# Things I learned from watching TV cop shows **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** tv-shows-scripted\ **Created:** [May 9, 2023, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-i-learned-from-watching-tv-cop-shows/983820 "2023-05-09T18:54:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 20
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2023, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-i-learned-from-watching-tv-cop-shows/983820/381 "2023-06-07T21:03:09Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > In medical dramas, it’ll be slowly revealed that the love interest has a terminal disease and will either die in the doctor’s arms or leave town forever to spare him the agony of watching her die. In the 60s & 70s, this happened in one episode. These days, that story line plays out in the background over the whole friggin’ season. (Even though _everyone_ knows the woman is toast as soon as she showed interest in Dr. Wonderful.) ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2023, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-i-learned-from-watching-tv-cop-shows/983820/382 "2023-06-07T21:04:06Z")
> [@Cardigan](#): > > Everybody knows that when you take off your badge it’s okay at that point to be a vigilante! Nobody just “takes off” their badge. They slam it down on the chief’s desk and storm out. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Q](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/898d66/32.png) [@Johnny\_Q](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Q)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2023, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-i-learned-from-watching-tv-cop-shows/983820/383 "2023-06-07T23:20:54Z")
Or they toss it into the harbor, Still they’re back for the next episode/movie like nothing happened. “That’s the sixth badge this month, Howitzer!” ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2023, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-i-learned-from-watching-tv-cop-shows/983820/384 "2023-06-07T23:26:52Z")
My favorite “I’m turning in my badge” line, from a _ **Dirty Harry** _ movie: _Here’s a seven-point suppository for you!_ ---
**Author:** ![Dallas\_Jones](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dallas_jones/32/3277_2.png) [@Dallas\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dallas_Jones)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2023, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-i-learned-from-watching-tv-cop-shows/983820/385 "2023-06-07T23:36:10Z")
Well, I’d like to read this entire thread, but I ain’t got time for this shit. I’m retiring this afternoon. ---
**Author:** ![Biotop](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biotop/32/321_2.png) [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2023, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-i-learned-from-watching-tv-cop-shows/983820/386 "2023-06-07T23:43:16Z")
If a lone police detective tells you that there is a large group of police outside your desolate hideout and thus you should give up, you should not give up because there is not a large group of police outside your desolate hideout and the detective is on their own. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2023, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-i-learned-from-watching-tv-cop-shows/983820/387 "2023-06-07T23:57:16Z")
My mother was born in Missouri and taken to live in Chicago when she was seven or eight. She said the kids in Illinois teased her unmercifully about her accent. (She lost it completely long before I was born.) I’m from Minneapolis and have never said “aboot,” except when I’m channeling Bob and Doug MacKenzie. When I told some Torontonians I heard it used by a guy from the Maritimes, they insisted Canadians never talk like that! ---
**Author:** ![Dallas\_Jones](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dallas_jones/32/3277_2.png) [@Dallas\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dallas_Jones)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2023, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-i-learned-from-watching-tv-cop-shows/983820/388 "2023-06-08T00:10:04Z")
Final patrol, then it is back to the station to turn in my badge. Been bonding with my partner, he opened up to me and told me about his family, I talked to him about fishing and said that I was thinking of getting a boat now that I am retired and…something is going on just up ahead, we had better check it out. Someday an AI bot is going to find this thread, harvest the best parts, and start writing for TV. _ **Magnum, CPU** _ Up next after the news. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2023, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-i-learned-from-watching-tv-cop-shows/983820/389 "2023-06-08T00:28:19Z")
I used to be a company appointed official Mancunian translator. There’s just no reason for people to talk that way. And even worse they complain about other’s accents. It sounds cute when there’s a touch of it in speech like with the Beatles, but nobody needs to sound like they have mouth full of thumbtacks when they talk. ---
**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:** [June 8, 2023, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-i-learned-from-watching-tv-cop-shows/983820/390 "2023-06-08T01:18:03Z")
> [@solost](#): > > It was a joke. Did you not see the smirk emoji?!? Of course we Americans all have accents. > > I actually have a non-jokey theory as to why I think Brit actors are better at American accents (in general) than American actors are at Brit accents: Britain has so many diverse regional accents in a relatively small area that Brits are used to hearing a wide variety of subtle or not so subtle variations on their own accent every day; whereas Americans can go for long periods of time without hearing accent variations other than their own regional accent, besides TV or movies. I think that generally gives Brits a better ear for accent variations. In parts of the US you can get very different accents in a short distance. Go from NYC to Northern NJ to Central NJ to Philly and South Jersey and the accent changes completely. I lived 30 miles from my cousins on Staten Island and we sounded like we were from a different country. I forget which British actor it was who said it but I remember one saying that it’s easier for a Brit to do an American accent because it meant relaxing the mouth. An American actor has to tense up parts of their mouth and thought to do a British accent which is harder. I don’t do accents so that sounds good to me. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2023, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-i-learned-from-watching-tv-cop-shows/983820/391 "2023-06-08T01:24:00Z")
If you are an older cop who has begun to bond with your younger partner after initial conflict, do not, under any circumstances, show them a picture of your adorable teenage daughter. You’re a dead man. ---
**Author:** ![Asuka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@Asuka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asuka)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2023, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-i-learned-from-watching-tv-cop-shows/983820/392 "2023-06-08T01:30:16Z")
If your shift is already over and you’re driving back to the police station to clock out, if you happen to get just one last call, just ignore it and have someone else check it out. Because you’re either A Going to Die or B Going to be part of a hostage situation that won’t resolve itself until 12 hours later. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2023, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-i-learned-from-watching-tv-cop-shows/983820/393 "2023-06-08T01:49:39Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > Kenneth Branagh is the only Brit who can do an American accent _at all_. The showrunner for _House_ would disagree with you. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2023, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-i-learned-from-watching-tv-cop-shows/983820/394 "2023-06-08T02:14:27Z")
> [@Celtic\_Kitsune](#): > > I’ve never understood why American’s say this, for anyone from outside the USA your accent\* is quite distinct. > > \*well accents… Some regional accents are certainly , but some experts have said that some American speakers are more or less accent-less. > **[Is There a Place in America Where People Speak With Neutral Accents?](https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/neutral-american-accent)** > > Newscasters and Stephen Colbert seem to think the standard American accent exists. ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2023, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-i-learned-from-watching-tv-cop-shows/983820/395 "2023-06-08T02:26:02Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Some regional accents are certainly , but some experts have said that some American speakers are more or less accent-less. No, nobody who is an expert in language would say anyone didn’t have an accent. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2023, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-i-learned-from-watching-tv-cop-shows/983820/396 "2023-06-08T02:42:30Z")
British accents are odd though. On two separate occasions, I met someone in Canada who could identify _what neighbourhood_ of the British city where my father grew up. ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2023, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-i-learned-from-watching-tv-cop-shows/983820/397 "2023-06-08T02:50:03Z")
Yeah, the British have _more_ accents per square mile than Americans do, that’s uncontroversial, but _nobody_ who speaks at all can possibly _not_ have an accent. [Here’s a PDF which will serve as a cite](http://www.sfs.uni-tuebingen.de/~dm/04/spring/201/socio.pdf) because I do want to make this point: > [@](#): > > Everyone has an accent, just as everyone speaks a dialect. It’s not a question of “having” or “not having” an accent or dialect, it’s a question of which accent or dialect you speak with. The reason I want to make the point is because people who think there are ways of speaking “without an accent” tend to believe that people who _do_ have (what they regard as an) accent are uneducated, and possibly a lesser variety of person. It’s bigotry, and often the sibling to classism and racism. I do wish the cite wasn’t blatantly idiotic about Chinese (“one language, multiple dialects” my goddamned White ass) but you can’t have everything. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2023, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-i-learned-from-watching-tv-cop-shows/983820/398 "2023-06-08T03:56:24Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > An American actor has to tense up parts of their mouth and thought to do a British accent which is harder. I don’t do accents so that sounds good to me. A few years back, I played Theseus in a production of _ **A Midsummer Night’s Dream** _. The producer/director (a very, _very_ English woman) cast me in the role after I read for it in my “posh” (her word) British accent. The audience was a mix of native and non-native English speakers, and the Brits I chatted with in my normal voice after each performance invariably said “What, you’re _American_?!?” A fellow member of the cast (who really did speak with a posh British accent) said “The hardest thing for an American doing a British accent is to get the vowel sounds right, and yours are spot on.” I knew about the vowel sounds because I had been teaching English out of EFL textbooks printed in the UK for several years, and I spent hours going over the phonemic transcriptions of the vocabulary. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Q](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/898d66/32.png) [@Johnny\_Q](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Q)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2023, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-i-learned-from-watching-tv-cop-shows/983820/399 "2023-06-08T04:29:45Z")
If the police tell you you’re completely safe because there are X cops in the building, you’ve just been invited to play the Countdown Game. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2023, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-i-learned-from-watching-tv-cop-shows/983820/400 "2023-06-08T05:01:53Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > I remember one saying that it’s easier for a Brit to do an American accent because it meant relaxing the mouth. That’s why a Southern U.S. accent is so easy for me. Ah jes’ leh-muh mahth go all limp… I have a friend from Georgia, and I’ll pick up her accent in five minutes of talking to her. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-i-learned-from-watching-tv-cop-shows/983820.md?page=19) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-i-learned-from-watching-tv-cop-shows/983820.md?page=21)