The Commish

1h

Drama

Comedy

Tony Scali is a former Brooklyn cop now the Police Commissioner of a small upstate city. But for Scali, this is no desk job. He's a tough yet compassionate boss, a loving husband and father, and a hands-on law enforcer with an unorthodox style of bending the rules. From parenthood to politics, from sex crimes to murder cases, one man takes it day-to-day with offbeat humor and street- smart skill.

Production Companies

Stephen J. Cannell Productions

Three Putt Productions

ABC Productions

aka Productions

Episodes

Cast

In the Best of Families

1. In the Best of Families

1h

28th Sep 1991

Tony is threatened with criminal negligence after the son of a prominent lawyer hangs himself in his cell.

Do You See What I See?

2. Do You See What I See?

1h

5th Oct 1991

The commissioner sets out to trap a serial rapist in a Santa Claus mask who's been terrorizing the city.

The Poisoned Tree

3. The Poisoned Tree

1h

12th Oct 1991

Rachel refuses to believe Tony when he tells her that her school teacher colleague, Jim Hollister, is a child molester.

Nothing to Fear But ...

4. Nothing to Fear But ...

1h

26th Oct 1991

After receiving a pair of baffling death threats, Tony initiates around-the-clock surveillance of his unsuspecting family.

A Matter of Life or Death (1)

5. A Matter of Life or Death (1)

1h

2nd Nov 1991

Tony initiates a sweep to find a pair of missing cops; devises an ingenious way of keeping an habitually drunk driver off the road; and deftly handles an "extraterrestrial," all the while being scrutinized by a committee searching for a new police commissioner for New York City.

A Matter of Life or Death (2)

6. A Matter of Life or Death (2)

1h

2nd Nov 1991

Two missing cops have been found under water, there a jail hunger strike going on and tony's up for the nypd commissioner job.

Behind the Storm Door

7. Behind the Storm Door

1h

9th Nov 1991

Tony is pursued by a woman he suspects is filing false complaints.

The Hatchet

8. The Hatchet

1h

16th Nov 1991

Tony butts heads with both a tough cop who is overzealous in his handling of criminals, and a hard-nosed management consultant hired by the city in a cost-cutting effort.

Two Confessions

9. Two Confessions

1h

30th Nov 1991

Tony is doubly stymied when identical twins both initially confess to the same murder, then, in a surprise about-face, accuse each other of the crime. Also, Arnie finds romance with a kindred soul, a phone-sex operator named Gloria.

Commissioner's Ball

10. Commissioner's Ball

1h

7th Dec 1991

A serial killer has been mutilating the bodies of Eastbridge tradsients and homeless people - and Tony begins to suspect the perpetrator's identity.

No Greater Gift

11. No Greater Gift

1h

21st Dec 1991

During the holiday season, Tony investigates the murder of an elderly woman allegedly killed in her home during a Christmas burglary; matches wits with a mugger, and defends a homeless woman who's been sleeping in the manger of a Holy Family creche.

The Fourth Man

12. The Fourth Man

1h

4th Jan 1992

After Commissioner Scali's friend and colleague, Chief of Detectives Irv Wallerstein, is struck down during a bloody encounter with hijackers, Tony becomes obsessed with finding the assailant!

Charlie Don't Surf

13. Charlie Don't Surf

1h

18th Jan 1992

Vietnamese gangs threaten Eastbridge and Tony steps in to help.

Skeletons

14. Skeletons

1h

8th Feb 1992

A mugging triggers a woman's repressed mernosy of her brother's murder, which she witnessed as a child. The suspect, free for the past 35 years, is tracked to the unlikeliest of hiding places by Tony and a visiting friend, L.A. homicide detective Paulie Pentangeli.

The Wicked Flee

15. The Wicked Flee

1h

22nd Feb 1992

After seeing his mother killed by a stranger, a boy withdraws deep into himself, prompting a sympathetic Tony to step up his efforts to catch the murderer.

True Believers

16. True Believers

1h

29th Feb 1992

The unwelcome appearance in Eastbridge of white supremacists leads to a murder, with the suspicion soon arising that one or more of Tony's associates may be implicated.

Officer April

17. Officer April

1h

7th Mar 1992

After he shoots a woman in a drunken domestic squabble, Officer Kelly becomes the victim of a terrorization campaign.

Sex, Lies, and Kerosene

18. Sex, Lies, and Kerosene

1h

21st Mar 1992

Tony and Paulie investigate a puzzling arson case in which the husband of a beautiful woman appears to have been murdered.

Judgement Day

19. Judgement Day

1h

4th Apr 1992

Tony winds up in one of his own jail cells when he runs afoul of an imperious judge who's hiding a fearsome secret.

Shoot the Breeze

20. Shoot the Breeze

1h

2nd May 1992

Tony attempts to protect an informant from a mysterious hit man, while Stan Kelly enjoys a romantic encounter with a beautiful new Eastbridge arrival.

Video Vigilante

21. Video Vigilante

1h

9th May 1992

Tony is embarrassed, then enraged, as a publicity-seeking "video vigilante" metes out even more bizarre and harsh punishment to offenders.

The Puck Stops Here

22. The Puck Stops Here

1h

16th May 1992

Mike Cermak - star high-school hockey player, recovering addict, and good friend of the Scali family - becomes a prime drug-ring suspect.

First air date

28th Sep 1991

Last air date

11th Jan 1996

Status

Ended

Type

Scripted

Original language

en

Networks