September 29, 1979 (1979-09-29) – January 15, 1980 (1980-01-15)
Paris is an American police procedural that aired on the CBS television network from September 29, 1979 to January 15, 1980.[1] The show is notable as the first appearance of actor James Earl Jones in a television lead role. Paris was created and executive produced by Steven Bochco,[1] and produced by Edward DeBlasio for MTM Enterprises.
Plot
Los Angeles Police Captain Woody Paris (Jones) is the supervisor of a team of rookie detectives, led by Sergeant Stacy Erickson (Cecilia Hart) and including officers Charlie Bogart (Jake Mitchell), Ernesto Villas (Frank Ramirez), and Willie Miller (Michael Warren). Hank Garrett portrayed Deputy Chief Jerome Bench, Paris' superior, and, in an unusual turn for police dramas of that era, Paris' home and off-duty life was given considerable attention, with Lee Chamberlin portraying his wife Barbara. Paris additionally moonlighted as a professor of criminology at a local university.[2][3]
Reception
Although Paris was critically acclaimed for its portrayal of the tension between the title character and his often impetuous underlings, it failed to attract viewers due to CBS scheduling it in one of the worst timeslots on a weekly schedule: Saturdays at 10 p.m.[4] CBS moved the show to Tuesdays in the same timeslot in a futile attempt to improve ratings, and the show was canceled in 1980 after one season of thirteen episodes, two of which were not broadcast.
Jones married former costar Hart two years after Paris' cancellation, and they remained together until her death in 2016.
Paris finds himself contending with another cop when their cases intersect. He also suspects that something is up with the man and has to decide if he should take action against him.
With a juicy political appointment on the line, Paris persists in his investigation of crooks who are driving elderly people from their beachfront homes.
Paris tries to prosecute a killer, who is the star witness in a gangland trial and thus is being protected by the government. This brings him into conflict with several federal agents.
11
"Fitz's Boys"
Alf Kjellin
Larry Alexander & Burton Armus
January 15, 1980 (1980-01-15)
Paris becomes an honorary Irishman when he and his squad investigate thefts from the docks and the suspicious death of an old stevedore.
When a good friend is framed for murder due to an extortionist's plot, Paris works to exonerate the innocent man.
13
"America the Beautiful"
Victor Lobl
Burton Armus
Unaired
Paris finds himself in the middle of a violent confrontation between a neighborhood association and American Nazis on the eve of a Fourth of July rally.
Sources
Total Television: A Comprehensive Guide to Programming from 1948 to the Present, Alex McNeil, New York: Penguin, revised ed., 1984.
^McNeil, Alex (1996). Total Television: The Comprehensive Guide to the Programming from 1948 to the Present (4th ed.). Penguin. p. 642. ISBN9780140249163.