“Police Squad!” Was Canceled After Just 4 Episodes, Here’s Why
- 'Police Squad!' has great humor and laughs but struggled with ratings.
- It was canceled for being too clever—viewers found it hard to follow.
- The show’s spirit lived on in 'The Naked Gun' franchise and beyond.
Imagine a series that is hilarious but, out of nowhere, gets canceled after just six episodes. It may sound insane, but that’s exactly what happened to Police Squad!—a funny show from the 1980s that became a cult favorite despite its short run.
This show, known for its wild humor and clever jokes, only aired a few times before it vanished from TV. It was created by the same funny minds behind the hit movie Airplane! and became the launching pad for The Naked Gun movies.
But the reason it got canceled is as funny as the show itself. Viewers were told they needed to ‘pay too much attention’ to get the jokes, which led the network to think it wasn’t working.
Can you believe it? A comedy canceled for being too smart? Get ready as we explore the rise and fall of Police Squad!, from its creation to its impact on comedy today.
The Success of Airplane! Led to the Creation of Police Squad!
Let’s take a trip back to 1980. This year brought us classics like The Blues Brothers and Caddyshack. People were raving about these comedies, but then something incredible happened—Airplane! hit theaters.
It was a sleeper hit that grossed over $83.5 million (via Box office Mojo) on a tiny budget of just $3.5 million. What made it stand out? It was packed with nonstop jokes, puns, and visual gags that left audiences in stitches.
The creators behind Airplane!—David Zucker, Jim Abrahams, and Jerry Zucker, known as ZAZ—were determined to keep the laughs coming. They wanted to create another comedy, but this time, they thought about making it a cop show.
They took inspiration from an old series called M Squad but struggled to turn it into a movie. Then, they got a big break. Michael Eisner from Paramount told them he could get a show on TV. That’s how Police Squad! was born.
The series starred Leslie Nielsen as Lieutenant Frank Drebin, a clueless cop who somehow always got the job done. Each episode started with a funny introduction, like the absurd sight of Abraham Lincoln getting shot at.
The jokes came thick and fast, with clever puns and silly situations that had audiences laughing out loud. Critics loved Police Squad! from the very start. The New York Times praised it as “wickedly funny,” and many others followed suit.
It seemed like a sure hit! But then, despite the raving reviews, the show struggled to pull in viewers. The network didn’t give it a chance to find its audience, leading to a shocking end for this comedic treasure.
Why Police Squad! Was Canceled After 6 Episodes
So, what went wrong? The show aired only six episodes before it was canceled, and the reasons are just plain silly. Despite the fact that critics loved it, the viewership was low. When it comes to TV, ratings are everything. If people aren’t watching, networks get scared and start pulling the plug.
Enter Anthony Thomopoulos, the ABC executive who decided to cancel the show. He had a really dumb reason for it. Thomopoulos said that Police Squad! didn’t work because viewers had to “pay too much attention” to understand the jokes. Seriously?
This was a huge miscalculation. His solution? Add a laugh track, which he thought would help people realize when to laugh. TV Guide (via Vulture) even pointed out that it was “the most stupid reason” a network ever gave for canceling a series.
The creators were baffled. They knew they had something special but just couldn’t reach enough viewers. The humor required a bit of thought, and not everyone was ready for that. Instead of giving it a fair shot, ABC pulled the plug way too quickly. But the story doesn’t end there.
ZAZ decided to take the hilarious idea behind Police Squad! and transform it into The Naked Gun in 1988. This new movie hit the big screens and was a massive success, earning over $78.7 million (via Box Office Mojo). While Police Squad! might have flopped on TV, it paved the way for comedy gold in films.
The Naked Gun Reboot on the Horizon
Let’s fast forward to the wild ride that followed Police Squad! After the show got canceled, the idea turned into The Naked Gun, which became a huge hit. The first film, The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!, premiered in 1988 and brought back Leslie Nielsen as Frank Drebin.
Fans loved the movie’s blend of goofy humor and clever jokes, and it quickly became a classic. The success didn’t stop there. Two more Naked Gun films followed, each packed with even more ridiculous scenarios and laugh-out-loud moments.
The franchise grew a loyal fan base, and Nielsen’s portrayal of Drebin became iconic. Audiences were hooked! And here’s the cherry on top: there’s buzz about a reboot of The Naked Gun, with Liam Neeson stepping in to play Frank Drebin Jr. The film is set to release sometime in 2025.
If they manage to capture the same zany energy, we could see a whole new generation fall in love with the hilarity that started with Police Squad! In the end, while the series may have had a short run, its legacy lives on. It’s a classic reminder that sometimes the best things don’t last long, but they leave a lasting impact.
Watch Police Squad! on Amazon Prime Video!
