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The Best Episodes of Adam-12

Every episode of Adam-12 ranked from best to worst. Let's dive into the Best Episodes of Adam-12!

Binge this in 3d 15h•Peaking at 9.3/10

Adam-12 is a television police drama that followed two police officers of the Los Angeles Police Department, Pete Malloy and Jim Reed, as they patrolled the streets of Los Angeles in their patrol unit, 1-Adam-12.

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
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    Adam-12 Season 3 Episode 8 - Log 105: Elegy for a Pig
    9.3/10(359 votes)

    S3:E8

    Officer Malloy pays tribute to Officer Tom Porter, who has recently fallen in the line of duty. Malloy recounts the close friendship they developed while training at the academy, as well as the moments where they crossed paths on duty, including the night of the officer's unfortunate demise.

    Director:Christian Nyby
    Writer:Norman Katkov

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  2. Adam-12 Season 4 Episode 5 - The Search
    9.0/10(206 votes)

    S4:E5

    1-Adam-12 is back on the streets after routine maintenance, but the radio isn't working properly. During an armed robbery involving two suspects, Reed captures one while Malloy takes off in pursuit of the other one through Griffith Park and loses control of the car, and it rolls into an embankment hidden from the road, with Malloy suffering severe internal bleeding and a broken leg. All available units are called in to search for Malloy, who has to watch helplessly while a suspect hiding in the park takes his shotgun (which Malloy was using as a splint for his leg) and sidearm, and tears off the radio microphone leaving only leaving the wires. Malloy uses the wires to send a signal for help, which Reed picks up and is able to rescue his partner.

    Director:James Neilson
    Writer:Stephen J. Cannell

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  3. Adam-12 Season 1 Episode 17 - Log 033: It All Happened So Fast
    8.7/10(192 votes)

    S1:E17

    It's been a long night of patrol for Malloy and Reed. Just as the two tired officers are headed to the station to turn in for the night, shots are fired at the patrol car. In the blink of an eye, Reed kills whom he believes was the gunman. Back at the station, Reed undergoes a night of intensive questioning from the captain and lieutenant, as part of the superior officers' investigation into the incident. In the end, the captain confides in Reed that his story is credible and the rookie officer will likely be allowed back on patrol upon the completion of the investigation.

    Director:Bruce Kessler
    Writer:Preston Wood

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  4. Adam-12 Season 7 Episode 8 - X-Force
    8.7/10(155 votes)

    S7:E8

    Malloy and Reed search for a six-year-old girl in a red sweater who was kidnapped. Malloy finds the girl in a neighbor's house – the neighbor has kidnapped and raped the girl, and she is unconscious. The perp attempts to escape, Malloy catches him and loses his cool when the suspect claims that the girl was "asking for it." The suspect files excessive force charges against Malloy, which he admits to; he knows he will be punished by his old mentor, Capt. Moore which may derail his ambition to become sergeant. Moore gives Malloy a four-day suspension for his actions. Other calls include rescuing a man who got stuck in the storm drain system.

    Director:Lawrence Doheny
    Writer:R. J. Wagar

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  5. Adam-12 Season 4 Episode 24 - The Wednesday Warrior
    8.6/10(119 votes)

    S4:E24

    Reed becomes preoccupied with the well being of a friend, an electrical engineer by profession, who has just qualified as a reserve police officer and has the bad luck of drawing Officer Wells as his partner. On patrol, Reed and Malloy help out a group of distrusting young adults who are planning to illegally camp in a public park after a rock concert, pull over a young couple in a stolen car and aid wells and the reservist in the foot chase of a heavily armed man who has been coercing innocent strangers into committing bank robberies.

    Director:James Neilson
    Writer:Stephen J. Cannell

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  6. Adam-12 Season 4 Episode 21 - Back-Up One L-20
    8.5/10(126 votes)

    S4:E21

    Malloy tries to prove Sgt. MacDonald's innocence when Mac accidentally hits and kills a jaywalker while driving his police cruiser. Every witness on the sidewalk claims she was in the crosswalk, and the burglary suspect MacDonald is transporting is unmotivated to testify on his behalf. The truth proves to be far more complicated than the officers realized.

    Director:James Neilson
    Writer:Stephen J. Cannell

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    The 20 WORST Episodes of Adam-12

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  7. Adam-12 Season 5 Episode 6 - Badge Heavy
    8.5/10(139 votes)

    S5:E6

    Officer Charlie Burnside pulls a prank on Officer Albert Porter, a friend of Reed's. Porter, who does not find the prank funny, informs Reed that Burnside is frequently "badge-heavy" (rough) with his suspects. After dealing with an inept would-be robber, Malloy and Reed observe Burnside choking a suspect. Reed reports the incident, but nothing is done by the Captain because the victim would not admit Burnside was the aggressor. Burnside turns cocky on Reed saying he has "an ace in the hole" and that Reed was mad about the prank he pulled on Porter, but it is later revealed that Burnside got to one of the robbers, placing him under investigation. At the end of watch, Burnside tries intimidating Reed, then tries brushing his intimidation off as a joke when he realizes the other officers are against him; when they all walk out, Burnside resigns.

    Director:Robert M. Leeds
    Writer:Stephen J. Cannell

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  8. Adam-12 Season 5 Episode 20 - Suspended
    8.5/10(119 votes)

    S5:E20

    Reed spends an evening on the firing range, then stops by an all-night grocery store. When Reed leaves, a man approaches him as if he knew him, then points out another man in a green Beetle holding a gun on the officer. Reed drops his groceries, shoves the man, jumps and fires at the Beetle driver, hitting the car, but the man in the Beetle shoots his accomplice. The grocer swears he only heard one shot, and the accomplice gives a dying declaration that Reed was trigger-happy and shot him, leading to Reed's suspension. Malloy and his by-the-book replacement partner locate the green Beetle (now yellow) after going through numerous DMV checks and locate the other man, exonerating Reed.

    Director:Sam Freedle
    Writer:Leonard F. Hill

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  9. Adam-12 Season 6 Episode 15 - Trouble in the Bank
    8.5/10(122 votes)

    S6:E15

    While on a quiet patrol, Reed decides to spend part of his lunch break doing business at his bank while Malloy waits in the patrol car. Unfortunately, he walks into the clutches of a pair of ruthless robbers who take him hostage.

    Director:Dennis Donnelly
    Writer:Jerry Thomas

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  10. Adam-12 Season 6 Episode 19 - Routine Patrol
    8.5/10(114 votes)

    S6:E19

    Malloy and Reed begin today's patrol by responding to a call of a drunken woman threatening the patrons of a bar with a handgun. Afterwards, they search for a group of four carjackers who go on a robbery spree after targeting a man with a cache of guns in his trunk, and investigate the suspicious death of a mentally disabled man.

    Director:Hollingsworth Morse
    Writer:Leo Gordon

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  11. Adam-12 Season 7 Episode 4 - Roll Call
    8.5/10(119 votes)

    S7:E4

    An 'officer needs help' call comes in with no callsign or location. The dispatcher starts a division wide radio "roll-call" in order to account for every officer on patrol. While the roll-call is going on, calls for service from the public still needs to be handled. When a motorcycle officer fails to check in when prompted, a division wide search is instituted to look for him, which Malloy & Reed are assigned to assist in.

    Director:Norman Abbott
    Writer:Walter Dallenbach

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  12. Adam-12 Season 7 Episode 11 - Christmas
    8.5/10(112 votes)

    S7:E11

    During their Christmas Eve Patrol, Malloy and Reed contemplate using their patrol car to deliver a Christmas tree to the residents of a soon-to-be-closed retirement home. Meanwhile, an elderly man's bagpipe playing is considered a public nuisance, a couple of teenagers steal a delivery truck containing radioactive material, a nervous man is desperate to cover up the smell of perfume on his clothing and an armed robbery suspect becomes intent on committing suicide-by-cop.

    Director:Norman Abbott
    Writer:James Bonnet

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  13. Adam-12 Season 7 Episode 19 - Suicide
    8.5/10(113 votes)

    S7:E19

    Malloy and Reed are on the lookout for a traveling business man driving a green pinto, who called his wife in Nebraska and told her he was going to commit suicide at 2 PM. Meanwhile, they search for a woman who abandoned her newborn baby in a garbage can, and get a tip from an elderly woman about a group of car strippers.

    Director:Dennis Donnelly
    Writer:Brian Taggert

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  14. Adam-12 Season 1 Episode 23 - Log 012: He Was Trying to Kill Me
    8.4/10(215 votes)

    S1:E23

    A "child-left-alone" call turns up a horrifying case of child neglect. A 6-year-old girl is left home with her baby brother and both parents are unable to provide for their children.

    Director:Hollingsworth Morse
    Writer:Robert I. Holt

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  15. Adam-12 Season 3 Episode 4 - Log 045: Bright Boy
    8.4/10(137 votes)

    S3:E4

    Reed and Malloy report to a burglary call that was witnessed by a boy with a photographic memory. Afterward, they are called to the scene of two drunk men shooting at a box of dynamite at close range in a residential area.

    Director:James Neilson
    Writer:John T. Dugan

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  16. Adam-12 Season 3 Episode 23 - Log 056: Vice Versa
    8.4/10(126 votes)

    S3:E23

    Malloy celebrates his birthday by having to let Reed drive 1-Adam-12 (due to Malloy allowing his driver's license to expire) and is nervous about his young partner driving the car. Calls include a bank robbery reported by the Bank robber, a burglary involving several neighbors, an abandoned baby, a suicidal wife who killed her husband on their 22nd wedding anniversary, and a drug dealer selling his wares out of an ice cream truck.

    Director:Christian Nyby
    Writer:John T. Dugan

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  17. Adam-12 Season 4 Episode 8 - Ambush
    8.4/10(137 votes)

    S4:E8

    Malloy and Reed are sent to assist the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department with transporting a prisoner from Malibu to Los Angeles for outstanding traffic warrants. During the trip, the prisoner reveals he is also a witness in a mob murder and a hit has been ordered on him. Suddenly, the cruiser is ambushed on a rural road, a tire is shot out, and they crash on a dirt road out of radio range. Reed is captured by hitmen attempting to get assistance, but Malloy and the prisoner steal the hitmen's car to get to a phone. The LAPD sends a police helicopter to search for Reed, who ends up overpowering the hit men and are captured.

    Director:Christian Nyby
    Writers:Stephen J. Cannell, Herb Purdum

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  18. Adam-12 Season 4 Episode 9 - Anniversary
    8.4/10(116 votes)

    S4:E9

    Sgt. MacDonald's anniversary is coming up and the officers have limited funds to spend on a gift, which is a bottle of champagne, but when the officers pick it up, the owner of the liquor store was shot in an attempted robbery. Malloy and Reed later find the robber dead in a park from a gunshot wound inflicted by the owner. Other incidents include a paralyzed ex-wrestler tearing up a bar, a man driving suspiciously turns out to be the proud owner of several traffic tickets in a 24 hour period, a used car dealer trying to take advantage of a Mexican customer who speaks little English, and two camper thieves pushing a truck with a camper that is too small for the truck bed.

    Director:James Neilson
    Writer:Leo Gordon

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  19. Adam-12 Season 5 Episode 23 - Keeping Tabs
    8.4/10(109 votes)

    S5:E23

    Malloy and Reed are stunned to discover that the driver who led them on a high-speed chase is the son of Sgt. MacDonald, and Malloy takes it upon himself to help his boss figure out why the young man is acting out. In the meantime, they investigate a possible burglary in progress at an apartment building, mediate a dispute at a park over an elderly woman feeding ducks, respond to a call of two armed men fighting over a woman and deal with a wino who is attempting to direct traffic at a busy intersection.

    Director:Lawrence Doheny
    Writer:Kenneth Johnson

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  20. Adam-12 Season 6 Episode 17 - Taking It Easy
    8.4/10(119 votes)

    S6:E17

    Reed is suffering from a wrist injury which puts him on desk duty, while Malloy has to break in a new rookie partner. Reed's day is far from routine as he has to handle a bomb threat that results in the evacuation of the station, Officer Brinkman accidentally discharges his shotgun twice, a young man wants to report misconduct by a police officer, an elderly man brings a shotgun into the station to drop off, Malloy brings in a group of children abandoned by their mother, and Malloy and his partner pursue a car into the police parking lot, where the suspects are arrested.

    Director:Dennis Donnelly
    Writer:Robert Schlitt

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  21. Adam-12 Season 6 Episode 20 - Sunburn
    8.4/10(94 votes)

    S6:E20

    Reed returns from an off-day with an uncomfortable full-body sunburn, which causes him problems throughout the watch. Calls include responding to a traffic accident, acting on a tip from an informant, busting a drug dealer working out of abandoned homes, searching for a robbery suspect based on a vehicle description, and assisting in the rescue of two boys when their boat capsizes.

    Director:Dennis Donnelly
    Writer:Bryan K. Joseph

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  22. Adam-12 Season 7 Episode 13 - G.T.A.
    8.4/10(109 votes)

    S7:E13

    Malloy and Reed investigate a large car theft operation that targets older cars, then stages them around the city as abandoned vehicles so they can be towed and scrapped. Meanwhile, they try to figure out why the son of Malloy's girlfriend is getting bad grades, search for a suspect who robbed an elderly woman and attempt to rescue two foolish teenagers who enter a house that is being fumigated.

    Director:Christian I. Nyby II
    Writer:Leo Gordon

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  23. Adam-12 Season 7 Episode 20 - Operation Action
    8.4/10(137 votes)

    S7:E20

    Malloy is kidnapped leaving the station by a drug runner and his female accomplice, demanding her boyfriend be released from jail in exchange for Malloy. When the couple has Malloy contact the station to confirm his status, he reveals a clue about where they found a girl with a mannequin (a reference to the episode "Citizen With Gun"). Reed finds Malloy's car and a citizen gives a description of Malloy's kidnappers and their car, which Reed finds abandoned but he locates their hideout from case files, meanwhile Malloy manages to spill gasoline and ignites it, allowing Malloy to be rescued by Reed who notices the gunfire and smoke.

    Director:Dennis Donnelly
    Writer:David H. Vowell

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  24. Adam-12 Season 2 Episode 14 - Log 014: S.W.A.T.
    8.3/10(125 votes)

    S2:E14

    Malloy and Reed are the first to respond to a downtown rooftop sniper who has been indiscriminately shooting at anyone he can find with his scoped rifle. After risking their lives to get civilians out of his line of sight, they become lead participants in the S.W.A.T. team's attempt to neutralize the suspect.

    Directors:Alan Crosland, Jr.
    Writer:Michael Donovan

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  25. Adam-12 Season 2 Episode 25 - Log 044: Attempted Bribery
    8.3/10(129 votes)

    S2:E25

    Malloy and Reed prove they cannot and will not be bribed, no matter how good the offer, resulting in desperation from a young man charged with his third drunk driving offense. An elderly man admits mercy killing his wife.

    Directors:Alan Crosland, Jr.
    Writer:James Doherty

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Best Episodes Summary

"Log 105: Elegy for a Pig" is the best rated episode of "Adam-12". It scored 9.3/10 based on 359 votes. Directed by Christian Nyby and written by Norman Katkov, it aired on 11/21/1970. This episode scored 0.3 points higher than the second highest rated, "The Search".