S.W.A.T.

by Michael RichComment — Updated August 3, 2023
February 17, 1975 – April 3, 1976
37 one hour episodes (2 seasons) in color on ABC
Created by: Robert Hamner and Lee Stanley
Produced by: Leonard Goldberg and Aaron Spelling

CAST

  • Steve Forrest
  • Robert Urich
  • Rod Perry
  • Mark Shera
  • James Coleman
  • Lt. Dan ‘Hondo’ Harrelson
  • Officer Jim Street
  • Sgt. David ‘Deacon’ Kay
  • Officer Dominic Luca
  • Officer T.J. McCabe

STORYLINE

The story revolves around the highly trained and well equipped police officers of a special unit called Special Weapons And Tactics team or (S.W.A.T.). They are called up when a situation involves hostages, well armed suspects or other dangerous circumstances that regular patrol units were not equipped to handle.

The leader of the team was Lt. Dan ‘Hondo’ Harrelson (Steve Forrest) who had twenty years of experience as a cop. The other team members were Sgt. David ‘Deacon’ McKay (Rod Perry), Officer Jim Street (Robert Urich), Officer T.J. McCabe (James Coleman) and Officer Dominic Luca (Mark Shera). The setting was never identified but their police badges read WCPD leading to speculation that it stood for West Coast Police Department, (note: The Rookies badges read SCPD Southern California Police Department ..?)

The TV show was canceled after its second season because of controversy over the violence it portrayed.

Video Clip of S.W.A.T. Intro

Passings

Steve Forrest passed in 2013 at his home, he was 83
Robert Urich died of Synovial cell sarcoma (cancer) in 2002, he was only 55S.W.A.T. 1970s TV series

1970s cop shows

70s police series with Robert Urich

S.W.A.T. tv series in the 1970s

1970s classic TV

70s old tv shows

TRIVIA:

S.W.A.T. made its debut as a two part episode of The Rookies in 1975 and became a spin-off of that series.

Interestingly both shows were canceled at almost the same time in 1976 but for different reasons.

S.W.A.T. 2003 movie

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