Paris (1979 TV series)

Paris is an American police procedural that aired on the CBS television network from September 29, 1979 to January 15, 1980.[1] The show is notable as the first appearance of actor James Earl Jones in a television lead role. Paris was created and executive produced by Steven Bochco,[1] and produced by Edward DeBlasio for MTM Enterprises.

Paris
Created bySteven Bochco
StarringJames Earl Jones
Hank Garrett
Cecilia Hart
Jake Mitchell
Frank Ramírez
Michael Warren
Lee Chamberlin
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of episodes13 (2 unaired)
Production
Executive producerSteven Bochco
ProducerEdward DeBlasio
Running time44 minutes
Production companyMTM Enterprises
Release
Original networkCBS
Original releaseSeptember 29, 1979 (1979-09-29) –
January 15, 1980 (1980-01-15)

Plot

Los Angeles Police Captain Woody Paris (Jones) is the supervisor of a team of rookie detectives, led by Sergeant Stacy Erickson (Cecilia Hart) and including officers Charlie Bogart (Jake Mitchell), Ernesto Villas (Frank Ramirez), and Willie Miller (Michael Warren). Hank Garrett portrayed Deputy Chief Jerome Bench, Paris' superior, and, in an unusual turn for police dramas of that era, Paris' home and off-duty life was given considerable attention, with Lee Chamberlin portraying his wife Barbara. Paris additionally moonlighted as a professor of criminology at a local university.

Reception

Although Paris was critically acclaimed for its portrayal of the tension between the title character and his often impetuous underlings, it failed to attract viewers due to CBS scheduling it in one of the worst timeslots on a weekly schedule: Saturdays at 10 p.m.[2] CBS moved the show to Tuesdays in the same timeslot in a futile attempt to improve ratings, and the show was canceled in 1980 after one season of thirteen episodes, two of which were not broadcast.

Jones married former costar Hart two years after Paris' cancellation, and they remained together until her death in 2016.

Cast

Episodes
No.TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date
1"Paris"Jackie CooperSteven BochcoSeptember 29, 1979 (1979-09-29)
Series pilot: Captain Woodrow Paris is brought in to solve the murder of a prominent councilman's wife.
2"Dear John"Arnold LavenSteven BochcoOctober 6, 1979 (1979-10-06)
After his mother is crippled by muggers, a rookie cop tries to take the law into his own hands.
3"Pawn"Georg Stanford BrownEdward DeBlasioOctober 13, 1979 (1979-10-13)
Paris finds that identifying a killer-rapist is a lot easier than coming up with the evidence to convict him.
4"Friends and Enemies"Alex MarchEdward DeBlasio & Michael KozollOctober 20, 1979 (1979-10-20)
Paris investigates the slaying of an unarmed restaurant owner by a policeman.
5"Once More for Free"Alexander SingerBurton ArmusOctober 27, 1979 (1979-10-27)
Differing police philosophies cause conflict between Paris and his old mentor in the case of an elusive drug dealer.
6"Dead Men Don't Kill"Jerry McNeelySteven BochcoDecember 4, 1979 (1979-12-04)
In a desperate effort to save a possibly innocent man on death row, Paris searches for evidence linking a suave robber to a six-year-old cop killing.
7"Burnout"Alf KjellinDel ReismanDecember 11, 1979 (1979-12-11)
Paris finds himself contending with another cop when their cases intersect. He also suspects that something is up with the man and has to decide if he should take action against him.
8"Decisions"Jack StarrettIrving PearlbergDecember 18, 1979 (1979-12-18)
Paris' conscience is deeply troubled when an innocent man is killed by hijackers in the course of an undercover investigation.
9"The Price Is Right"Georg Stanford BrownJackson GillisJanuary 1, 1980 (1980-01-01)
With a juicy political appointment on the line, Paris persists in his investigation of crooks who are driving elderly people from their beachfront homes.
10"The Ghost Maker"Bruce PaltrowBurton ArmusJanuary 8, 1980 (1980-01-08)
Paris tries to prosecute a killer, who is the star witness in a gangland trial and thus is being protected by the government. This brings him into conflict with several federal agents.
11"Fitz's Boys"Alf KjellinLarry Alexander & Burton ArmusJanuary 15, 1980 (1980-01-15)
Paris becomes an honorary Irishman when he and his squad investigate thefts from the docks and the suspicious death of an old stevedore.
12"Pay the Two Bucks"Alan RachinsDavid SolomonUnaired
When a good friend is framed for murder due to an extortionist's plot, Paris works to exonerate the innocent man.
13"America the Beautiful"Victor LoblBurton ArmusUnaired
Paris finds himself in the middle of a violent confrontation between a neighborhood association and American Nazis on the eve of a Fourth of July rally.

Sources

Total Television: A Comprehensive Guide to Programming from 1948 to the Present, Alex McNeil, New York: Penguin, revised ed., 1984.

References
  1. "Paris". The New York Times.
  2. Staff (April 6, 2018). "Do you remember the 1979 crime drama Paris?". MeTV. Retrieved July 22, 2020.
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