# Are police procedurals becoming self-parodies? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 7, 2013, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-police-procedurals-becoming-self-parodies/673363 "2013-11-07T22:22:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2013, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-police-procedurals-becoming-self-parodies/673363/21 "2013-11-08T17:25:36Z")
It sometimes takes me 4 days to write and get together a search warrant. And that’s just the paperwork. Real life is boring. ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2013, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-police-procedurals-becoming-self-parodies/673363/22 "2013-11-08T17:29:19Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > [You mean like this one](http://www.classmates.com/yearbooks/Southold-High-School/168477)? > > This is an example of why you shouldn’t think things are impossible or incorrect based solely on your own knowledge. If you think that someone has gotten their facts wrong, look up the facts before commenting. You think it might have been possible to frame your reply without being an asshole? ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2013, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-police-procedurals-becoming-self-parodies/673363/23 "2013-11-08T18:00:12Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > [You mean like this one](http://www.classmates.com/yearbooks/Southold-High-School/168477)? > > This is an example of why you shouldn’t think things are impossible or incorrect based solely on your own knowledge. If you think that someone has gotten their facts wrong, look up the facts before commenting. Did you explore that link at all? All of the pictures are behind a paywall. I like Criminal Minds, but I’ll be the first to admit that the only way to enjoy it is to accept that Garcia is only able to do the things she can do is because she has a degree from Hogwarts. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2013, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-police-procedurals-becoming-self-parodies/673363/24 "2013-11-08T18:11:45Z")
> [@Odesio](#): > > You think it might have been possible to frame your reply without being an asshole? It seems like a perfectly polite and reasonable point to me. > [@Justin\_Bailey](#): > > Did you explore that link at all? All of the pictures are behind a paywall. No. It requires registration, but it’s free, and takes mere seconds. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2013, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-police-procedurals-becoming-self-parodies/673363/25 "2013-11-08T18:17:52Z")
> [@Justin\_Bailey](#): > > Did you explore that link at all? All of the pictures are behind a paywall. It actually just requires a free registration. But there are ways to get around a paywall, most obviously by paying the subscription. **Criminal Minds** would certainly have the budget to do it. ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2013, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-police-procedurals-becoming-self-parodies/673363/26 "2013-11-08T18:39:33Z")
Garcia has a positronic thumb drive in her thumb. Pay attention to the show! Jeez… ---
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2013, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-police-procedurals-becoming-self-parodies/673363/27 "2013-11-08T18:47:13Z")
The procedural thing every cop show since '68 does that bugs me is the Miranda thing. The cop is still fighting to get the cuffs on a guy and he’s huffing and puffing _“you…have…[gasp]…the right…to…[huff-puff]…remain silent!”_ This is complete nonsense. ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2013, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-police-procedurals-becoming-self-parodies/673363/28 "2013-11-08T19:31:01Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > It actually just requires a free registration. Whatever. My point is, they wouldn’t be available in Garcia’s Magic Database of Mystery. According to the show, all of the information related to a person’s high school life is meticulously cataloged in her database with separate fields for name, activities, grades, former addresses, current address, disciplinary problems, girlfriends, boyfriends, weight, and whether or not they cheated on a test in 8th grade but old Mr. Cherry let it slide so it was never reported. There’s also an individual school age picture, which the Classmates link does not provide. ---
**Author:** ![Morbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morbo/32/389_2.png) [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2013, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-police-procedurals-becoming-self-parodies/673363/29 "2013-11-08T20:10:58Z")
CSI always cracks me up. If I lived in Miami and visited that police station, or even saw one of those Humvees, I’d probably want to have a discussion with my local commissioner about what I’m paying for. And I love that they’re doing detective work. I imagine if they showed up at my door it would go something like this: “CSI. We’d like to ask you some questions.” “I’m sorry…who are you?” “CSI. Where were you on–” “Sorry, still not getting it. Are you the Police?” “Crime Scene Investigators. Where were you–” “So, like, the medical examiners? Lab techs? Not the Police?” “Crime Scene Investigators. Where were you–” “Yeah, I’m not talking to you.” ::shuts door:: “Hey! CSI!” ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2013, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-police-procedurals-becoming-self-parodies/673363/30 "2013-11-08T20:16:13Z")
> [@Odesio](#): > > You think it might have been possible to frame your reply without being an asshole? If you want to call someone an asshole, do it in the Pit, not Cafe Society. **twickster** , Cafe Society moderator ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2013, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-police-procedurals-becoming-self-parodies/673363/31 "2013-11-08T20:56:49Z")
This is why I like Castle. They use a white board not those magic screens where the star swipes their hand to zoom in. I can probably find a white board at my local police station, but I’d bet big $ I can’t find a magic screen there. ---
**Author:** ![Sauron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce7236/32.png) [@Sauron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sauron)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2013, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-police-procedurals-becoming-self-parodies/673363/32 "2013-11-08T21:14:30Z")
> [@armedmonkey](#): > > Abby, zoom in on that bottom part. > Focus on the center section and enhance. > There it is. That’s the killer’s M.O. That’s funny right there, I don’t care who you are. ---
**Author:** ![obfusciatrist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/4af34b/32.png) [@obfusciatrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/obfusciatrist)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2013, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-police-procedurals-becoming-self-parodies/673363/33 "2013-11-08T21:57:44Z")
What I like about NCIS is the amount of time they apparently spend on fancy PowerPoint presentations for when Gibbs walks in and says “update.” ---
**Author:** ![GargoyleWB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gargoylewb/32/199_2.png) [@GargoyleWB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GargoyleWB)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2013, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-police-procedurals-becoming-self-parodies/673363/34 "2013-11-08T22:04:14Z")
I’m old, so I prefer it when Rockford and Dee Dee shake down a snitch, slip Huggy Bear a $20 to look the other way, and get the evidence to Quincy just in time for Hunter to one-up the D.A. in the courtroom at the last minute. ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2013, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-police-procedurals-becoming-self-parodies/673363/35 "2013-11-08T23:26:34Z")
Cannon and Barnaby Jones had one up on all of them. And if we could just Get Christie Love, well, that’s all she wrote, Jessica. . ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2013, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-police-procedurals-becoming-self-parodies/673363/36 "2013-11-08T23:58:31Z")
> [@obfusciatrist](#): > > What I like about NCIS is the amount of time they apparently spend on fancy PowerPoint presentations for when Gibbs walks in and says “update.” Meh. That’s two key strokes for Tim. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2013, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-police-procedurals-becoming-self-parodies/673363/37 "2013-11-09T01:01:11Z")
> [@GargoyleWB](#): > > I’m old, so I prefer it when Rockford and Dee Dee shake down a snitch, slip Huggy Bear a $20 to look the other way, and get the evidence to Quincy just in time for Hunter to one-up the D.A. in the courtroom at the last minute. Hey, Huggy always new what the word on the street was! The CSI guys questioning witnesses kills me. Would this not taint them as witnesses at trial? ---
**Author:** ![JLRogers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ce73a5/32.png) [@JLRogers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JLRogers)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2013, 7:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-police-procedurals-becoming-self-parodies/673363/38 "2013-11-09T07:33:15Z")
> [@GargoyleWB](#): > > I’m old, so I prefer it when Rockford and Dee Dee shake down a snitch, slip Huggy Bear a $20 to look the other way, and get the evidence to Quincy just in time for Hunter to one-up the D.A. in the courtroom at the last minute. I prefer my detectives to be prepared for rain and want to know what you paid for those shoes. ---
**Author:** ![Jeff\_Lichtman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeff_lichtman/32/1531_2.png) [@Jeff\_Lichtman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff_Lichtman)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2013, 8:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-police-procedurals-becoming-self-parodies/673363/39 "2013-11-09T08:07:14Z")
Someone should do an updated version of [Police Squad!](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0083466/?ref_=fn_tt_tt_1) to parody modern police shows. There’s so much material to work with. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2013, 8:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-police-procedurals-becoming-self-parodies/673363/40 "2013-11-09T08:13:10Z")
> [@Jeff\_Lichtman](#): > > Someone should do an updated version of [Police Squad!](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0083466/?ref_=fn_tt_tt_1) to parody modern police shows. There’s so much material to work with. Check out Charlie Brooker’s [A Touch of Cloth](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2240991/combined). For example: [the chase sequence](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B67xhWEOVlA) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-police-procedurals-becoming-self-parodies/673363.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-police-procedurals-becoming-self-parodies/673363.md?page=3)