# Bakersfield P.D.

Bakersfield P.D. is an American television sitcom that aired on Fox from September 14, 1993, until August 18, 1994.
The show was based in the police department of the city of Bakersfield, California. It was shot with naturalistic lighting and without a laugh track. The show's theme song, "Busy Office Rhumba," was written by Mark Mothersbaugh and performed by Brave Combo.
Fox canceled the show after one season, citing low ratings. The cable channel Trio reran the show under its "Brilliant But Cancelled" umbrella.

## Cast

* Giancarlo Esposito as Det. Paul Gigante
* Ron Eldard as Det. Wade Preston
* Chris Mulkey as Denny Boyer
* Tony Plana as Luke Ramirez
* Jack Hallett as Capt. Aldo Stiles
* Brian Doyle-Murray as Sgt. Phil Hampton

## Ratings

* 1° Season: #104 – 4.26 rating

## Episodes

| # | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date | Prod. code |
| 1 | "Pilot" | Dean Parisot | Larry Levin | September 14, 1993 (1993-09-14) | P401 (?) |
| Debut: Washington DC police detective Paul Gigante (Giancarlo Esposito), who's half black and half Italian, moves to Bakersfield, California, where he's teamed with a white partner (Ron Eldard) obsessed with African-American culture. First up: Paul gets a rude welcome when his new partner commandeers his car. Sergeant Hampton: Brian Doyle-Murray. ||||||
| 2 | "The Imposter" | Dean Parisot | Larry Levin & Jeff Nathanson | September 21, 1993 (1993-09-21) | P404 |
| Paul and Wade try to track down a con artist with the help of a star-struck volunteer police artist (Laura Innes), who captures the likenesses of suspects – and celebrities. Dr Harbor: Allan Wasserman. Stiles: Jack Hallett. ||||||
| 3 | "Unsolved Mysteries of Love" | Dean Parisot | Larry Levin | September 28, 1993 (1993-09-28) | P403 |
| While he investigates a burglary with Paul, a young woman (Marianna Elliott) steals Wade's heart. Meanwhile, Captain Stiles tries to weasel out of the department's blood drive. Dwight: Patrick Kilpatrick. ||||||
| 4 | "The Snake Charmer" | Bryan Gordon | Dennis Klein & Richard Dresser | October 5, 1993 (1993-10-05) | P405 (?) |
| Sgt Hampton's out of town, so an indecisive Capt Stiles decides to make Paul his right-hand man – and decision-maker – for a day. Jessie: Diane Delano. Woman: Marnie Crossen. Criminal: Rolando Molina. ||||||
| 5 | "The Poker Game" | Dean Parisot | Dennis Klein | October 12, 1993 (1993-10-12) | P406 |
| Wade hosts a police poker game in which Paul raises the stakes, then the ire of some fellow officers when he wins. Lewis: Todd Field. Doug: John Fleck. Prisoner: Andrew Craig. ||||||
| 6 | "The Bust" | Dean Parisot | Richard Dresser | October 19, 1993 (1993-10-19) | P402 |
| Paul tells Wade the very private reason he had for moving his family to Bakersfield, and it doesn't take much detective work for the other officers to learn the secret. ||||||
| 7 | "The Ex-Partner" | Nick Marck | Story by : Richard Dresser Teleplay by : Dennis Klein & Jeff Nathanson | October 26, 1993 (1993-10-26) | P408 |
| Wade is jealous when Paul's former partner (Bill Nunn) comes to town, and Capt Stiles ponders the future amid rumors that Sgt Hampton may retire. ||||||
| 8 | "Bakersfield Madam" | Nick Marck | Richard Dresser | November 2, 1993 (1993-11-02) | P407 |
| During a sting, Capt Stiles hides in a restroom rather than deal with a madam's black book containing the names of several influential johns. Mayor: Richard Bradford. Kimberly: Sherrie Rose. Guy: John Blevins. ||||||
| 9 | "Cable Does Not Pay" | Ken Kwapis | Dennis Klein & Jeff Nathanson & Richard Dresser | November 9, 1993 (1993-11-09) | P409 |
| Wade tried to persuade Paul to lighten up. Meanwhile, Boyer takes the detective's test, but doesn't detect a hostage situation in the captain's office. Russell: William H Macy. Childs: Alan Royal. ||||||
| 10 | "The Gift" | Dean Parisot | Jeff Nathanson | November 16, 1993 (1993-11-16) | P410 |
| Wade is overwhelmed when one of his crime-show heroes, Joe Santos (Det Becker on "The Rockford Files"), visits the station. Meanwhile, Paul feels the strain on his long-distance marriage. Leo: Norm Skaggs. Ed: Mark Boone Jr. ||||||
| 11 | "The President's Coming" | Ken Kwapis | Larry Levin & Jeff Nathanson | November 23, 1993 (1993-11-23) | P411 |
| Most of the department is left out of the loop when Secret Service agents arrive to protect the Presidential motorcade as it passes through town. Agt Wilder: Willie Carpenter. Agt Ketron: Jeremy Roberts. ||||||
| 12 | "A Bullet for Stiles" | Michael Engler | Dennis Klein & Jeff Nathanson & Larry Levin | November 30, 1993 (1993-11-30) | P412 |
| A thief (Jonathon Gries) is released from prison and comes to Bakersfield to exact revenge on Capt Stiles, the cop who caught him ten years earlier. Donna: Beth Grant. Ann Lester: Christine Estabrook. ||||||
| 13 | "Lucky 13" | Dean Parisot | Larry Levin and Dennis Klein & Jeff Nathanson | December 21, 1993 (1993-12-21) | P413 |
| Denny (Chris Mulkey) is suspended without pay and resorts to selling underwear from his car. Meanwhile, Paul and Wade attempt to solve a cow-napping. Marnie: Melora Walters. Donna: Beth Grant. ||||||
| 14 | "Arms and the Men" | Ken Kwapis | Dennis Klein | July 7, 1994 (1994-07-07) | P414 |
| First up: a severed arm is found in the city's water supply. Denny: Chris Mulkey. ||||||
| 15 | "There Goes the Neighborhood" | Tim Hunter | Larry Levin | July 21, 1994 (1994-07-21) | P415 |
| Denny's happy that Paul is looking for a home of his own, until he hears that Paul may buy a house in his neighborhood. Denny: Chris Mulkey. Uncle Powell: Brandon Maggart. Tom Tom: Ramon Franco. ||||||
| 16 | "The Psychic and the C-Cup" | Dean Parisot | Story by : Peter Giambalvo Teleplay by : Jeff Nathanson | July 28, 1994 (1994-07-28) | P416 |
| Wade consults a visionary to help him locate a missing psychic; Luke (Tony Plana) proves his manliness to Denny (Chris Mulkey); and Capt Stiles attends a mayor's luncheon. Brenda: Jodie Markell. Kyle: John Glen Bishop. Shelly Krane: Gloria Dorson. ||||||
| 17 | "Last One into the Water" | Dean Parisot | Dennis Klein | August 18, 1994 (1994-08-18) | P417 |
| Paul discovers Wade's caring side; Denny (Chris Mulkey) picks a fight with some firefighters; and Capt Stiles is in hot water over a new spa. Darian: Dan Castellaneta. ||||||