With the influx of many shows on DVD that have long been forgotten, Police Woman has now returned, so that old fans can watch it again, and a new generation of viewers can give it a try. Well I am definitely one of the new generation, having not even been born when the first season originally aired in 1974, but I could quickly see why it was so appealing back then. The first thought was that there just weren’t many shows that gave a female heroin the lead, and even fewer that allowed her to do stunts. You could say that the show enabled women to play many of the roles that have made female characters so important to shows like NYPD Blue and 3rd Watch, but it also could have been the presence that the lead character brought along with her.

Angie Dickinson stared as Pepper Anderson, a very energetic, slinky, and of course very sexy cop that didn’t do everything with just her looks, but had help with the gun she carried. Knowing it is from the 1970’s you would almost think I was describing one of Charlie’s Angels, but that would come along later after obviously getting inspired by this show. In much the same fashion as Grey’s Anatomy led to Private Practice and before that Cheers led to Frasier, Police Woman was a spin-off of the successful show Police Story. Pepper was introduced in the finale of that show, and a few episodes into the new show, some of the rest of the old cast would come over to join her. Together they formed a vice squad that specialized in going undercover and taking down gangsters, pimps, and your everyday criminals. The team worked well together and soon recognizable guest stars started making appearances.

With a female lead character as notable as Dickinson’s Pepper appealing to women, and the sheer sex-symbol appealing to men, the show quickly became a success, and even peaked near the top of the ratings during the first season. Along with that success came scrutiny though, as some felt the show was too racy, and that Dickinson carrying (and using) her gun was promoting violence. It’s a very familiar argument that shows today still have to deal with, but it may have caused the ultimate downfall of this show by season 4, because controversy continued to surround it, and in the opinion of many, altered how the creators actually wanted things portrayed. It’s actually a shame, because the show probably could have made a much stronger impact on television history if it has bucked the critics instead of succumbing. As it was though, Dickinson became too easy of a target, and after the great first season it began to falter.

The DVD release of the first season helps to remind people about the show, and does a great job presenting the show just as it aired originally. There are 22 episodes from the season spread over 5 discs, and in addition to that you can watch some commentary from Dickinson herself. You will recognize plenty of the supporting characters, as well as the guest stars that played important parts in many episodes, and the show is actually still interesting. Sure it might seem dated due to its 1970’s feel, but if you can get past that, you might just enjoy a drama that really set the stage for all of the shows that exuded “girl power” in the years to come. This is truly Dickinson at her finest, and though she had many famous movie roles (such as a part in the original Oceans 11), this is really a show that cemented her as a tinsel town legend. If you want to see a classic from the 1970’s, the first season of Police Woman is definitely worth it.












Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: DVD