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.

Night Court

The goings on of the night shift at a wacky Manhattan municipal court, Criminal Court Part 2, presided over by a young, unorthodox judge, Harold T. “Harry” Stone.

Network:
Airdates: 1984 - 1992

NYPD Blue

Dennis Franz’s ass maybe turned some of us gay.

Network:
Airdates: 1993 - 2005

Orange is the New Black

Piper Chapman, a 30-something PR executive goes to prison for drug running with her ex-girlfriend Alex from 10 years ago. When she gets to prison — surprise — Alex is there too.

Network:
Airdates: 2013 - 2019

Owen Marshall: Counselor at Law

A legal drama about a compassionate defense attorney who defended various clients in Santa Barbara.

Network:
Airdates: 1971 - 1974

Person of Interest

You are being watched. The government has a secret system, a machine that spies on you every hour of every day. Thankfully we have Root and Shaw.

Network:
Airdates: 2011 - 2016

Psych

Shawn fakes being a psychic to solve crimes in Santa Barbara with his best friend Gus.

Network:
Airdates: 2006 - 2014

Rizzoli & Isles

The gayest non-gay show out there since Xena.

Network:
Airdates: 2010 - 2016

Rookie Blue

Officer Gail Peck (Charlotte Sullivan) was straight until she wasn’t. She doesn’t do the boys anymore at all, and protects Canada all out and proud. As much as Gail ever is.

Network: ,
Airdates: 2010 - 2015

Rosewood

Somehow FOX managed to do bisexuals without being terrible at first.

Network:
Airdates: 2015 - 2017

Scott & Bailey

The murders of Manchester are solved by these two ladies.

Network:
Airdates: 2011 - 2016

The Bill

Great Britain’s police drama series follows the activities in and around Sun Hill, a police station located in the fictional East London borough of Canley.

Network:
Airdates: 1984 - 2010

The Blacklist

FBI profiler, Elizabeth Keen, has her life uprooted when a criminal, Raymond Reddington, who has eluded capture for decades, turns himself in and insists on speaking only to her.

Network:
Airdates: 2013 - 2023