Jake and the Fatman

Infobox television
show_name=Jake and the Fatman


caption=Jake and the Fatman Title Screen
format=Crime, Drama
runtime=60 Mins (Including Commercials)
creator=Dean Hargrove
Joel Steiger
developer=Douglas Stefen Borghi
executive_producer=Dean Hargrove
Fred Silverman
producer=The Fred Silverman Company
Strathmore Productions (1987-1988)
Dean Hargrove Productions (1988-1992)
asst_producer=Viacom Productions
starring=William Conrad
Joe Penny
Alan Campbell
Lu Leonard
Olga Russell
Jack Hogan
George O'Hanlon Jr
Melody Anderson
country=USA
network=CBS
first_aired=September 26, 1987
last_aired=September 12, 1992
num_seasons = 5
num_episodes=106
list_episodes=List of Jake and the Fatman episodes
related="Diagnosis Murder"
imdb_id=0092381
tv_com_id=1725

"Jake and the Fatman" is a television crime drama starring William Conrad as prosecutor J. L.(Jason Lochinvar) "Fatman" McCabe and Joe Penny as investigator Jake Styles. The series ran on CBS for five seasons from 1987 to 1992. "Diagnosis Murder" is a spin-off of this series.

Origins

Conrad guest starred as an aging prosecutor in a two-part episode of "Matlock" during its first season on NBC. Producers Dean Hargrove and Fred Silverman decided to use this character as a model for one of the main characters in a new show they were creating for CBS. Penny also guest starred in these episodes, but his character was not on the same side as Conrad's character in the storyline's legal case.

Following the departure of Hargrove, executive producers David Moessinger and Jeri Taylor were brought on to run the series with Silverman. They also hired J. Michael Straczynski as story editor and, later, co-producer. Taylor and Moessinger ran the show for two years before finally leaving in a dispute over control over the show.

Cast

*William Conrad as District Attorney J. L. "Fatman" McCabe
*Joe Penny as Detective Jake Styles
*Alan Campbell as Assistant District Attorney Derek Mitchell
*Lu Leonard as Gertrude
*Olga Russell as Elisabeth Berkeley-Smythe
*Jack Hogan as Judge Smithwood
*George O'Hanlon Jr as Sergeant Rafferty
*Melody Anderson as Sergeant Neely Capshaw

Episodes

"Jake and the Fatman" had a total of five seasons and 106 episodes that were broadcast on CBS between 1987 and 1992.

Background

Characters

J. L. "Fatman" McCabe is a Hawaii-born, tough former HPD officer turned Los Angeles district attorney. He is teamed with a handsome, happy-go-lucky special investigator named Jake Styles. They often clash due to their different styles and personalities. "Fatman" hardly travels anywhere without his companion Max, his pet bulldog.

etting

The show was set in Los Angeles during the first season. After the end of "Magnum P.I.", the show was moved to Hawaii. The second and third seasons and half of the fourth season were filmed in Honolulu. The show then returned to Los Angeles for the remainder of its run.

Controversy

Joe Penny lost a large amount of weight after the show moved to Hawaii, which led to many rumors about his health, including the possibility that he had AIDS. In actuality he had suffered from a gastrointestinal virus and was having difficulty regaining the weight he lost. When the show moved back to Los Angeles, it was also suspected that it was on Penny's urging. This was also not true, as the move was CBS's decision. [ [http://www.joepenny.com.au/Interviews.htm Interviews ] ]

DVD Releases

On July 8, 2008, CBS Home Entertainment released Season 1, Volume 1 of "Jake and the Fatman" on DVD in Region 1. [ [http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Jake-Fatman-Season-1-Volume-1/9193 CBS is getting 'Fat' on DVD this Summer! | TVShowsOnDVD.com ] ] Season 1, Volume 2 will be released on December 2, 2008. [http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Jake-Fatman-Season-1-Volume-2/10291]

References

External links

*imdb title|id=0092381|title=Jake and the Fatman
*Tv.com show|id=1725|title=Jake and the Fatman