"Jake and the Fatman" (1987)TV series 1987-1992

Directors:

Daniel Attias
Jackie Cooper

Writers:

David Abramowitz (writer)
Nick Alexander (writer)

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

Release Date:

26 September 1987 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama

Plot:

Veteran district attorney "Fatman" McCabe solves cases with the help of his easygoing private investigator partner Jake Styles.

Plot Keywords:

Sergeant | Criminal | Detective | Investigation | Murder

Awards:

Nominated for 3 Primetime Emmys. Another 1 win & 3 nominations

Cast

William Conrad	...	Jason Lochinvar 'Fatman' McCabe (104 episodes, 1987-1992)
Joe Penny	...	Jake Styles (104 episodes, 1987-1992)
Alan Campbell	...	Derek Mitchell (92 episodes, 1987-1992)

Runtime:

60 min (106 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:PG

Filming Locations:

2nd Street Tunnel, Downtown, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Dean Hargrove Productions

Trivia:

This series was actually canceled after its first season, but CBS revived it under unusual circumstances. With "Magnum, P.I." coming to an end, CBS was left with empty -- and very expensive -- studio facilities. The producers of "Jake and the Fat Man" came up with the idea of the Fat Man (J.L. McCabe) retiring from Los Angeles and moving to Hawaii to take up the practice of criminal law, with his investigators coming along. He later became District Attorney for Honolulu. The ratings went up sharply with the move. Apparently, CBS's lease on the Hawaii studio expired during the 1990-91 season, resulting in the show returning to Los Angeles.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Sword and the Dragon (#7.17)" (1994)

They always cancel the best ones first.

Why was this series cancelled? With the exception of Hunter, it was probably the best detective show since William Conrad starred in Cannon. Conrad played the eccentric district attorney, J. L. McCabe, with his ever-present dog Max to the hilt, and Joe Penny played detective Jake Styles just as well. The interplay of McCabe's and Styles's personalities added much to the mix.