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S.W.A.T. is a 1970s American television series about the adventures of the WCPD's Olympic Division Special Weapons And Tactics (S.W.A.T.) team operating in an unidentified Californian city. It was a spin-off of The Rookies (1972-1976) another police drama airing on ABC, and was a mid-season replacement, running on ABC from February 1975 to April 1976. Also, like The Rookies, it was produced by Aaron Spelling and Leonard Goldberg.

Its short life span (thirty-odd episodes) was in part because it was considered too violent at the time, although the violence it depicted is actually mild by today's television standards.^{[attribution needed]}

The show starred Steve Forrest as the unit's leader, Lt. 'Hondo' Harrelson, and Rod Perry as Hondo's second-in-command "Deke." The show also featured an early starring role by Robert Urich as Jim Street, one of the young team members.

The series is most famous for its fast tempo theme song which became a number one hit single in 1976 for Rhythm Heritage. The title sequence that used that piece was also familiar with the principal characters responding to a muster signal, grabbing their weapons and proceeding in lockstep to their specially-equipped transport van.

The first season of S.W.A.T. was released on DVD in 2003 to tie in with the release of the feature film. There has been no release date announced for season two.

• Steve Forrest as Lt. Dan "Hondo" Harrelson (team leader)
• Rod Perry as Sgt. David "Deacon" Kay (second in command)
• Robert Urich as Officer Jim Street
• Mark Shera as Officer Dominic Luca
• James Coleman as Officer T.J. McCabe (scout/sniper)
• Ellen Weston as Betty Harrelson (Hondo's wife) (recurring role)

• Though filmed in the Los Angeles area, the city in the series is otherwise unnamed. Shoulder patches show "W.C.P.D." and car door shields show "W.C. POLICE DEPARTMENT". In the movie, the officers are clearly identified as LAPD.
• In the series, all five members of the SWAT team get into the rear of their van when a call-out occurs. The driver "Hank" is an uncredited, non-speaking role.
• At the end of the film adaptation, Steve Forrest has a cameo role as the officer who drives the van. Rod Perry also has a cameo in the film as the uncle of "Deacon" Kay character.

• S.W.A.T. at the Internet Movie Database
• S.W.A.T. at TV.com
• S.W.A.T. at Jump the Shark
• Full episodes of S.W.A.T. free at AOL Video

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