The Rookies

1h

Drama

Crime

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.

Episodes

Cast

Concrete Valley, Neon Sky

1. Concrete Valley, Neon Sky

1h

11th Sep 1972

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.

Dead, Like a Lost Dream

2. Dead, Like a Lost Dream

1h

18th Sep 1972

Terry and Willie, while doing routine spot checks, uncover a petty thief involved in a larger fur scandal. He agrees to give information against the two criminals who orchestrated the plan. However, due to a technicality, their trial is dismissed and they set their eyes on revenge. After several attempts to drag him back into their world of crime, Webster puts an end to the two felons criminal actions.

The Informant

3. The Informant

1h

25th Sep 1972

Willie, being in the wrong place at the wrong time, is struck by a bullet in the leg by a criminal wearing a monster mask. He is left paralyzed temporarily. Further investigation reveals a criminal's passion for horror films. As the case becomes more complex, Terry and Danko track the small-time crooks down to an auction, where they foolishly try to escape the law.

The Commitment

4. The Commitment

1h

2nd Oct 1972

Terry and Willie become involved with Brother Toby, a former drug addict now turned evangelist. They admire his mission to help other junkies become sober. He is framed by the father of one of his followers, because of the father's disagreement with Toby's religious beliefs. He is put in the situation where it appears that he violates his parole by selling drugs. Willie and Terry have the harrowing task of proving Toby innocent.

Covenant with Death

5. Covenant with Death

1h

9th Oct 1972

A man disguised as a police officer kidnaps the daughter of a wealthy family, the Sloans. The Police Squad are quick to react to the kidnapping. The kidnapper writes a ransom note demanding two hundred thousand dollars, Meanwhile, Danko, Webster and Gillis notice that Ryker appears to be distracted. A fainting spell places him in the hospital, where he confides in Jill that the kidnapped girl may in fact be his biological daughter.

Time is the Fire

6. Time is the Fire

46min

16th Oct 1972

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

The Bear That Didn't Get Up

7. The Bear That Didn't Get Up

1h

23rd Oct 1972

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.

Dirge for Sunday

8. Dirge for Sunday

1h

30th Oct 1972

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.

The Good Die Young

9. The Good Die Young

1h

13th Nov 1972

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.

To Taste of Terror

10. To Taste of Terror

1h

20th Nov 1972

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.

A Deadly Velocity

11. A Deadly Velocity

1h

27th Nov 1972

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.

A Bloody Shade of Blue

12. A Bloody Shade of Blue

1h

11th Dec 1972

Easy Wyatt is a cop with many years behind him on the force. His ranch has recently been the target of destruction in a new plan to build a freeway. Wyatt is becoming mentally unstable, and his instability is slowly spiraling deeper and deeper. Once the best officer in the squad, Wyatt's shaky state is evident when he attempts to prevent the bulldozers from digging by holding them at gunpoint.

A Very Special Piece of Ground

13. A Very Special Piece of Ground

1h

18th Dec 1972

The rookies are on the hunt for a runaway girl. Their strongest clue to solving the case is a tattooed foot. However, the rookies are missing a vital piece of information: the man that claims to be the girl's father is actually the one who is out to murder her, and is the cause for her self-imposed disappearance.

Rabbits on the Runway

14. Rabbits on the Runway

1h

25th Dec 1972

Gillis enters a tough situation when he is presented with a boy who is trapped in a police car which is on fire. He chooses to shoot the boy, promptly catching the internal affairs division's attention. They launch an investigation into the event and Gillis to see if he has committed a mercy killing, and to try to get closure in the case.

Tarnished Idol

15. Tarnished Idol

1h

8th Jan 1973

In their off duty time, the rookies become involved in a camp for deviant, delinquent children and adolescents. Because of their involvement, the community's view regarding them, and the police force as a whole, is at risk.

Crossfire

16. Crossfire

1h

15th Jan 1973

A junkie addicted to dope sets his eye on swiping 82 million dollars worth of cocaine which has been confiscated. He will soon find that his plan is confronted with complications: the police have tagged the drugs for disposal in the ocean.

Snow Job

17. Snow Job

1h

29th Jan 1973

An old friend of Terry Webster's unleashes an attack on a patrol car officer. Webster investigates further to try and discover the logic behind the seemingly nonsensical incident.

Point of Impact

18. Point of Impact

1h

5th Feb 1973

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 Jill Danko, Mike Danko's wife.

Three Hours to Kill

19. Three Hours to Kill

1h

12th Feb 1973

An extremely ill young boy is desperately waiting for a suitable bone marrow donor; without a bone marrow transplant, he will die shortly. However, the biggest obstacle is that the boy's father, who has compatible marrow and is the only possible donor, is currently on the run. He is trying to evade the police as well as the syndicate.

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

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

1h

19th Feb 1973

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.

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

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

1h

26th Feb 1973

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.

A Farewell Tree from Marly

22. A Farewell Tree from Marly

1h

5th Mar 1973

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.

Easy Money

23. Easy Money

1h

19th Mar 1973

First air date

11th Sep 1972

Last air date

30th Mar 1976

Status

Ended

Type

Scripted

Original language

en

Networks