McCloud

McCloud was an American television police drama that aired on NBC from 1970 to 1977. The title role was played by Dennis Weaver as Deputy U.S. Marshal Sam McCloud, a law officer from Taos, New Mexico on semi-permanent "special assignment" with the New York City Police Department.

Recurring Themes and Characters

The Westerner in New York City

The most enduring theme of the show was the conflict between the good-natured, clear-eyed buoyancy of McCloud and the metropolitan cynicism of the residents of New York City, including his fellow officers. McCloud's attire, typically consisting of a sheepskin coat or Western jacket, kerchief tie and cowboy hat, allowed for implied comic relief in many encounters with New Yorkers. That New Yorkers might mistake him for a naif because of his appearance occasionally worked to his advantage. He would often allay suspicion of his motives by insisting he was in New York "to observe and learn."

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The signature of McCloud's character was his Western unflappability and seeming inability to recognize an insult, especially from Clifford, whose jibes ("send in the sagebrush Sherlock Holmes") he never would take personally. Weaver's grin and drawling twang represented McCloud as the embodiment of the American law officer who always sees the good in people but knows the real stakes and spares no pain to catch the bad guy. The character's signature catch phrase was his line of encouragement, "there ya go," often received with bemusement or puzzlement by the listener.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Antagonism with Chief Clifford

Another recurring theme in the show was the conflict between McCloud and his superior, NYPD Chief of Detectives Peter B. Clifford, played in every episode but the pilot by J.D. Cannon. In the first episodes, their relationship was portrayed as somewhat amiable, with Clifford showing a wary respect for the unconventional Westerner assigned to his command. The relationship quickly soured, however, based mostly on McCloud's seeming disregard of authority combined with a charm that let him escape many of the consequences of his "cowboy-like" determination. Clifford's attitude to McCloud became one of cynical antagonism, bordering at times on apopletic rage, but sown with more or less grudging respect for McCloud's ability to solve intractable cases.

Related Topics:
J.D. Cannon - Cowboy - Apopletic

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Friendship with Sgt. Broadhurst

In many episodes, McCloud was partnered with Sgt. Joe Broadhurst, played by Terry Carter. Broadhurst, a New Yorker, was portrayed with a certain existential pessimism to counter McCloud's high spirits. Like Chief Clifford, Broadhurst felt himself wise to McCloud's peculiarities, but was without the anger, and usually wound up resigned to being drawn into McCloud's schemes to solve particular cases, sometimes against direct orders. He would then sometimes play the role of voluntary lightning rod for Clifford's anger, and absorb as much of the blame for McCloud's initiative as McCloud himself (Broadhurst served as acting Chief of Detectives three times during Clifford's absence, in "This Must Be the Alamo", "Return to the Alamo" and "'Twas the Fight Before Christmas...").

Related Topics:
Terry Carter - Existential - Lightning rod

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Other Characters

Other recurring characters on the show included the gravel-voiced Sgt. Grover, played by Ken Lynch, who seemed to be forever at his desk in the squad room. The ever-smiling but somewhat batty Sgt. Phyllis Norton was played by Teri Garr.

Related Topics:
Ken Lynch - Teri Garr

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Love Interests

McCloud was portrayed as something of a ladies' man, and the characters played by the frequent female guest stars would often fall for his protective charm. He was also given a recurring love interest, the tough-spoken but soft-hearted Chris Coughlin, played by frequent guest star Diana Muldaur, whose duties as newspaper writer ("never a reporter") sometimes came into conflict with McCloud's police work.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~