Raymond Burr]] played the chief of detectives (often called Ed Backstrand) on the radio series (ca. 1949-1951) and Chief Detective Thad Brown in the first TV episode of ''Dragnet'' ("The Human Bomb," 1951).
*[[Olan Soule]] played lab analyst Ray Pinker in ''Dragnet'' (1952-1959) and Ray Murray in the 1967 version
 
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*[[Kent McCord]] played various police officers in five 1967 episodes (notably Officer Paul Culver in "The Interrogation") and then Officer Jim Reed (of Webb's ''Adam-12'' series) in three episodes (1967-1968)
*[[John Stephenson (voice actor)|John Stephenson]] appeared in several episodes of both versions, and for the 1967 series, was the announcer who provided the trial results.
 
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*[[Leonard Nimoy]] played Julius Carver in "The Big Boys" (1954) and Karlo Rozwadowski in "The Big Name" (1959).
 
*[[Olan Soule]] played lab analyst Ray Pinker in the TV series (1952-1959) and the same role (renamed Ray Murray) in the 1967 version.
 
*[[John Stephenson (voice actor)|John Stephenson]] appeared in several episodes of both radio and TV versions, and for the 1967 series, was the announcer who provided the trial results.
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1987 ''Dragnet'' movie:
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*[[Dan Aykroyd]] played Joe Friday
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*[[Bernie Brillstein]] was the executive producer.
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*[[Dabney Coleman]] played Jerry Caesar
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*[[Juliana Donald]] played the zookeeper
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*[[Tom Hanks]] played Pep Streebeck
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2003 revival:
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*[[Eva Longoria]] played Det. Gloria Duran
   
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{{wikipedia|Dragnet (series)}}
 
   
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__NOWYSIWYG__
[[Category:References]]
 
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[[Category:Radio References]]
 
[[Category:TV References]]
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[[Category:Movie Mentions]]
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[[Category:Mystery]]
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[[Category:Police]]

Revision as of 08:37, 28 May 2019

Dragnetsesame

"I was working the day shift out of robbery..."

Dragnetsesame2

Dragnet is a pioneering police procedural series which originated on radio and spawned three television incarnations, two features, and countless spoofs. Created by writer/actor Jack Webb, the series focused on deadpan Sergeant Joe Friday (Webb) and his partner, as they investigated a range of crimes, loosely adapted from real-life cases. This was announced through the famous opening signature: "The story you are about to hear is true. Only the names have been changed to protect the innocent." Other trademarks included the terse delivery and the distinctive "Dum-de-dum-dum" Dragnet March theme.

The radio series ran on NBC from 1949 until 1957. Like Gunsmoke, it smoothly transitioned into television, beginning with a 1951 one-off special (featuring original radio sidekick Sgt. Ben Romero). The TV series, which made its proper debut in January 1952, ran concurrently with the radio show for several years (both with new partner Frank Smith), and remained on the air until 1959. A theatrical film version, with the same cast and crew, was released in 1954.

The series was revived in 1967, with another partner, Bill Gannon. The series ended in 1970, and Webb died in 1982. His franchise outlived him, however, first in a 1987 spoof movie version of Dragnet starring Dan Aykroyd as Friday's nephew and Tom Hanks as his partner, in a 1989 syndicated series (with new cast and characters), and in a somewhat grittier 2003 revival, with Ed O'Neill as the new Joe Friday (partnered once again with Frank Smith).

The series remains a keynote in popular culture. The craze for Dragnet spoofery began with Stan Freberg's 1950s trilogy of audio satires, with titles like St. George and the Dragonet, and has extended to the Children's Television Workshop. CTW mined the series extensively on Square One TV (with the droll "Mathnet" segments), but elements of Dragnet have also surfaced on Sesame Street through the years.

References

  • An early Sesame Street insert directly parodied the series, with Sergeant Thursday and his partner Ben on the hunt for a wanted W, accompanied by a variation of the Dragnet March. (First: Episode 0395)
  • The Dinosaurs episode "License to Parent" had an epilogue over the end credits narrated by Gary Owens in the style of the Dragnet trial results, showing the perps and giving their sentences. A variation of the Dragnet March is used as underscore.
  • Jane Tuesday, the detective star of live action film segments beginning in Sesame Street Season 35, is named in homage to Joe Friday.
  • Sesame Street Season 36 included a segment called "Cookie Monster: Food Investigator," identified by Sesame Workshop as a parody of Dragnet.

Muppet Mentions

Dragnet87
  • During a car chase in the 1987 film, Sgt. Joe Friday (Dan Aykroyd) and Pep Streebeck (Tom Hanks) crash through a street vendor selling stuffed animals including a Big Bird and Baby Kermit. Friday: "Look out! Muppets!"

Connections

Several actors from the original Dragnet starring Jack Webb (including the radio series and both TV incarnations) appeared in Muppet/Sesame Street projects

  • Raymond Burr played the chief of detectives (often called Ed Backstrand) on the radio series (ca. 1949-1951) and Chief Detective Thad Brown in the first TV episode of Dragnet ("The Human Bomb," 1951).
  • Kent McCord played various police officers in five 1967 episodes (notably Officer Paul Culver in "The Interrogation") and then Officer Jim Reed (of Webb's Adam-12 series) in three episodes (1967-1968)
  • Leonard Nimoy played Julius Carver in "The Big Boys" (1954) and Karlo Rozwadowski in "The Big Name" (1959).
  • Olan Soule played lab analyst Ray Pinker in the TV series (1952-1959) and the same role (renamed Ray Murray) in the 1967 version.
  • John Stephenson appeared in several episodes of both radio and TV versions, and for the 1967 series, was the announcer who provided the trial results.

1987 Dragnet movie:

2003 revival:

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