T. J. Hooker

T. J. Hooker (1982–1986) was an American police drama TV show, airing on ABC and later on CBS, about a police veteran detective whose partner was killed in the line of duty while they were trying to stop a bank robbery. Motivated to rid the streets of criminals like those who murdered his partner, he decides the only way to do so is return to his former position as a uniformed patrolman.

Season 1

The Protectors [1.01]

Sgt. T.J. Hooker: T.J. Hooker is the name. But you don't have to lose any sleep wondering what the T.J. stands for, as far as you're concerned, my first name is 'Sergeant'.

Sgt. T.J. Hooker: You Catholic, Romano?

Vince Romano: Yes, sir.

Sgt. T.J. Hooker: Y'know what I missed at the Mass that they had for the kid? Latin. I'd like to hear Latin again instead of everything in English.

Vince Romano: [Wistfully] Yeah.

Sgt. T.J. Hooker: What about doctors who make house calls? Repairmen who know how to fix things? And ballplayers who hustle? And boxers who get carried out of the ring, instead of quitting because of stomach cramps? And what about the death penalty for scum who take a human life and snuff it out like it's so much garbage? I've seen the past, gentlemen, and it works.

Sgt. T.J. Hooker: He'll get a cop's funeral because he made a mistake. A dumb, stupid mistake!

Parker English: Yeah, well, some of us aren't as smart as you, Sarge!

Sgt. T.J. Hooker: That's right, English! Not all of you are! If you were I wouldn't have to work my tail off to drum elementary procedure into your thick skulls! I wouldn't have to spell it out by the numbers that that badge is a target. And I wouldn't have to feel that a potentially good cop is lying there on a slab because I didn't teach him well enough.

Vince Romano: Look, I busted my back in pre-training. I thought I did better than any rooky in every class, every test, every drill! So why didn't I get a partner?

Sgt. T.J. Hooker: Romano, you got a partner! You lucked out: you got me!

Sgt. T.J. Hooker: Most perpetrators are right-handed, and are not trained. Therefore when they fire at you, their gun will jump slightly to your right... and their bullets tend to pass over your right shoulder. So... before you get into your combat crouch, take a half-step to your left...

Officer Granger: Sir!

Sgt. T.J. Hooker: Granger?

Officer Granger: What happens when you run into a left-handed shooter who's been trained?

Sgt. T.J. Hooker: In that case, Granger, if you don't take a half-step to your right... you'll get a cop's funeral with full honors.

The Streets [1.02]

Sgt. T.J. Hooker: Cops and robbers isn't a game to me, Ms. Hill. I've seen too much life and death. Too many alcoholic cops because they're shaking inside. Too many divorces and suicides because of stress. Too many good men given a cop's funeral because some unthinking, unfeeling scum pulls a trigger on 'em.

Sgt. T.J. Hooker: [Looking at the police sketch] Yep, no question, that's the man I chased.

Police Detective: And lost.

Sgt. T.J. Hooker: Excuse me. I was off duty at the time. Couldn't find a telephone booth to change in.

Sgt. T.J. Hooker: Most perpetrators do what they do because they hate. They want. They do things to other people because it's easier to rob them than it is to work.

Tracy Hill: Y'know, I never did ask you why you wanted to be a cop.

Sgt. T.J. Hooker: It's just something I do. I don't try and analyze it.

Tracy Hill: Maybe you should.

Sgt. T.J. Hooker: Hey, lady, I'm a garbage collector. I collect it and I dump it. I file my report and I never look back.

Tracy Hill: I apologize if we got into your way today, that was my fault. I just have an instinct for fishing.

Sgt. T.J. Hooker: When you try it again with me, you'll be looking for a new creek.

God Bless the Child [1.03]

Sgt. T.J. Hooker: I was never what you'd call political, but when I was a rookie like you the vets used to call me the "flaming liberal." Now I'm not sure what I am.

Vince Romano: Conservative?

Sgt. T.J. Hooker: Close enough. You know the definition of a conservative? A liberal who got mugged. [laughter]

Fran Hooker: Something on your mind?

Sgt. T.J. Hooker: The insanity on the streets. [sighs] The mindless violence. And the way it's going, I sometimes wonder if we're even holding the line. And this thing with the kids and the drugs, it's an epidemic.

Vicki Taylor: So how does it feel to ride with Hooker, Romano?

Vince Romano: What can I say? John Wayne lives!

Vicki Taylor: Amen to that.

Sgt. T.J. Hooker: [after apprehending the criminal who threatened his daughter] Resist arrest! Please, resist arrest!

Cathy Hooker: [after being rescued] I was only trying to help.

Sgt. T.J. Hooker: You're just like your mother. Never listens. [hugs Cathy]

Hooker's War [1.04]

Vince Romano: [Hooker walks towards the car with a cup of coffee] You know what that poison is doing to your system? It's gonna kill you.

Sgt. T.J. Hooker: Romano, Grandpa Hooker downed a gallon of coffee a day and made it to 94.

Vince Romano: [Pouring a concoction into a cup] Try this. All I'm asking is try it. It's delicious! Just a little raw eggs, Romanian yogurt, crushed papaya, lecithin, mango juice. Secret of my success... and my virility.

Sgt. T.J. Hooker: Romano, when Grandpa did go, at 94, twelve women wept at his grave, not including Grandma.

Sgt. T.J. Hooker: [to the scared, young crook pointing a gun at him] You're not in real trouble yet. Not if you drop the gun. Try shooting it out, and you'll be dead. And being dead is as much trouble as there is.

Orson: Hey man, this whole thing is a bunch of bullwash!

Vince Romano: Attempting to provoke an officer with abusive language!

The Witness [1.05]

Vince Romano: Did I tell you detective is where it's at? We could've been burned to a crisp with those clowns.

Sgt. T.J. Hooker: You haven't even worn out your first pair of blue socks yet. Would you stop with the Dick Tracy dialogue already?

Season 2

Second Chance [2.01]

Sgt. T.J. Hooker: Now let's talk about something else that's important, Gino. I mean your scungilli and your calamari and you're zuppa di pesche.

Vince Romano: [lights up] Hey hey, now you are talking, Hooker!

Sgt. T.J. Hooker: I want an order of each and anything else that you think might make a really special lunch for two.

Vince Romano: All right!

Sgt. T.J. Hooker: And eh, you better order what you're having for lunch, Romano, because you're not the one I'm eating with.

Gino Minelli: You know, Hooker, you got a partner who's crazy. When I got a fish store here and he's trying to give me a cat.

King of the Hill [2.02]

Vince Romano: Another car trashed. We're really going to be in trouble with Sheridan on this one.

Sgt. T.J. Hooker: What's this 'we' business? You were driving, I wasn't driving, you were driving.

Vince Romano: It's always 'we' when you're the driver.

Vince Romano: If you were a man... [holds up his fist]

Stacy Sheridan: [puts her hand on his fist] Oh, but I'm not, Vince, I'm all woman, part cop and a better driver than the Philly Flash.

Vince Romano: Well, you got the woman part right, kiddo.

Axel Shiff: Ah, my good friends the police. I take care of all their cars. Excuse me, lady.

Sgt. T.J. Hooker: [Hooker exits his car, swinging his baton] Hello Axel, nice to see you.

Axel Shiff: What do you want, Hooker? Get lost, you're bad for business.

Sgt. T.J. Hooker: Good business requires referrals. Get many?

Axel Shiff: Oh come on, fade away, will you, Hooker? I'm gonna sic my lawyers on you fast.

Vince Romano: This man has a bad attitude problem, Sgt. Hooker.

Axel Shiff: Hey, you take a flying leap too, son!

The Empty Gun [2.03]

Colter: [in the locker room, changing] Hey, it could have been you killed out there, just as easy as Martinez, remember?

Vince Romano: Yeah, well, some of the veterans around here are acting like they wish it had been me.

Dempsy: Well, I heard a lot of them say you screwed up.

Vince Romano: [upset] Screwed up? How?

Sgt. Benteen: [entering the room with two other officers] You could have wasted that dirtbag, Romano, and you didn't.

Vince Romano: He's a juvenile, Benteen.

Sgt. Benteen: He is a [claps hands twice] COP KILLER!

Vince Romano: I didn't have to shoot!

Sgt. Benteen: He's had 18 priors, not a day spent in juvenile hall, a hophead supporting his habit by preying on old people. Now, he's a cop killer.

Sgt. T.J. Hooker: [standing at the door] I just talked to the shooting team. Martinez's piece was empty when the creep tried to kill Romano and Romano knew it.

Sgt. Benteen: [to Romano] Empty?

Vince Romano: I counted. He'd fired six times.

Sgt. Benteen: There's not a living soul to ask if you would count it with nobody to ever know the difference. You could have blown that cop-killing punk away! All right, hey, okay, look, Lily Blossom, you're never going to make it through probation and you better hope you never find yourself in a spot where you're going to need the help of a real cop.

Sgt. T.J. Hooker: [angrily pulls Benteen around] Hey! That's the wrong kind of talk around here, Benteen. I suggest you shut your loud mouth and cool off because if I hear it again, I'll put you through the wall.

Sgt. Benteen: I owe you, Hooker. [points his thumb at Romano] Not him.

Sgt. T.J. Hooker: You owe me nothing. I did my job out there. Romano did his. Right now, you're on the edge of not doing yours. Don't you EVER threaten not to back a fellow officer.

[Benteen scoffs, looks at Romano, and exits the room]

Sgt. T.J. Hooker: [to the other officers] Anybody else got anything to say? [to Romano, as the other officers leave] You didn't tell me you knew the gun was empty.

Vince Romano: [upset] Does it make a difference to you that it wasn't?

Sgt. T.J. Hooker: You did what the book says.

Vince Romano: Look, thanks for what you said to Benteen, but I asked you a question. I've got to know! Is there a difference between what we're taught and what goes down on the street? Under the same circumstances, the same dope-headed, cop-killing, dirt-bag punk with an empty gun, would you have wasted him?

[Hooker sits down on a bench pondering the question as Romano angrily kicks the door before leaving]

Vince Romano: [after Minetti is released] I don't understand. Something's wrong, Hooker. I did my job. He killed a man! I brought him to trial. He's guilty. And he's strutting out of here like a peacock, putting dirt on everything that's good and decent. Where's the incentive to do it right the next time if this lousy system doesn't work?

Sgt. T.J. Hooker: The incentive is in knowing how much worse it would be if we didn't do it right. You don't like what happened in there, I don't like it, the people don't like it. It's up to the people to change it.

Sgt. T.J. Hooker: [reading computer simulation print-out] Dempsy, your score has dropped since the last time. You're way below average on judgment and accuracy. You shot an innocent bystander, you wounded a fellow officer. You let an armed felon get off two shots before you returned fire and then you hit him in the foot. Dempsy, I suggest more work in the firing range. As for judgment, that will come in time. It had better. You can go now.

Dempsy: Yes, sir.

[he leaves as Benteen follows, but is stopped by Hooker]

Sgt. T.J. Hooker: Benteen, Dempsy's judgment has taken a nose-dive.

Sgt. Benteen: Oh, you can't tell jack from these computers.

Sgt. T.J. Hooker: These you can. Dempsy has developed an attitude problem, Benteen. You're it.

Sgt. Benteen: [chuckles] Now, look, Hooker...

Sgt. T.J. Hooker: No, you look and listen for a change! You've got your ideas about this job and how it should be done, that's your right. But you damn well better stop bringing them to work with you.

Sgt. Benteen: And you damn well better remember who you're talking to. I'm not one of your rookies, Hooker.

[starts to leave, but Hooker grabs him from behind and angrily slams him against the machine]

Sgt. T.J. Hooker: That's right, you're not. But if you think for one particle of a second I'm going to let you turn decent material, like Dempsy, into some kind of swaggering cowboy cop who makes his own rules, you're traveling down the wrong road, friend, 'cause I'm not.

Sgt. Benteen: I'm giving it to him like it is.

Sgt. T.J. Hooker: No, you're not. You're putting it down the way you want it and that's not the way it goes. And it damn well better stop.

Vince Romano: Did you ever notice how much better food tastes when you don't pay for it yourself? No, I guess you wouldn't.

Sgt. T.J. Hooker: Keep it up, Romano. Next go around on the shooting simulator, it won't be a routine of the best scorers in the class. I'm gonna program the computer so you flunk.

Vince Romano: [about Terry Minetti] He's gotta fall, Hooker, sometime he's got to fall. Or there isn't any justice.

Sgt. T.J. Hooker: He's a punk, a thief and a killer and he'll fall. And when he does, it will be hard.

Blind Justice [2.04]

Vince Romano: What I'm gonna do, Hooker, is take the plunge.

Sgt. T.J. Hooker: The plunge?

Vince Romano: Hooker, the streets of South Philly are behind me. I'm gonna become a total Californian. I think I'll even buy a surfboard.

Sgt. T.J. Hooker: You've been watching those late night beach blanket movies again?

Vince Romano: Yeah, well, they are classics, you know.

Sgt. T.J. Hooker: Right up there with Casablanca and [[Citizen Kane].

Sgt. T.J. Hooker: Please, try to remember.

Anne Perry: I don't have anything to remember, I didn't see anything.

Sgt. T.J. Hooker: [grabs her arm and pulls her up] You must have seen something.

Anne Perry: I didn't see anything sergeant, I'm blind.

Sgt. T.J. Hooker: [bartender Megan is not cooperating] Now listen, Megan, without even looking I know that girl in the corner there is underage. And I'll just bet there are a couple of whiskey bottles in the trash that haven't been broken so you could do some whiskey watering. I'd just guess the alcoholic beverage control boys could at that to assorted other offences and come up with a three-month closure.

Anne Perry: I guess this is what's known as Hooker magic, coming up with tickets to a sold-out concert.

Big Foot [2.05]

Vince Romano: [Hooker has just arrived at the academy in a damaged police car] So what is it now, Hooker? Three black and whites you've trashed since they let you back out on the street?

Sgt. T.J. Hooker: Four. The high price of fighting crime.

Sgt. T.J. Hooker: [scratching his head] I wonder if I locked my car this morning?

Vince Romano: Believe me, Hooker, it wouldn't matter. I've seen your car.

Sgt. Wayne Conrad: A lot of rapists have big feet, Romano, not all of them are Big Foot.

Vince Romano: And don't forget our soak in the hot tub after dinner.

Tammy Spencer: How could I? It'll be my first time in hot water with the police...

Terror at the Academy [2.06]

Vince Romano: Here's praying we do it, partner.

Sgt. T.J. Hooker: Have to. There's a frog costume we gotta get out of there.

Sgt. T.J. Hooker: [leading recruits in a run across the Academy campus] Look at my mouth. Read my lips.

Vince Romano: I see.

Sgt. T.J. Hooker: You focused very clearly? You got your beady eyes on my little mouth, huh?

Vince Romano: No problem, right there.

Sgt. T.J. Hooker: No way!

Carol Bennett: You're attacking a police station because you hate cops?

Kevin Wyman: Yeah, you got it. It's my way... and it's brilliant.

'Mayor: [via speakerphone] What do you propose, Sergeant?

Sgt. T.J. Hooker: Romano and I go in, alone, Mr. Major.

Vince Romano: We've crawled through the same rice paddies as Wyman.

The Survival Syndrome [2.07]

Sgt. T.J. Hooker: [to the discouraged Romano] If guys like you and me aren't out there cleaning the sleaze and slime off the streets, everybody would have to stay locked up in their homes. Those vermin multiply; they feed on decent people. Cops, good cops, keep them in their holes. And you're a good cop, Romano.

Sgt. T.J. Hooker: You have it all figured out, haven't you? Joyriding, bust, easy hit, stick it to the cop who shot your friend. Walk out of here with a smile on your face.

David Harmon: You got it, Big Daddy.

Sgt. T.J. Hooker: No, you got it, Sunshine.

Lawson: Get rid of him!

Blaine Thomas: Sure I will. You want me to get some money from the safe?

Lawson: [opens a drawer and pulls out a gun] I mean permanently!

Deadly Ambition [2.08]

Vince Romano: [Romano has a high class girlfriend] Well, that's the way people do things at the top of the social register.

Stacy Sheridan: Well, if you climb too fast, Romano, you're gonna get a nosebleed.

Vince Romano: Jealous, Stacy?

Stacy Sheridan: Oh sure, I always did want my blood to be as blue as my uniform and, of course, have a butler to call my boyfriend, so I didn't have to talk to him myself.

Sgt. T.J. Hooker: There she is.

Vince Romano: Ben Edward's daughter? Hooker, she's beautiful!

Sgt. T.J. Hooker: And she's my goddaughter, don't you forget that, Romano!

Sgt. T.J. Hooker: So you wanted to be a hero...

Ben Edwards: There's all kinds of reasons for ambition. I remember the day you took off that gold badge to climb back in that blue suit. I... [chuckles] I thought you were crazy.

Sgt. T.J. Hooker: I climbed to the top of the detective ladder. I found it empty. So I climbed back down, got back in touch.

Vince Romano: 206 Elm Drive is the address Stacy ran down on him. Do we give it to Holland, or what?

Sgt. T.J. Hooker: We're five blocks from Elm Drive...

Vince Romano: The 'what' has it.

Sgt. T.J. Hooker: You tried too hard, Holland. To hard and too fast.

Detective Holland: It all fell apart because you felt sorry for some crummy security guard.

Sgt. T.J. Hooker: That's the way it goes, Holland. You had informants, connections, a hot record of arrests and the wrong kind of ambition. [a beat] I've got friends.

A Cry for Help [2.09]

Sgt. T.J. Hooker: You got it?

Danny Perez: Yeah man.

Sgt. T.J. Hooker: Yeah man what?

Danny Perez: Yeah man... Sir.

Sgt. T.J. Hooker: Now you got it.

Capt. Dennis Sheridan: [about Vega] He's a cocaine cowboy on the run from some Dade County dope pushers for pulling rip-offs.

Mr. Perez: It's easy to blame the powder, but the truth is: it's the man who's weak.

Sgt. T.J. Hooker: Anybody who can figure that out, can kick the monkey.

Sgt. T.J. Hooker: [to Vega] You just got knocked off your horse, cowboy. For good.

Thieves' Highway [2.10]

Sgt. T.J. Hooker: [about Venus the Orangutan] Romano finally got himself a girlfriend I approve of.

Al Tanner: I didn't bring you all the way out here from Chicago for excuses, Vic! [moves over to Morgan, who is smiling] I got Morgan here for that!

[Morgan stops smiling]

The Connection [2.11]

Stacy Sheridan: [to Romano] What do you say now, Macho Man? Do we make a team or is your ego gonna force us out?

Sgt. T.J. Hooker: There's a young police officer down there. Walking a hair between life and death. The message has to be sent out loud and clear! [raises his voice] Nobody puts their hands on one of ours!

Capt. Dennis Sheridan: Sounds like you're buying in, Hooker.

Sgt. T.J. Hooker: I've already paid.

Vince Romano: Rookies... what are we? Meat for your table? Numbers to make your arrest records look good?

Capt. Dennis Sheridan: Police work isn't black and white, Romano. It's a million shades of grey.

Chambliss: Look, Romano, we're sorry about the rookie.

Vince Romano: The rookie's name is Clements. Tom Clements. And sorry isn't good enough!

Sgt. T.J. Hooker: What about the other students? Any witnesses as to how she got the stuff?

Vince Romano: They couldn't or wouldn't tell me anything. Could be they're just afraid. Don't wanna get involved.

Sgt. T.J. Hooker: And while they're not getting involved, another kid like Cindy is buying a ticket to hell. Becoming another scrambled mind with a question mark for a future. Every chance I get, I'm gonna come down on the scum that deal this poison. Hit 'em hard. Make it hurt.

The Fast Lane [2.12]

12 year old boy: You're Matt, right?

Matt King: Yeah.

12 year old boy: I heard you got some good booze. Six dollars a quart.

Matt King: What? How old are you?

12 year old boy: Twenty two, you wanna see my I.D.?

Sgt. T.J. Hooker: Come on, Romano. Sometimes they hide it so well even their parents aren't aware. I'm sure that Matt's mother doesn't know.

Vince Romano: But you knew, Hooker. Your antenna is always up.

Sgt. T.J. Hooker: My antenna was up my first week on the job.

Too Late for Love [2.13]

Vince Romano: [looking at two young women crossing the street] You know, Hooker, I love this part of our beat.

Sgt. T.J. Hooker: Hey, when are you gonna learn, junior? Cops and fashion models mix like oil and water.

Vince Romano: [Romano knows somebody who sells 12 dollar quality jeans] I'll tell you what, I'll pick you up a pair, huh?

Stacy Sheridan: I don't know... the same exact jeans? And no label?

Vince Romano: Guaranteed.

Stacy Sheridan: Okay. I'm a size 5. [picks up her uniform and walks away]

Vince Romano: [glancing at Stacy's behind] But what's in 'em is a 10. A perfect 10.

Vince Romano: Hooker, what do you think, huh? If Stacy doesn't like this electric wok, she is gonna love this wrapping.

Vince Romano: [when Hooker accuses Romano's girlfriend, Vince becomes agitated] Shut up, damn it!

Sgt. T.J. Hooker: There's something wrong, kid. I feel it kicking in my gut. And I think your friend Amy is doing the kicking.

[Romano balls his fists and punches Hooker in the jaw]

The Decoy [2.14]

Sgt. T.J. Hooker: Stacy, the day you were born, your father was somewhere on a narcotics stakeout and couldn't be reached. On the first day of your life, I was the first one to hold you. In addition to your experience, I gotta tell ya, I can't let you go out on the street and be the target for some deranged animal.

Vince Romano: Sleeping like a pretzel is one thing, but sleeping like a pretzel when a Circus Burger does flip-flops in your belly is beyond the call of duty.

Sgt. T.J. Hooker: Who said police work was easy?

Vince Romano: Hooker, the decoy situation. Sometimes it can't be ideal, but I think they're doing the right thing.

Sgt. T.J. Hooker: That's the problem around here, Junior. Too many people who don't know are doing the thinking.

Sgt. T.J. Hooker: Bartender, I'm looking for Carl Leland. I heard he hangs out here.

Bartender: We serve drinks here, not information. You want a drink?

Sgt. T.J. Hooker: I want Carl Leland.

Bartender: Buzz off, cop.

The Mumbler [2.15]

Katie Coats: [addressing her much older brother] That bag's full of trouble for us, isn't it, Larry?

Sgt. T.J. Hooker: I'll bet you're a mumbler. That what they call you when if you have more to say to your pigeons than to people.

Katie Coats: How do you know that?

Sgt. T.J. Hooker: Sometimes, mumblers grow up and become cops.

Vengeance Is Mine [2.16]

Lt. Paul McGuire: Sucker almost had me. I owe you one, Hooker.

Sgt. T.J. Hooker: I recall saying the same thing to you 17 years ago. And with your retirement coming up, I didn't think I'd get a chance to get even.

Sgt. T.J. Hooker: Excuse me, Mr. Foster?

Larry Foster: Yes, what is it?

Sgt. T.J. Hooker: I'm Sergeant Hooker. You're client's gonna need a new attorney. You're going to jail.

[Hooker and Romano fasten handcuffs around Foster's wrists]

Sgt. T.J. Hooker: For the rape of Valerie McGuire.

Larry Foster: Sergeant, you're taking a dangerous step towards a very serious litigation here. I think you better ask yourself, do I look like a rapist?

Sgt. T.J. Hooker: You tell me what a rapist looks like... and I'll show you what a cop's daughter looks like... after she's been raped.

Lt. Paul McGuire: Hooker, I'm a father trying to protect daughters, like yours.

Sgt. T.J. Hooker: And I'm a friend, trying to protect you from yourself. You're up to your armpits in emotion. You're about to put everything you've worked for on the line.

Capt. Dennis Sheridan: This character Foster plays the law like a violin, and he'll be all over this department if you harass him.

Lt. Paul McGuire: Don't throw the law up to me, Captain. I've worked my whole life for the law. Now, when I need help, I can't get it because of scum like Foster punching to many holes through it.

Sgt. T.J. Hooker: [after unpacking the gift that comes with opening a new bank account] This is a teddy bear. I'm a tough policeman.

Sweet Sixteen and Dead [2.17]

Vince Romano: Hooker, what the Colonel did for chicken, Romano will do for cookies.

Gordie Hobbs: You said that this was an accident. Now, if this was an accident, how come the police are involved?

Sgt. T.J. Hooker: 'Cause it was a man-made accident and I wanna nail that man.

Gordie Hobbs: I just hate leaving Eddie Pearl here alive.

Sgt. T.J. Hooker: Hey Gordie, give in to that feeling, and the Boulevard poison that took Kelly will make a victim out of you, too, if you don't end up back in jail first.

Sgt. T.J. Hooker: Father, I've never met Star, but I know her. I've seen the places she's been and the kinda human being she's trying to become. And believe me, there's nothing I want more than to protect her. But she's gotta help me do that.

Raw Deal [2.18]

Capt. Dennis Sheridan: [Reading a business card found in Connors' effects] Gamblers Anonymous. Sam Miller. Looks like Connors has other problems in addition to dealing dope.

Sgt. T.J. Hooker: Well, at least this one he was trying to shake. Shall we check it out?

Capt. Dennis Sheridan: I guess so. It's a long shot, but it's all we got.

Sgt. T.J. Hooker: What better place to check on a long shot? Gamblers Anonymous is the last refuge of the longshot bettor. Let's roll, Junior!

Sgt. T.J. Hooker: [Pressing down on the bar as Manny tries to benchpress up, pinning him] Getting heavy, Manny?

Manny: I can't hold this much forever!

Sgt. T.J. Hooker: There's a flood of cocaine pouring into my beat, destroying the people I'm supposed to protect. Hopheads with their brains fried by Peruvian snow. They're mugging and robbing decent citizens so maggots like you can stay in business.

Manny: [Straining under the weight] I mean it, man, I'm losin' it!

Vince Romano: Willy Stack was making the buy for you, wasn't he?

Manny: I don't deal no more!

Sgt. T.J. Hooker: I think you do. Willy Stack doesn't have the contacts in this town to sell dope in the streets. But you, scum, you got a load of lost souls waiting to sop up the poison you peddle.

Frank Barentt: [Discussing Nancy Winters] Besides, all those G. A. do-gooders are ex-sickos. Someday she's gonna sit in on one hand, and I'm gonna own her body and soul.

Sgt. T.J. Hooker: [Romano sticks out his hand to Nancy Winters, but she doesn't shake it] Don't take it personally, junior, it's me she doesn't like.

Nancy Winters: Your partner has a way with words. 'Doesn't like' is his way of saying 'used to love'.

Requiem for a Cop [2.19]

Sgt. T.J. Hooker: Were those people squatting or were they paying rent to live in that rat invested fire trap?

Sgt. T.J. Hooker: [Romano hands Hong a beat up and burned cassette tape] This was in Max Silver's telephone answering machine at the time of the fire.

Vince Romano: I was gonna toss it out. Hooker said that if anybody could get anything off of it, you could. But I guess Hooker was exaggerating.

Dr. Hong: Hooker does not exaggerate. If there are any words in here, I will get 'em out.

Sgt. T.J. Hooker: [driving a police black and white] Junior, I got a hunch we're carrying a bomb.

Vince Romano: We can't dump it here.

Sgt. T.J. Hooker: Hit the reds.

[Romano turns on the siren]

The Hostages [2.20]

Sgt. T.J. Hooker: How old are you, seventeen?

Carol Ann Baker: [angrily] Bingo! Give the man a prize.

Capt. Dennis Sheridan: Hooker, uh, can't you ever take 'no' for an answer?

Sgt. T.J. Hooker: Not when 'yes' makes more sense.

Lt. Decker: Let me put a couple of my men through the windows now.

Sgt. T.J. Hooker: Just because the D.A. is willing to play Russian Roulette with their lives, doesn't mean we should.

Sgt. T.J. Hooker: [quietly] I'll get you both out of here.

Stacy Sheridan: We know you will.

Fran Hooker: This may be the only time in my life I'll ever be glad you're a cop.

Lt. Decker: [on phone] This is Lt. Decker. I'm calling to see if you and I can't find a way to work this out without anybody getting hurt.

Freddy Baker: [on other line] You must be one of the yo-yos they bring in when they want the bad guys to give up. Well, you forget that.

Payday Pirates [2.21]

Sgt. T.J. Hooker: [slamming Lou the tattooist against the wall and grabbing his face] Now listen, you. I got a friend in the hospital because of this guy. Now you tell me his name right now or I'm gonna play tic-tac-toe all over your face. You understand?

Stacy Sheridan: Ohh-kay, so I'm not an expert stock car driver like you were. But I'm also not the only cop who's wrecked a police car. Everybody makes mistakes.

Jim Corrigan: Yeah, but when a cop make mistakes, lives are on the line.

Sgt. T.J. Hooker: Now you listen to me good. Those three slugs that destroyed your radiator and cut your engine in half were .357 Magnums. What they did to this pile of junk they can do to you.

Vince Romano: Hooker, I'll stay on top of it here. You go cheer up Fran.

Sgt. T.J. Hooker: When we get that ring back, and the scum who took it, that'll be cheer-up time.

Sgt. T.J. Hooker: We're gonna get the man who did this.

Mrs. Wilson: And when you do, will he pay the mortgage and feed my children?

Sgt. T.J. Hooker: No. [pause] But he'll pay in other ways.

Lady in Blue [2.22]

Vince Romano: Hooker, I know how how you feel.

Sgt. T.J. Hooker: Do ya? I don't think so, Junior. I don't think you know what's in my gut. That scum who pulled the trigger is gonna wish he never saw a cop. I'm gonna find him... and I'm gonna bury him!

Joe Tate: I ain't never seen nobody eat guns like you, Jason. What are you going to do, start your own war?

Jason: Your job is to deliver the goods, smart-mouth. Where they go and what I do with them is my business.

Danny Hall: Tell her for me: I don't care about playing ball, I just want her to come home and be my mom.

Sgt. T.J. Hooker: Where are your guts, Karen? [raises voice] I know your leg is gone, but did they cut out your guts, too?

Sgt. T.J. Hooker: You got a permit for this cannon, punk?

Dino Morales: It's not mine, I found it!

Sgt. T.J. Hooker: Where'd you find it? And skip the cha-cha 'cause I'm not in the mood for fairytales.

Cast

William Shatner - Sergeant Thomas Jefferson "T. J." Hooker (Seasons 1–5)
Adrian Zmed - Officer Vincent "Vince" Romano (Seasons 1–4)
April Clough - Officer Vicki Taylor (Season 1)
Heather Locklear - Officer Stacy Sheridan (Seasons 2–5)
Richard Herd - Captain Dennis Sheridan (main cast Seasons 1–2, occasional special guest star Seasons 3–4)
James Darren - Police Officer Jim Corrigan (Seasons 2–5)
Hugh Farrington - Detective Lieutenant Pete O'Brien (Seasons 3–5)

External links

Wikipedia

Wikipedia has an article about:

T. J. Hooker

T. J. Hooker quotes at the Internet Movie Database