Television series

Jake and the Fatman

Name: Jake and the Fatman
Genre: Drama, Crime
Released: 1987
Cast: William Conrad, Joe Penny, Alan Campbell

A buddy-cop procedural pairing a crusty veteran DA with a smooth private investigator. Straightforward crime-solving with charm over complexity, anchored by William Conrad's gruff magnetism. Perfect if you want competent mystery-of-the-week TV that doesn't ask much but delivers consistent, easy comfort.

TVMaze rating

3.9

Should you watch it?

Watch it if you enjoy old-school case-of-the-week procedurals where the pleasure is in the banter between two mismatched partners and a courtroom-and-street rhythm that never feels rushed.

Skip it if you want serialized mysteries with a slow-burning arc or modern, gritty stakes; this is episodic comfort TV, and its polish belongs firmly to the 1980s.

What it asks of you: Each hour asks for little more than attention to the next case, and it runs a full hour per episode across five seasons, so settling in for a long stretch is part of the deal.

Not sure? Find tonight's pick in a minute.

If you liked this

Magnum, P.I.1980

A private investigator in Hawaii solving crimes with style and humor. Like Jake and the Fatman, it's character-driven procedural work elevated by charisma and the chemistry between leads who genuinely enjoy each other's company.

But The show leans heavily on 1980s production values and some cases resolve too neatly. If you need darkness or moral complexity, this isn't it.

Matlock1986

An older lawyer who outsmarts criminals through wit and persistence, solving mysteries with an aw-shucks demeanor that hides sharp intelligence. Same DNA as Fatman: the older pro who's seen it all and stays one step ahead.

But Andy Griffith's folksy routine can feel saccharine. The resolutions are often obvious, and the formula rarely surprises.

Murder, She Wrote1984

Jessica Fletcher solves murders wherever she goes with intelligence and intuition. Like Jake and the Fatman, it's comfort-watch procedural work with a lead character so charismatic that you're happy spending time in their company.

But Implausible coincidences pile up quickly. The writing varies wildly in quality across seasons, and it can feel repetitive.

Not sure tonight? Get a pick in a minute, starting from Jake and the Fatman

The wildcard

Something you would not have found on your own.

In the Heat of the Night1988

Both shows turn on an older authority figure and a younger partner who actually listen to each other. The procedural work matters less than the relationship.

Carroll O'Connor as a small-town Southern police chief working cases with a younger partner from the big city. The partnership drives everything: mutual respect, real friction, and humor that arises from character rather than jokes. Smarter than the title suggests.

But Heavy-handed on social issues and sometimes overwrought. If you want pure entertainment without the show's moral freight, skip it.

Perry Mason1957

The prototype for the lawyer-solving-crimes show. Sharp, fast-paced cases with real ingenuity in the plotting. If you like Fatman's legal know-how driving the investigation, this is where that DNA comes from.

But Black-and-white and deliberately paced for 1950s television. Some viewers find it too slow; others think the certainty of guilt before trial is quaint.

Mannix1967

A private investigator who runs on instinct and legwork, solving cases through persistence and charm. Pairs action with genuine detective work. The buddy dynamic here feels similar—two competent people who respect each other's talents.

But Dated action sequences and a sometimes patronizing attitude toward female characters. The pacing can drag.

The Rockford Files1974

James Garner as a PI who solves cases through cunning, humor, and a little con-artist savvy. Smarter writing than most procedurals, with real character work underneath the mysteries. This is the gold standard.

But It's genuinely better than Jake and the Fatman, which might make going backwards feel like a step down. Some cases are stronger than others.

Simon & Simon1981

Two brothers—one rough, one polished—work together as PIs. The contrast between them is the whole appeal, and their banter feels real. If you loved Jake and Fatman's partnership, this nails that same dynamic with different personalities.

But Episodic crime-solving can feel thin. The show doesn't build toward anything larger; each case is isolated.

Barnaby Jones1973

An older, retired private investigator pulled back to solve his son's murder, then stays in business. Gentle but sharp, with a protagonist who relies on experience and observation. Same comfort as Fatman but with more melancholy underneath.

But Very slow by modern standards. The mysteries are often obvious to anyone paying attention, and the pacing assumes you're not trying to solve it yourself.

Quincy, M.E.1976

A medical examiner who investigates deaths that don't add up, dragging reluctant cops into complex cases. Procedural work done seriously, with Jack Klugman bringing weight to the role. If you like smart investigation, this delivers it.

But The formula hardens over time. It can feel preachy, and Quincy's always right in ways that stretch credibility.

L.A. Confidential1997

Both are fundamentally about how you solve crimes when your partner sees the world differently than you do. The partnership is the story.

A detective procedural set in 1950s LA about cops solving murders while navigating corruption and ambition. Tightly plotted, gorgeously made, and the lead characters work together despite their differences. Crime work done with real craft.

But Two hours instead of sixty episodes, so it's more intense and less comfortable. Darker in tone, with violence that actually matters. If you want to relax, this demands your attention.

Night Court1984

Both are set inside the legal system where cases emerge from real human chaos. But where Jake and the Fatman solves mysteries, Night Court reveals that the system itself is the mystery.

A night shift municipal court judge hears cases from the city's margins—absurd, tragic, funny, human. Not a procedural at all, but comedy-drama about how justice actually works on the ground. Fatman is serious; this finds the ridiculous in the legal system he inhabits.

But Tonal whiplash between jokes and genuine sadness. Some episodes resolve their cases too glibly given the stakes. Can feel frivolous when it should be serious.