‘Cops’ & Other Law Enforcement Themed Shows Axed From Paramount Network And A&E

‘Cops’ And Other Law Enforcement Themed Shows Pulled From Paramount Network and A&E

The Paramount Network has officially pulled the plug on ‘Cops’ amid the uproar and protests against the recent cases of police brutality happening in the country. A spokesperson from the Paramount Network released a statement stating,

“Cops is not on the Paramount Network and we don’t have any current or future plans for it to return”

Paramount Network acquired the show from SpikeTv in 2013 after Fox ended the show after 25 seasons. When SpikeTV rebranded into the Paramount Network, they began showing reruns and new episodes of the show.

Old episodes of ‘Cops’ can still be seen on WGN America and the streaming service owned by Viacom, Pluto TV. According to sources of the Hollywood Reporter, WGN America’s contract with ‘Cops’ expires at the end of June but the network does not have any plans on renewing the contract. Pluto TV actively shows ‘Cops’.

The 33rd season of the show was scheduled to premiere on Monday June 8, but no episode has aired on Paramount Network since June 1, when protests against police brutality and in support of the Black Lives Matter movement proceeded across the country.

‘Cops’ originally premiered on Fox in 1989 and has come under fire in recent years for its depiction of law enforcement and the questionable practices behind the scenes.

‘Cops’ was the subject of a podcast hosted by Dan Taberski, called “Running from Cops”. The podcast chronicled hundreds of episodes of the show. Dan Taberski and his team detailed multiple instances where people allegedly were coerced into signing waivers and how production allegedly allowed the police to edit and remove anything that might paint them in a bad light.

Another law enforcement themed show is being pulled from the air amid the nationwide protests condemning police brutality. ‘Live PD’ which shows on A&E, follows cops and sheriffs — live, in real time, as they patrol various cities and counties across the country. ‘Live PD’ has been pulled from A&E and is currently being evaluated by the network in terms of the future of the show. In a statement to USA Today, a representative from the network stated,

“Out of respect for the families of George Floyd and others who have lost their lives, in consultation with the departments we follow, and in consideration for the safety of all involved, we have made the decision not to broadcast ‘Live PD’ this weekend.”

What are your thoughts on Live PD and Cops being pulled from the air in the midst of the nationwide protests against police brutality? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below.