History Series / PicketFences

The show centers around the residents of Rome, in particular the functionally dysfunctional Brock family consisting of the town's Sheriff, Jimmy Brock (Creator/TomSkerritt); his wife, Jill (Creator/KathyBaker); their daughter, Kimblerly (Creator/HollyMarieCombs); and their two sons, Matthew (Creator/JustinShenkarow) and Zachary (Creator/AdamWylie). Sheriff Brock, along with his deputies at the Rome Sheriff's Department, sometimes struggle to maintain order faced with such strange crimes and occurrences as cow udders exploding and a spate of people turning up dead in freezers. During its tenure, the show also dealt with unusual (for the time) topics not limited to abortion, homophobia and LGBT adoption, transsexualism, racism, belief in God, medical ethics, polygamy, polyamory, adolescent sexuality, date rape, cryonics, the Holocaust, shoe fetishism, masturbation, {{spontaneous human combustion}}, and constitutional rights.

The series is also notable for providing the first long-term wide exposure for actors Creator/DonCheadle (as District Attorney John Littleton), Creator/LaurenHolly (as Officer Maxine Stewart), and Creator/CostasMandylor (as Officer Kenny Lakos). Also in the cast were Creator/KellyConnell (as Medical Examiner Carter Pike), Creator/FyvushFinkel (as Public Defender Douglas Wambaugh), Creator/MarleeMatlin (as "Dancing Bandit" Laurie Bey), Creator/ZeldaRubinstein (as Dispatcher Ginny Weedon), and Creator/RayWalston (as Judge Henry Bone).

Welcome to the small town of Rome, Wisconsin, where everyone knows everyone and the bizarre is an everyday occurrence. Created by Creator/DavidEKelley, the UsefulNotes/{{Emmy Award}} winning family/cop/legal/medical dramedy ''Picket Fences'' ran on Creator/{{CBS}} for four seasons (1992–96) and 88 episodes, before it was cancelled for being a little ''too'' weird for its own good.

[[quoteright:315:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/picket_fences.jpeg]]

The show revolved around the residents of Rome, in particular the functionally dysfunctional Brock family consisting of the town's Sheriff, Jimmy Brock (Creator/TomSkerritt); his wife, Jill (Creator/KathyBaker); their daughter, Kimblerly (Creator/HollyMarieCombs); and their two sons, Matthew (Creator/JustinShenkarow) and Zachary (Creator/AdamWylie). Sheriff Brock, along with his deputies at the Rome Sheriff's Department, sometimes struggle to maintain order faced with such strange crimes and occurrences as cow udders exploding and a spate of people turning up dead in freezers. During its tenure, the show also dealt with unusual (for the time) topics not limited to abortion, homophobia and LGBT adoption, transsexualism, racism, belief in God, medical ethics, polygamy, polyamory, adolescent sexuality, date rape, cryonics, the Holocaust, shoe fetishism, masturbation, {{spontaneous human combustion}}, and constitutional rights.

The show revolved around the residents of Rome, in particular the functionally dysfunctional Brock family headed up by the town's Sheriff, Jimmy Brock (Creator/TomSkerritt). Sheriff Brock, along with his deputies at the Rome Sheriff's Department, sometimes struggle to maintain order faced with such strange crimes and occurrences as cow udders exploding and a spate of people turning up dead in freezers. During its tenure, the show also dealt with unusual (for the time) topics not limited to abortion, homophobia and LGBT adoption, transsexualism, racism, belief in God, medical ethics, polygamy, polyamory, adolescent sexuality, date rape, cryonics, the Holocaust, shoe fetishism, masturbation, {{spontaneous human combustion}}, and constitutional rights. Along with all this, the series provided the first long-term wide exposure for such actors as Creator/DonCheadle (District Attorney John Littleton), Creator/HollyMarieCombs (Kimberly Brock), Creator/LaurenHolly (Officer Maxine Stewart), and Creator/CostasMandylor (Officer Kenny Lakos). Also in the cast were Creator/KathyBaker (Jill Brock), Creator/KellyConnell (Medical Examiner Carter Pike), Creator/FyvushFinkel (Public Defender Douglas Wambaugh), Creator/MarleeMatlin ("Dancing Bandit" Laurie Bey), Creator/ZeldaRubinstein (Dispatcher Ginny Weedon), Creator/JustinShenkarow (Matthew Brock), Creator/RayWalston (Judge Henry Bone), and Creator/AdamWylie (Zachary Brock).

The show revolved around the residents of Rome, in particular the functionally dysfunctional Brock family headed up by the town Sheriff, Jimmy Brock (Creator/TomSkerritt). Sheriff Brock, along with his deputies at the Rome Sheriff's Department, sometimes struggle to maintain order faced with such strange crimes and occurrences as cow udders exploding and a spate of people turning up dead in freezers. During its tenure, the show also dealt with unusual (for the time) topics not limited to abortion, homophobia and LGBT adoption, transsexualism, racism, belief in God, medical ethics, polygamy, polyamory, adolescent sexuality, date rape, cryonics, the Holocaust, shoe fetishism, masturbation, {{spontaneous human combustion}}, and constitutional rights. Along with all this, the series provided the first long-term wide exposure for such actors as Creator/DonCheadle (District Attorney John Littleton), Creator/HollyMarieCombs (Kimberly Brock), Creator/LaurenHolly (Officer Maxine Stewart), and Creator/CostasMandylor (Officer Kenny Lakos). Also in the cast were Creator/KathyBaker (Jill Brock), Creator/KellyConnell (Medical Examiner Carter Pike), Creator/FyvushFinkel (Public Defender Douglas Wambaugh), Creator/MarleeMatlin ("Dancing Bandit" Laurie Bey), Creator/ZeldaRubinstein (Dispatcher Ginny Weedon), Creator/JustinShenkarow (Matthew Brock), Creator/RayWalston (Judge Henry Bone), and Creator/AdamWylie (Zachary Brock).

The show revolved around the residents of Rome, in particular the functionally dysfunctional Brock family headed up by the town Sheriff, Jimmy Brock (Creator/TomSkerritt). Sheriff Brock, along with his deputies at the Rome Sheriff's Department, sometimes struggle to maintain order faced with such strange crimes and occurrences as cow udders exploding and a spate of people turning up dead in freezers. During its tenure, the show also dealt with unusual (for the time) topics not limited to abortion, homophobia and LGBT adoption, transsexualism, racism, belief in God, medical ethics, polygamy, polyamory, adolescent sexuality, date rape, cryonics, the Holocaust, shoe fetishism, masturbation, {{spontaneous human combustion}}, and constitutional rights. Along with this, the series was the first long-term wide exposure for actors Creator/DonCheadle (District Attorney John Littleton), Creator/HollyMarieCombs (Kimberly Brock), Creator/FyvushFinkel (Douglas Wambaugh), Creator/LaurenHolly (Officer Maxine Stewart), and Creator/CostasMandylor (Officer Kenny Lakos).

The show revolved around the residents of Rome, in particular the functionally dysfunctional Brock family headed up by the town Sheriff, Jimmy Brock (Creator/TomSkerritt). Sheriff Brock, along with his deputies at the Rome Sheriff's Department, sometimes struggle to maintain order faced with such strange crimes and occurrences as cow udders exploding and a spate of people turning up dead in freezers. During its tenure, the show also dealt with unusual (for the time) topics not limited to abortion, homophobia and LGBT adoption, transsexualism, racism, belief in God, medical ethics, polygamy, polyamory, adolescent sexuality, date rape, cryonics, the Holocaust, shoe fetishism, masturbation, {{spontaneous human combustion}}, and constitutional rights. Along with this, the series was the first long-term wide exposure for actors Creator/DonCheadle (District Attorney John Littleton), Creator/HollyMarieCombs (Kimberly Brock), Creator/FyvushFinkel (Douglas Wambaugh), Creator/LaurenHolly (Officer Maxine Stewart), Creator/CostasMandylor (Officer Kenny Lakos).

The show revolved around the residents of Rome, in particular the functionally dysfunctional Brock family headed up by the town Sheriff, Jimmy Brock (Creator/TomSkerritt). Sheriff Brock, along with his deputies at the Rome Sheriff's Department, sometimes struggle to maintain order faced with such strange crimes and occurrences as cow udders exploding and a spate of people turning up dead in freezers. During its tenure, the show also dealt with unusual (for the time) topics not limited to abortion, homophobia and LGBT adoption, transsexualism, racism, belief in God, medical ethics, polygamy, polyamory, adolescent sexuality, date rape, cryonics, the Holocaust, shoe fetishism, masturbation, {{spontaneous human combustion}}, and constitutional rights. Along with this, it was the first long-term wide exposure for actors Creator/DonCheadle (District Attorney John Littleton), Creator/HollyMarieCombs (Kimberly Brock), Creator/LaurenHolly (Officer Maxine Stewart), Creator/CostasMandylor (Officer Kenny Lakos), and Creator/FyvushFinkel (Douglas Wambaugh).

The show revolved around the residents of Rome, in particular the functionally dysfunctional Brock family headed up by the town Sheriff, Jimmy Brock (Creator/TomSkerritt). Sheriff Brock, along with his deputies at the Rome Sheriff's Department, sometimes struggle to maintain order faced with such strange crimes and occurrences as cow udders exploding and a spate of people turning up dead in freezers. During its tenure, the show also dealt with unusual (for the time) topics not limited to abortion, homophobia and LGBT adoption, transsexualism, racism, belief in God, medical ethics, polygamy, polyamory, adolescent sexuality, date rape, cryonics, the Holocaust, shoe fetishism, masturbation, {{spontaneous human combustion}}, and constitutional rights. Along with this, it was the first long-term wide exposure for actors Creator/DonCheadle (District Attorney John Littleton), Creator/HollyMarieCombs (Kimberly Brock), Creator/LaurenHolly (Officer Maxine Stewart) and Creator/CostasMandylor (Officer Kenny Lakos).

Thanks to ExecutiveMeddling and various legal battles, only the first season has been released on DVD.[[note]]In the United States, anyway; all four seasons have been released in both Australia and Germany. Also, there ''is'' a release of the entire series for Region 0, meaning that it's a universally-accepted DVD, but it's anyone's guess on its actual playability.[[/note]]

Due to ExecutiveMeddling and various legal battles, only the first season has ever been released on DVD.[[note]]In the United States, anyway; all four seasons have been released in both Australia and Germany. Also, there ''is'' a release of the entire series for Region 0, meaning that it's a universally-accepted DVD, but it's anyone's guess on its actual playability.[[/note]]

Only the first season has ever been released on DVD thanks to ExecutiveMeddling and various legal battles.[[note]]In the United States, anyway; all four seasons have been released in both Australia and Germany. Also, there ''is'' a release of the entire series for Region 0, meaning that it's a universally-accepted DVD, but it's anyone's guess on its actual playability.[[/note]]

[[quoteright:315:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/picket_fences_cast.jpeg]]

[[quoteright:315:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/picketfences_2571.jpg]]

Welcome to the small town of Rome, Wisconsin, where everyone knows everyone and the bizarre is an everyday occurrence. Created by Creator/DavidEKelley, the Emmy Award winning family/cop/legal/medical dramedy ''Picket Fences'' ran on Creator/{{CBS}} for four seasons (1992–96) and 88 episodes, before it was cancelled for being a little ''too'' weird for its own good.

The show revolved around the residents of Rome, in particular the functionally dysfunctional Brock family headed up by the town Sheriff, Jimmy Brock (Creator/TomSkerritt). Sheriff Brock, along with his deputies at the Rome Sheriff's Department, sometimes struggle to maintain order faced with such strange crimes and occurrences as cow udders exploding and a spate of people turning up dead in freezers. During its tenure, the show also dealt with unusual (for the time) topics not limited to abortion, homophobia and LGBT adoption, transsexualism, racism, belief in God, medical ethics, polygamy, polyamory, adolescent sexuality, date rape, cryonics, the Holocaust, shoe fetishism, masturbation, {{spontaneous human combustion}}, and constitutional rights. Along with this, it was the first long-term wide exposure for actors Creator/DonCheadle (District Attorney John Littleton), Creator/HollyMarieCombs (Kimberly Brock), Creator/LaurenHolly (Officer Maxine Stewart) and Creator/CostasMandylor (Officer Kenny Lakos)

[[quoteright:319:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/picketfences_2571.jpg]]

Welcome to the small town of Rome, Wisconsin where everyone knows everyone and the bizarre is an everyday occurrence. Created by Creator/DavidEKelley, the Emmy Award winning family/cop/legal/medical dramedy ''Picket Fences'' ran for four seasons and 88 episodes on Creator/{{CBS}} from 1992–96 before it was cancelled for being a little ''too'' weird for its own good.

* RecycledScript: every episode in season one with a murder mystery in it except for two [[spoiler: and one of hose others also has two seemingly in-affiliated characters be partners in crime, it’s just that one of them was a witness rather than a suspect]]. Features only two suspects, who turn out to have been working together the whole time.

* CerebusSyndrome: The show started out as a quirky, light-hearted SliceOfLife, then morphed once into a PoliceProcedural involving the hunt for [[SerialKiller serial killers]], then again into an {{Anvilicious}} [[LawProcedural courtroom drama]]. There's also how the show took quirky comedy concepts from its first few episodes and have them turn out to have a rather dark RealityEnsues payoff. That amusing CloudCuckooLander with some of the funniest lines in the show? Turns out he has Alzheimers, which eventually leads to a tragic downward spiral.

* DidNotThinkThisThrough: The (17-year-old) perp in the Season 3 finale "The Song of Rome" is a gambling addict in debt for a $1000 to a bookie. So he decides to get his hands on an ''expensive'' Uzi and ammunition. Then go to the local church, enter a confessional and after confessing to said addiction, tells the Priest he has a gun and wants his wallet; who probably didn't carry that much cash on him or have any items worth that much. Then shoots him leaving the priest brain dead (he later dies of his injuries). Then ends up in a pursuit--by a Sheriff's Department with well-armed and trained deputies that responded rapidly--that ends at a shootout at his house with him wounded and in custody.

* DidNotThinkThisThrough: The (17-year-old) perp in the Season 3 finale "The Song of Rome" is a gambling addict in debt for a $1000 to a bookie. So he decides to get his hands on an ''expensive'' Uzi and ammunition. Then go to the local church, enter a confessional and after confessing to said addiction, tells the Priest he has a gun and wants his wallet; who probably didn't carry that much cash on him or have any items worth that much. Then shoots him leaving the priest brain dead (he later dies of his injuries). Then ends up in a pursuit that ends at a shootout at his house with him wounded and in custody.

* DidNotThinkThisThrough: The (17-year-old) perp in the Season 3 finale "The Song of Rome" is a gambling addict in debt for a $1000 to a bookie. So he decides to get his hands on an ''expensive'' Uzi and ammunition. Then go to the local church, enter a confessional and after confessing to said addiction, tells the Priest he has a gun and wants his wallet. Then shoots him leaving the priest brain dead (he later dies of his injuries). Then ends up in a pursuit that ends at a shootout at his house with him wounded and in custody.

* LittlePeopleAreSurreal: Ginny Weedon portrayed by Zelda Rubinstein, who basically plays the same part that she did in ''Film/{{Poltergeist}}''. It never stopped her from complaining about little people stereotypes, though.

* GettingCrapPastTheRadar: In the season one episode "Thanksgiving", Max and Kenny have a conversation about masturbation and sexual fantasies whilst managing not to actually say the word 'masturbation' once.

The show revolved around the residents of Rome, in particular the functionally dysfunctional Brock family headed up by the town Sheriff, Jimmy Brock (Creator/TomSkerritt). Sheriff Brock, along with his deputies at the Rome Sheriff's Department, sometimes struggle to maintain order faced with such strange crimes and occurrences as cow udders exploding and a spate of people turning up dead in freezers. During its tenure, the show also dealt with unusual (for the time) topics not limited to abortion, homophobia and LGBT adoption, transsexualism, racism, belief in God, medical ethics, polygamy, polyamory, adolescent sexuality, date rape, cryonics, the Holocaust, shoe fetishism, masturbation, {{spontaneous human combustion}}, and constitutional rights.

The show revolved around the residents of Rome, in particular the functionally dysfunctional Brock family headed up by the town Sheriff, Jimmy Brock (Tom Skerritt). Sheriff Brock, along with his deputies at the Rome Sheriff's Department sometimes struggle to maintain order faced with such strange crimes and occurrences as cow udders exploding and a spate of people turning up dead in freezers. During its tenure, the show also dealt with unusual (for the time) topics not limited to abortion, homophobia and LGBT adoption, transsexualism, racism, belief in God, medical ethics, polygamy, polyamory, adolescent sexuality, date rape, cryonics, the Holocaust, shoe fetishism, masturbation, {{spontaneous human combustion}}, and constitutional rights.

* {{Cult}}: In the first season's "Nuclear Meltdown", Max investigates an obscure religious sect which she suspects of being a satanic cult.

* {{Fetish}}: The season two episode "My Left Shoe" deals with the town's Catholic Priest who, it is discovered, has a shoe fetish.