Cops (1989–2023) User Reviews

Best Reality TV Show EVER!!!

[rochelle-rochelle · 8/10 · 21 December 2006]

Score - 9 out of 10 This show is just as good now as it was when it first came to us in 1989. It's surprising how stupid some criminals are, especially those who try to flee from the police. Idiots! So many people who were going to be pulled over or taken in for misdemeanors end up getting arrested for a felony for attempting to flee from police or lying to the police about something minor.

This show is humorous, dramatic, intense, educational and entertaining. How many shows can you say that about? This show is simple and they haven't tried to change the formula or format of the show. If it's not broke, don't fix it. Cops rocks and I enjoying watching the reruns on court TV.

Love it!!! Keep up the great work! Thanks to all the men and women in law enforcement! You are a hero!

A guilty pleasure

[Maniac-9 · 6/10 · 10 February 2012]

COPS is a fine show if you want to watch a bunch of white trash people in wife beaters(if they have a shirt on at all) make total asses out of themselves. Most of the crimes depicted on COPS are crimes like drug use, domestic abuse, breaking and entering and so on. The funniest one I think I ever seen on COPS was a guy pushing a hot water heater down the road and the cops stopping him then going into a local business that had broken into and the hot water heater had been stolen from, and then still claiming his innocence. It's amazing how stupid people that are getting arrested on this show are, but I guess if they weren't that stupid they wouldn't be on COPS and/or the show wouldn't be as entertaining as it is.

Revealed At Long Last! For The 1st Time See Exclusive Films Of Just What Happens And Goes On Between Stops At The Doughnut Shoppes!!

[redryan64 · 8/10 · 28 October 2007]

Someone once said that the Truth is Stranger than Fiction. You may think that to be a Fiction, and Strange; but it is the Truth! This was a bit of wisdom that my Dear Old Dad, one Clement J. Ryan (1914-1974), had impressed on us during our "growin' up years", which among other platitudes, are only totally understood later, when Dad is gone and we have grown–up. Nowhere is this more evident than in this series, simply entitled "COPS" (1989-Ptresent).

Broadcast primarily on Saturday evenings on the Fox Television Network in the 8:P.M. EST Slot, its rerunning episodes are just about seen at every different hour on Fox Stations ^ affiliates, giving it the appearance of being a "Streaming Audio & Video" set up over the Internet. This was a fact that was kidded several Seasons ago by the Producers of the top Fox Comedy, "THE SIMPONS"(also 1989-Present). Upon arriving late at home one evening, Homer is greeted by Bart, who exclaims, "Hi, Dad! You've missed the first Three Episodes of "COPS", but you can still catch the last Four!" And so it is, that the early series of "Reality TV", and possibly the Best Example of this Video Genre. It is constantly on somewhere, being broadcast over One Station or another. And it seems to do rather well in maintaining an immense army of faithful followers.

One feature of endearment that "COPS" follows is in rotating locales. The crews from their production company, Langley Productions/Fox Television Stations, will and have gone just about anywhere, and everywhere to capture Video exposure to the real, unrehearsed, unabashedly universal bizarre and idiotic occurrences of every day tours of duty of "the Men & Women of Law Enforcement." Every week, with the release of new episodes, we are constantly being reminded of a most basic and universal truth. Just remember, to the Beat Cops, those uniformed Patrolmen who answer the radio-dispatched calls for service, nothing is unexpected. Furthermore it matters not where is the locale of the episode. The same silly Sh*t that happens in Chicago could easily be an occurrence in New York, Philly, LA, Louisville, Kansas City, Podunk or Moscow, Russia. Not only that, but it occurs in a serial fashion with the same 'Boyfriend' getting drunk, beatin' up the same girlfriend and callin' the same Policemen, time after countless number of times. And, of course, they'll be back together, day after tomorrow.

The whole situation was nailed perfectly by a stand up comedian who we saw some time ago on THE David LETTERMAN SHOW(whose name I unfortunately cannot recall). He said that whenever he watches "COPS" there's always an episode where the offender A) Gets Drunk and B) Fights the Police. As I said, that nails it.

Although Langley Productions has been filming in some Police Departments of our Suburban Area on, they have never received permission to do some shows in the City of Chicago proper (or improper, even!)* We think they will never do so, as long as Richard M. Daley is on the Throne in City Hall.

On that I'll stake my reputation and experience of being a Chicago Cop for nearly 35 years, but now retired. And you can quote me on that one.

wow what an overreaction in canceling

[MiketheWhistle · 10/10 · 19 June 2020]

I try to be open to all views, and have a family with many LEOs, but I agree there are some bad apples that are police. I'm all for bodycams, and Cops served to be a super bodycam or nannycam. Police do a job that many won't do, get paid marginally considering the risks they take, and not really sure how this show supposedly glorified them. It just showed what they do/did. There are certainly times where I think they maybe overstepped, but the camera perhaps forced them to stay "cleaner" than maybe they otherwise might. We only know about Floyd and many other cases that are turning this country on its head because of videos being taken, so why to cancel a show that served to take more video seems ridiculous.

This is a series that I and my family truly enjoyed and I still watch re-runs.

Good, Basic Reality TV.

[jwrowe3 · 12 January 2004]

Personal Note: This one is a staple in our house. My wife and I have watched since SHOW #1, and will catch the first run shows on FOX on Saturday night, as well as the ones running on CourtTV and FX.

No hidden agenda. No arranged marriages. No tribes that form alliances. No forced drama between room mates. No fake mega-rich farm boy to pass off as a billionaire. No crap. That's Cops.

I watched on and off since the show began, and recently discovered reruns on BOTH (!) Court-TV, and the FX network in the U.S.

At times it's funny watching some pathetic moron try and get out of being arrested when we have him doing the crime on video. Some times it's sad, seeing folks, who will never be much more than what they are, get into trouble. I hate seeing shows where small children see their stupid parents get hauled away.

Proving that police are dumb for over a quarter century.

[13Funbags · 6/10 · 2 May 2017]

Although I like this show, it's not always easy to watch.Seeing cops prove that they are stupid over and over gets a bit disheartening.I don't expect much from the police.I understand that they are all ex-high school football players who have no control over their own lives.They need to push people around at work so they can feel like a man while their wife is berating them later that night.But I would like to believe that police have a decent 6th grade education and they constantly prove that they don't.I could cite hundreds of examples of when a cop on this show either lied or couldn't pronounce a basic word, but I won't.I will just mention two of them.In one episode a person had a bunch of birds in their chimney.The cop's bright idea was to take them right outside the door and release them.Guess where they went? But that was the smartest thing he did that night.He literally said "chimeney" over a dozen times.How can an adult that holds a job think it's "chimeney"?Better yet, there is another episode when a different cop in a different city says it too!There's really no way to even review the show because there really is no show, just real cops.So I just reviewed real cops.

Great show .. too bad they cancelled it

[InsightfulCritic · 10/10 · 14 June 2020]

Great reflection of real life of what cops deal with. That is why they cancelled it, because it shows reality. And cops deal with a lot of B-S. You can almost click on any episode and you will see criminals resist arrest etc putting their own life and others in danger.

Political correctness is taking over this country. Too bad.

Only Particular Episodes Are Worth Watching...

[fearfulofspiders · 7/10 · 19 September 2008]

COPS is a pretty good show, that can go from boring to exciting between commercial breaks. The vast majority of episode descriptions deal with domestic disputes, which unless there's a brawl or chase, can make the next nine-minutes drag-by. The drug busts and stings are far more tense to watch than the prostitution stings, and it's mainly the newer episodes that are grittier -- even though there's times in the earlier seasons where we actually follow detectives solving a murder, break-in, etc. which makes for a very entertaining 30-minutes.

All in all, there's only a select type of episode worth watching, and that's mainly when danger is involved -- if the cop is just talking, talking, talking, it makes for a tedious segment. I highly recommend anyone that intends on watching this show either know the episode description, or if there's just nothing else on.

The show that started it all!

[Anonymous_Maxine · 10/10 · 28 June 2008]

The first time I ever saw COPS years and years ago I was immediately and absolutely mesmerized. It is such a simple but incredibly brilliant idea, to bring a camera crew along with the police as they go about their daily duties. The cost of making a show like this is next to nothing, compared to the massive interest that it will find on mainstream television. I'm just amazed that a show like this didn't come out years or decades earlier, given that all it takes is a simple traffic stop to create a traffic jam, while everyone cranes their necks trying to see what's going on.

Police activity always draws a crowd on the streets, so it's amazing to me that it took as long as it did for television producers to realize that police activity would draw a crowd on the air as well.

The majority of the shows deal with small time crimes, like drugs or domestic disputes, crazy traffic violations, drunk drivers, and just basically screwed up people. Like some of the trashier talk shows, a lot of the interest in this show comes from just seeing how messed up some people are. I invariably feel like near royalty after watching an episode of COPS.

But of course my favorite thing about the show is that so many of the incidents shown are so hilarious, intentionally or not. I remember one particular episode where they chased a guy down who was driving erratically, and then he jumps out of his car and runs on foot. The police chase him into the woods and finally tackle him, and on the way back to the police cars they start asking him some questions.

"Have you been drinking tonight?" one of the cops asks.

"No no no," the guy says. "I haven't been drinking tonight, officer, all I had was a 12-pack and a bottle of Southern Comfort..." Just tonight I saw an episode where the police were called about two women, very obviously transvestites or transsexuals, who were causing a scene at a local bar. Two officers arrive and are talking to them, and when they ask the police what the problem is, one of the cops says, "we got a call regarding the behavior of you, uh, um, uh, ladies at the bar tonight..."

As far as I know the format of the show is pretty much exactly the same as it was when the show started, but the content is so interesting that there is no need for anything to change. It has been on for so long that usually when I see it on TV there are four or five or six episodes on in a row, sometimes more, and it is one of the only times that I ever find myself nearly glued to the TV.

I guess you could say I love the show because I like seeing other people get in trouble, but in my own defense I should clarify that I only enjoy seeing that when the people deserve it. I like seeing criminals get busted, and it's even better to watch them stumble and blubber, trying to lie their way out of getting arrested, which they almost always do.

It is also a great way for younger viewers to become acquainted with the cops and to learn about how badly committing crimes can mess up their lives, so the show can work as a deterrent to crime as well. It's true that it doesn't show a lot of the aftermath of the arrests, but I think the fear that people often show is enough to illustrate what comes next. I happen to have a much more in-depth knowledge of these things than the show could ever provide, and trust me, it's not fun. These people are really doing good work, and to top it all off, it's so entertaining!

Season 1

[mmuggi · 7/10 · 25 August 2020]

The first season of Cops was an often okay, and ocationally exelent season. There are sometimes problems with pacing and occasionally some whimsical captions, but by the way it turned out to be pure raw material, minimally edited. They got the idea to go to Russia in the last few episodes, and although it was very exciting to see the Russians at work, as well as to get a very small insight into the culture, there were huge problems with the voiceover. There just wasn't that much meat on those sections, which disappoints. However, we did get a few bestial and real scenes.

All in all, it was an excellent first season, but I hope they stay in the US next season.

The War on Drugs is A Sham: 4/10

[MWNiese · 4/10 · 1 August 2013]

Yes, in my estimate, the majority of people arrested on this program deserve to be arrested: Drunk drivers, robbers/ thieves, domestic abusers, wreck less drivers, child abusers.... But what bothers me is that way too many non violent suspects are arrested for minor possessions of marijuana, cocaine, crack.... These people don't need to be locked up with violent offenders. The problem is that many of the officers on this program display behavior that's reprehensible, ignorant, and nasty. These bastard cops are ruining poor people's lives even more than they are already ruined; and many times over non-violent offenses. I shouldn't even watch this program, because I mostly just get upset at the ridiculousness and nastiness displayed by these so called great citizen cops. The problem IS, these cops are making decent people into criminals. The problem IS the War on Drugs is a terrible sham that's morphed into one of the biggest money making businesses in the country. Do you know how many GOP law enforcement flakes would be out of work if marijuana would be legalized? Tens of thousands. Do you think they want that? Clearly most creeps in law enforcement are more concerned with their fat cat pensions than truly helping people and society.

Never disappointing, always entertaining, for 22 seasons!

[mike_cable · 9/10 · 13 September 2010]

Cops is an enduring piece of modern television, sticking with the exact same formula right from the start of its debut season. We ride shotgun with the men and women of the law enforcement community as they respond to calls for help, chase down suspects and detect dodgy dealings.

The highlight of any episode is the high-speed car chase that inevitably ends with the offender crashing or abandoning their vehicle as they realise running is pointless. Before we know it, the police car with the camera is just one of ten cars on the same job and the suspects are always found.

Then comes the moment when four guys will capture and slam the mindless offender violently to the ground and keep the situation safe, while other officers gather evidence from the scene.

The cops of the show's title go into each job not knowing what to expect and the show illustrates the courage and difficulty the officers face each day of their job.

No matter what episode it is, or if it's a repeat episode, you'll never be disappointed by the excitement and dedication of the individuals doing their job.

Season 7

[mmuggi · 7/10 · 10 December 2021]

Season 1: 7 Season 2: 8 Season 3: 8 Season 4: 8 Season 5: 8 Season 6: 8 Season 7: 8 Season 8: 7

It gives action that they have filmed during Mardi Gras. Solid episodes with good action and preparedness tasks in the nightlife.

What the series sometimes struggles with is keeping you glued to the episode. That it is no more tempting to look at the phone or something else.

First time since season 1, that Cops did not get an 8/10.

The metal fatigue sets in here in season 8, and have a hard time imagining a renewal from season 9 to a potential season 10.

More propaganda than reality

[thirtytwotwenty · 3/10 · 17 April 2010]

At first, this show is entertaining, and the behavior of some of the suspects is fascinating. But after a while, you come to see that everything is presented in black-and-white: There are no bad cops, and the suspects are inborn fools or just plain evil. As the show presents itself as a documentary or "reality," this one-sidedness is irritating and takes credibility away from the producers. Hundreds of episodes and I doubt there has been a single incident of abuse or graft, yet they try to present Cops as spontaneous and natural. Police can be "bad boys," too, and trying to disguise this makes this show more propaganda than reality.

About as close to a reality show as you can get

[bullions27 · 11 September 2002]

The recent wave of reality shows on television, or in more precise terms "wave of crap", still can not compare to the only true series of the genre, Cops. Survivor started off well, but it began showng signs of utter ridiculousness until its obscene state now. Everything else is just a plain hack of it. By the way, I'm confused by the point being brought up by the naysayers of this show. What the heck were you expecting, actors with scripts?

Best Reality Program- EVER!

[luktan · 9/10 · 22 March 2008]

There's no doubt that COPS is the best (ever!) TV reality program.

It's been around for years, and will be around for many more years to come.

Forget the hype. Forget the staged drama and props- this is the real thing.

If you've been hiding under a rock and have no clue what this program is about- a TV crew does "ride-alongs" with the Police from all around the USA. It give us a first person view of a day (or night!) in the life a cop.

It has been interesting to see the changes in the type of events they're being called to- I'd guess that almost 99% are in some way, shape or form are related to drugs. The offenders have either just used, just purchased, just sold or have in their possession or in their car, something to do with drugs! Amazing to see how common their use is....

Great program and hope to see it for years to come. :)

Season 3

[mmuggi · 7/10 · 16 March 2021]

Season 3 is just as successful as season two. It's interesting to see the various police services and investigative units across the United States, just as it's always interesting to see the same thing in other countries, this time with two episodes in London, England.

Cops win, thugs lose.

[quockquock · 10/10 · 23 May 2021]

It's real. To all the politicians and activists out there, just watch this and the First 48. Police are in danger. Thugs are everywhere. Crazy drugged out nut jobs are on every street corner and in 10 percent of the cars on the road. Cops have to use force sometimes. Tasers, pepper spray, Billy clubs etc. It's a shame we can't show the actual truth any longer on TV.

Cops season 4

[mmuggi · 7/10 · 29 July 2021]

Cops season 4 is another season that, like previous seasons, focuses on the U. S. police across the United States. There are hardly as many exclusive places this season. It's still solid reality TV.

YOOT BAD BOYS

[ThunderKing6 · 10/10 · 8 September 2020]

IT was a Saturday night crime show about trailers and gang bangers getting arrested for domestic violence, theft, and petty non sense..

This show shown how dumb people were way before 2020.

The camera work and production is iconic.

Overall a good show that was entertaining.

Verdict: I don't recall anyone getting shot by the poo-poo on this show.

Season 2

[mmuggi · 7/10 · 1 November 2020]

As I wrote in season 1, I hoped they stayed in the US - which they did this time. Season 2 is more of the same, however, we get a special about Mardi Gras, just as an episode was also dedicated to a lawsuit. Having said that, I experience in some sections that old material is recycled, and that sometimes there were errors in relation to sound and the like. However, a generally good season, with several top episodes, which is why there will of course be a season 3.

From 7 stars to 8 stars

This show disgusts me

[anonreviewer · 5/10 · 12 September 2006]

I used to be able to watch this show for entertainment value. Not any more. As I grow older I get wiser. I learned too much about life.

Now this show just disgusts me.

Most of what I see on this show is just the cops picking on people who are not hurting anyone. People who are for the most part just dysfunctional biological machines.

This episode I am watching right now, they just arrested some guy for sleeping in the cab of his truck for a couple of hours while his kids were playing in the park nearby. Apparently he had a couple of drinks and dozed off. Oh, the horror!

And they bust some poor guy who was soliciting a prostitute who was actually a cop. Haven't they got anything better to do? Here in Houston, they won't do a %$#& thing about the thieves who break into our cars for years. But they devote teams of people to bust some poor guy napping in his car or trying to have sex with someone else for money.

Why can't the cops and the puritans and baptists just leave people the &%$#@ alone?

I am in law school right now, and ya know what? I am going into criminal defense when I graduate.

And it is not just this episode. Most of the episodes I see of this show &^%$# me off. Freaking puritans are in charge of this nation because of our low rate of voting. And why do our poor people not vote? BEcause this nation was set up from the start to discourage voting among the poor. THat is how the constitution was designed by James Madison.

Definitely the best Police Reality show!

[jpsietsma · 10/10 · 18 November 2018]

I grew up watching COPS and even still today it holds up to be the best police show! Its a shame that Paramount network isnt giving it the air time and episodes that it deserves but I'm just happy that come January we should get some more :D Excellent show!!

Could be depressing at times

[view_and_review · 6/10 · 3 November 2021]

"Cops" was kinda the first reality tv show. It was a cameraman or two following beat cops in different cities. I would watch if it was on, but I wouldn't tune in to it. It was rather depressing on some levels because you'd see the same type of person being arrested over and over. Their race, gender, or accent would vary, but they were virtually all the same class and character. I know it's been cancelled now. Truthfully, I won't miss it.

One-side Show that Simply Plays Into Fears and Prejudices, Like a Trial where the Verdict is Already Rendered

[classicalsteve · 1/10 · 13 January 2011]

Apparently, since "Cops" began airing in 1989, crime rates in the United States had been falling in the 1990's. However, US perceptions that crime was on the rise has been wide-spread with many people buying guns and fearful that a crime would be perpetrated against them. The television show "Cops" I believe has been partially responsible for this widespread but erroneous perception. The television medium is an extremely powerful tool which can distort reality to millions of viewers. If one-sided perspectives are thrown at many viewers, people have a tendency to believe them, even if it is a distortion of the truth. There is really no such thing as a "reality television show", only shows which are either fiction or nonfiction. "Cops" shows one side of some of the more ugly aspects of our society, but it also perpetuates a certain view-point. "Cops" is ultimately a kind of on-screen trial in which only the prosecution's side gets to present its case. The accused receives no opportunity to present its side.

In an interview with one of the producer of "Cops" in his documentary "Bowling for Columbine", Michael Moore asks some pretty interesting questions about the show. The producer states that chases, blood, guts, and handcuffs tend to sell very well. One aspect of the show which has and continues to be an integral part of the episodes is the chasing and arresting of minorities, particularly African-Americans and Latinos. Minorities are portrayed as constantly breaking the law, running from police, subdued by police, fettered by police, usually with handcuffs, and then shoved mercilessly into a police vehicle before being whisked away to jail. The message is clear: jail is where they belong.

Rarely are white offenders ever shown breaking the law. This may be because of lot of white crime is non-violent, such as white collar crime which is really far worse than someone holding up the corner drug store, assuming no one was hurt. And yet, many financial institutions and other corporations have lost people's pension funds and retirement accounts, at the hands of greedy corporate executives who tend to be white, but the producers of "Cops" don't believe that kind of show would sell. Michael Moore pitches such a show to the producer, but he doesn't think it would fly because it doesn't have enough "action". And of course, the crimes would be perpetuated by more white people. Of course, all the producer's of "Cops" are white, so one wonders if their only motivation is in a belief of what would sell.

In this country, part of as a result of this show, most people believe that the vast majority of crimes are committed by minorities, but it's not true. Whites commit more crimes than other minorities, but the message of the show is pretty clear that non-whites commit most crimes, which is why this show is not a reality show at all. The show is essentially the television equivalent of the case for the prosecution where there is no fair hearing for the other side. It is interesting that, in my entire life, I have never experienced controversies that are completely on-sided. Each side has their own story. But "Cops" wants to make it very clear who the good guys are and who the bad guys are. And if we live in a world of constant fear, we probably end up doing more damage to each other than good. Unfortunately, some of the most heinous crimes committed against humanity were engaged in out of fear. Is that the world we want to live in?