Jake and the Fatman (1987)
A classic CBS crime duo — a tenacious prosecutor and his sharp-eyed investigator — solving cases across five compelling seasons.
Jake and the Fatman - Series Information
- Original Title: Jake and the Fatman
- First Air Year: 1987
- Last Air Year: 1992
- Created by: Dean Hargrove, David Angell et al.
- Type: TV Series
- Genres: Drama, Crime, Action, Adventure
- Content Rating (US): NR
- Episode Runtime: Average runtime per episode: 60 minutes
- Number of Seasons: 5
- Number of Episodes: 106
- Status: Ended
- Original Language: English
- Spoken Languages: German, English
- First Air Date: September 26, 1987 (United States - NR), September 26, 1987 (Germany - 6), September 26, 1987 (Mexico - B)
- Networks: CBS
- Alternative Titles: Jake & McCabe – Durch dick und dünn (DE), Gliniarz i Prokurator (PL)
- Production Companies: Viacom Productions, Dean Hargrove Productions, Fred Silverman Company, Strathmore Productions
- Production Countries: United States of America, Sweden
Jake and the Fatman - Plot
Jake and the Fatman is a television crime drama starring William Conrad as prosecutor J. L. “Fatman” McCabe and Joe Penny as investigator Jake Styles. The series ran on CBS for five seasons from 1987 to 1992. Diagnosis: Murder was a spin-off of this series.
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Jake and the Fatman - Cast & Crew
Creator(s)
- Dean Hargrove
- David Angell
- Joel Steiger
Main Cast
- William Conrad
- Joe Penny
- Alan Campbell
- Olga Russell
- George O'Hanlon, Jr.
- Lu Leonard
- Jack Hogan
- Melody Anderson
- Nelson Mashita
- Tony Todd
Writers
- Paul Robert Coyle
- J. Michael Straczynski
- Carol Saraceno
- Gerry Conway
- Jeri Taylor
Jake and the Fatman - FAQs
What is Jake and the Fatman about?
Jake and the Fatman follows gruff prosecutor J. L. “Fatman” McCabe, played by William Conrad, and his streetwise investigator Jake Styles, played by Joe Penny. Together they tackle criminal cases in a classic buddy-cop format, blending procedural investigation with character-driven drama across five CBS seasons.
Is Jake and the Fatman the origin of Diagnosis: Murder?
Yes. Diagnosis: Murder, the long-running CBS mystery series starring Dick Van Dyke, originated as a spin-off of Jake and the Fatman. The character of Dr. Mark Sloan was introduced within the Jake and the Fatman universe before earning his own standalone series in 1993.
Who are the main actors in Jake and the Fatman?
The series stars William Conrad as prosecutor Jason “Fatman” McCabe and Joe Penny as investigator Jake Styles. Supporting cast includes Alan Campbell, Olga Russell, George O'Hanlon Jr., Lu Leonard, Jack Hogan, Melody Anderson, Nelson Mashita, and Tony Todd.
Where can you watch Jake and the Fatman?
Streaming availability for Jake and the Fatman varies by region and platform. You can check current viewing options, including any subscription services, digital rental, or purchase availability, by visiting JustWatch, which tracks up-to-date streaming listings across major platforms.
How many seasons and episodes does Jake and the Fatman have?
Jake and the Fatman ran for five seasons on CBS, producing a total of 106 episodes. Season 1 contained 23 episodes, Season 2 had 11, Season 3 expanded to 26, Season 4 delivered 24, and Season 5 concluded the run with 22 episodes.
Who created Jake and the Fatman?
Jake and the Fatman was created by Dean Hargrove, David Angell, and Joel Steiger. The series was produced by Viacom Productions, Dean Hargrove Productions, Fred Silverman Company, and Strathmore Productions, and aired on CBS from 1987 to 1992.
When did Jake and the Fatman first air?
Jake and the Fatman premiered on September 26, 1987, on CBS in the United States. The series concluded in 1992 after five seasons, making it one of the longer-running crime procedurals of its era on American network television.
What are shows similar to Jake and the Fatman?
Viewers who enjoyed Jake and the Fatman often appreciate similar crime and detective series such as Magnum, P.I. (1980), Spenser: For Hire (1985), Agatha Christie's Poirot (1989), Father Dowling Mysteries (1989), and Sherlock Holmes (1984), all of which share a classic investigative drama sensibility.
More About Jake and the Fatman
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