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’Net Junkie Shawn "Speedy" Lopes |
'Bad boys,
bad boys ...'Despite 24-hour cable channels churning out distressing news of overseas wars and a failing economy 'round the clock, nothing gives us a better indication of where this country is headed than an episode of "Cops." The program, which some say began the whole reality TV trend, is going on its 15th year on the air, outlasting such celebrated fare as "Hawaii 5-0" and "My Three Sons" (both lasted 12 years on the air) and elevating itself to the level of "20/20," "60 Minutes" and "America's Most Wanted" as one of the longest-running current prime-time programs.
Law enforcement officials have seen it all: pimps, pushers, hooligans, hookers, shoplifters, fugitives, users and abusers. Through "Cops," we've seen it all as well, including one of my favorite episodes, in which a dim-witted thief tries to elude officers by hiding on the roof of the home he'd just burglarized. Not a bad move, considering the circumstances, but when he gets caught on the roof, he pretends to be asleep -- with a crowbar clutched to his chest. Classic.
For those who just can't get enough of the groundbreaking series, Web sites like www.tvcops.com and fox.com/cops can help you get your fix until the next episode rolls around. Take the poll at fox.com/cops and vote for your favorite "Cops" clip. There's the episode in Philadelphia where officers are forced to take down an incoherent suspect at the scene of a reported shooting. He turns out to be a burglar. Oh, and he's naked, too.
Or choose the episode featuring the truck driver sporting makeup, a wig and a leopard skin leotard, who tells police his wallet was just taken from him. If car chases are your thing, a vote for the three-wheel chase-and-crash in Kansas City, Mo., is probably in order.
At www.tvcops.com, viewers with questions on the show and police agencies who'd like to be featured on "Cops" are encouraged to contact the show's producers. A link to forums.prospero.com/foxcops/ start takes you to a "Cops" message board where you can share your thoughts on the program with fellow devotees.
I'm tempted to share my favorite "Cops" conversation, in which a loopy man at a truck stop, obviously under the influence of some sort of controlled substance, is accosted by police and questioned. Cop: "Are you a transient?" Guy: "No sir, I'm not a transient. I'm an American!" You just can't write stuff this good.
See the Columnists section for some past articles.
’Net Junkie drops every Monday.
Contact Shawn "Speedy" Lopes at slopes@starbulletin.com.
Note: Web sites mentioned in this column were active at time of publication. The Honolulu Star-Bulletin neither endorses nor is responsible for their contents.
