for Jajasoon:
In addition to Jeremy's typically erudite references, I have a couple of
thoughts about DRAGNET:
 
1) It does well to recall that the DRAGNET (67, 68, u.s.w.) on Nick at
Night is the 2nd series by the name.  The original B&W version was somewhat
tougher, leaner, more typically crime-oriented (rather than "day-in-the-
life-of-an-aveage-cop" theme of the later show).
 
2) Thus, by the time the show reappeared, it was already a joke, having
been parodied countlessly by sources ranging from MAD magazine to Stan
Freberg to ROCKY AND BULLWINKLE.  Who watched the show and why they watched
might be an interesting audience study.  My guess is that, in general,
older folks might watch with a straight face but that their kids were falling
down laughing.
 
3) Webb also fits into a kind of subculture of "sensitive macho" types that
revolves around a particular integrity on the part of the character being
played while also demonstrating that he is not simply a boorish Mickey
Spillane type through his respect for women and his appreciation of certain
kinds of art and music.  Jazz (note PETE KELLY'S BLUES) seems to be an
especial touchstone to this type--Clint Eastwood is just a more sophisticated
(ok, and talented) version of the same.
 
--Don Larsson, Mankato State U., MN