Sam(1978)

Sam is an American crime drama that aired on CBS in 1978, following a Los Angeles police officer named Mike Breen and his specially-trained Labrador Retriever partner, Sam. The series ran for six weeks from March to April, chronicling the partnership between cop and canine as they navigated cases across the city. With its focus on the bond between handler and dog, Sam blended procedural crime storytelling with the appeal of a four-legged protagonist. The show captured the gritty tone of 1970s police dramas while centering on an unconventional dynamic that set it apart from its contemporaries. Though short-lived, Sam offered viewers a unique take on the crime genre by emphasizing the working relationship at its heart.