Steve Kmetko interviews “Adam 12” star Kent McCord for the “Still Here Hollywood” podcast

My first TV crush before I knew what a crush was certainly was Officer Jim Reed on TV’s Adam 12. He was what I hoped every policeman would be.

Classy and oh-so-handsome Kent McCord became a television icon playing Officer Reed on Adam-12, one of the most influential police dramas in television history.

We learn so much about Kent in this wonderful interview Steve Kmetko has done for his terrific Still Here Hollywood podcast which I always find time to watch. Long before Adam-12, Kent’s life was already taking remarkable turns. Kent shares never-before-heard stories about working with Jack Webb, the realism behind Adam-12, how the series became a training tool for police departments across America, and the surprising impact the show had on law enforcement.

Kent, now 83, also recalls his close friendship with rock star and TV icon Ricky Nelson, an unforgettable football game between teams organized by Nelson and Elvis Presley, working on Elvis movies, being publicly recognized by Elvis during a concert Las Vegas, and the heartbreaking days surrounding the deaths of both Elvis and Rick.

It’s a fascinating conversation about classic television, Hollywood history, friendship, luck, and a career that continues to resonate with audiences decades later.