Snoops (1999 TV series)

Snoops is an American comedy-drama television series that aired on ABC from September 26 to December 19, 1999. Created by David E. Kelley, the show came about during the height of Kelley's fame, with both The Practice and Ally McBeal sustaining large audiences. Although the series garnered good ratings initially by averaging 11.5 million viewers, tying NBC in the ratings,[2] it soon faltered and was cancelled quickly.[3] Only ten of the thirteen episodes produced aired in the United States, while the final three episodes aired overseas. The final episode, which was rewritten by Kelley after the cancellation announcement, served as a series finale.

Snoops
Principal cast of Snoops
GenreComedy drama
Created byDavid E. Kelley
Starring
Opening theme"One Way or Another" by Blondie
Composers
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes13 (3 unaired) (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producers
  • David E. Kelley
  • John Tinker
Producers
  • Allan Arkush
  • Neil Mandelberg
  • Jack Philbrick
  • Kim Newton
Production locations
Camera setupSingle-camera
Running time45–48 minutes
Production companies
Original release
NetworkABC
ReleaseSeptember 26 (1999-09-26) –
December 19, 1999 (1999-12-19)

Synopsis

edit

Snoops focuses on a less-than-conventional detective agency, Glenn Hall, Inc., headed by Glenn Hall (Gina Gershon). Her staff included Roberta Young (Paula Jai Parker), a detective who goes to great lengths to get the job done; Manny Lott (Danny Nucci), the resident technology wiz; and Dana Plant (Paula Marshall), a former Santa Monica police detective.

Cast

edit

Main

edit

Guest stars

edit

Connection with other David E. Kelley's TV series

edit

After the series was canceled, the character of Glenn Hall would later appear in an episode of the final season of The Practice entitled "The Firm". Series creator David E. Kelley later cast Jessalyn Gilsig on his FOX series Boston Public, and also cast one-time Snoops guest star Emmy Rossum in a multi-episode arc of The Practice.

Episodes

edit
No.TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air dateProd.
code
1"Pilot"Allan ArkushDavid E. KelleySeptember 26, 1999 (1999-09-26)1S00
Former cop Dana Plant unwittingly finds herself with a job at Glenn Hall Inc., where civil rights and the constitution come second to solving crimes, but finds herself still having to deal with former cop partner Greg McCormack.
2"Singer in the Band"Allan ArkushDavid E. KelleyOctober 3, 1999 (1999-10-03)1S01
Roberta gets personally involved in a case against a deadbeat dad, while Glenn goes undercover as a country music singer.
3"Bedfellas"Dennie GordonEverett Owens & David E. KelleyOctober 10, 1999 (1999-10-10)1S02
While Manny attempts to outwit a con artist, Glenn gets in deep when she discovers her new boyfriend has mafia connections.
4"Higher Calling"Arvin BrownPaul GuyotOctober 17, 1999 (1999-10-17)1S04

Glenn and Dana go undercover as prostitutes to prevent a political scandal, while Manny helps a priest who is being blackmailed.

Priscilla Barnes and David Dukes guest star. Cameo appearances by Bill Maher, Arianna Huffington and Jane Krakowski playing themselves in a scene incorporating a clip of the issue-based talk show Politically Incorrect.[4]
5"The Heartless Bitch"Allan ArkushNat Bernstein & Mitchel KatlinOctober 24, 1999 (1999-10-24)1S06
Manny and Roberta investigate what seems to be a simple case of infidelity, while Glenn and Dana search for the recipient of a widower's wife's heart.
6"Separation Anxiety"Michael LangeKim NewtonOctober 31, 1999 (1999-10-31)1S05
While Dana fears for her life when she gets a stalker, Glenn helps a 14-year-old girl named Caroline Beels find her biological mother.
7"Constitution"Bethany RooneyStory by : Alfonso H. Moreno & Molly Newman
Teleplay by : David E. Kelley
November 21, 1999 (1999-11-21)1S07
The agency gets involved in the complicated life of a family which may include murderers and gay bashers.
8"True Believers"Miguel ArtetaMichael GreenNovember 28, 1999 (1999-11-28)1S08
Back on the force, Dana is annoyed when her first case involves working with Greg and the agency to investigate a mysterious kidnapping.
9"The Grinch"Joe NapolitanoDavid E. KelleyDecember 12, 1999 (1999-12-12)1S09
Glenn searches for a man stealing Christmas presents, while Manny is asked to assist a man in killing his wife.
10"A Criminal Mind"Ian SanderHart HansonDecember 19, 1999 (1999-12-19)1S03
Glenn and Dana are confused when a clue from a hypnotized man leads them to a murder victim, while Roberta and Manny join forces with a bounty hunter.
11"Blood Lines"Donald PetrieMolly NewmanUNAIRED1S10
Glenn is reunited with Caroline, who needs a donor for leukemia treatment. Glenn follows a trail to a possible organ match, who will only participate if rape charges against him are dropped. And a tragedy unfolds as Dana tries to help a mentally disabled office worker at the police station, who is caught in a drug deal. However, events spiral out of control, ending in Dana's death.
12"The Stolen Diskette"Lloyd Ahern IIJohn TinkerUNAIRED1S11
FBI Agent Suzanne Shivers joins forces with Glenn to track down a disk with important mob information on it, only to find herself intrigued by the agency. And Greg leaves the force in the wake of Dana's death.
13"Swan Chant"Allan ArkushMolly NewmanUNAIRED1S12
Glenn and Suzanne take care of a singer who is trying to rid herself of her drug addiction. Against Glenn's will, Manny takes a case of a contested will that may involve the ownership of the agency. When the case goes wrong, a millionaire's widow takes over the agency. The series ends with Suzanne and Roberta finding jobs elsewhere, and Glenn leaving the agency to go on a music tour.

Production

edit

On December 16, 1998, David E. Kelley began production on the show, which was greenlighted by ABC.[5] Principal photography began on August 15, 1999, in Los Angeles, California.[6][7]

References

edit
  1. ^ Richmond, Ray (September 24, 1999). "Review: 'Snoops'". Variety. Retrieved March 11, 2016.
  2. ^ Wolk, Josh (November 2, 1999). "Fall guys: The winners and losers of the new TV season". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved March 11, 2016.
  3. ^ "ABC cancels Snoops for Millionaire". Entertainment Weekly. December 2, 1999. Retrieved March 11, 2016.
  4. ^ "Higher Calling". TV.com. Retrieved March 11, 2016.
  5. ^ Rice, Lynette (December 16, 1998). "David Kelley developing new PI drama for ABC". The Hollywood Reporter, (Ocala) Star-Banner. Retrieved March 11, 2016.
  6. ^ "'Snoops' begin shooting". The Dispatch (Lexington). Associated Press. August 16, 1999. Retrieved March 11, 2016.
  7. ^ Anthony, Ted (August 15, 1999). "Come and knock on their door – again". (Ocala) Star-Banner. Associated Press. Retrieved March 11, 2016.
edit