Storyline

Tony Scali is a former Brooklyn cop now the Police Commissioner of a small upstate city. But for Scali, this is no desk job. He's a tough yet compassionate boss, a loving husband and father, and a hands-on law enforcer with an unorthodox style of bending the rules. From parenthood to politics, from sex crimes to murder cases, one man takes it day-to-day with offbeat humor and street- smart skill.

First Aired

1991-09-28
Last Aired

1996-01-11
Creator

Stephen J. Cannell
Genre

Drama, Comedy
Seasons

5
Episodes

94
Status

Ended
Language

English
Network

ABC

Keywords:

police police officer police commissioner

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Season 1

Season 2

Season 3

Season 4

Season 5

1. In the Best of Families

Tony is threatened with criminal negligence after the son of a prominent lawyer hangs himself in his c...More

Tony is threatened with criminal negligence after the son of a prominent lawyer hangs himself in his cell.Less

60mins 1991-09-28

2. Do You See What I See?

The commissioner sets out to trap a serial rapist in a Santa Claus mask who's been terrorizing the cit...More

The commissioner sets out to trap a serial rapist in a Santa Claus mask who's been terrorizing the city.Less

60mins 1991-10-05

3. The Poisoned Tree

Rachel refuses to believe Tony when he tells her that her school teacher colleague, Jim Hollister, is ...More

Rachel refuses to believe Tony when he tells her that her school teacher colleague, Jim Hollister, is a child molester.Less

60mins 1991-10-12

4. Nothing to Fear But ...

After receiving a pair of baffling death threats, Tony initiates around-the-clock surveillance of his ...More

After receiving a pair of baffling death threats, Tony initiates around-the-clock surveillance of his unsuspecting family.Less

60mins 1991-10-26

5. A Matter of Life or Death (1)

Tony initiates a sweep to find a pair of missing cops; devises an ingenious way of keeping an habitual...More

Tony initiates a sweep to find a pair of missing cops; devises an ingenious way of keeping an habitually drunk driver off the road; and deftly handles an "extraterrestrial," all the while being scrutinized by a committee searching for a new police commissioner for New York City.Less

60mins 1991-11-02

6. A Matter of Life or Death (2)

Two missing cops have been found under water, there a jail hunger strike going on and tony's up for th...More

Two missing cops have been found under water, there a jail hunger strike going on and tony's up for the nypd commissioner job.Less

60mins 1991-11-02

7. Behind the Storm Door

Tony is pursued by a woman he suspects is filing false complaints.

Tony is pursued by a woman he suspects is filing false complaints.Less

60mins 1991-11-09

8. The Hatchet

Tony butts heads with both a tough cop who is overzealous in his handling of criminals, and a hard-nos...More

Tony butts heads with both a tough cop who is overzealous in his handling of criminals, and a hard-nosed management consultant hired by the city in a cost-cutting effort.Less

60mins 1991-11-16

9. Two Confessions

Tony is doubly stymied when identical twins both initially confess to the same murder, then, in a surp...More

Tony is doubly stymied when identical twins both initially confess to the same murder, then, in a surprise about-face, accuse each other of the crime. Also, Arnie finds romance with a kindred soul, a phone-sex operator named Gloria.Less

60mins 1991-11-30

10. Commissioner's Ball

A serial killer has been mutilating the bodies of Eastbridge tradsients and homeless people - and Tony...More

A serial killer has been mutilating the bodies of Eastbridge tradsients and homeless people - and Tony begins to suspect the perpetrator's identity.Less

60mins 1991-12-07

11. No Greater Gift

During the holiday season, Tony investigates the murder of an elderly woman allegedly killed in her ho...More

During the holiday season, Tony investigates the murder of an elderly woman allegedly killed in her home during a Christmas burglary; matches wits with a mugger, and defends a homeless woman who's been sleeping in the manger of a Holy Family creche.Less

60mins 1991-12-21

12. The Fourth Man

After Commissioner Scali's friend and colleague, Chief of Detectives Irv Wallerstein, is struck down d...More

After Commissioner Scali's friend and colleague, Chief of Detectives Irv Wallerstein, is struck down during a bloody encounter with hijackers, Tony becomes obsessed with finding the assailant!Less

60mins 1992-01-04

13. Charlie Don't Surf

Vietnamese gangs threaten Eastbridge and Tony steps in to help.

Vietnamese gangs threaten Eastbridge and Tony steps in to help.Less

60mins 1992-01-18

14. Skeletons

A mugging triggers a woman's repressed mernosy of her brother's murder, which she witnessed as a child...More

A mugging triggers a woman's repressed mernosy of her brother's murder, which she witnessed as a child. The suspect, free for the past 35 years, is tracked to the unlikeliest of hiding places by Tony and a visiting friend, L.A. homicide detective Paulie Pentangeli.Less

60mins 1992-02-08

15. The Wicked Flee

After seeing his mother killed by a stranger, a boy withdraws deep into himself, prompting a sympathet...More

After seeing his mother killed by a stranger, a boy withdraws deep into himself, prompting a sympathetic Tony to step up his efforts to catch the murderer.Less

60mins 1992-02-22

16. True Believers

The unwelcome appearance in Eastbridge of white supremacists leads to a murder, with the suspicion soo...More

The unwelcome appearance in Eastbridge of white supremacists leads to a murder, with the suspicion soon arising that one or more of Tony's associates may be implicated.Less

60mins 1992-02-29

17. Officer April

After he shoots a woman in a drunken domestic squabble, Officer Kelly becomes the victim of a terroriz...More

After he shoots a woman in a drunken domestic squabble, Officer Kelly becomes the victim of a terrorization campaign.Less

60mins 1992-03-07

18. Sex, Lies, and Kerosene

Tony and Paulie investigate a puzzling arson case in which the husband of a beautiful woman appears to...More

Tony and Paulie investigate a puzzling arson case in which the husband of a beautiful woman appears to have been murdered.Less

60mins 1992-03-21

19. Judgement Day

Tony winds up in one of his own jail cells when he runs afoul of an imperious judge who's hiding a fea...More

Tony winds up in one of his own jail cells when he runs afoul of an imperious judge who's hiding a fearsome secret.Less

60mins 1992-04-04

20. Shoot the Breeze

Tony attempts to protect an informant from a mysterious hit man, while Stan Kelly enjoys a romantic en...More

Tony attempts to protect an informant from a mysterious hit man, while Stan Kelly enjoys a romantic encounter with a beautiful new Eastbridge arrival.Less