# The Bold Ones: The Protectors

The Bold Ones: The Protectors (also known as The Protectors, Deadlock or The Law Enforcers) is an American crime drama series that aired on NBC from 1969 to 1970; it lasted for seven episodes (including one pilot movie).
The Protectors was part of The Bold Ones, a rotating series of dramas that also included The New Doctors (with E. G. Marshall), The Lawyers (with Burl Ives) and The Senator (with Hal Holbrook). This was the shortest of the four series.

## Overview

The series stars Leslie Nielsen as Deputy Chief Sam Danforth, the deputy chief of police in a volatile California city. He is a conservative law and order type who is brought in from Cleveland to try to keep the lid on. Nielsen often has run-ins with the city's idealistic, liberal black DA, William Washburn played by Hari Rhodes.

## Cast

* Leslie Nielsen as Deputy Police Chief Sam Danforth the deputy chief of police in a volatile California city
* Hari Rhodes as the city's idealistic, liberal black District Attorney William Washburn, who often has run-ins with Sam Danforth.

### Guest stars

* Aldo Ray made one appearance as Edward Logan in the pilot movie: "Deadlock"
* Max Julien made one appearance as Coley Walker in the pilot movie: "Deadlock"
* Edmond O'Brien made one appearance as Warden Millbank in: "If I Should Wake Before I Die"
* James Broderick made one appearance as Father Hayes in: "A Thing Not of God"
* Frank Maxwell made two appearances as Mayor Alesi in: "The Carrier" and "A Case of Good Whiskey at Christmas Time"
* Michael Bell made two appearances as Sergeant Jack Miller in: "Draw a Straight Man" and "A Case of Good Whiskey at Christmas Time"

## Episodes

| Nº | Title | Directed by: | Written by: | Original air date |
| 0 | "Deadlock" | Lamont Johnson | Story by : William Sackheim and Roland Wolpert Teleplay by : Chester Krumholz and Robert E. Thompson | 22 February 1969 (1969-02-22) |
| 100-minute Pilot episode. Guest starring Aldo Ray, Dana Elcar, Ruby Dee, Beverly Todd, Max Julien, James McEachin, Mel Stewart, and Fred Williamson. |||||
| 1 | "A Case of Good Whiskey at Christmas Time" | Robert Day | Story by : Robert I. Holt Teleplay by : L.T. Bentwood and Betty Deveraux | 28 September 1969 (1969-09-28) |
| The builder of a high profile public housing project is murdered just as construction begins. District Attorney William Washburn has to walk a delicate line when he uncovers massive corruption during his investigation, as the publicity could jeopardize the project and lead to civil unrest. Guest starring Edward Andrews, Charles Drake, Amy Thomson, Lorraine Gary, and Fred Williamson. |||||
| 2 | "If I Should Wake Before I Die" | Daryl Duke | Story by : Jerrold Freedman Teleplay by : Adrian Spies | 26 October 1969 (1969-10-26) |
| Washburn decides to retry a well-spoken and charming convicted murderer who has managed to avoid execution for seven years through appeals he filed and argued on his own behalf. Washburn's case hinges on a newly discovered poem the man wrote the night of his first scheduled execution, which Washburn believes the jury will interpret as a confession. Guest starring Edmond O'Brien, Robert Drivas, Gene Evans, and Milton Selzer. |||||
| 3 | "Draw a Straight Man" | William Hale | Sam Washington | 14 December 1969 (1969-12-14) |
| Deputy Police Chief Danforth is under the microscope when accusations of police corruption surface after a series of robberies. Guest starring Michael Bell, Celeste Yarnall, Janine Gray, William Mims, Tom Reese and Peter Brocco. |||||
| 4 | "The Carrier" | Frank Arrigo | Story by : Paul Stein and Charles Watts Teleplay by : Mark Rodgers and Barry Trivers | 11 January 1970 (1970-01-11) |
| The death of a man carrying a plague from Asia leads the DA's office to a human trafficking ring. Guest starring Louise Sorel, Clifford David, Barbara Babcock, Frank Maxwell, Peter Mamakos, and Joseph V. Perry. |||||
| 5 | "A Thing Not of God" | Jerrold Freedman | Story by : Mark Rodgers and Harold Livingston Teleplay by : Mark Rodgers | 1 February 1970 (1970-02-01) |
| The DA's office gets involved with a case involving a church and an Army deserter who sought refuge there. Guest starring James Broderick, Lynn Carlin, John Rubinstein, Garry Walberg, and Peter Brocco. |||||
| 6 | "Memo from the Class of '76" | Daryl Duke | Story by : Jerrold Freedman Teleplay by : Benjamin Masselink | 8 March 1970 (1970-03-08) |
| The DA's office comes under the scrutiny of a group of angry parents when the police arrest a busload of students as part of a drug bust. Guest starring Norma Crane, Billy Gray, Peter Hooten, William Wintersole, Steve Pendleton, and Stuart Nisbet. |||||

## Home media

On September 15, 2015, Timeless Media Group released The Bold Ones: The Protectors- The Complete Series on DVD in Region 1.