Armed & Famous

Infobox Television
show_name = Armed & Famous


caption =
format = Reality
camera =
picture_format =
audio_format =
runtime = 43-45 minutes
creator =
developer =
producer =
executive_producer =
starring = Erik Estrada
La Toya Jackson
Jack Osbourne
Trish Stratus
Wee Man
narrated =
opentheme =
endtheme =
country = USA
language = English
network = CBS
first_aired = January 10 2007
last_aired = January 24 2007
num_episodes = 4
chronology =
preceded_by =
followed_by =
website =
imdb_id = 0921875
tv_com_id = 67046

"Armed & Famous" was a short-lived reality television series that premiered January 10, 2007, on CBS. First-run episodes were also aired on VH1 in the United States. The show was pulled from the network on January 26, 2007 with broadcast rights for the series shifted to VH1. As of yet, VH1 has only reaired the four original CBS episodes and none of the three previously announced unaired episodes.

The series follows five celebrities as they train to become reserve police officers for the Muncie, Indiana, police department, followed by graduation. After that, the 'celebrities' will go on patrol with the same training officers who traditionally ride with new officers.

The series stars Erik Estrada, La Toya Jackson, Jack Osbourne, Trish Stratus, and Jason Acuña (a.k.a. "Wee Man" on "Jackass").

On December 5 2006, the celebrities were officially sworn in as reserve officers. [cite web |url=http://www.cnn.com/2006/SHOWBIZ/TV/12/07/tv.armedandfamous.ap/index.html |title= Town swears in celebs as gun-toting cops |accessdate=2006-12-24 |format= |publisher=AP]

Several Muncie locations have been shown to appear as if they were police facilities, such as what was said to be the Muncie Police Training Academy. In reality, the outside of the building was Muncie Central High School, while the inside was Central's wrestling room. Fact|date=February 2007

Reaction

The premiere episode attracted an estimated 8.2 million viewers, generating a 2.9 rating, while the second episode's estimate tops off at 7.8 million viewers, which generated a rating of 2.7.

On January 26 2007 several Websites reported "Armed & Famous" had been pulled from the CBS schedule. [ [http://www.tvseriesfinale.com/2007/01/armed_and_famous_cbs_pulls_celebrity_cop_series.html TV Series Finale; Armed and Famous: CBS Pulls Celebrity Cop Series] , "TV Series Finale", January 26 2007] On January 30th 2007, it was revealed that "Armed & Famous"' would debut on VH1 on Saturday February 3rd at 5pm/4pm Central Time with a marathon of the first four episodes along with a brand new episode at 9pm/8pm central. However, the marathon was later rescheduled to air on Saturday February 10, without the new episode. It is unknown if the last three originally announced episodes were ever produced and even exist outside of raw footage. At the time of its acquisition of the series, VH1 confirmed that episodes 6 and 7 had not been completed and no time frame was given for their completion. Also, no comment was made about the apparent disappearance of episode 5. [ [http://www.tvsquad.com/2007/01/30/vh1-nabs-armed-and-famous/ VH1 nabs Armed & Famous] , "TV Squad", January 30 2007] In a "Where are they now" type article in the January 27, 2008 Muncie Star Press about the show, CBS spokeswoman Kelli Raftery confirmed that the network has no intention of airing the last three unaired episodes. [ [http://cgi.stratus-faction.com/news/index.php?news=475 CBS waits one year to confirm Armed & Famous will never be completely seen] , "Stratus-Faction.com via the Muncie Star Press", January 27 2008]

Lawsuit

Lyndsay Clements, 22, filed a lawsuit in March 2007 claiming that her home was wrongfully entered as she was questioned about people she did not know. She claims the search was illegal and excessive, and violated her constitutional rights. Footage appeared on Jan. 11 on the show included scenes showing police outside Clements’s apartment, police rushing in, and then someone in handcuffs. Clements acknowledged that La Toya Jackson and Jack Osbourne were involved. [ [http://www.theagitator.com/archives/027585.php Least Surprising News of the Day] , "The Agitator", March 13 2007]

References

External links

* [http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117954683.html?categoryid=1071&cs=1 "Armed and Famous" article published at www.variety.com]
* [http://www.armed-famous.com Armed and Famous Fan Site]
* [http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16489949/ Estrada yells obscenities to stabbing victim]