Cops (TV program)

Not to be confused with COPS (animated TV series) or Top Cops, a 1990–1993 CBS reality TV series.

Cops
GenreReality
Created byJohn Langley
Malcolm Barbour
Developed byStephen Chao
Directed byDale Dimmick
Gabriel Koura
Narrated byBurt Lancaster (pilot episode)
Harry Newman
Opening theme"Bad Boys" by Inner Circle
ComposersMichael Lewis (pilot)
Nathan Wang (season 1)
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish[a]
No. of seasons36
No. of episodes1,175 (list of episodes)
Preview warning: Page using Template:Infobox television with "list_episodes" parameter using self-link. See Infobox instructions and MOS:INFOBOXPURPOSE.
Production
Executive producersJohn Langley
Malcolm Barbour (1989–1994, seasons 1–6)
ProducersAndy Thomas (1989, season 1)
Paul Stojanovich (1989–1990, season 2)
Bertram van Munster
(1990–1997, seasons 3–9)
Murray Jordan
(1997–2001, seasons 10–13)
Jimmy Langley
(2001–present, seasons 14–present)
Morgan Langley
(2007–present, seasons 20–present)
Running time30 minutes (season 1–3)
30–37 minutes (season 4–present)
Production companiesBarbour/Langley Productions (1989–1999, seasons 1–11)
Fox Television Stations Productions (1989–2013)
Langley Productions (1999-present, seasons 12–present)[1]
Fox Entertainment (season 33–present)
Original release
NetworkFox (1989–2013)
Paramount Network (2013–2020)[2]
Fox Nation (2021–present)
ReleaseMarch 11, 1989 (1989-03-11) –
present
Infobox instructions (only shown in preview)

Cops (stylized as COPS) is an American reality legal television documentary programming series that is currently in its 36th season. It is produced by Langley Productions[3] and premiered on the Fox network on March 11, 1989. The series, known for chronicling the lives of law enforcement officials, follows police officers and sheriff's deputies, sometimes backed up by state police or other state agencies, during patrol, calls for service, and other police activities including prostitution and narcotic stings, and occasionally the serving of search and arrest warrants at criminal residences. Some episodes have also featured federal agencies. The show's formula follows the cinéma vérité convention, which does not consist of any narration, scripted dialogue, incidental music or added sound effects, depending entirely on the commentary of the officers and on the actions of the people with whom they come into contact, giving the audience a fly on the wall point of view. Each episode typically consists of three self-contained segments which often end with one or more arrests.

It is one of the longest-running television shows in the United States and, in May 2011, it became the longest-running show on Fox (since then, its duration has been surpassed by the duration of The Simpsons). It also became the longest running live action series on Fox. When America's Most Wanted was canceled after 23 years, the show's host John Walsh, made numerous appearances on Cops.[4][5] In 2013, the program moved to Spike TV, now known as Paramount Network.[6]

In late 2007, during the premiere of its 20th season, episodes of Cops began broadcasting in widescreen, though not in high definition. In June 2020, Paramount Network pulled the show from its schedule in response to George Floyd protests following his death while under arrest by the Minneapolis Police Department,[7] and announced its cancellation days later.[8] The show remains in production for its international and overseas partners, and began to film anew in Spokane County, Washington, with its sheriff's department in October 2020.[9] In September 2021, it was announced that Fox sibling Fox Nation picked up the show. The 34th season premiered in September 2022.[10][11][12][13] Season 35 premiered on April 7, 2023. Following a three month hiatus, the show returned on October 6.[14] Season 36 would premiere on April 5, 2024 with several episodes featuring beach patrol officers during spring break.[15][16]


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  1. ^ "Cops". Cops.com. April 23, 2021. Retrieved October 3, 2021.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference bb was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ "Cops". Langley Productions. Retrieved October 3, 2021.
  4. ^ Deci, Ben (May 17, 2011). "Fox Cancels America's Most Wanted". KTXL. Archived from the original on November 3, 2011. Retrieved June 15, 2011.
  5. ^ "America's Most Wanted is cancelled". The Daily Telegraph. London. May 17, 2011. Archived from the original on January 12, 2022. Retrieved June 15, 2011.
  6. ^ Day, Patrick Kevin,"After 25 years at Fox, 'Cops' moves to Spike," May 6, 2013, Los Angeles Times, retrieved May 27, 2017
  7. ^ Schneider, Michael (June 5, 2020). "'Live PD,' 'Cops' Pulled from TV Schedules in Light of George Floyd Protests (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved November 23, 2023.
  8. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (June 9, 2020). "'Cops' Canceled By Paramount Network, 'Live PD' Return Evaluated By A&E". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
  9. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (October 1, 2020). "'Cops' Back In Production On New Episodes Following Cancellation". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved October 2, 2020.
  10. ^ Altus, Kristen (October 1, 2021). "Revival season of 'COPS' rolls out exclusively on Fox Nation". Fox News. Retrieved October 2, 2021.
  11. ^ Cite error: The named reference Fox Nation returning was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  12. ^ Silver, Ashley (September 27, 2022). "New episodes of 'COPS' to air Sept. 30". Police1.com. Retrieved October 6, 2022.
  13. ^ Tracy, Marc (October 3, 2022). "The Cop Show Enters the 'Defund' Era". The New York Times.
  14. ^ "Cops (2023)". Rotten Tomatoes.com. Retrieved October 16, 2023.
  15. ^ "Cops Spring Break". Fox Nation. Retrieved April 5, 2024.
  16. ^ "Season 36 - Cops". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved April 5, 2024.