Synopsis
Canceled by ABC at the end of its fourth season, the weekly, hour-long cop drama T.J. Hooker was picked up by CBS for 19 additional episodes, to be telecast during the 1985-1986 season. Because the series would now be seen in the late night hours rather than in prime time, the producers were forced to cut budgetary corners. Stars
William Shatner (Sgt. T.J. Hooker),
Heather Locklear (Officer Stacy Sheridan), and
James Darren (Officer Jim Corrigan) were willing to take salary cuts in order to keep their series alive. But co-star
Adrian Zmed said "no" to a lowered salary -- and thus, T.J. Hooker did without the services of Zmed and his character, Officer Vince Romano, for its fifth and final season. The initial CBS episode is built around the kidnapping of T. J. Hooker's daughter Chrissie, played by Jennifer Beck (taking over from
Nicole Eggert, who'd outgrown the role). In another domestic development,
John McLiam is seen as T.J.'s ex-police detective dad, John P. Hooker, in "Return of a Cop." Also,
William Shatner doubles as star and director for a brace of episodes, "
Shootout" and "Partners in Death," the latter written by Shatner's daughter Lisabeth Shatner. Finally, co-star
James Darren likewise gets to wield the megaphone in another episode, "
Into the Night." Of the remaining fifth-season installments, the two-part "
Blood Sport" has since its original telecast sometimes been syndicated as a stand-alone "TV movie." ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide