Procedural TV Shows (
)

Shows that focuses on how crimes are solved or some other aspect of a law enforcement agency, legislative body, or court of law. Some dramas include a lab or conference room with high-tech or state-of-the-art equipment where the main characters meet to work out the problem. Shows usually have an episodic format that does not require the viewer to have seen previous episodes. Episodes typically have a self-contained, also referred to as stand-alone, plot that is introduced and resolved within the same episode.

Law & Order

Dick Wolf’s seminal program about cops and lawyers ran for 20 years, and in that time only one main character was a lesbian. Chung Chung indeed.

Network:
Airdates: 1990 - 2010

Law & Order: LA

The criminal justice system in LA is less interesting than NYC.

Network:
Airdates: 2010 - 2011

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

In criminal justice, there are crimes that pretty much freak out everyone. These are their stories.

Network:
Airdates: 1999 - current

Line of Duty

The investigations of AC-12, a controversial police anti-corruption unit.

Network: ,
Airdates: 2012 - 2021

Lip Service

A British television series about a group of lesbians living in Glasgow, Scotland that only lasted 2 seasons. 🙁

Network:
Airdates: 2010 - 2012

Los Hombres de Paco

A (supposedly) comedy about a bunch of cops (Paco’s men). Given how the lesbians died, that whole ‘comedy’ claim is doubtful.

Network:
Airdates: 2005 - 2010

Lucifer

Lucifer, the original fallen angel, has become dissatisfied with his life in hell. It’s time for LA!

Network: ,
Airdates: 2016 - 2021

Matlock

You’ll have to wait until the last second to know whodunnit.

Network: ,
Airdates: 1986 - 1995

Murdoch Mysteries

Toronto at the turn of the 20th century needed a lot more cops who understood what the heck fingerprints are.

Network:
Airdates: 2008 - current

Nash Bridges

The show screamed “1980s!” Too bad it took place in 1996…

Network:
Airdates: 1996 - 2001

NCIS: New Orleans

Naval crime in the big easy.

Network:
Airdates: 2014 - 2021