Car 54, Where Are You?

CAR 54, Where Are You? is considered one of the finest television comedies ever produced. Rather than portray the police as bumbling fools, producer/creator Nat Hiken chose to portray the characters as lovable and personable. Some of the episodes (especially the early episodes) are gems. From 1961 to 1963, Officers Toody and Muldoon were among the most unlikely patrol-car partners seen on a police force. Although they were assigned to New York's fictional 53rd precinct, a rundown area of the Bronx not generally considered a hotbed of hilarity, they always seemed to encounter more comedy than crime.

The first episode where Toody and Muldoon attempt to trick Sol into slipping his feet into plaster so they can get him a nice-fitting pair of shoes to help with his aging and sore feet, but keeping it a surprise, is one such example. And who can forget the Christmas episode from the first season with the poignant conclusion?

The comedy was invariably of the broad slapstick variety reminiscent of Mack Sennett. One episode even saluted the Keystone Cops! As usual, Bear Manor Media and author Martin Grams managed to put together a book that exceeds my expectations. Heck, anything from Grams is worth the cover price. What impressed me was the chapter about the patrol cars used on the program. In detail, the author explained that the cars were painted red instead of blue, so no one on the streets would mistake the fake car for a real one. The vehicle registration numbers for the cars are also included, so if you see one on display, you can verify whether it is a legit Car 54 patrol car or a replica. That's detail!

The book also explains why Charlie reprises his drunk skits repeatedly in the second season, the landlord sketch repeated, and why Al Lewis took center stage for many of the episodes (Joe E. Ross was momentarily fired from the series). Exclusive quotes from Fred Gwynne is also a plus. The detailed episode listing, broadcast history, cast list, plot summaries and behind-the-scenes stories make this a winner.

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