# 87th Precinct (TV series)

87th Precinct is an American crime drama starring Robert Lansing, Gena Rowlands, Ron Harper, Gregory Walcott and Norman Fell, which aired on NBC on Monday evenings during the 1961–1962 television season.

## Synopsis

The characters appeared in a series of novels and short stories written by Ed McBain. Lansing portrayed Detective Steve Carella, who worked in Manhattan's 87th precinct.
The 87th Precinct TV series differs from the books in that the series is explicitly set in New York. As well, the character of Roger Havilland in the books is violent, corrupt, and thoroughly disliked by the other members of the squad; for the TV series, he was transformed into an honest and respected veteran officer.
87th Precinct premiered on September 25, 1961 and ended on September 10, 1962.

## Cast

* Robert Lansing as Det. Steve Carella
* Norman Fell as Det. Meyer Meyer
* Gregory Walcott as Det. Roger Havilland
* Ron Harper as Det. Bert Kling

### Recurring

* Gena Rowlands appeared in 4 episodes as Steve's wife Teddy Carella, and was featured in the opening credits in those episodes in which she did appear.
* Paul Genge appeared in 5 episodes as Lt. Byrnes, the detectives' immediate superior officer.
* Ruth Storey appeared in 5 episodes as Meyer's wife, Sarah Meyer.
* Del McKinnon appeared in 7 episodes as medical examiner Dr. Blaney.

## Episodes

| No. | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date |
| 1 | "The Floater" | Herschel Daugherty | Teleplay by : Winston Miller Based on a novel by : Ed McBain | September 25, 1961 (1961-09-25) |
| 2 | "Lady in Waiting" | Alan Crosland Jr. | Teleplay by : Ed McBain Based on his novel : Killer's Wedge | October 2, 1961 (1961-10-02) |
| 3 | "Lady Killer" | Dick Moder | Teleplay by : John Hawkins Based on the novel by : Ed McBain | October 9, 1961 (1961-10-09) |
| 4 | "The Modus Man" | James Wong Howe | Finlay McDermid | October 16, 1961 (1961-10-16) |
| 5 | "Line of Duty" | Don Weis | Ed McBain | October 23, 1961 (1961-10-23) |
| 6 | "Occupation, Citizen" | Alan Crosland Jr. | Winston Miller | October 30, 1961 (1961-10-30) |
| 7 | "Killer's Payoff" | John Brahm | Teleplay by : Norman Katkov Based on the novel by : Ed McBain | November 6, 1961 (1961-11-06) |
| 8 | "The Guilt" | William D. Faralla | David Lang | November 13, 1961 (1961-11-13) |
| 9 | "Empty Hours" | Sidney Lanfield | Teleplay by : Richard Collins Based on the novel by : Ed McBain | November 20, 1961 (1961-11-20) |
| 10 | "My Friend, My Enemy" | Don Weis | Anne Howard Bailey | November 27, 1961 (1961-11-27) |
| 11 | "The Very Hard Sell" | Paul Stewart | Helen Nielsen from her short story | December 4, 1961 (1961-12-04) |
| 12 | "Til Death" | Alan Crosland Jr. | Teleplay by : Norman Katkov Based on the novel by : Ed McBain | December 11, 1961 (1961-12-11) |
| 13 | "The Heckler" | Dick Moder | Teleplay by : Richard Collins Based on the novel by : Ed McBain | December 18, 1961 (1961-12-18) |
| 14 | "Run, Rabbit, Run" | Tay Garnett | Donn Mullally | December 25, 1961 (1961-12-25) |
| 15 | "Main Event" | Herman Hoffman | William Fay | January 1, 1962 (1962-01-01) |
| 16 | "Man in a Jam" | James Sheldon | Donn Mullally | January 8, 1962 (1962-01-08) |
| 17 | "Give the Boys a Great Big Hand" | Don Weis | Teleplay by : Shimon Wincelberg Based on the novel by : Ed McBain | January 15, 1962 (1962-01-15) |
| 18 | "Out of Order" | Dick Moder | Jonathan Latimer | January 22, 1962 (1962-01-22) |
| 19 | "The Pigeon" | Don Weis | Story by : Rik Vollaerts Teleplay by : Rik Vollaerts & Raphael Hayes | January 29, 1962 (1962-01-29) |
| 20 | "A Bullet for Katie" | Herman Hoffman | Story by : James Bloodworth Teleplay by : Richard Collins & James Bloodworth | February 12, 1962 (1962-02-12) |
| 21 | "King's Ransom" | James Sheldon | Ed McBain Based on the novel by : Ed McBain | February 19, 1962 (1962-02-19) |
| 22 | "Feel of the Trigger" | Maurice Geraghty | John Hawkins Based on the short story by : Donald E. Westlake | February 26, 1962 (1962-02-26) |
| 23 | "Killer's Choice" | Don Weis | Teleplay by : Luther Davis & Richard Collins Based on the novel by : Ed McBain | March 5, 1962 (1962-03-05) |
| 24 | "Square Cop" | James Sheldon | Robert Hardy Andrews | March 12, 1962 (1962-03-12) |
| 25 | "Step Forward" | James Sheldon | Norman Katkov | March 26, 1962 (1962-03-26) |
| 26 | "Idol in the Dust" | Don Taylor | Donn Mullally | April 2, 1962 (1962-04-02) |
| 27 | "Ramon" | Maurice Geraghty | David Lang | April 9, 1962 (1962-04-09) |
| 28 | "New Man in the Precinct" | Don Taylor | Teleplay by : Robert O'Brien & James Gunn Based on a novel by : Ed McBain | April 16, 1962 (1962-04-16) |
| 29 | "The Last Stop" | Maurice Geraghty | Donn Mullally | April 23, 1962 (1962-04-23) |
| 30 | "Girl in the Case" | Herschel Daugherty | Richard Collins | April 30, 1962 (1962-04-30) |

## Home media

Timeless Media Group released the complete series on DVD in Region 1 in August 2012.