1. Crime Drama Opening Credits
Other Information –
Relationships? Style?
UK or USA?
Old guy – leader
Two young enforcers
They are the best at what they do –
Professionals
UK – grey and misty
Establishes the personality of characters
Show will try to be realistic
Tough men doing a tough job
Name of Show
Conventions
Music
The Professionals
(1977 – 1983)
Police or secret agents
Actors introduced
Crew - writer, music, producer
Setting – office buildings, industrial scenes,
London
Police training, car smashing through window,
boxing, using a weapon, running
Tense, fast-paced, fun
70s funk
Establishes that the
show will be action
packed
Cagney And Lacey
(1981-1988)
Police women introduced
Setting – New York
Actor names
Crew names – created by, produced by
The women doing their jobs
Guns, running, shouting commands, in police
car, precinct (police station), undercover
detectives, women are trusted and successful,
Catchy, fun, not too
serious, quite filmic
Women successful in a man’s world
Good friends
Blonde cop – stops at shop window
Brunette cop –is married
A ground-breaking show – it showed women
in leading roles, it was hugely popular
The Bill
(1984-2010)
Police car and siren, arrests, undercover cops,
uniform cops, older cop in charge, police
station – jail, control room
Action shots – getting out of car, chasing bad
guys,
Paperwork
Repetitive, plodding,
police work is
relentless, same
rhythm throughout
Trying to show a realistic portrayal of life as
a police officer. Action and paperwork!
London setting
Teamwork – there are no stars, it is not
about individual police
NYC 22
(2012 - Present)
Characters introduced – graffiti, billboards, bus
stops – they are part of the city, the guardians
New York – becomes a character, not tourist
images, the rough side, innercity
There are no classic shots of cars, sirens, bad
guys
Hip hop is part of New
York
Where’s the love? For
the city, for your fellow
man
The city is what is important
Celebrates diversity – each police officer
represents the different cultures in NYC