Jake and the Fatman is a television crime drama starring [[William Conrad]] as prosecutor J. L. (Jason Lochinvar) "Fatman" McCabe and [[Joe Penny]] as investigator Jake Styles. The series ran on CBS for five seasons from 1987 to 1992. [[Diagnosis: Murder]] was a Spin-off (media) of this series.

Origins

Conrad guest starred as an aging prosecutor in a two-part episode of [[Matlock (TV series)|Matlock]]during its first season on NBC Producers Dean Hargrove and Fred Silverman decided to use this character as a model for one of the main characters in a new show they were creating for CBS. Penny also guest starred in these episodes, but his character was not on the same side as Conrads character in the storylines legal case. Following the departure of Hargrove, executive producers David Moessinger and Jeri Taylor were brought on to run the series with Silverman. They also hired J. Michael Straczynski as story editor and, later, co-producer. Taylor and Moessinger ran the show for two years before finally leaving in a dispute over control over the show.

Cast

*William Conrad as District Attorney J. L. "Fatman" McCabe *Joe Penny as Detective Jake Styles *Alan Campbell (actor) as Assistant District Attorney Derek Mitchell

Recurring Guest stars

*Lu Leonard as Gertrude *Olga Russell as Elisabeth Berkeley-Smythe *Jack Hogan as Judge Smithwood *George O'Hanlon Jr as Sergeant Rafferty *Melody Anderson as Sergeant Neely Capshaw Guest stars on the series included Robert Culp Scott Marlowe Leigh McCloskey Ed Nelson Leo Penn Stephen Quadros Robert Reed Mitch Ryan and David Soul

Episodes

Jake and the Fatmanhad a total of five seasons and 106 episodes that were broadcast on CBS between 1987 and 1992.

Background

Characters

J. L. "Fatman" McCabe is a Hawaii-born, tough former Honolulu Police Department turned Los Angeles district attorney He is teamed with a handsome, happy-go-lucky special investigator named Jake Styles They often clash due to their different styles and personalities. "Fatman" hardly travels anywhere without his companion Max, his pet bulldog

Setting

The show was set in Los Angeles during the first season. After the end of [[Magnum, P.I.]] the show was moved to Hawaii. The second and third seasons and half of the fourth season were filmed in Honolulu The show then returned to Los Angeles for the remainder of its run.

Controversy

Joe Penny lost a large amount of weight after the show moved to Hawaii, which led to many rumors about his health, including the possibility that he had AIDS In actuality he had suffered from a gastrointestinal virus and was having difficulty regaining the weight he lost. When the show moved back to Los Angeles, it was also suspected that it was on Pennys urging. This was also not true, as the move was CBSs decision.http://www.joepenny.com.au/Interviews.htm Interviews]

DVD releases

CBS Home Entertainment (distributed by Paramount Home Entertainment has released the first two seasons of Jake and the Fatmanon DVD in Region 1. Season 2 was released on May 5, 2009. http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Jake-Fatman-Season-2/11276] In Region 2, Dutch Filmworks released the first season on DVD in the Netherlands on February 16, 2010.http://www.bol.com/nl/p/dvd/jake-and-the-fatman-seizoen-1/1002004007770653/index.html Season 2 will be released on June 1, 2010.http://www.bol.com/nl/p/dvd/jake-and-the-fatman-seizoen-2/1002004009597046/index.html | class"wikitable" !Title !Ep # !Region 1 |- | Season One, Volume One | align"center"|11 | July 8, 2008 |- | Season One, Volume Two | align"center"|12 | December 2, 2008 |- | Season Two | align"center"|10 | May 5, 2009 |}

References

External links

* * Category:1987 television series debuts Category:1992 television series endings Category:1980s American television series Category:1990s American television series Category:American drama television series Category:CBS network shows Category:Crime television series Category:English-language television series Category:Television series by CBS Paramount Television Category:Television shows set in Los Angeles, California Category:Television shows set in Hawaii de:Jake und McCabe fr:La loi est la loi it:Due come noi nl:Jake and the Fatman no:Jake and the Fatman pl:Gliniarz i prokurator fi:Koira haudattuna sv:Rättvisans män