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To: VerySadAmerican
I think Police Squad was a film version of Naked Gun.

Nope. Police Squad! came first, but was a huge flop on TV and only lasted about 6 episodes. The Naked Gun was a theatrical release "From the files of Police Squad" and came later. It was successful enough to spawn a couple of sequels.

The first episode of Police Squad! is based on a specific episode of M-Squad. For some reason, the "Airplane" style humor doesn't work well on TV. Take a look at Angie Tribeca sometime.

73 posted on 02/01/2016 3:44:53 PM PST by Sans-Culotte (''Political correctness is communist propaganda writ small''~ Theodore Dalrymple)
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To: Sans-Culotte

Police Squad was brilliant - all the big name guest stars would die during the opening credits.

Surprised I haven’t seen my favorite quote that someone always manages to bring up... Even in mixed company...
“Say Billy, ya like movies about gladiators?”


75 posted on 02/01/2016 3:47:48 PM PST by Skywise
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To: Sans-Culotte

Yep. I had it exactly backwards.


77 posted on 02/01/2016 3:51:56 PM PST by VerySadAmerican
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To: Sans-Culotte

The first episode of Police Squad! was hysterical.

Cover me!
(Partners throw a blanket over him)

The interrogation room scene was a classic.


94 posted on 02/01/2016 7:54:18 PM PST by VRWCmember
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To: Sans-Culotte
Police Squad! Interrogation Scene

One of my favorite scenes ever.

97 posted on 02/01/2016 8:04:37 PM PST by VRWCmember
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To: Sans-Culotte

ZAZ explained NAKED GUN didn’t work on TV because you had to pay close attention to the show. Kids running around, eating diner, whatever. You miss the jokes.

However, the real reason POLICE SQUAD had such a short TV run is the lack of character depth. GET SMART was an equally gag-filled show, but it had extremely strong characters (created by Mel Brooks and Buck Henry). You could do jokes from the characters.

POLICE SQUAD had very thinly drawn characters. The jokes were great, but they couldn’t sustain interest in a series without ‘real’ characters.


133 posted on 02/23/2016 5:01:54 PM PST by TigerClaws
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