William ConradJason McCabe
Joe PennyJake Styles
Alan CampbellDerek MitchellWhy it may be worth watching
- Jake and the Fatman combines Drama and Crime storytelling.
- The principal cast includes William Conrad, Joe Penny, Alan Campbell.
- Viewers currently rate it 6.2/10 from 56 votes.
TV series
Jake and the Fatman
Jake and the Fatman is a television crime drama starring William Conrad as prosecutor J. L. "Fatman" McCabe and Joe Penny as investigator Jake Styles. The series ran on CBS for five seasons from 1987 to 1992. Diagnosis: Murder was a spin-off of this series.
More detailsEpisodes
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Viewing guide
Is Jake and the Fatman right for you?
Who may enjoy it
Best suited to viewers looking for Drama, Crime, Action & Adventure. The available catalogue spans 5 seasons.
Content notes
A regional age classification is not currently listed. Metadata signals include violence or peril. Ratings vary by country; use this as a quick screening note rather than a complete parental guide.
Themes and topics
private investigatorcriminalbuddy copcrime investigation
How it compares
Viewing guidance uses the title details shown on this page; classifications may differ by region.
Community
Reviews
GenerationofSwineExternal review ·
Magnum P.I., Riptide (my personal favorite), Simon & Simon, and all the other little detective shows that were on during the late 70s and early 80s network battles were light entertainment.
It's not to say that they weren't great entertainment, but just that the tone of the shows were less stressful and more family friendly.
Jake and the Fatman got a bit darker. The action and comedy were still there, but it sort of feels like the older sibling of detective shows. And it does so in almost the same way that Columbo feels like the adult in the room …
Read full review
Magnum P.I., Riptide (my personal favorite), Simon & Simon, and all the other little detective shows that were on during the late 70s and early 80s network battles were light entertainment.
It's not to say that they weren't great entertainment, but just that the tone of the shows were less stressful and more family friendly.
Jake and the Fatman got a bit darker. The action and comedy were still there, but it sort of feels like the older sibling of detective shows. And it does so in almost the same way that Columbo feels like the adult in the room of detective shows from that era.
However, it's still entertaining fair that I would love to see brought back in some form. Buddy detective shows are a lot better than police
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