Series synopsis
Dragnet is an American drama crime television series that premiered on NBC on December 16, 1951. It ended on August 23, 1959. It was created by Jack Webb. It stars Jack Webb, Ben Alexander and Barney Phillips.
Follows the cases of a dedicated Los Angeles police detective, Sergeant Joe Friday, and his partners. The show takes its name from the police term "dragnet", meaning a system of coordinated measures for apprehending criminals or suspects.
Premise
Follows the cases of a dedicated Los Angeles police detective, Sergeant Joe Friday, and his partners. The show takes its name from the police term "dragnet", meaning a system of coordinated measures for apprehending criminals or suspects.
Cast and characters
Leading cast
- Jack Webb as Joe Friday
- Ben Alexander as Frank Smith
- Barney Phillips as Sgt. Ed Jacobs
Guest cast
Episodes
This series spans 8 seasons with 276 episodes.
| Season | Episodes | First aired | Last aired |
|---|---|---|---|
| Season 1 | 14 | December 16, 1951 | June 19, 1952 |
| Season 2 | 33 | September 11, 1952 | June 25, 1953 |
| Season 3 | 39 | September 3, 1953 | May 27, 1954 |
| Season 4 | 39 | August 26, 1954 | May 26, 1955 |
| Season 5 | 39 | September 2, 1955 | June 1, 1956 |
| Season 6 | 34 | September 27, 1956 | May 23, 1957 |
| Season 7 | 39 | September 26, 1957 | June 26, 1958 |
| Season 8 | 39 | September 23, 1958 | August 23, 1959 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
The Human Bomb A man walks into City hall carrying a live bomb. He threatens to blow up the building if his brother isn't released from jail. |
December 16, 1951 |
| 2 |
The Big Actor Friday and Jacobs track down a drug ring through a small-time television actor who is hooked on heroin. |
January 3, 1952 |
| 3 |
The Big Death Friday poses as a hired killer for a man who wants his wife dead. |
January 17, 1952 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
The Big Jump A man stands upon the ledge of a tall building and threatens to jump to his death below. |
September 11, 1952 |
| 2 |
The Big Sorrow Friday must cope with the sudden death of his partner as he and his new partner track a pair of escaped convicts. |
September 25, 1952 |
| 3 |
The Big Elevator Friday and Smith search for the person who left a dead woman in a hospital elevator. |
October 9, 1952 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
The Big White Rat Friday and Smith respond to and investigate reports of a drug ring. |
September 3, 1953 |
| 2 |
The Big Revolt A woman reports her husband missing and Friday and Smith are assigned to find him. |
September 10, 1953 |
| 3 |
The Big Bull Smith takes a personal interest when a strong-arm bandit threatens his family if he doesn't back off the case. |
September 17, 1953 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
The Big Producer A man claims to be a big Hollywood producer, but Friday and Smith discover that he's merely the leader of a pornography ring. |
August 26, 1954 |
| 2 |
The Big Fraud A group of con artists are posing as cops and victimizing out-of-town businessmen in fashionable hotels. |
September 2, 1954 |
| 3 |
The Big Crime Four-year-old twin girls are abducted from the local park. |
September 9, 1954 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
The Big Pipe A young woman is beaten to death with a led pipe and left in an empty office. |
September 2, 1955 |
| 2 | The Big Chet | September 9, 1955 |
| 3 | The Big No Rain | September 16, 1955 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
The Big Cat A circus man reports that a tiger escaped from his truck and is now on the loose in Los Angeles. |
September 27, 1956 |
| 2 |
The Big Misses A frightened wife tells Friday and Smith that she's worried her husband is planning to pull a hold-up. |
October 11, 1956 |
| 3 | The Big Beer | October 18, 1956 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Big Constitution | September 26, 1957 |
| 2 | The Big Candy Box | October 3, 1957 |
| 3 | The Big Button | October 10, 1957 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
The Big Beating Friday and Smith investigate a woman's claim that her neighbors are abusing their child. |
September 23, 1958 |
| 2 |
The Big Sweet Annie Friday investigates a woman's disappearance after a convicted murderer is paroled into her custody. |
September 30, 1958 |
| 3 |
The Big Star Friday and Smith investigate anonymous threats to disfigure a a famous actress. |
October 7, 1958 |
Production
Release
| Original network/platform | NBC |
|---|---|
| First aired | December 16, 1951 |
| Last aired | August 23, 1959 |
| Runtime | 30 minutes |
| Status | Ended |
| Schedule | Sunday |