Joe Kenda is No Joke

Once upon a time on the network it was Joe Friday in Dragnet. Today, it's Joe Kenda on the stream in Homicide Hunter. We watch Kenda almost every night before we turn off the lights.

Joe Friday, portrayed by actor Jack Webb, was the central character in the classic television series "Dragnet." The original "Dragnet" series aired in the 1950s and early 1960s, and it was known for its realistic portrayal of police work and the "just the facts" approach to solving crimes.

Joe Kenda, on the other hand, is a real-life retired homicide detective, and his experiences and cases are the focus of "Homicide Hunter: Lt. Joe Kenda," a true crime documentary-style series that aired from 2011 to 2019. Unlike Joe Friday, Joe Kenda is not a fictional character but a law enforcement officer who worked on actual homicide cases during his career.

We assumed that watching Joe Kenda was kind of an idiosyncratic guilty pleasure, that we didn't talk too much about. A couple of weeks ago, we stopped over at Mark and Dar's. We asked them if they had ever seen Joe Kenda. At first it didn't ring a bell until we mentioned Homicide Hunter. The bell rang. Dar said they've watched every episode. 

Wow

Homicide Hunter: Lt. Joe Kenda, first  aired on the Investigation Discovery channel from 2011 to 2019. It lasted for 144 episodes. Mark and Dar had seen every one.

Now because Mark and Dar live near us, are related to us and are friends with us, we consider them to be "normal" people like us. They too are refugees from Rochester.

Joseph Patrick Kenda, known as Joe Kenda, is a retired American law enforcement officer and television personality. He was born on August 28, 1946, in Herminie, Pennsylvania, USA. Kenda is best known for his role in the television series "

The show features Joe Kenda recounting his experiences as a homicide detective in the Colorado Springs Police Department, where he served for over 20 years. He solved more than 350 murder cases during his career, earning a reputation for his high clearance rate and his dedication to solving crimes.

"Homicide Hunter" became popular for its gripping storytelling and Kenda's distinctive narration style. The series showcases his investigative skills, his personal anecdotes from working in law enforcement, and his efforts to bring killers to justice. Joe Kenda's work in the show and his contribution to law enforcement have made him a well-known figure in the true crime and television world.

Joe Kenda, like Joe Friday known for his distinctive and often candid way of speaking, has delivered many memorable quotes during his time on "Homicide Hunter." 

"My, my, my…"Joe Kenda often begins his stories with this signature catchphrase.

"The moment you pull the trigger, there's no taking it back. There are some things in life you never forget, and this is one of them." Reflecting on the gravity of violent crime and its lasting impact.

"The bullet always tells the truth." Emphasizing the importance of forensic evidence in solving cases.

"I've seen so many of them. So many victims. And I remember every one of them." Highlighting the emotional toll that dealing with homicide cases can take on a detective.

"Murder is a virus. It is an infection that spreads because nobody cares enough to get in its way." Expressing the idea that solving homicides is crucial to prevent further violence.

"Evil exists, and if you pretend it doesn't, you're a fool." Acknowledging the existence of evil in the world and the importance of confronting it.

"If you kill someone, you get caught."Underlining the idea that murder cases are often solvable and that justice will prevail.

In Homicide the names are not changed, the innocent are not protected.

This was not the case in Dragnet. Jack Webb took real life stories and changed the names of the people in order to "protect the innocent" and produce fictionalized portrayals. In doing so, Dragnet became a forerunner to both metaphysiction and faction which had/has a resounding impact on Thornton Krell and all of his students including Ice Rivers.

 

Joe Friday, the iconic character from the television series "Dragnet," played by actor and creator Jack Webb, is known for his straightforward and no-nonsense style of speaking. Here are some famous Joe Friday quotes from the show that resound in the history of teevee.

"Just the facts, ma'am."This is perhaps the most famous catchphrase associated with Joe Friday, emphasizing the importance of sticking to the facts in an investigation.

"This is the city: Los Angeles, California. I work here. I carry a badge."Joe Friday's opening lines from the show, setting the tone for his role as a dedicated police officer."

"We were working the day watch out of robbery."Joe Friday often began episodes by narrating the specifics of the case he and his partner were investigating.

"All we want are the facts, ma'am."Reiterating his commitment to obtaining accurate information during interrogations.

"The story you are about to see is true; the names have been changed to protect the innocent."Joe Friday's disclaimer at the beginning of each episode, emphasizing the show's commitment to depicting real-life police work.

These shows illustrate the evolution of crime-related television programming, moving from fictionalized portrayals " to real-life accounts reflecting the changing tastes, viewing capabilities and interests of audiences over time. Both shows have left a mark in the crime and law enforcement television genre.

 True crime television has evolved from being a niche interest or guilty pleasure into a significant and mainstream genre within the television industry. It has gained a substantial following and a dedicated viewer base. Many factors contribute to its popularity and transition into a mainstay of television:

Diverse Content: True crime television now covers a wide range of subjects, from historical cases to contemporary investigations, cold cases, forensic science, and legal procedures. This diversity allows for a broad audience appeal.

Engaging Storytelling: Many true crime series and documentaries are expertly produced, offering compelling storytelling that keeps viewers engaged and eager to learn about the cases.Human Interest: True crime explores the human condition, including motivations, psychology, and the impact of crime on victims and their families, which can be emotionally resonant for viewers.

Educational Aspect: True crime shows often delve into investigative techniques, forensic science, and legal processes, providing an educational component that appeals to viewers interested in these subjects.

Discussion and Social Commentary: True crime programs often spark discussions about criminal justice, ethics, and societal issues. This engagement in real-world topics contributes to its enduring appeal.

Streaming Platforms: The rise of streaming platforms has made true crime content even more accessible, allowing viewers to binge-watch series and explore a wide variety of cases.

Cultural Influence: True crime has influenced other forms of media, from podcasts to books, and has become a part of popular culture.

 True crime television has evolved from a niche genre to a prominent and enduring category of television content. Its ability to captivate viewers with real-life mysteries, investigations, and the human drama surrounding crime has solidified its place in contemporary television programming.

This is all true but how big a "place" does true crime occupy in Modern teevee which brings us back to Mark and Darlene and even further back to Mary and Jon. We share a stream with Mary and Jon. Mary as you know by now is our daughter and Jon will soon be our son-in-law. In our eyes, they are even more "normal" than Mark and Dar.

One night we were choosing an episode of Homicide when we noticed a white bar under the episode that we were thinking of watching. The white bar indicates that we've already watched the episode. Neither Lynn nor myself recognized the episode from the description. We watched it and sure enough it was new to us.

Hmmm

how could this be?

Aha

Mary.

We asked Mary if she watched Joe Kenda. She said, "Oh yeah."

Did she watch the show a lot?

Oh yeah.

We told her about the white bar that came on our screen when we attempt to choose episodes that we haven't seen yet.

That's when Jon came in and said that Mary often falls asleep with the teevee on and she tends to fall asleep while watching Joe Kenda which means the show keeps playing through out the night and the white bar goes under each of the episodes that has played while Mary slept so Mary wasn't exactly sure how many of the episodes she had actually watched and which ones had been playing during her sleep.

Therefore when she, like we, picked out an episode to watch we could never be sure if we had seen it before. So we take a guess. Many of the episodes are similar so it's not unusual to get fifteen minutes into an episode before realizing that we've seen that one before. 

Mary has the same problem.

So now, having invested fifteen minutes into an episode that we've already seen should we just keep it playing and watch it again or try to find another episode that may or may not have the same situation.

Usually, we watch it again.

Some episodes we have seen three or four times and a few we haven't seen at all.

Although we are blind, still on we march.....

Now the story that you just read is true but I've changed the names of the characters to protect the innocent. I didn't even write this. Thornton Krell did.