First Aired - May 4, 1967
Sergeant Joe Friday and Officer Bill Gannon are working in the juvenile division. While helping out in the West Division Section, a teenager is picked up stealing around $20note worth of items. The teen is trying to join a club called The Mod Squad which requires new members to steal. Friday and Gannon go to the high school to talk to the boys before they get into more trouble.
Just the Tropes, ma'am:
- Adults Are Useless: Mr. & Mrs. Fulton are completely clueless about what their son is up too. They leave him at home alone for days or weeks. When Audie is arrested, Mrs. Fulton is more worried about missing her appointment than her son.
- Close-Knit Community: Mrs. Lassin talks about how in her old home everyone knew each other, however in LA everyone feels isolated from each other.
- Cool and Unusual Punishment: The Principal seems to think that the kids getting pulled out of class and listen to a police officer talk is a good punishment for being in a gang.
- Custom Uniform: While not a uniform, Bobby Lassin has a custom outfit, that is shoplifted, for The Mod Squad.
- Don't Make Me Take My Belt Off!: Mrs. Lassin says that her husband will be doing this to their son when he gets home.
- Jerkass Realization: When Audie sees first hand how his mother reacts to him being arrested, his expression and talk with Friday gives away that he has realized how everyone sees him.
- Less Embarrassing Term: The Mod Squad says they are a club, not a gang. However they operate more like a gang.
- Parental Obliviousness: Mr. & Mrs. Fulton do not have any idea that their son is in a gang. Audie even says that he hasn't seen his parents in days.
- Reasonable Authority Figure: Friday comes across as one if the parents are willing to help out their kids. When Mrs. Lassin talks with Friday, she states how much she is trying to be a good parent and the fear she has with her son. Friday lets Bobby off with a warning but when Mrs. Fulton seems uninterested in helping, Friday brings down the full hammer of the law.
- Scare 'Em Straight: Friday tries to do this with The Mod Squad at their school. While the majority of the members seem to get scared, Audie tries to prove that it is all talk.
- Smug Snake: Audie Fulton proves to be one. He thinks he is smarter than the cops.Audie Fulton: Pardon me, Mr. Policeman, Fuzz, sir? May I ask you a question?
