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The Rookies

The Rookies

★ 6.9/10•1972•1h 0m•Drama•Crime
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The Rookies is an American crime drama series that aired on ABC from 1972 until 1976. It follows the exploits of three rookie police officers working in an unidentified city for the fictitious Southern California Police Department.

StatusCanceled
Runtime1h 0m
LanguageEN
First Air DateSep 11, 1972

Episodes

Episode 1 - Concrete Valley, Neon SkyE160m

Concrete Valley, Neon Sky

In the introductory episode of the series, the presence of several street gangs contributes to a tension-filled atmosphere. The Rookies are assigned with the challenge of maintaining order amongst the rivaling street gangs, with Willie Gillis arising as the mediator between the gangs.

Sep 11, 1972

Episode 2 - Dead, Like a Lost DreamE260m

Dead, Like a Lost Dream

The division is under investigation for misconduct, following several citizen complaints. When a complaint against African-American Officer Webster contains no racial references despite its strong wording, Webster suspects an impostor, and evidence begins to suggest a police academy washout in uniform.

Sep 18, 1972

Episode 3 - The InformantE360m

The Informant

Officer's Webster and Gillis try to help a young man break away from two thugs who are using him as their wheel-man for robberies they are committing. But when the thugs take his girlfriend hostage it complicates their efforts.

Sep 25, 1972

Episode 4 - The CommitmentE460m

The Commitment

Gillis is severly injured during an armed robbery. The doctors inform him that further surgery could leave him paralyzed leaving the police officer not knowing what to do.

Oct 2, 1972

Episode 5 - Covenant with DeathE560m

Covenant with Death

Against advice of their lieutenant, Webster and Gillis are charmed by Toby Jones (Louis Gossett Jr.) who leads an evangelical church fighting drug use. When Gillis spots Jones fleeing a heroin house bust he uncovers Jones' criminal history.

Oct 9, 1972

Episode 6 - Time is the FireE646m

Time is the Fire

A young woman, Andrea Sloan, is kidnapped and held for ransom. Complications ensue.

Oct 16, 1972

Episode 7 - The Bear That Didn't Get UpE760m

The Bear That Didn't Get Up

Willie struggles to cope with the death of a young man he shot during a break-in who appeared to be unarmed. That is until an unidentified caller gives reason to believe another person might be responsible for his death.

Oct 23, 1972

Episode 8 - Dirge for SundayE860m

Dirge for Sunday

Assigned with the task of protecting a valuable witness, Danko and the Officers must exercise caution regarding visitors to the prison. When a professional killer disguises himself as a professor seeking to interview Sol (the witness), Danko denies him the opportunity. Nevertheless, Danko does agree to help the 'professor' by accompanying him to an aircraft hanger where he claims he is meeting a friend.

Oct 30, 1972

Episode 9 - The Good Die YoungE960m

The Good Die Young

After three woman are murdered, the Police Squad takes action. In order to solve the mysterious murders and prevent future ones, the Squad welcomes two women officers to the force, Dawson and Conway. A plan is created which places Dawson and Conway in an apartment complex together, with Webster and Gillis across the hall.

Nov 13, 1972

Episode 10 - To Taste of TerrorE1060m

To Taste of Terror

In an effort to prove he's no 'old man', Officer Danko chases down a fleeing criminal. While he succeeds in apprehending the thief, his partners Webster and Gillis fail to catch the criminal's brother, who is also running from the law. Danko testifies in court against the criminal he caught, thereby infuriating the brother who is unassumingly observing in the courtroom.

Nov 20, 1972

Episode 11 - A Deadly VelocityE1160m

A Deadly Velocity

The rookies are given the task of protecting a controversial Army General who has recently returned to the country after serving in Vietnam. The rookies must deal with mob control, as well as actively track down a sniper who hits the General. The rookies most valuable clue is an old army rifle, used in the General's shooting, whose owner the rookies must uncover.

Nov 27, 1972

Episode 12 - A Bloody Shade of BlueE1260m

A Bloody Shade of Blue

Investigating a shooting, the Rookies learn the victim Miller wore a police uniform as a costume. In the next attack, Webster loses his sight temporarily; despite this disability, he helps break the case.

Dec 11, 1972

Episode 13 - A Very Special Piece of GroundE1360m

A Very Special Piece of Ground

Danko's veteran partner (Earl Holliman) loses his family ranch and unborn son in a single day. Danko doesn't want to add to his woes by reporting on his growing rage on and off the job.

Dec 18, 1972

Episode 14 - Rabbits on the RunwayE1460m

Rabbits on the Runway

A shady man claims to be the father of a runaway teen who's recently crossed the path of Gills. The rookies set out to find her for him unaware he has lied to them from the start.

Dec 25, 1972

Episode 15 - Tarnished IdolE1560m

Tarnished Idol

Gills arrests a washed up fighter (Lou Antonio) who's still connected enough to get bailed out in hours. The bitter drunk decides to fire bomb Gills for revenge.

Jan 8, 1973

Episode 16 - CrossfireE1660m

Crossfire

Webster teams with a jaded and cynical veteran African-American police officer, RC Taylor. Mark Culpepper claims to have seen a crime but Taylor doesn't believe him. At a camp for troubled youth, Mark is targeted by the real perpetrators.

Jan 15, 1973

Episode 17 - Snow JobE1760m

Snow Job

Country, a small time hood with a cocaine addiction, learns that police HQ is storing a large amount of drugs. He becomes involved to steal the cache before it's destroyed. Webster is taken hostage trying to help Country beat his problem.

Jan 29, 1973

Episode 18 - Point of ImpactE1860m

Point of Impact

Terry investigates an old friend's apparently purposeless attack on a cop.

Feb 5, 1973

Episode 19 - Three Hours to KillE1960m

Three Hours to Kill

A daring plan is crafted by a convict's wife to release a prisoner from incarceration: an innocent and helpless police officer, who is undergoing surgery, is taken hostage. The rest of the medical staff in the operating room is also put at risk, including Mike Danko's wife, Jill.

Feb 12, 1973

Episode 20 - The Wheel of Fortune (a.k.a.) The Wheel of DeathE2060m

The Wheel of Fortune (a.k.a.) The Wheel of Death

Widower father Frank Essex targets a local criminal organization to pay for his son's hospital stay. On the run from both sides of the law, he doesn't know that he's the only donor who can save the boy's life.

Feb 19, 1973

Episode 21 - Life Robbery (a.k.a.) Tribute to a VeteranE2160m

Life Robbery (a.k.a.) Tribute to a Veteran

The rookies try to disengage a robbery network by leaving the undesirable city slums and working in the suburbs. They discover that the main suspect is a dear, old friend of Lieutenant Ryker's. The man is also a special security guard of the community.

Feb 26, 1973

Episode 22 - A Farewell Tree from MarlyE2260m

A Farewell Tree from Marly

The rookies are presented with a ""difficult"" court case. While the case is essentially an open and shut, obvious manslaughter conviction, trouble arises: the most important element in the conviction, the only witness, is discovered to suffer from mental retardation.

Mar 5, 1973

Episode 23 - Easy MoneyE2360m

Easy Money

The rookies may be confronted with a problem worse than the nurse who holds a grudge against all police officers: they discover that her younger brother is associating with thugs who are the organizers of a current neighborhood protection scandal.

Mar 19, 1973

Actors

Georg Stanford Brown

Georg Stanford Brown

Terry Webster

Sam Melville

Sam Melville

Mike Danko

Bruce Fairbairn

Bruce Fairbairn

Chris Owens

Kate Jackson

Kate Jackson

Jill Danko

Gerald S. O'Loughlin

Gerald S. O'Loughlin

Lt. Ed Ryker

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