Jake and the Fatman

Jake and the Fatman is currently streaming on major platforms, and its case-by-case structure never gets in the way of the bigger story. 5 seasons in, and the quality has not slipped. With 54 viewer ratings on TMDB, this is not a title flying under the radar. William Conrad leads a cast that carries the story without ever feeling mechanical. Put it on tonight and see for yourself.

There is a reason Jake and the Fatman keeps coming up in conversation. The plotting in Jake and the Fatman is tight enough that the twists feel earned rather than assembled. Jake and the Fatman is a television crime drama starring William Conrad as prosecutor J. L. "Fatman" McCabe and Joe Penny as investigator Jake Styles. The writing gets a boost from William Conrad and Joe Penny, who sell every scene they're in. Across 5 seasons (1987–1992), it never lost the thread that made it worth starting. The plot mechanics of Jake and the Fatman never overwhelm the human cost underneath them. It knows exactly what it is, and does not try to be anything else.

For anyone who wants their crime drama to earn its twists, Jake and the Fatman delivers. Viewers who responded to Riptide will find a lot to like here too. Best experienced as a single, sustained watch if your schedule allows. Watch William Conrad work — it is a masterclass in the genre. Few crime dramas earn their twists this consistently.

Jake and the Fatman wrapped up in 1992, created by Dean Hargrove, David Angell and Joel Steiger — and 5 seasons are available to watch from start to finish. Find exactly where it's streaming below, and TV Butler Pro makes it effortless to track your progress as you go. Just search the name, and Butler finds it instantly, tells you which service has it, and remembers exactly where you left off.