The Rookies

by Michael RichComment — Updated August 3, 2023

Buy The Rookies on DVD

Season 1
Season 2

September 11, 1972 – March 30, 1976
94 one hour episodes (4 seasons) in color on ABC
Created by: Rita Lakin
Produced by: Leonard Goldberg and Aaron Spelling

CAST

  • Kate Jackson
  • Sam Melville
  • Georg Stanford Brown
  • Gerald S. O’Loughlin
  • Michael Ontkean
  • Bruce Fairbairn
  • Jill Danko
  • Ofc. Mike Danko
  • Ofc. Terry Webster
  • Lt. Eddie Ryker
  • Ofc. Willie Gillis
  • Ofc. Chris Owens

STORYLINE

The Rookies was a Aaron Spelling production that got its start as a ABC Movie of the Week. It featured three very green rookies who all came from different backgrounds. Ofc. Terry Webster joined the force through a special minority recruitment plan and did social work prior to becoming a patrolman. Ofc. Mike Danko (Sam Melville) was a ex-marine and was married to Jill (Kate Jackson) who was an R.N. at the County Hospital where she daily witnessed the aftermath of crime on the street. Ofc. Willie Gillis (Michael Ontkean) came straight from college and had the least “street” experience. Their supervisor was seasoned cop Lt. Eddie Ryker (Gerald S. O’Loughlin) who had been their instructor at the Academy.

SCPD “Southern California Police Department” was the fictitious police department they worked for even though the series was filmed in Los Angeles. The sub-plots of every episode were centered on the officers personal lives and how being on the force interacted with their off duty time. This led to a greater degree of character development.

Kate Jackson’s performance in this series was well received by both the public and Aaron Spelling who approached Jackson about another possible show once The Rookies ended. It was named The Alley Cats but Spelling didn’t like the name and asked her what she thought. After looking at a picture hanging in his office of three angels she replied “name it “Charlie’s Angels“”. The rest as they say is history.

Video Clip of The Rookies Intro

Passings

Sam Melville passed away in 1989 of heart failure, he was only 52The Rookies TV series 1972

Aaron Spelling produced TV series

Kate Jackson starred in The Rookies

The Rookies was a 1972-76 tv series

1970s cop shows

TRIVIA:

Aaron Spelling was the most prolific television producer ever. He racked up 218 producer and executive producer credits in his lifetime. Listed below are a few of the more familiar ones:

Johnny Ringo (1959)”, “Daniel Boone (1964)”, “The Mod Squad (1968)”, “The Rookies (1972)”, “S.W.A.T. (1976)”, “Starsky and Hutch (1975)”, “Charlie’s Angels (1976)”, “The Love Boat(1977)”, “Fantasy Island (1978)”, “Hart to Hart(1979)”, “Dynasty (1981)”, “T.J. Hooker (1982)”, “Beverly Hills, 90210 (1990)”, “Melrose Place (1992)”, “7th Heaven (1996)” and “Charmed (1998)”

television police series from the 1970s

Leave a Comment