Jake and the Fatman is a TV series that aired on CBS from September 26, 1987, to May 6, 1992 for five seasons.
Cast & Character Origins
Characters | From | Date | Episode |
|---|---|---|---|
J.L. Mcabe* | October 28, 1986 | S01E06: “The Don: Part 1” |
(Note: The Matlock two-parter “The Don” served as a backdoor pilot to Jake and the Fatman. The prosecutor character played by William Conrad character was named James L. Mcshane on Matlock and reworked into similar character J.L. Mcabe for Jake and the Fatman. Actor Joe Penny, who ended up playing Jake on Jake and the Fatman was also in “The Don” as a separate character. Jake and the Fatman later spun off Diagnosis Murder which had a Ben Matlock guest appearance.)
Spinoffs & Outgoing Cast
Character | New Show | Episode | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
Mark Sloan | S01E01: “Miracle Cure” | October 29, 1993 |
Specials & TV Movies
Name | Date |
|---|---|
"Diagnosis of Murder" | January 5, 1992 |
"The House on Sycamore Street" | May 1, 1992 |
"A Twist of the Knife" | February 13, 1993 |
(Note: These TV movies starred Mark Sloan who was introduced in the episode “It Never Entered My Mind” and were not really related to Jake and the Fatman otherwise. They served more as test runs for the Diagnosis Murder TV series.)