The Rookies 1972
What is The Rookies?
The Rookies is an American crime drama series that aired on ABC from 1972 to 1976. The show follows the professional and personal challenges faced by three rookie police officers working for the fictional Southern California Police Department in an unnamed city.
- Type
- TV series
- Year
- 1972
- Status
- Ended
- Episodes
- 93
- Runtime
- 60 minutes
- First aired
- Sep 11, 1972
- Last aired
- Mar 30, 1976
- Original language
- EN
- Origin
- US
- Networks
- ABC
- Genres
- Drama, Crime
- Updated
Where to watch
Streaming availability data provided by JustWatch via TMDB. Availability changes by country and date; verify on the provider before subscribing or purchasing.
How long to binge?
Estimate the schedule using 93 episodes and an average 60-minute runtime.
Trailer
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Find the trailer on YouTube ↗Overview
The Rookies is an American crime drama series that aired on ABC from 1972 to 1976. The show follows the professional and personal challenges faced by three rookie police officers working for the fictional Southern California Police Department in an unnamed city. Created by Rita Lakin, the series explores the experiences of new officers as they navigate their early careers, dealing with various crimes and situations typical of police work. The program originally premiered in September 1972 and concluded its run in March 1976. It was developed as a police procedural, focusing on the day-to-day activities and growth of its central characters within the framework of law enforcement. The series starred Georg Stanford Brown, Sam Melville, and Kate Jackson, who portrayed the main rookie officers, alongside Gerald S. O'Loughlin in a supporting role.
Should you watch it?
“Three rookie cops navigate the challenges of law enforcement in Southern California.”
- Strong ensemble cast with diverse characters
- Episodes based on real police cases for authenticity
- Focus on personal growth and team dynamics
- Dated production values typical of early 1970s TV
- Limited availability of episodes online
You enjoy classic police procedurals with a focus on character development.
Suitable for general audiences with mild drama and procedural content.
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Cast
Episode guide
Season 1 · 23 episodes
Open the complete Season 1 guide →- E1 Concrete Valley, Neon Sky Sep 11, 1972
- E2 Dead, Like a Lost Dream Sep 18, 1972
- E3 The Informant Sep 25, 1972
- E4 The Commitment Oct 2, 1972
- E5 Covenant with Death Oct 9, 1972
- E6 Time is the Fire Oct 16, 1972
- E7 The Bear That Didn't Get Up Oct 23, 1972
- E8 Dirge for Sunday Oct 30, 1972
- E9 The Good Die Young Nov 13, 1972
- E10 To Taste of Terror Nov 20, 1972
- E11 A Deadly Velocity Nov 27, 1972
- E12 A Bloody Shade of Blue Dec 11, 1972
- E13 A Very Special Piece of Ground Dec 18, 1972
- E14 Rabbits on the Runway Dec 25, 1972
- E15 Tarnished Idol Jan 8, 1973
- E16 Crossfire Jan 15, 1973
- E17 Snow Job Jan 29, 1973
- E18 Point of Impact Feb 5, 1973
- E19 Three Hours to Kill Feb 12, 1973
- E20 The Wheel of Fortune (a.k.a.) The Wheel of Death Feb 19, 1973
- E21 Life Robbery (a.k.a.) Tribute to a Veteran Feb 26, 1973
- E22 A Farewell Tree from Marly Mar 5, 1973
- E23 Easy Money Mar 19, 1973
Season 2 · 23 episodes
- E1 Cauldron Sep 10, 1973
- E2 Margin for Error Sep 17, 1973
- E3 Deadly Cage Sep 24, 1973
- E4 Frozen Smoke Oct 1, 1973
- E5 Get Ryker Oct 8, 1973
- E6 Cry Wolf Oct 15, 1973
- E7 A Matter of Justice (a.k.a.) Justice for Jill Danko Oct 22, 1973
- E8 Blood Brother Oct 29, 1973
- E9 Code 261 Nov 5, 1973
- E10 Prayers Unanswered, Prayers Unheard Nov 12, 1973
- E11 Down Home Boy Nov 19, 1973
- E12 Lots of Trees and a Running Stream Dec 2, 1973
- E13 Another Beginning for Ben Fuller Dec 10, 1973
- E14 Sound of Silence Dec 17, 1973
- E15 Trial by Doubt Jan 7, 1974
- E16 The Authentic Death of Billy Stomper Jan 14, 1974
- E17 The Late Mr. Brent Jan 28, 1974
- E18 The Teacher Feb 4, 1974
- E19 Eyewitness Feb 11, 1974
- E20 Something Less Than a Man Feb 18, 1974
- E21 Rolling Thunder Feb 25, 1974
- E22 Time Lock Mar 4, 1974
- E23 Death Watch Mar 18, 1974
Season 3 · 24 episodes
- E1 An Ugly Way to Die Sep 9, 1974
- E2 Key Witness Sep 23, 1974
- E3 Legacy of Death Sep 30, 1974
- E4 Death at 6 A.M. Oct 7, 1974
- E5 Walk a Tightrope Oct 21, 1974
- E6 Judgment Oct 28, 1974
- E7 Johnny Lost His Gun Nov 4, 1974
- E8 Prelude to Vengeance Nov 11, 1974
- E9 Vendetta Nov 18, 1974
- E10 The Old Neighborhood Nov 25, 1974
- E11 A Test of Courage Dec 2, 1974
- E12 The Assassin Dec 9, 1974
- E13 Blue Christmas Dec 16, 1974
- E14 Take Over Dec 30, 1974
- E15 The Saturday Night Special Jan 13, 1975
- E16 The Hunting Ground Jan 20, 1975
- E17 Solomon's Dilemma Jan 27, 1975
- E18 Angel Feb 3, 1975
- E19 The Shield Feb 10, 1975
- E20 S.W.A.T. (1) Feb 17, 1975
- E21 S.W.A.T. (2) Feb 17, 1975
- E22 A Deadly Image Feb 24, 1975
- E23 Cliffy Mar 3, 1975
- E24 Nightmare Mar 17, 1975
Season 4 · 23 episodes
- E1 Lamb to the Slaughter Sep 9, 1975
- E2 Reading Writing and Angel Dust Sep 16, 1975
- E3 One-Way Street to Nowhere Sep 23, 1975
- E4 Someone Who Cares Sep 30, 1975
- E5 Ladies Day (a.k.a.) Ladies Kill, Too Oct 7, 1975
- E6 Reign of Terror Oct 14, 1975
- E7 Death Lady Oct 21, 1975
- E8 Measure of Mercy Oct 28, 1975
- E9 A Time to Mourn Nov 4, 1975
- E10 The Torch Man Nov 11, 1975
- E11 Invitation to a Rumble Nov 18, 1975
- E12 Reluctant Hero Nov 25, 1975
- E13 Dead Heat Dec 2, 1975
- E14 The Voice of Thunder Dec 9, 1975
- E15 The Code Five Affair Dec 16, 1975
- E16 Shadow of a Man Dec 23, 1975
- E17 Eye for an Eye Dec 30, 1975
- E18 Sudden Death (a.k.a.) Return from the Past Jan 6, 1976
- E19 From Out of the Darkness Jan 20, 1976
- E20 The Mugging Jan 27, 1976
- E21 Blue Movie, Blue Death Feb 24, 1976
- E22 Deliver Me From Innocence Mar 2, 1976
- E23 Journey to Oblivion Mar 30, 1976
Frequently asked questions
Is The Rookies based on a true story?
While not based on a specific true story, episodes were inspired by real police cases.
Where can I watch full episodes of The Rookies?
Full episodes are available on YouTube in a dedicated playlist.
Who created The Rookies TV series?
The series was created by William Blinn and Rita Lakin.
What years did The Rookies originally air?
The show aired from 1972 to 1976 on ABC.
Are the main characters actual rookies?
Yes, the show focuses on three rookie police officers in their early careers.