TV SERIES · 2002–2008 · USA
The Shield
- Created by
- Shawn Ryan
- Network
- FX
- Seasons
- 7
- Episodes
- 88
- Studio
- Fox Television Studios, Sony Pictures Television, Columbia TriStar Television
78 archived facts 8 topics 6 sources Last reviewed Nov 2026
The story of an inner-city Los Angeles police precinct where some of the cops aren't above breaking the rules or working against their associates to both keep the streets safe and their self-interests intact.
78 Interesting Facts About The Shield
Interesting Facts (42)
- #001
Michael Chiklis said that while filming Vic's moment of collapse in the first-season finale, the intensity of his performance gave him a real panic attack. He stated that the moment he clutched his chest was entirely instinctive and not acting. The scene is remembered as a moment that pushed the limits of acting.
- #002
Cathy Cahlin Ryan, who played Vic Mackey's wife Corrine, is the real-life wife of series creator Shawn Ryan. The actress was pregnant throughout the first season and skillfully reflected that in her performance. The Ryans successfully balanced professionalism and their private life on set.
- #003
Glenn Close based much of her performance as Monica Rawling on Theresa J. Shortell, a real police chief from New York. She even spoke with Shortell during the broadcast and received feedback. This meticulous preparation was the secret behind the authenticity Close brought to the character.
- #004
In the fourth season, Danny supported asset forfeiture while Julien opposed it. In real life the situation was the exact opposite: Catherine Dent was against the practice, while Michael Jace supported it. This ironic contrast showed how successfully the actors kept their personal views out of their roles.
- #005
- #006
FX initially objected to casting Walton Goggins. To convince the network, the episodes 'Our Gang' and 'The Spread' were rewritten to showcase Goggins's abilities. Although these episodes persuaded FX, contract delays meant the character of Shane did not appear in three episodes. During that stretch, Vic Mackey partnered with the character played by Kenny Johnson or helped Detective Wyms and Wagenbach on a case.
- #007
After winning great acclaim for her role, Glenn Close had the opportunity to continue working on The Shield. She declined to do another season, however, because she did not want to miss her daughter's senior year of high school. She had also recently married her third husband and felt she could not devote enough time to her family.
- #008
- #009
- #010
The name of Officer Ronnie Gardocki, 'Ronnie', comes from Ronald Russell, the bodyguard in Don Johnson's series 'Nash Bridges'.
- #011
- #012
The Strike Team was created inspired by CRASH (Community Resources Against Street Hoodlums), the anti-gang unit of the Los Angeles Police Department's Rampart Division. More than 70 police officers connected to CRASH were involved in crimes such as unjustified shootings, beatings, planting false evidence, drug trafficking, bank robbery and perjury. Some officers linked to Death Row Records were also alleged to have had a hand in the murder of rapper The Notorious B.I.G. It was determined that 90% of CRASH members were either directly involved in crimes or fully aware of what was going on.
- #013
When the series began airing, creator Shawn Ryan noticed that viewers were split over whether they liked Vic Mackey, with some wanting him caught. When Lieutenant Jon Kavanaugh was brought into the story as a serious threat to Mackey's downfall, Ryan was surprised to see that almost everyone supported Mackey and hated Kavanaugh.
- #014
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- #021
- #022
Shawn Ryan originally wrote Claudette's character as a man. It took a call from CCH Pounder's agent to make him appreciate that a woman in the detective role would offer a whole new slant to proceedings. One thing that Ryan didn't change was the dialog, meaning that Claudette pulls no punches with her fellow detectives and the criminals she encounters. This was at Pounder's request.
- #023
In the original pitch of the series to FX, the members of the Strike Team were supposed to be background characters and that the character of Vic Mackey would mainly interact with the other characters. However, after casting David Rees Snell and Kenny Johnson as members of the Strike Team, it was decided to make the Strike Team members a regular part of the series.
- #024
- #025
- #026
- #027
- #028
- #029
When the series began airing, creator Shawn Ryan noticed that people were divided over whether they liked Vic Mackey, with some wanting him caught. When Lieutenant Jon Kavanaugh entered the story as a serious possibility for bringing Mackey down, Ryan was surprised to find that almost everyone supported Mackey and hated Kavanaugh.
- #030
The Strike Team was based on CRASH (Community Resources Against Street Hoodlums), the corrupt anti-gang unit of the Los Angeles Police Department's Rampart Division. More than 70 officers associated with CRASH were accused of misconduct. Their offenses included unprovoked shootings, unprovoked beatings, planting evidence, stealing and selling drugs, bank robbery, perjury and concealing evidence of these activities. There was also a connection to Death Row Records, which was linked to the Bloods gang; several officers served as off-duty security for exceptionally generous payments. Some were alleged to have been involved in, or even responsible for, the murder of rapper The Notorious B.I.G. It was determined that 90% of CRASH members were either directly involved in misconduct or fully aware of it.
- #031
- #032
- #033
In the original pitch to FX, the Strike Team members were intended to be background characters, with Vic Mackey primarily interacting with other characters. After David Rees Snell and Kenny Johnson were cast as Strike Team members, however, it was decided that the team members would become a regular part of the series.
- #034
- #035
- #036
Before the series began, star Michael Chiklis was best known for playing the plump, good-natured title character in The Commish (1991). Because of the contrast between that character's relaxed, approachable manner and Vic Mackey's violent, ruthless style, Mackey was frequently described as the 'anti-Commish' in first-season descriptions.
- #037
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Production Story (12)
- #043
- #044
When the show started airing, creator Shawn Ryan noticed that people were divided over whether they liked Vic Mackey or not, and some wanted him to get caught. When Lieutenant Jon Kavanaugh was introduced into the storyline as a serious possibility for Mackey to go down, Ryan was surprised to learn that almost everyone rooted for Mackey and hated Kavanaugh.
- #045
FX originally balked at the hiring of Walton Goggins as a regular cast member. In order to convince the network executives to hire him, the episodes Our Gang (2002) and The Spread (2002) were specifically rewritten to showcase Walt's acting abilities in hopes of having him hired as a full-time cast member. These episodes convinced FX, but because of delays in finalizing his contract, the Shane character was written out of three episodes. The Vic Mackey character partnered up with a fellow cast member Kenny Johnson (Dawg Days (2002) and Throwaway (2002)) or assisted Detectives Wyms and Wagenbach on a case (Cherrypoppers (2002)).
- #046
- #047
- #048
- #049
- #050
Creator Shawn Ryan's original title for the show was "The Barn." The FX network feared that potential audiences might be turned away by that title because they might think it was a gardening show or something similar. "Rampart" was also considered, after the controversial corruption charges against the Rampart division of the Los Angeles Police Department. This title was used in early promotional materials, including several TV spots. Upon opposition from the LAPD, as well as the fact that people not familiar with the Rampart scandal might not understand the name, the title was changed at the last minute to "The Shield."
- #051
In the original pitch of the series to FX, the members of the Strike Team were supposed to be background characters and that the character of Vic Mackey would mainly interact with the other characters. However, after casting David Rees Snell and Kenny Johnson as members of the Strike Team, it was decided to make the Strike Team members a regular part of the series.
- #052
Shawn Ryan originally wrote Claudette's character as a man. It took a call from CCH Pounder's agent to make him appreciate that a woman in the detective role would offer a whole new slant to proceedings. One thing that Ryan didn't change was the dialog, meaning that Claudette pulls no punches with her fellow detectives and the criminals she encounters. This was at Pounder's request.
- #053
In the first-season cast and crew commentaries, Michael Chiklis recalls that his mother was deeply disappointed after watching the pilot and wrote him a four-page letter wondering whether he had done it 'at the expense of his immortal soul.' After watching the rest of the first season, however, she changed her opinion, considered it her son's best work and fully understood the character he played.
- #054
Behind the Scenes (7)
- #055
- #056
- #057
The uniformed officers originally wore realistic LAPD-style badges over their left breast, which is standard in the real Los Angeles Police Department, as it is symbolically over the heart. After criticism from the real LAPD over the show's depiction of corrupt cops, the badges were replaced with less realistic badges worn over the right breast, starting midway through the first season.
- #058
- #059
The scene at the end of the first season in which Mackey, after his family leaves him, angrily throws his badge in the kitchen was Michael Chiklis's own idea. The improvised moment strikingly conveyed the character's desperation and rage. When the director saw the scene's emotional impact, he approved it immediately.
- #060
- #061
Characters & Cast (6)
- #062
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- #064
Before the series began, star Michael Chiklis was known mostly for playing the chubby, good-natured title character on The Commish (1991). Because of the contrast between that character's laid-back, affable style and Vic Mackey's violent and brutal style, Mackey was often referred to in descriptions of the first season as "The anti-Commish."
- #065
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- #067
Easter Eggs & References (6)
- #068
Michael Chiklis, who played Detective Vic Mackey, the leader of The Barn's Strike Team, would go on to join the cast of Fox's TV series Gotham (2014) for its second season as Captain Nathaniel Barnes, where he and Detective James Gordon (Ben McKenzie) put together a crime-fighting team called the Strike Force.
- #069
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- #073
Deeper Meaning (2)
- #074
- #075
The uniformed officers originally wore realistic LAPD-style badges over their left breast, which is standard in the real Los Angeles Police Department, as it is symbolically over the heart. After criticism from the real LAPD over the show's depiction of corrupt cops, the badges were replaced with less realistic badges which were worn over the right breast, starting midway through the first season.
Career & Awards (2)
- #076
- #077
Glenn Close was given the opportunity to continue working on The Shield after receiving critical acclaim for her role. She ultimately declined to do another season because she did not want to miss her daughter's last year of high school. She had also recently married her third husband and felt that she would have missed too much family time.
Life & Family (1)
- #078
On the cast and crew commentary for the first season, Michael Chiklis explains that his mother was very disappointed with him upon watching the pilot and wrote him "a four-page letter wondering if (he) was doing this at the expense of (his) immortal soul". However, upon watching the rest of the first season, she came away with a different opinion, considering it her son's best work and fully understanding the character Chiklis was playing.
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