Contrary to popular belief, a television series doesn’t have to be complicated in order to be entertaining. Plenty of creators delight in creating a story like a Russian nesting doll of overcomplicated plots. Sometimes, the best sort of television contains a straight-through line for an audience to follow and enjoy.

1967’s Dragnet was one such show. Following a familiar crime format, Sgt. Joe Friday and Bill Gannon worked together to take down bad guys and bring justice to the streets of Los Angeles. During an interview with the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, series creator and star Jack Webb had no issue laying out his aims for the series.

"I'm not out to make art films,” said the director. “I just want to turn out good entertainment."

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His co-star, Harry Morgan, believed the straightforward nature of the show only added to its quality.

"I think Dragnet is a damn good show,” the actor said to the San Francisco Examiner. “It has something to say, it's about something. And its point of view is honest. No question about it."

Morgan also spoke highly of Webb. He said, "There's nobody else like Jack in the business. Nobody has the qualifications or the background he does." He continued, "That's why he produces and directs. It's not stubbornness or anything like that. It's just that he knows what he wants. And 98 percent of the time, he's right."