Paramount Network cancels long-running reality show ‘Cops’

In 1989, media outlets nationwide clamored to cover the debut of “Cops.”

The documentary-style crime program promising an intimate look at the daily lives of law enforcement officers marked one of the earliest forays into reality TV — and many at the time couldn’t get enough.

“‘Vice’ was nice, but ‘Cops’ is tops,” read the headline on one Boston Globe article, comparing the reality show, which aired on Fox, to “Miami Vice,” the wildly popular NBC series that was approaching the end of its fiveseason run.

“Having no script to follow and no ponderous narration ... diluting its drama, ‘Cops’ delivers ‘real life’ TV that is as straightforward as a nightstick to the kidneys,” the Globe review said.

Those reviewers were right that audiences would love the formula.

“Cops” would go on to run for more than 30 years, enticing loyal viewers with tense scenes of foot chases, prostitution busts and drug house raids.

But as its popularity rose, social and criminal justice advocates charged that the very elements fans loved — namely raw footage of action-packed arrests — glorified officers, normalized questionable police tactics and reinforced racial stereotypes.

On Tuesday, “Cops,” which was scheduled to premiere its 33rd season this month, came to an unceremonious end after it was canceled amid widespread protests against racism and police brutality sparked by the May 25 death of George Floyd.

Tuesday’s announcement was widely praised by critics of the show and comes after episodes stopped airing on Paramount this month.