Shark Bytes

I loved season 1 of this show. Just like Boomtown, it really had an LA "feel" to it: they weren't always in places like Beverly Hills or other upscale neighborhoods. Ed O'Niel was great at combining a sort or world-weariness with comptenece in his character. He really came off like a veteran. I agree with a previous poster that if Jack Webb had done this show in this era it would have been like this. I once saw a book he had written, back in the 50's, of all the stories he had compiled from cops that were too racy/violent/seedy for network TV back then. Would like to check that out.

Season 2 and the ensemble cast ruined this show.

I really loved this show here in Germany, but unfortunately it's impossible for me to watch the original vesion. Even on the internet there are only sites offering it for a special region (of course the United States).
However: Ed O'Neill indeed rocked as Joe Friday. I also liked the performance given by Ethan Embry. I even think, the show could have worked again, I've they'd simply replaced Ethan Embry by Desmond Harrington, but the team pf detectives kiled the show. The worst thing about was, Friday was pushed into background by the other characters and Friday IS "Dragnet".
It's like seeing a James Bond movie with Bond in a supporting role for example: no way!
Especially because Ed O'Neill was the best actor on "Dragnet", according to a lot of viewers, as far is I see.

If there is one TV show I'm really beggin', it'll be on DVD soon, it's this one! I just want to see the original. Why can't I get the chance?!

This show never jumped.

If it had been shown on cable (where the foolish censorship rules do not apply), it could have been pure kick ass fun!

The problem with this one is by the time it came about it was just another procedural drama detective show.
Been there, done that.

Boy they really screwed up a great show when the dumped Ethan Embrey and brought in the ensemble cast. I didn't like any of them, and didn't watch the show after that, even though I was a devoted season 1 fan.

Obviously Dick Wolf did not follow the pattern of the master when he produced this one. Law&Order followed the original pattern of Dragnet by Jack Webb more than his rendition. The first season was more of what Dragnet would have been like if Jack Webb would have created and produced it in this era. When Dick decided to retool the show, that is when he goofed up. First,Joe Friday should have never been promoted to Lieutenant (even Jack Webb realized that wasn't going to work after he promoted Joe Friday to Lieutenant in the 1950s version, and that is why in the 1966-70 version, he reverted him back to Sergeant), plus they shouldn't have had all of those people featured as the team of detectives. Dragnet was never an ensemble show; if he was going to do that he should have created another show using that format. Secondly, he had to entitle it LA Dragnet; that is so redundant because anyone who has watched the show knows that Dragnet's setting is in Los Angeles. I supposed the third thing is really the fault of the network; placing it on Saturday night after the Wonderful World of Disney was a real mistake. It was a real shame, too because it was nice to see Ed O'Neill in a serious role outside of being that blockhead Al Bundy on Married with Children. It was also cool how we were able to see each case from Friday's point of view, actually hearing his thoughts and seeing his observations.

Ethan Embry. I loved the Ed O'Neill-Ethan Embry pairing in the first season. I thought they had a good old cop-young cop thing going. I don't know if he left the show, or was fired or what, but man did season two suck. You just can't totally revamp a series after its first season, and still expect folks to buy into it. Losing Ethan, and reducing Ed's role was a huge mistake.

The failure of L.A. Dragnet is a testimony to the incompetence of American Network Executives. They did not give this show the chance to prove itself, instead messing around with the format to produce some second rate abomination of a show. P.S. Ed O'Neill as Joe Friday rocked! It was nice to see him in a role that could showcase his dramatic talent.

This show started with such promise. As simply "Dragnet", Ed O'Neil was totally believable. His partner was a perfect counterpart. It was gritty and real, just like the original. I used to look forward to it. Then...Season 2 opens as "L.A. Dragnet." Very bad sign. A new cast full of self important, cliched idiots. Frank is gone. Forget the great Dragnet grit and Joe Friday Moments. Now they just wanted it to look like "Law & Order." We can ALREADY see that 8 nights a week on NBC! What the hell happened. Predictably, the show was gone after this bizarre shark jumping. One more victim of Hollywood Ivory Tower Committee Thinking.

Sacrilege. Didn't the failure of Aykroyd and Hanks teach anyone anything? Leave it alone.