Chase

1 9 7 3 – 1 9 7 4 (USA)
23 x 60 minute episodes

This crime drama from NBC was set in Los Angeles and featured the investigations of a secret unit of undercover police agents designed to crack the cases not solved by Homicide, Robbery, or Burglary.

The unit was headed by Captain Chase Reddick (Mitchell Ryan) and answered only to the LAPD top brass.

Reddick’s men were specialists: Fred Sing (Brian Fong) was an expert motorcycle rider, Norm Hamilton (Reid Smith) flew choppers and Steve Baker (Michael Richardson) was an expert behind the wheel of a hot car.

Sam MacCray (Wayne Maunder) trained police dogs and bridged the generation gap between Reddick and the three young mechanics.

Chase debuted on 11 September 1973 and by June 1974 there had been cast changes, with the young trio of “specialists” replaced by officers Ed Rice (veteran Gary Crosby) and Tom Wilson (a newcomer named Craig Gardner).

Executive producer Bob Cinader explained that the changes were because the production wanted to “humanize the concept, dehumanize the hardware”. The show had trouble in the ratings and NBC had already revealed by April 1974 that the show would not return the following season.

The final episode aired on 4 September 1974.

Captain Chase Reddick
Mitchell Ryan
Sergeant Sam MacCray
Wayne Maunder
Officer Steve Baker
Michael Richardson
Officer Fred Sing
Brian Fong
Officer Norm Hamilton
Reid Smith
Inspector Frank Dawson
Albert Reed
Officer Ed Rice
Gary Crosby
Officer Tom Wilson
Craig Gardner