Cops is continuing filming in Spokane, Washington, despite being canceled by the Paramount Network. The show ran for 32 seasons on various networks, originally premiering in 1989 on Fox. The series was canceled this summer after a nationwide reckoning with police violence. The murder of George Floyd sparked worldwide protests and prompted many networks, including Paramount Network, the home of Cops, to reconcile their portrayal of police officers with the current moment.
The cancelation did not come as a surprise, but it did stop one of the longest-running reality tv shows in its tracks. With over 1,100 episodes, the show inspired various other tv shows that highlighted the role of law enforcement in civilian's lives. The show itself follows various police departments throughout the United States, filming police officers as they do their jobs. The series had faced its fair share of controversies prior to its cancellation.
According to THR, production on Cops has resumed in Spokane, Washington. The show has worked closely with the Spokane Country Sheriff's Office for years. The Paramount Network had initially delayed the premiere of the show's 33rd season before canceling it outright on June 9th. However, the episodes that are currently being filmed will not be airing in the US. Additionally, networks that were airing the show in syndication also let their contracts to air the show expire.
Langley Productions, the company behind the episodes being filmed, has said that the episodes are being made to fulfill contractual obligations in international territories where the show still airs. The fact that Cops is still airing internationally shows the ways in which America's law enforcement culture is commodified and continues to be, despite the protests. However, popular culture in America still continues to teeter on the edge of rejecting portrayals of police. Popular sitcom Brooklyn 99 has been delayed not only because of the pandemic but also so that the writers have time to rethink the show after this summer's events.
This comes amidst a larger conversation about how exactly law enforcement is portrayed in popular culture. Popular shows that center law enforcement have run for years, including Law & Order and various iterations of popular show CSI. Many of these shows are also heavily syndicated. Some people in Hollywood think that the entertainment industry needs to demythologize police officers and rethink the ways in which television and movies portray them.
While Cops itself is no longer part of that mythology due to its cancellation, it is crucial to recognize the role it played in popularizing television shows about law enforcement officers. The show sparked several iterations of its original formula. Additionally, it could be said that it inspired many of the popular shows about law enforcement we see today. With the cancellation of the show after 33 seasons, the industry is only just now beginning to recognize its influence, one that will continue to play out on screens internationally for the foreseeable future.
Source: THR