Cop Rock

Cop Rock is an American police procedural musical television series created by Steven Bochco and William M. Finkelstein for the American Broadcasting Company. It premiered on September 26, 1990, and broadcast eleven episodes before concluding on December 26. It was both a critical and commercial failure when it originally aired.

Cop Rock
The silhouette of a handgun is shown with the words "Cop Rock" on its side and an eighth note between the title.
Genre
Created by
Starring
Theme music composerRandy Newman
Opening theme"Under the Gun" performed by Randy Newman
Composers
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes11
Production
Executive producerSteven Bochco
Producers
Cinematography
Editors
  • Joe Ann Fogle
  • Chuck Weiss
  • Stephen Mark
  • Michael B. Hoggan
Camera setupMulti-camera
Running time48–49 minutes
Production companies
Budget$13.2–22 million[2][1]
Release
Original networkABC
Original releaseSeptember 26 (1990-09-26) –
December 26, 1990 (1990-12-26)

Premise

Following the Los Angeles Police Department, Cop Rock features an ensemble cast of police officers and detectives as they solve crimes across the city, with the series mixing musical and choreography throughout storylines and to introduce new characters. In its main storyline, Captain John Hollander (Larry Joshua) investigates the involvement of Detective Vincent LaRusso (Peter Onorati) in the execution of murder suspect Tyrone Weeks (Art Kimbro). Subplots include Detective Ralph Ruskin's (Ron McLarty) growing jealousy of his wife Officer Vicki Quinn (Anne Bobby), and her friendship with Officer Andy Campo (David Gianopoulos); Quinn helping drug addict Patricia Spence (Kathleen Wilhoite) recover her baby which Spence had sold for $200; and the relationship between corrupt Mayor Louise Plank (Barbara Bosson) and Chief Roger Kendrick (Ronny Cox).

Cast

Main

Recurring

Episodes
No.TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air dateProd.
code		U.S viewers
(millions)		Rating/share
(households)
1"Pilot"Gregory HoblitSteven Bochco & William M. FinkelsteinSeptember 26, 1990 (1990-09-26)210114.3[3]10.3/19[4]
An arrested gang in control of Los Angeles ("We Got the Power") is acquitted of all charges of drug distribution due to a lack of evidence. One of the gang's vehicles is pursued by the police. Drug dealer Tyrone Weeks flees the scene after shooting and killing a police officer, and the driver is arrested. After Weeks is captured in his home, an enraged Detective Vincent LaRusso executes him; fellow police officers tamper with the crime scene to make it appear LaRusso acted in self-defense. Meanwhile, Officer Vicki Quinn is unable to convince drug addict Patricia Spence to enter rehab. Spence later sells her baby daughter for $200 ("Sandman").
Additional music: Detective Ralph Ruskin thinks of his wife ("She Chose Me"), Mayor Louise Plank accepts a bribe ("She's The One"), and a jury gives a verdict ("He's Guilty").
2"Ill-Gotten Gaines"Gregory HoblitSteven Bochco
William M. Finkelstein
John Romano		October 3, 1990 (1990-10-03)21029.5[5]7.2/13[6]
At the funeral of the police officer who was shot and killed, his cop partner Franklin Rose gives a eulogy ("How Much I Love You"). Unconvinced about the proposed events leading to Weeks' death, Captain John Hollander begins to interrogate LaRusso's colleagues. After Hollander meets with Quinn, she begins to question what she knows about her husband Ruskin ("If That Isn't Love"). Rose is given a new partner, Detective Joseph Gaines, and a burglary in a mansion is investigated ("Good Life" and "Lineup"), where LaRusso questions the housekeeper and finds the thief was her boyfriend. At home with his wife and son, Hollander talks about their family's financial state ("Gonna Be Alright").
3"Happy Mudder's Day"Charles HaidSteven Bochco & William M. Finkelstein & John RomanoOctober 10, 1990 (1990-10-10)21038.8[7]6.7/12[8]
As the investigation grows, Hollander questions Detective William Donald Potts, promising qualified immunity if he reveals what happened to Weeks; Potts agrees to talk. Rose and Gaines respond to a domestic violence call, where the latter shows he does not know how to deescalate the situation without Rose's help; they leave after the couple promises to stop fighting ("Nobody's Fault"). At night, LaRusso's girlfriend Nikki, a mud wrestler at a nightclub ("I Hate Love"), is held at gunpoint by a drug dealer who gives up after LaRusso shows no intention of negotiating to save Nikki. Plank gets plastic surgery to improve her chances in the upcoming election as a U.S. Senator ("Perfection"). As the day concludes ("Garbage In, Garbage Out"), Hollander tells LaRusso he is under arrest.
Additional music: Chief Roger Kendrick remembers his early days, where he rides a horse through Los Angeles in a dream sequence ("Hear The Doggy").
4"A Three-Corpse Meal"Fred GerberTeleplay by : Toni Graphia
Story by : Steven Bochco
S/T : William M. Finkelstein & John Romano		October 17, 1990 (1990-10-17)21049.8[9]7.2/12[10]
After being in custody for a few days, one of LaRusso's lawyers bails him out ("Can't Keep A Good Man Down"). Contemplating suicide after selling her baby, Spence asks Quinn for help at the police station, where Hollander orders for Spence to be arrested ("You Lied"). To recover the baby, Quinn and Officer Andy Campo go undercover to meet Glen, a child trafficker ("Baby Merchant"), who is later arrested alongside his also corrupt lawyer. In an interrogation, the pair ask for immunity after agreeing to tell the police the identities of several leaders controlling a child trafficking syndicate. They also tell Quinn the location of Spence's daughter, who is safely recovered and taken into foster care. Meanwhile, LaRusso begins a sexual relationship with the female lawyer who got him out of prison, Plank reveals herself post-surgery and begins a relationship with Kendrick ("Something Happened to Me"), and Ruskin starts exercising to avoid having a heart attack ("No Pain, No Gain").
5"The Cocaine Mutiny"Arlene SanfordTeleplay by : John Romano
S/T : Steven Bochco & William M. Finkelstein		October 24, 1990 (1990-10-24)21059.6[11]7.3/13[12]
Several people are arrested for buying drugs from an undercover cop ("Pursuit of Happiness"). One of them, a woman serving as an assistant for a city councilman, is left off with a warning. After being arrested again, she confesses that she had been buying drugs for the councilman, who is later arrested. Detective Bob McIntire helps a woman, Stacey Kane, fend off a stalker ("A Step Away") before beginning a relationship with her. The next day, the stalker is shot by Kane in McIntire's presence, who quickly figures out her ruse to murder the stalker without being arrested ("Beautiful Eyes"). Meanwhile, Spence is put on probation with supervised visits with her baby daughter ("More Than Enough").
Additional music: A politician running for Governor of California tells an audience he needs more donations ("Campaign Song").
6"Oil of Ol' Lay"Michael FrescoTeleplay by : Toni Graphia
S/T : Steven Bochco & William M. Finkelstein & John Romano		October 31, 1990 (1990-10-31)21067.6[13]5.8/11[14]
Rose and Gaines help clear out a homeless encampment under a bridge ("Nowhere to Go, Nothing to Do"). The following day, Gaines decides to help a homeless man named Louis by buying him food at a diner and giving him money. After Louis shows symptoms of being mentally ill, Gaines gives up and leaves. Meanwhile, at an insurance company, Quinn and Campo are confronted by a senile man who shoots Quinn in the leg; Ruskin visits her at the hospital, where he learns her injury was merely a flesh wound. Soon after, Campo arrives and begins to sing to Quinn about his love for her ("Your Partner"), where Ruskin overhears them from outside the room and decides to murder Campo ("What am I Doing Here?"). While Kendrick is encouraged by his assistant Ozzy to begin a serious relationship with Plank ("How to Love a Woman"), LaRusso is told by his lawyers that his best option to avoid incarceration would be to make the public believe his actions towards Weeks as an "American hero" were justified ("No Problem").
7"Cop-a-Feeliac"Arlene SanfordSteven Bochco & William M. Finkelstein & John Romano & Michael GrahamNovember 7, 1990 (1990-11-07)21077.7[15]5.7/11[16]
As the police force prepares for another day of work ("Let's Be Careful Out There"), multiple officers gossip about the person who gave the witness testimony against LaRusso ("What Kind Of World Do We Live In?"), unaware that it was Potts, who himself has been receiving threatening messages and burning crosses from an unknown perpetrator associated with the KKK ("Burning Crosses"). Meanwhile, Plank's assistant, Ray Rodbart, decides to resign after becoming worried that a journalist will write an article outing him as a homosexual, as he fears it will hurt Plank's chances in the election. However, a supportive Plank refuses to let him quit and later blackmails the journalist to stop them from publishing the article. Quinn returns to work, where Ruskin's jealousy continues to grow. Gaines is asked questions about Week's death, where he assures himself that his actions were professional ("I'm OK"). Beginning to stalk Quinn and Campo, Ruskin sees the pair enter a hotel, unaware that they are investigating a crime, and confronts Quinn about his speculations. After his speech receives positive feedback from the public, LaRusso attends a gala ("Brenda and The Bus Monsters").
8"Potts Don't Fail Me Now"Brad SilberlingSteven Bochco & William M. Finkelstein & John Romano & Michael GrahamNovember 21, 1990 (1990-11-21)21088.7[17]5.9/11[18]
While Quinn becomes annoyed with Ruskin's jealousy ("Why Can't A Man Be More Like a Woman"), Potts refuses a proposal to receive protection from a community of African-American Muslims, and later decides against testifying at LaRusso's upcoming trial. As Rose investigates the shooting of a six-year-old child ("Why Lord"), a bartender is questioned by a detective with racist implications ("Black is Black"), who later asks Hollander to remove Rose from the case; Hollander angrily refuses as Rose and Gaines successfully arrest the suspects ("Anybody Can Die"). Kendrick is asked various questions about LaRusso's trial, where he answers with offensive comments seen as racist, sexist, homophobic, and anti-semitic; Plank soon confronts him and Kendrick leaves. After Campo and Ruskin brawl at a bar, Quinn agrees to switch partners if she and Ruskin start going to couples' counseling. The following day, Potts is told to testify at the trial, despite the possible consequences, to "do the right thing".
Additional music: Hollander misses his son's piano recital at school and later argues with his wife ("Find My Way Back Home").
9"Marital Blitz"Gilbert ShiltonTeleplay by : Toni Graphia
S/T : Steven Bochco & William M. Finkelstein & John Romano		December 5, 1990 (1990-12-05)21096.5[19]4.9/9[19]
After several police officers, including Quinn and Campo, are awarded the Los Angeles Police Medal of Valor ("Heroes All"), interviewers get Kendrick to say he believes LaRusso is innocent. Quinn later tells Campo that she has asked for a new partner and Campo shows his understanding of her decision; Campo later meets his new partner, a dull Officer Petrovich, while Quinn is paired with a rude and sexist Officer Stillman. While LaRusso's trial begins ("For the Record"), Plank decides to get back together with Kendrick on his birthday, who happily agrees. While working, Petrovich reveals her intimate feelings for Campo and kisses him ("Bumpty, Bumpty"). Soon after, Campo reports Petrovich's actions to Hollander, who dismisses the claims, and Stillman argues about being assigned to a female partner. After receiving more complaints, Hollander becomes annoyed and tells the entire police force to stop ("Quit Your Bitchin'"). At the trial, Potts tells the jury that LaRusso executed Weeks and that he wanted to tell the truth to make his family proud.
10"No Noose Is Good Noose"Michael M. RobinTeleplay by : Toni Graphia
S/T : Steven Bochco & William M. Finkelstein & John Romano		December 12, 1990 (1990-12-12)21106.9[20]5.1/10[20]
Several police officers hold a birthday party for LaRusso and present him to a stripper ("To Live and Die a Cop"). At the police station, Campo is introduced to his new partner, Officer Jessica Wolf. In couples' counseling, Quinn reveals to Ruskin that she has intimate feelings for Campo; Ruskin leaves after threatening domestic assault and later tells Quinn that he wants a divorce. While multiple female officers go undercover as prostitutes ("Choose Me" and "Tenderness"), Kendrick begins suffering from hallucinations in which he is hanged for his offensive comments ("Your Number's Up"). At LaRusso's trial, the jury finds him not guilty ("Reasonable Doubt").
11"Bang the Potts Slowly"Fred GerberTeleplay by : Toni Graphia
Story by : Steven Bochco
S/T : William M. Finkelstein & John Romano		December 26, 1990 (1990-12-26)21117.9[21]5.6/11[22]
As LaRusso rejoins the police force ("Ties That Bind"), Potts is told that he can move to a different division. An investigation is initiated after multiple college students report being sexually assaulted and raped by an unknown assailant ("I Got Somethin' For You"). After receiving a warrant for one of the suspects, Donald Bruckner, the police investigate his home. However, Stillman decides to violate the warrant by entering the house, where he finds evidence of Bruckner being the rapist. McIntire confronts Stillman for committing an illegal search, meaning the evidence cannot be used due to the exclusionary rule. Soon after, Rose and Gaines arrest Bruckner without warrant, where a rape victim at the police station declares Bruckner was the assailant who raped her; Hollander calls Stillman a "bad cop" as LaRusso overhears. Meanwhile, Quinn moves out of Ruskin's house ("How Do You Say Goodbye"), Plank begins making television advertisements for her political campaign ("Clean it Up"), and LaRusso is given a proposal to have a producer create a film surrounding his case. As Kendrick prepares to retire, the police force says goodbye ("We'll Ride Again").

Production

Development
Steven Bochco developed and co-created Cop Rock with William M. Finkelstein

In the early 1980s, a Broadway producer offered Steven Bochco a proposal to convert his series Hill Street Blues into a musical. As the plan was not practical, the proposal was declined, but Bochco kept the idea in mind and thought about doing the opposite instead, converting a Broadway show into a police procedural television series. In 1987, the American Broadcasting Company (ABC) gave Bochco a production commitment for ten of his future shows, and wanting to experiment, he developed Cop Rock as a "bold and adventurous" idea.[1] The head of ABC Entertainment at the time, Bob Iger, was one of the only people willing to give him a chance, allowing the creation of the series.[1] On the opportunity, James McDaniel stated that, "the media said it was impossible and that it was ridiculous, but nothing's impossible and ridiculous if you have the right pieces in place."[1]

Casting

Over 200 people auditioned for Cop Rock; Peter Onorati, who portrays Detective Vincent LaRusso, was introduced to the series by his wife after she talked with Howard McGillin, who had also auditioned. Jokingly stating that he had experience singing at weddings, Onorati's agent, Kay Liberman, set up an audition, where Onorati performed Fats Domino's "Blue Monday".[1]

One of the only actors with singing experience, Teri Austin graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts and performed "Lover Man" and "Breaking Up Is Hard to Do" at her audition. Kathleen Wilhoite, who portrays Patricia Spence, had a record deal at the time, and decided to audition with "Easy to Be Hard", finding her casting as a "good gig for me, because singing is kind of my thing".[1] McDaniel, on the other hand, turned down an offer to join the series but changed his mind after finding out it was created by Bochco, who he had worked with on the last season of Hill Street Blues.[1]

Mick Murray was searching for an acting job in New York and was going through multiple pilots from ABC before hearing about Cop Rock and Bochco's involvement. At his audition, the casting director was Alexa Fogel, who was not of fan of his following a failed audition for the film Young Guns. As a result, Murray decided to perform a cappella by Terence Trent D'Arby, which Fogel responded to with "the warmest smile". At night, Murray received a phone call from his agent and was told that the production crew had expanded a small role for him so he could join as a series regular.[1]

Larry Joshua brought his own guitar to his audition and performed "When She Wants Good Lovin'" and "Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye". During this time, David Gianopoulos heard about the series after running into Joshua near 42nd Street. Revealing to his agent that he had been secretly singing in several bands for over six years, Gianopoulos auditioned with Ben E. King's "Stand by Me" at Lincoln Center, where several other cast members also had their auditions. Originally, Gianopoulos had auditioned for the role of LaRusso before being told by Bochco to audition for the role of Officer Andy Campo. The following day, he performed Bruce Springsteen's "Hungry Heart" and received the part.[1]

Ronny Cox was told by pilot director Gregory Hoblit that he would get the role of Chief Roger Kendrick whether or not he could sing. Broadway performer Anne Bobby, however, had to audition, doing so on a Saturday where she said she saw her friend Jane Krakowski. Furthermore, Paul McCrane was told by Hoblit and Bochco that they did not have a part for him at the moment and reassured him that they would write a new character once the show entered production; McCrane was later cast as Detective Bob McIntire.[1]

Reception

On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the series holds an approval rating of 53% based on 17 reviews, with an average rating of 5.33/10. The website's critical consensus states, "Cop Rock's ambition to innovate the police procedural is admirable, but the contrast of grit and glam proves too jarring with unmemorable music throwing the series' more promising dramatic beats askew."[23] On Metacritic, it has a weighted average score of 61 out of 100, based on 15 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[24]

The show was a critical and commercial failure and was canceled by ABC after 11 episodes.[25] The combination of a fusion of musical performances with serious police drama and dark humor with its high-powered production talent, made it infamous as one of the biggest television failures of the 1990s.[26][27] TV Guide Magazine ranked it #8 on its List of the 50 Worst TV Shows of All Time list in 2002[28] and dubbed it "the single most bizarre TV musical of all time".[29]

Despite an overwhelmingly negative reception[30] and short run, the series has been rebroadcast in later years, with VH1 and A&E Network airing it on separate occasions later in the 1990s, and Trio in the 2000s.

Home media

On May 17, 2016, Shout! Factory released the complete series on DVD in Region 1.[31]

Awards and nominations
Year Award Category Recipient Episode Result
1991 Emmy Award Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Drama Series Robert Appere, Gary D. Rogers, Ron Estes, and Mark Server "Oil Of Ol'Lay" Nominated
Outstanding Directing in a Drama Series Gregory Hoblit Pilot Nominated
Outstanding Achievement in Music and Lyrics Ron Boustead and Greg Edmonson "Oil Of Ol'Lay" Nominated
Outstanding Editing for a Series – Single Camera Production Joe Ann Fogle Pilot Won
Outstanding Achievement in Music and Lyrics Randy Newman Pilot Won

International broadcasts

In the United Kingdom, Cop Rock was televised on BBC1 and premiered on Monday 30 September 1991. The show premiered on Australian television via the Ten Network on Thursday 23 January 1992 at 11:00 PM.

See also
  • That's Life - An hour-long 1968 musical comedy series with Broadway-style staging and musical numbers.
  • Hull High – A teen comedy television series with musical segments that debuted (and was canceled) in 1990.
  • Viva Laughlin – A 2007 television drama with musical segments. The show was canceled after just two airings due to poor ratings.
  • Crazy Ex-Girlfriend – A romantic musical comedy-drama series that premiered on October 12, 2015, and ran for four seasons.
  • Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist – A romantic musical comedy drama that premiered on January 7, 2020, and ran for two seasons and a holiday movie.

References
  1. Harris, Will (May 26, 2016). "An oral history of Cop Rock, TV's first and last musical police drama". The A.V. Club. Archived from the original on April 23, 2021. Retrieved October 17, 2021.
  2. Harris, Mark (September 21, 1990). "'Cop Rock''s shot at survival". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on April 23, 2021. Retrieved October 17, 2021.
  3. Donlon, Brian (October 3, 1990). "NIELSENS; NBC wins; CBS still surprises". USA Today. p. 3D. ProQuest 306363789.
  4. "Familiar comedies garner peak interest". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. October 3, 1990. p. 36. Archived from the original on April 3, 2021. Retrieved October 17, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. Sloan, Eugene (October 10, 1990). "NIELSENS; NBC tops in ratings, barely". USA Today. p. 3D. ProQuest 306378149.
  6. Hanauer, Joan (October 11, 1990). "Playoffs ground out in first three at-bats". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. p. 76. Archived from the original on April 3, 2021. Retrieved October 17, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. Donlon, Brian (October 17, 1990). "NIELSENS; For CBS, baseball's a grounder". USA Today. p. 3D. ProQuest 306359921.
  8. Hanauer, Joan (October 18, 1990). "Bart almost won in head-to-head combat". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. p. 51. Archived from the original on April 3, 2021. Retrieved October 17, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. Donlon, Brian (October 24, 1990). "NIELSENS; CBS slides easily into first place". USA Today. p. 3D. ProQuest 306386800.
  10. Hastings, Deborah (October 25, 1990). "World Series for CBS is both a hit and a miss". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. p. 52. Archived from the original on April 3, 2021. Retrieved October 17, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. Donlon, Brian (October 31, 1990). "NIELSENS; CBS, no longer the long shot". USA Today. p. 3D. ProQuest 306392850.
  12. "Rushdie takes minute to give CBS a boost". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. October 31, 1990. p. 57. Archived from the original on April 3, 2021. Retrieved October 17, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. Donlon, Brian (November 7, 1990). "NIELSENS; NBC wins with fewer viewers". USA Today. p. 3D. ProQuest 306372652.
  14. Sharbutt, Jay (November 8, 1990). "CBS rises from ashes to compete with NBC". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. p. 48. Archived from the original on April 3, 2021. Retrieved October 17, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. Donlon, Brian (November 14, 1990). "NIELSENS; 'Cheers' sweeps up for NBC". USA Today. p. 3D. ProQuest 306382672.
  16. Williams, Scott (November 15, 1990). "200th 'Cheers' show's rating tops this season". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. p. 72. Archived from the original on April 3, 2021. Retrieved October 17, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. Donlon, Brian (November 28, 1990). "NIELSENS; ABC's 'It' confirms competitors' fears". USA Today. p. 3D. ProQuest 306389941.
  18. "ABC finishes first for the first time this fall". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. November 28, 1990. p. 60. Archived from the original on April 3, 2021. Retrieved October 17, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. Donlon, Brian (December 12, 1990). "NIELSENS; ABC wins a sub-par week". USA Today. p. 3D. ProQuest 306398832.
  20. Donlon, Brian (December 19, 1990). "NIELSENS; St. Nick can't lick TV lull". USA Today. p. 3D. ProQuest 306371476.
  21. Donlon, Brian (January 3, 1991). "NIELSENS; NBC wins as networks end 1990 on a low note". USA Today. p. 3D. ProQuest 306388476.
  22. Du Brow, Rick (January 3, 1991). "'60 Minutes' No.1; Viewers Opt Out". Los Angeles Times. p. 247. Archived from the original on April 3, 2021. Retrieved October 17, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  23. "Cop Rock: Season 1". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Archived from the original on April 5, 2021. Retrieved October 17, 2021.
  24. "Cop Rock". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Archived from the original on April 5, 2021. Retrieved October 17, 2021.
  25. "ABC Cancels 'Cop Rock'". The New York Times. November 13, 1990. Retrieved August 28, 2008.
  26. Weinraub, Bernard (November 11, 1991). "A Series Makes the Starting Gate". The New York Times. Retrieved August 28, 2008.
  27. Tucker, Ken (June 4, 2004). "Flops 101: Lessons From The Biz". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved August 28, 2008.
  28. Cosgrove-Mather, Bootie (July 12, 2002). "The Worst TV Shows Ever". CBS News. Archived from the original on April 2, 2019. Retrieved August 28, 2008.
  29. "TV Musicals: The Highs and Lows". TV Guide. Archived from the original on January 20, 2019. Retrieved April 13, 2013.
  30. Recent examples include a 2009 review on the site Bad TV Shows and a 2004 review on the site Television Heaven.
  31. Lambert, David (February 4, 2016). "Cop Rock – Shout! Factory Surprises Us with 'The Complete Series' on DVD!". TVShowsOnDVD.com. TV Guide Online. Archived from the original on March 29, 2016. Retrieved April 1, 2016.
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