TV Crimefighters at the Academy of Television

Television audiences have been fascinated with crime dramas since Dragnet moved from radio to the small screen in 1951. From Joe Friday to Columbo, TV cops have been cracking cases and entertaining viewers for decades.

The Academy of Television Arts and Sciences recently honored a group of TV crimefighters past and present. On the scene was Mike Connors, who starred Mannix and was the evening's special honoree.

Current stars in attendance included Thomas Gibson from the CBS series Criminal Minds, Matt Bomer from USA's White Collar, Matt Passmore and Carlos Gomez from A&E's The Glades, and Boris Kodjoe from (the sadly just canceled) Undercovers.

And have no fear. The legacy of the butt-kicking female cop was also represented at the event by Lee Merriweather who played Betty on Barnaby Jones from 1973 to 1980, Marg Helgenberger from CSI, Angie Harmon from TNT's Rizzoli and Isles, and Mary McCormack from USA's In Plain Sight.

We covered the red carpet arrivals on behalf of the Archive of American TV and asked the actors if they could choose one TV crimefighter from all of TV history who would they choose to be their partner? The answers may surprise you.

For other red carpet interviews check out:
The Days of our Lives Celebrates 45 Years
Interviews with the Cast of Modern Family


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