Cop Shows

Police procedurals were all the rage when I was going up. "Cagney and Lacey" and "Hill Street Blues" set the bar for reality in police dramas on the small screen. There were other cop shows that tried, but were mroe about action and/or comedy, like "Hawaii 5-O", "Adam 12", "Dragnet" and "CHiPs" just to name the one that I am familiar with.
The drama-driven shows aren't as popular now, but procedurals still are. The Law & Order franchise of shows are the onlly police procedurals still on, but there are a whole slew of shows that are procedurals based on other law enforcement agencies. There are the 3 CSI shows, procedurals about the crime labs that work with the police departments, there are several shows that are FBI procedurals, "Without a Trace" and "In Plain Sight". There is "NCIS" about the Navy's version of the FBI. There are probably other shows that I'm not aware of (I can think of some that might fit the bill, but as I've never watched them, I can't be sure.)
Most of the drama has been replaced with high-tech gadgetry. But, not all of it. The above mentioned shows spend varying small amounts of time on drama.
Perhaps related to the cutting down of the drama, but more likely a result of what caused the cutting down of the drama, is that fact that hour longs shows have moved from 53 minutes in length to 45 minutes in length during initial airing, and are even shorter, by several minutes during syndicated broadcasts. It's hard to be as in-depth and character-drivern with less time.
Another factor that has changed since I was a kid in the 80s, is that as ad time has gone, the target demographic has gone down, in age that is. 25 years ago, the number one demorgraphic that advertisers, and hence television shows, were aiming at was 35 to 54 year old men. I am speaking of prime time television here, as other times of the day had different demographics. Prime time television now is seeking 18 to 34 year old boys/men. But, cable television has changed the scene so much, that the target demographic tends to skew down even more on the financial side - with the older demographic of the 80s, television was looking to speak directly to the family bread-winners and therefore, at least theoretically, the person in charge of the budget. Today, while still trying to make money, the ads are more aimed at niche markets, such as entertainment and smaller dollar items, but sold in larger quantities.
The real money is not even on broadcast television any more. Cable specialty channels is where it is at. The number one sought after demographic is 6 to 12 year old girls. They are the ones who spend the most money or have the most money spent on them.
I guess I should really be counting my blessings that there are any type of criminal procedurals on the air at all, instead of Hannah Montana and the Jonas Brothers.