This is an episode list for the 1951 television crime drama series '' Dragnet''. The series pilot premiered on NBC on December 16, 1951. A total of 276 episodes aired between December 1951 and August 1959. ''Dragnet'' was on both radio and television from December 1951 through February 1957. When the first ''Dragnet'' movie came out in September 1954, it was available on radio, TV and in the theatres for a while. Jack Webb directed all the episodes; James E. Moser, John Robinson and Frank Burt wrote the majority of the screenplays during the 8 season run of the show. Series star Jack Webb also wrote a handful of episodes, as did co-star Ben Alexander.

Barton Yarborough William Barton Yarborough (October 2, 1900 – December 19, 1951) was an American actor who worked extensively in radio drama, primarily on the NBC Radio Network. He is famous for his roles in the Carlton E. Morse productions '' I Love a M ...

portrayed partner Sgt. Ben Romero in episodes 1 & 2. In episode 3, although announced as Sgt. Friday's partner, Romero does not appear, and Friday works with Sgt. Bill Cummings (portrayed by Ken Peters). After Yarborough's death on December 19, 1951, Friday's partner became Sgt. Ed Jacobs, portrayed by

Barney Phillips Bernard Philip Ofner (October 20, 1913 – August 17, 1982), better known by his stage name Barney Phillips, was an American film, television, and radio actor. His most prominent roles include that of Sgt. Ed Jacobs on the 1950s '' Dragnet' ...

, effective from episode #4 until the end of season one. For season two, Kenneth Patterson portrayed Officer Bill Lockwood in episode #15, after which Herb Ellis took the role of Officer Frank Smith. Ellis was replaced by Ben Alexander after five episodes, but because the shows didn't air in production order, Alexander's debut was episode #20, and Ellis' final appearance as Smith was episode #21. Alexander continued as Smith until the program's cancellation in 1959.Michael J. Hayde, ''My Name's Friday: The Unauthorized but True Story of Dragnet and the Films of Jack Webb'', Cumberland House, 2001,

Series overview

Episodes