I Stayed In on a Friday to Watch “On Patrol: Live.” And It Was More Fun Than Going Out.
Too tired to go out? Not enough cash for a cover at a bar? So, the options for a quiet Friday night are staying in and watching some good ol’ shows on cable. But are there even any good shows anymore? Shockingly, there’s at least one, “On Patrol: Live,” that is sure to restore your hopes that good television still exists.
Producers moved the real streets to a new network in REELZ, but the fan favorite continues to deliver the same on-the-ground action fans love as it follows police departments around the country with live cameras and body-cam footage. This allows viewers to get an inside look at the everyday experiences of police officers around the country.
From simple traffic stops to full-on take downs, host Dan Abrams isn’t kidding when he says that anything…anything…anything can happen.
Since its release in July 2022, “On Patrol: Live” has been a ratings phenomenon. “On Patrol: Live” has become the most watched show on cable for Friday and Saturday nights. The night of the premiere, nearly 400,00 viewers tuned in to see what action they could experience through their screens.
If you’re already a police officer, you can see how you wouldn’t need to watch the show. You eat, sleep and breath this action every day. After a long day on the road it makes sense for you to watch something non-law enforcement related. But for everyone else, what are you waiting for!? Not only is “On Patrol: Live” informative and educational about what police officers around the country face daily, it’s also entertaining as hell.
During a commercial, you should run to the kitchen and quickly make some popcorn for a snack. Because you will be on the couch for a while, and don’t want to miss anything. While watching you can tell the producers covered all corners of the United States. It’s important to highlight regional accents and to educate the youths about a sweet southern twang. The contrasting environments span from the West, the South, the Midwest, and even some in the East like New Jersey.
Some viewers have critiqued the show for having too many mundane clips about daily police tasks. For them, watching traffic stops isn’t the kind of entertainment they needed on a Friday night. But that’s a ridiculous, as the “On Patrol: Live” producers pride themselves on providing a show to the public that is authentic, real and transparent. You’ll be glued to your screen, enjoying the action within the safe walls of your own home. Besides there is more than enough edited and doctored media today that we could all use a dose of real and raw authenticity.
If you want a polished, unrealistic view of police work, feel free to turn on NCIS or re-runs of Hawaii Five-O.
“On Patrol: Live,” is one of those shows that will have you wondering, “How the hell is it midnight already?” However, you could watch “On Patrol: Live,” until the sun came up. Especially if you wanted to see officers in Nye County, Nevada, chase after a suspect into the desert. Yep, you read that right. A suspect fleeing into the middle of an open desert, into the boiling heat and officers yelling out that they have “no problem” chasing the suspect, named Kevin. It’s not everyday you can watch a cat-and-mouse chase in the desert but out of all the police pursuits in the desert, this should take the cake.
After several minutes of chasing, Kevin and officers start walking. But Kevin doesn’t give up yet. He continues to walk through the desert grass and cacti. Periodically looking over his shoulder, Kevin continued to walk away from officers, thinking that he could somehow escape like that… in the middle of the desert at a strolling pace. You don’t need to be an expert in pursuits to know that it’s pretty tough (and requires loads of patience) to chase someone into a desert—especially while wearing pounds of police gear. That scene alone is enough to call your friends and tell them you got “sick” right before your plans to go out for the night.
If you haven’t done so yet, you have to add REELZ to your favorites and set your DVR so you can watch “On Patrol: Live” every Friday and Saturday night. Do it. Now.
“On Patrol: Live” is an action-packed show that is refreshingly authentic and incredibly different in each episode. It gives an inside look into the everyday lives of police officers around the country. And in addition to being educational and entertaining, it’s bad ass. “On Patrol: Live” showcases individuals that dedicate their lives to serving and protecting the public. Looks like you and the rest of America are tuning in on Saturday nights too. The big question is how are we supposed to wait a week for the next episode?
