Television series
The Commish
Michael Chiklis anchors this ABC dramedy about a police commissioner in a small upstate New York town who solves problems with wit and unconventional methods rather than brutality. It's warm, funny, and grounded—a show that trusts humor and character work over procedural mechanics. Made for people who want their crime drama laced with genuine heart.
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Brooklyn Nine-Nine2013
A precinct comedy-drama that shares The Commish's belief that smart, funny cops who care about their community make for better television. Both juggle workplace dynamics with real emotional stakes.
But Significantly broader and more absurdist in its humor. If you want grounded realism, the cartoonish antics might feel off-tone.
Homicide: Life on the Street1993
Launched just after The Commish, this gritty Baltimore crime drama also treats cops as human beings first. Both shows respect the intelligence of their audience and their characters equally.
But Much darker and more procedurally dense. The philosophical weight can feel heavy compared to Eastbridge's lighter touch.
Psych2006
A detective show built on character chemistry and humor, where the fun of watching smart people work together matters more than case-of-the-week formulas. Both series earn their emotional beats through genuine relationship work.
But Much younger in sensibility and relies heavily on pop-culture references. The tone is consistently lighter than The Commish's mix.
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Northern Exposure1990
Both are small-town ensemble dramas built on the idea that place and character matter more than plot, and that humor is the best way to tell true things.
A small-town American dramedy from almost the same era, where an eccentric ensemble and a clever protagonist navigate absurd situations with real warmth and surprising emotional depth. The DNA is nearly identical: character-first storytelling, humor as truth-telling, a community that feels lived-in.
But Surreal and often quirky in ways The Commish never attempts. If you want straightforward crime procedurals, the magical-realism streak will derail you.
More like this (7)
Barney Miller1975
The spiritual ancestor: a sitcom set in a police precinct where the humor comes from character and situation, not cheap jokes. Shows how well-written police procedurals can be genuinely funny.
But Decidedly '70s in feel and much broader comedically. The show rarely reaches for dramatic weight the way The Commish does.
Hill Street Blues1981
The template for ensemble crime drama with heart. Like The Commish, it balances the everyday absurdity of police work with genuine stakes and character development across an ensemble.
But Considerably grittier and more cynical. The Commish's optimism and warmth are nearly the opposite of this show's tone.
Dragnet1951
The original procedural, but Jack Webb brought surprising humanity to police work. Both shows understand that the best crime drama isn't really about crime—it's about the people doing the work.
But Black-and-white, formally stiff, and deeply rooted in '50s sensibilities. The Commish feels modern by comparison in nearly every way.
In the Heat of the Night1967
Sidney Poitier and Rod Steiger navigate a tense case through wit and mutual respect. Both works understand that how you solve a problem—your character—matters as much as the solution itself.
But A serious racial drama, not a dramedy. The stakes and register are fundamentally heavier than The Commish's tone.
Columbo1968
Peter Falk's detective uses deception and charm instead of force, working through problems sideways. Like Tony Scali, Columbo is smarter than everyone in the room and enjoys solving things creatively.
But Procedurally inverted—we know the killer from the start. The puzzle is entirely different from The Commish's structure.
The Soft Kill1994
The inverse performance: Chiklis doing the opposite of what made Tony Scali work, showing range many fans of the series never knew he had.
Michael Chiklis in a rare film role, playing a completely different kind of character—a morally compromised man in a noir thriller. Watching the actor who plays a principled small-town commissioner navigate genuine darkness is revelatory and unsettling.
But Grim, cynical, and unpleasant in ways The Commish deliberately avoids. It's a downer thriller with no jokes and no warmth.
Miller's Crossing1990
Both explore how a principled man uses humor and intelligence to stay human in systems built to compromise or break him.
A Prohibition-era crime drama where smart people with honor navigate systems designed to corrupt them. Like The Commish, it's about a man maintaining integrity and using his wits in a world that rewards shortcuts. The dialogue is sharp enough to cut yourself on.
But Stylized, dense, and deliberately obscure in plot and reference. Coen Brothers baroque; nothing like the clarity of a television procedural.
People
Cast
Writing
- Stephen J. CannellCreator
- Stephen KronishCreator
Production
- Alan CassidyCo-Producer
- Robert CochranCo-Producer
- Stephen J. CannellExecutive Producer
- Stephen KronishExecutive Producer
- John P. KousakisProducer
- Glen MorganSupervising Producer
- James WongSupervising Producer
- Jo Swerling, Jr.Supervising Producer