TV series
Jake and the Fatman is a television crime drama starring William Conrad as prosecutor J. L. "Fatman" McCabe and Joe Penny as investigator Jake Styles. The series ran on CBS for five seasons from 1987 to 1992. Diagnosis: Murder was a spin-off of this series.
Availability
Checked Sep 4, 2026
Jake and the Fatman premiered September 26, 1987. We don't have a confirmed streaming, rental or purchase option yet.
Jake and the Fatman is a television crime drama starring William Conrad as prosecutor J. L. "Fatman" McCabe and Joe Penny as investigator Jake Styles. The series ran on CBS for five seasons from 1987 to 1992. Diagnosis: Murder was a spin-off of this series.
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Episode 1
Jake goes to Hawaii to visit a longtime friend, John Graney, but finds him dead when he arrives. Meanwhile McCabe resigns his position as district attorney and decides to move to Hawaii.
Guest stars Amy Steel, James Karen, Jack Hogan, Al Harrington, Bob Fimiani, Warren Fabro
Episode 2
Jake continues trying to find Graney's murderer, now while under suspicion of John's partner's murder.
Guest stars Amy Steel, James Karen, Jack Hogan, Al Harrington, Bob Fimiani
Episode 3
A tourist tries to stop a mugging, but he is grabbed from behind and the mugger stabs him. When the police arrive, the tourist is still alive, but the mugger is dead from a bullet wound and on the ground lies a gun used to kill several muggers. The third man is nowhere to be seen.
Directed by Don MedfordGuest stars David Schramm, Brigid Brannagh, Janet Carroll
Episode 4
Jake investigates a robbery of a transportation company, and gets involved with its owner.
Guest stars Ray Bumatai, Leslie Bevis
Episode 5
A friend of McCabe, senator Brandauer, is killed in a plane crash, and investigation reveals it was no accident. The plane had substandard parts bought in a deal brokered by McCabe's son, Daniel.
Guest stars Clarence Clemons
Episode 6
Jake goes after a pimp, who killed a prostitute who was to testify against him.
Directed by Bernard L. KowalskiGuest stars Debra Stipe
Episode 7
A burglar surprises Wallace Cogan, a publisher of adult magazines, and his wife Marina when they are returning home from a holiday. He kills Marina, but is wounded by Cogan before he gets away.
Directed by Bernard L. KowalskiGuest stars Lenore Kasdorf, Jack Hogan, Alex Cord, Maurice Roëves
Episode 8
A young woman is found dead on the beach from a drug overdose. The immediate suspect is her ex-boyfriend, Sonny, so Jake goes pick him up for questioning. But a mysterious gunman is also interested in Sonny, and tries to kill him before Jake can get to him.
Directed by Bernard L. KowalskiGuest stars Sarah Vaughan, Ramon Bieri, James Duff
Episode 9
Jake and two friends participate in a drug bust that goes sour. The next day those friends are found dead - killed by a shotgun blast while they were in their car at the docks.
Directed by Don MedfordWritten by Catherine ClinchGuest stars Michele Scarabelli, Charlie Brill, Don Yesso
Episode 10
McCabe and the son of a friend go fishing, and discover a bomb on the their boat. Unable to disarm it they jump in the sea and swim to a nearby island. Meanwhile Jake and Derek presume they're dead, and go looking for the bomber.
Directed by Jackie CooperGuest stars Frederick Coffin, Robert Munic
Episode 11
The Secret Service gets help from Jake in catching a money counterfeiter, who trades his product for cocaine. It becomes personal for Jake when a friend is killed during a failed raid.
Directed by Jackie CooperGuest stars Michael Madsen, Branscombe Richmond, James Duff
Episode information updated Sep 16, 2026
Available now in United States
These shows are available now and closely match Jake and the Fatman.
William ConradJason McCabe
Joe PennyJake Styles
Alan CampbellDerek Mitchell
Bert Remsen
Kurt Fuller
Kathryn Leigh Scott
Mary-Margaret Humes
Amy Steel
CBSUnited States
Viacom ProductionsUnited States
Dean Hargrove ProductionsUnited States
Fred Silverman CompanyUnited States
Strathmore ProductionsUnited States
