MacGruder and Loud

MacGruder and Loud
GenrePolice procedural
Created byLane Slate
StarringJohn Getz
Kathryn Harrold
ComposerPaul Chihara
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes15
Production
Executive producerAaron Spelling
ProducerRobert H. Justman
Production locationLos Angeles
Running time60 minutes
Production companyAaron Spelling Productions
Original release
NetworkABC
ReleaseJanuary 20 (1985-01-20) –
April 30, 1985 (1985-04-30)

MacGruder and Loud is an American crime drama from Aaron Spelling Productions that aired on ABC from January 20 to April 30, 1985.

Premise

The series stars John Getz and Kathryn Harrold as married police officers Malcolm MacGruder and Jenny Loud in a Los Angeles Police Department-styled police agency (where strict anti-fraternization policies were in effect). They fought a battle every day to keep it a closely guarded secret from their boss, Sgt. Hanson (played by veteran actor Lee de Broux).[1]

Malcolm and Jenny lived in a duplex-type apartment complex where there was a secret door behind the grandfather clock in her apartment, where Malcolm could sneak in and enjoy her company.[1]

Cast

  • John Getz as Det. Malcolm MacGruder
  • Kathryn Harrold as Det. Jenny Loud MacGruder
  • Ted Ross as Det. Sgt. Debbin
  • Frank McCarthy as Sgt. Myhrum

Episodes

Nº Title Directed by Written by Original air date
1"Pilot"Jerry LondonLane SlateJanuary 21, 1985 (1985-01-21)
2
3"The Violation"Jerry LondonUnknownJanuary 22, 1985 (1985-01-22)
4"The Inside Man"Richard ComptonUnknownJanuary 29, 1985 (1985-01-29)
5"Odds Favor Death"Stan LathanUnknownFebruary 5, 1985 (1985-02-05)
6"On the Wire"Victor HsuSteve Kreinberg & Andy GuerdatFebruary 12, 1985 (1985-02-12)
7"Cop Killer"Richard ComptonUnknownFebruary 26, 1985 (1985-02-26)
8"Under Special Circumstances"Stan LathanUnknownMarch 5, 1985 (1985-03-05)
9"Sanctuary"Richard ComptonStephen KandelMarch 12, 1985 (1985-03-12)
10"Stepover Man"Bill DukeUnknownMarch 19, 1985 (1985-03-19)
11"For Better or for Worse"James L. ConwayUnknownMarch 26, 1985 (1985-03-26)
12"The Price of Junk"Charlie PicerniUnknownApril 9, 1985 (1985-04-09)
13"The Very Scary Man"Richard ComptonMike RobeApril 16, 1985 (1985-04-16)
14"Act of War"Rick WallaceUnknownApril 23, 1985 (1985-04-23)
15"Tarnished Blues"James L. ConwayJaysen D. HayesApril 30, 1985 (1985-04-30)

Production

This was one of the relatively few failures from Aaron Spelling's production company in its history, since it was picked by ABC to debut right after the Super Bowl in 1985 and was heavily promoted during the game. The promotion resulted in high ratings at first, but the series was cancelled three months into its run.[2] The ratings decline was blamed on ABC's repeated changing of the show's timeslot before settling on Monday nights at 10:00 p.m., known as "the graveyard slot". It ranked 36th out of 77 shows with a 14.9 rating and a 23 share.[3]

Because of the frequent commercials during the Super Bowl, the following night Johnny Carson asked rhetorically during his monologue on The Tonight Show, "Did you see that new show, 'Frequent and Loud'?"[citation needed]

The series was rushed into production by ABC in order to capitalize on the popularity of another crime drama at that time, Cagney & Lacey (which aired on CBS).

References

  1. ^ a b Zoglin, Richard (January 21, 1985). Autumn Goofs, Winter Repairs, TIME.
  2. ^ McIntee, Michael Z. (January 13, 2003). Show #1934 Recap, Late Show with David Letterman.
  3. ^ "The TV Ratings Guide: 1984-85 Ratings History".