Blue Knight, The

1 9 7 5 – 1 9 7 6 (USA)
25 x 60 minute episodes

After many years as a Los Angeles police officer, William “Bumper” Morgan (George Kennedy) remains a uniformed cop who has no squad car and walks a beat every day.

Despite the offer of promotion, Bumper prefers life on the street. He knows everyone in his neighbourhood and is fiercely devoted to the people on his beat and willing to overlook minor transgressions if it will keep his beat safe.

But Bumper is also not above using a little knuckle-power to keep his streets tidy. Although it is not regulation issue, he swings a nightstick and is wicked with it on occasion.

An old-fashioned cop, he has a certain amount of trouble adjusting to the red tape and concern for suspects’ rights that has grown up over the years.

The series was based on a 1973 made-for-TV movie of the same name starring William Holden. He won the Emmy for outstanding actor in a dramatic role for the part but wasn’t interested in a weekly series. So the production company, Lorimar, installed George Kennedy in the part.

Barbara Rhoades played his girlfriend, Carrie.

The Blue Knight was another creation from author and former Los Angeles cop Joe Wambaugh, who was also responsible for Police Story.

Despite (or perhaps, because of) the lack of violence and car chases The Blue Knight only ran for a single season on CBS.

Officer William “Bumper” Morgan
George Kennedy
Carrie
Barbara Rhoades