Dragnet
"The story you are about to see is true", "Just the facts, ma'am", "We were working the day watch" - phrases which became so popular as to inspire much parody - set the realistic tone of this early police drama. The show emphasized careful police work and the interweaving of policemen's professional and personal lives.
- 1951-1959
- 8 seasons
- NBC
- Suspense, Drama
- TV-14
"The story you are about to see is true", "Just the facts, ma'am", "We were working the day watch" - phrases which became so popular as to inspire much parody - set the realistic tone of this early police drama. The show emphasized careful police work and the interweaving of policemen's professional and personal lives.
Season 8 Episode Guide
39 Episodes 1958 - 1959
Episode 1
The Big Beating
Tue, Sep 23, 1958 30 mins
Friday and Smith investigate a woman's claim that her neighbors are abusing their child.
Episode 2
The Big Sweet Annie
Tue, Sep 30, 1958 30 mins
Friday investigates a woman's disappearance after a convicted murderer is paroled into her custody.
Episode 3
The Big Star
Tue, Oct 7, 1958 30 mins
Friday and Smith investigate anonymous threats to disfigure a a famous actress.
Episode 4
The Big Oskar
Tue, Oct 14, 1958 30 mins
The detectives take a report of valuables stolen from the home of a somewhat eccentric old lady. They begin to suspect something is amiss when she starts talking about how she gets the "scoop" on crimes by being the first to report them to the local newspaper.
Episode 5
The Big Little Boy
Tue, Oct 21, 1958 30 mins
The detectives are trying to solve the case of the milk bottle bandit when they catch a break and apprehend a diminutive fifteen year old. The youngster, under questioning, explains he just wants to be a big deal for once.
Episode 6
The Big Voice
Tue, Oct 28, 1958 30 mins
A mysterious telephone caller offers a man $1000 for a contract killing, and Friday must identify the caller before it's too late.
Episode 7
The Big Juke Box
Tue, Nov 4, 1958 30 mins
Friday goes undercover as bartender in an attempt to crack a jukebox racket.
Episode 8
The Big Doll
Tue, Nov 11, 1958 30 mins
As Friday and Smith investigate a woman's death, they are disturbed to find that her daughter is more interested in discussing her collection of dolls.
Episode 9
The Big Border
Tue, Nov 18, 1958 30 mins
Friday's search for a pair of escaped convicts leads him across the Mexican border.
Episode 10
The Big Nazi
Tue, Nov 25, 1958 30 mins
While investigating reports of teenagers involved in a gunfight, Friday and Smith are shocked to find one of the teens involved wearing a Nazi uniform.
Episode 11
The Big Hot Rod
Tue, Dec 2, 1958 30 mins
Friday and Smith investigate the a rash of hot-rod thefts.
Episode 12
The Big Green Monkey
Tue, Dec 9, 1958 30 mins
Friday and Smith investigate a robbery, and their only clue to the suspect's identity is a green jade monkey.
Episode 13
The Big Hype
Tue, Dec 16, 1958 30 mins
Friday attempts to track down a heroin pusher.
Episode 14
The Big Maria
Tue, Dec 23, 1958 30 mins
Friday and Smith investigate the death of a woman found murdered in a churchyard on Christmas Eve.
Episode 15
The Big Donation
Tue, Dec 30, 1958 30 mins
Friday and Smith investigate a bogus charity collection racket.
Episode 16
The Big Malcolm
Tue, Jan 6, 1959 30 mins
Friday and Smith investigate a criminal gang that preys on all-night restaurants.
Episode 17
The Big Smart Girl
Tue, Jan 13, 1959 30 mins
Friday and Smith investigate a series of robberies in fashionable homes.
Episode 18
The Big Doctor
Tue, Jan 20, 1959 30 mins
Friday goes undercover to investigate a bookie operation.
Episode 19
The Big Signet
Tue, Jan 27, 1959 30 mins
Friday and Smith investigate the assault of a restaurant owner.
Episode 20
The Big Accident
Tue, Feb 3, 1959 30 mins
Friday and Smith investigate insurance fraud.
Episode 21
The Big Mail
Tue, Feb 10, 1959 30 mins
Friday and Smith investigate the hijacking of an armored truck.
Episode 22
The Big Roll
Tue, Feb 17, 1959 30 mins
Friday and Smith investigate a kidnapping.
Episode 23
The Big Thirteen
Tue, Feb 24, 1959 30 mins
An elderly man reports a loss of money to the LAPD, then subsequently denies making the report. Friday and Smith must investigate.
Episode 24
The Big Sour
Tue, Mar 10, 1959 30 mins
An elderly couple is tortured and robbed. Friday and Smith must investigate.
Episode 25
The Big Starlet
Tue, Mar 17, 1959 30 mins
Friday investigates a young starlet under suspicion of check forgery.
Episode 26
The Big Holdup
Tue, Mar 24, 1959 30 mins
Friday and Smith attempt to track down a vicious robber who sadistically beats his victims.
Episode 27
The Big Name
Tue, Mar 31, 1959 30 mins
The only clue to a murder investigated by Friday is the tape on a knife handle.
Episode 28
The Big Couple
Tue, Apr 7, 1959 30 mins
A printer provides Friday and Smith with a lead on a husband and wife confidence team.
Episode 29
The Big Squeeze
Tue, Apr 14, 1959 30 mins
Friday investigates the shooting of a cocktail-lounge owner, which leads him to a widespread protection racket.
Episode 30
The Big Picture
Tue, Apr 21, 1959 30 mins
Friday and Smith investigate two con men posing as Hollywood talent scouts.
Episode 31
The Big Carnation
Tue, Apr 28, 1959 30 mins
Friday and Smith hunt "The Carnation Kid," a suspect in a series of hotel burglaries.
Episode 32
The Big Operator
Tue, Jul 7, 1959 30 mins
Friday and Smith investigate a the death of a woman found beaten in her car, and suspect that her husband is somehow involved.
Episode 33
The Big Bray
Sun, Jul 12, 1959 30 mins
Friday and Smith investigate a series of food market robberies, where the bandit has been posing as a salesman.
Episode 34
The Big Infant
Sun, Jul 19, 1959 30 mins
Friday and Smith's investigation of a stolen car - containing a sleeping baby - leads them to two juvenile suspects.
Episode 35
The Big Appetite
Sun, Jul 26, 1959 30 mins
Friday and Smith track a burglar who breaks into homes and businesses to steal gourmet food items.
Episode 36
The Big .38
Sun, Aug 2, 1959 30 mins
Friday and Smith attempt to track down an armed robber suspected of shooting a store clerk.
Episode 37
The Big Byron
Sun, Aug 9, 1959 30 mins
A man reports that his fiance's former boyfriend has taken shots at him. Friday and Smith are skeptical.
Episode 38
The Big Counterfeit
Sun, Aug 16, 1959 30 mins
A phony policeman, using the name of a deceased officer, confiscates the money of innocent citizens by telling them its counterfeit.
Episode 39
The Big Red
Sun, Aug 23, 1959 30 mins
An informant's tip puts Friday on the trail of a narcotics ring.