Headlong: Running from COPS

Topic / Pineapple Street Media / Dan Taberski

4.6 (3.2K)
SOCIETY & CULTURE
SERIES

Dan Taberski and the team behind Missing Richard Simmons investigate COPS — the longest running reality show in TV history — and its cultural impact on policing in America. Our story begins with the footage of a routine arrest behind a church in Georgia...

EPISODE 1

The One-Celled Amoeba

How real is the longest running reality show in TV history? We begin our investigation of COPS.

36 min
EPISODE 2

Shooting Fish In A Barrel

What is it like to watch yourself on COPS when you can’t remember getting arrested?

35 min
EPISODE 3

Nothing Is Voluntary When You Have Handcuffs On

COPS producers claim every suspect on the show agrees in writing to appear on TV. Why would anyone sign that piece of paper? Plus: Who has final control over what airs on COPS, the producers or the police?

46 min
EPISODE 4

Mind Blown

An ex-cop breaks down some of the most shocking arrests we’ve watched on COPS and tries to imagine why police departments would want that footage out in the world. Plus, the next generation of COPS is LivePD — six hours a week of policing aired live. What could possibly go wrong?

43 min
EPISODE 5

The Worst Day Of Your Life

How does it feel to be hunted for months by police officers and camera crews, both of whom seem hellbent on putting you on TV?

41 min
EPISODE 6

That’s The Story

We get our hands on raw, unedited footage of COPS and finally answer the question we've been asking throughout our 18-month investigation: How real is COPS?

38 min
EPISODE 7 BONUS

Himalayan Salt Boy

One last story that shows how even the most innocuous police interactions, the ones COPS and Live PD air to get laughs, aren’t funny at all if you’re the one on TV.

16 min
EPISODE 8 BONUS

Black Lives Matter and an Update

Please consider giving to some of these organizations if you can:

4 min

See All (13)

Dan Taberski

Host

4.6

out of 5

3,229 Ratings

Unreal

Dec 13

Deedeleedee

Phenomenal investigative reporting, jarring and compassionate at every turn. And the final episode...no words.
Dan

Sep 15

Olivia E. H-Belew

This GUY DAN IS THE BEST PODCASTER BEST STORIES IN THE ENTIRE!!!… ENTIRE, literally the ENTIRE INTERNET
warrants

Oct 9

ryguyWV

i hate the type of policing highlighted here… that being said, one recurring theme seems to be warrants. almost everyone, when they have their information run… have warrants. don’t commit crimes, you don’t end up under arrest. i don’t see how people fail to get this concept. this seems to be virtue signal heavy.
Dan Taberski is the best

Aug 22

Amewx

The thing I like most about Dan Taberski is that he takes fascinating subjects and looks at them fairly objectively, without the excess of crazy sensationalism that saturate so many podcasts now. Not everything needs to be turned into a mystery, and I really appreciate his perspective, his steady, intelligent analysis. This podcast, which I waited way too long to listen to, is no exception. Shocking, but not sensational. Incredibly well done. His background in television production and his disillusionment with manipulative methods in entertainment really are such an asset. I will listen to anything he produces.

Dan Taberski and the team behind Missing Richard Simmons investigate COPS — the longest running reality show in TV history — and its cultural impact on policing in America. Our story begins with the footage of a routine arrest behind a church in Georgia...