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
253 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.
253 Interesting Facts About The Shield
Interesting Facts (94)
- #001
- #002
- #003
- #004
Michael Chiklis (Detective Vic Mackey), who played 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.
- #005
- #006
- #007
- #008
Creator Shawn Ryan's original title of the show was "The Barn." The FX network feared that potential audiences might be turned away by that, 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."
- #009
When the show started airing, creator Shawn Ryan would notice that people were divisive regarding whether they like 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.
- #010
- #011
- #012
- #013
- #014
Prior to the start of the series, star Michael Chiklis had been known mostly for playing the chubby, good natured title character on The Commish (1991). Because of the contrast between that characters laid back, affable style, and Vic Mackey's violent and brutal style, Mackey was often referred to in the descriptions of the first season as "The anti-Commish."
- #015
- #016
Claudette started out on the page as a man. A phone call from CCH Pounder's manager made Shawn Ryan see how a woman in the detective's chair could change the story entirely. Pounder asked that the dialogue stay as written, and it did, which is why Claudette gives no ground to criminals or colleagues.
- #017
- #018
- #019
- #020
After seeing the pilot, Michael Chiklis's mother wrote him a four-page letter about how disappointed she was, worried that he was playing the role 'at the cost of his immortal soul.' Once she had watched the whole first season, though, she came around completely and decided it was the best thing he had ever done.
- #021
- #022
- #023
- #024
- #025
- #026
- #027
- #028
- #029
- #030
- #031
- #032
- #033
FX was against casting Walton Goggins at first. To win the network over, the episodes 'Our Gang' and 'The Spread' were rewritten to show off what he could do. They did the trick, but his contract took so long to settle that Shane is missing from three episodes; in those, Vic Mackey either works with Kenny Johnson's character or helps Detective Wyms and Wagenbach with a case.
- #034
- #035
- #036
- #037
- #038
- #039
- #040
- #041
- #042
- #043
- #044
- #045
- #046
- #047
- #048
- #049
- #050
Shawn Ryan first wanted to call the show 'The Barn', but FX worried viewers would take it for a gardening program and switch off. 'Rampart' was also on the table, after the corruption scandal in the Los Angeles Police Department's Rampart division, and it even appeared in the first promotional materials. Objections from the LAPD, and the worry that anyone who did not know the Rampart scandal would miss the reference, led to a last-minute change to 'The Shield'.
- #051
The Strike Team was inspired by CRASH (Community Resources Against Street Hoodlums), the anti-gang unit of the LAPD's Rampart Division. More than 70 officers tied to CRASH were implicated in crimes ranging from unjustified shootings, beatings and planted evidence to drug dealing, bank robbery and perjury. Some officers with links to Death Row Records were even alleged to have played a part in the murder of rapper The Notorious B.I.G. Investigators concluded that 90% of CRASH members either took part in crimes directly or knew exactly what was going on.
- #052
- #053
- #054
- #055
- #056
- #057
- #058
- #059
- #060
- #061
- #062
- #063
- #064
- #065
- #066
- #067
- #068
- #069
- #070
- #071
"The Barn" was creator Shawn Ryan's original title, but the FX network worried potential viewers would skip it, thinking it was a gardening show or something like it. "Rampart" was considered too, after the controversial corruption allegations against the Los Angeles Police Department's Rampart division, and that name appeared in early promotional materials, including several TV spots. Objections from the LAPD, plus the risk that people who did not know the Rampart scandal would not get the name, led to a last-minute switch to "The Shield."
- #072
FX at first did not want Walton Goggins as a regular. To change the executives' minds, Our Gang (2002) and The Spread (2002) were rewritten specially to show off Walt's acting, in the hope of signing him full time. The episodes did convince FX, but his contract took long enough to finalize that Shane had to be written out of three episodes: Vic Mackey is paired with Kenny Johnson's character in Dawg Days (2002) and Throwaway (2002), and helps Detective Wyms and Wagenbach on a case in Cherrypoppers (2002).
- #073
Claudette was originally written as a man. It took a call from CCH Pounder's agent for Shawn Ryan to see that a woman detective would bring a whole new perspective to the cases. Ryan kept the dialogue exactly as it was, at Pounder's request, so Claudette never pulls a punch with fellow detectives or the criminals she meets.
- #074
- #075
- #076
- #077
When the series was first pitched to FX, the Strike Team members were meant to stay in the background, with Vic Mackey mostly playing off other characters. Casting David Rees Snell and Kenny Johnson as members of the team changed that, and the Strike Team became a regular part of the show.
- #078
- #079
- #080
Her role brought Glenn Close so much acclaim that she was offered the chance to stay on The Shield. In the end she said no to another season, not wanting to miss her daughter's last year of high school; she had also recently married her third husband and felt she would lose too much time with her family.
- #081
- #082
- #083
- #084
- #085
- #086
- #087
- #088
- #089
- #090
- #091
- #092
- #093
- #094
Production Story (52)
- #095
- #096
- #097
Once the show was on the air, creator Shawn Ryan noticed that audiences could not agree on Vic Mackey, and some wanted to see him caught. But when Lieutenant Jon Kavanaugh entered the story as a real chance of taking Mackey down, Ryan was surprised to find nearly everyone rooting for Mackey and loathing Kavanaugh.
- #098
FX originally balked at making Walton Goggins a regular. To win over the network executives, Our Gang (2002) and The Spread (2002) were rewritten specifically to showcase Walt's acting, in the hope of getting him hired full time. It worked, but finalizing his contract took so long that Shane had to be written out of three episodes. In those, Vic Mackey teamed up with fellow cast member Kenny Johnson (Dawg Days (2002) and Throwaway (2002)) or helped Detectives Wyms and Wagenbach on a case (Cherrypoppers (2002)).
- #099
- #100
- #101
- #102
- #103
- #104
- #105
The show was going to be called "The Barn," creator Shawn Ryan's original title, until the FX network worried it would put off potential viewers who might take it for a gardening show or something of the kind. "Rampart" was considered as well, after the controversial corruption charges against the LAPD's Rampart division, and it was used in early promotional materials, including several TV spots. Opposition from the LAPD, and the likelihood that people who did not know the Rampart scandal would miss the point, got the title changed at the last minute to "The Shield."
- #106
- #107
The Strike Team was modeled on Community Resources Against Street Hoodlums (CRASH), the corrupt anti-gang unit of the Los Angeles Police Department's Rampart Division. More than 70 officers associated with CRASH were implicated in misconduct, from unprovoked shootings and beatings, planted evidence, and stealing and dealing narcotics to bank robbery, perjury and covering up evidence of all of it. There was a link to Death Row Records, too, which was affiliated with the Bloods street gang: several officers worked off-duty security for the label for extremely generous pay. Some of these officers were alleged to have been involved in, perhaps even responsible for, the murder of rapper The Notorious B.I.G. Investigators found that 90% of CRASH members were either directly involved in misconduct or fully aware of it.
- #108
- #109
Shawn Ryan wrote Claudette as a man, and it took a call from CCH Pounder's agent to make him see that a woman detective would put a whole new slant on things. What Ryan did not change was the dialog, so Claudette pulls no punches with her fellow detectives or the criminals she meets; that was Pounder's request.
- #110
- #111
On the first season's commentary track, Michael Chiklis said his mother was so disappointed by the pilot that she wrote him a four-page letter asking whether he had done this at the cost of his soul. Watching the rest of the season changed her mind: she called it her son's best work and said she fully understood the man he was playing.
- #112
- #113
Uniformed officers initially wore realistic LAPD badges on their left chest, symbolically over the heart, just as in the real Los Angeles Police Department. After criticism from the real LAPD over the show's portrayal of corrupt police, the badges were replaced with less realistic ones starting midway through the first season and were moved to the right chest.
- #114
- #115
- #116
- #117
- #118
- #119
- #120
- #121
FX initially hesitated to add Walton Goggins to the regular cast. To prove his talent, the producers rewrote the episodes 'Our Gang' and 'The Spread' to highlight Goggins's performance. The move worked, but due to contract delays the character Shane could not appear in three episodes; during that time, Vic Mackey worked with different partners.
- #122
Shawn Ryan originally wrote the character Claudette as a man. A phone call from CCH Pounder's manager made him realize that a woman in the detective role would add a whole new dimension to the story. At Pounder's request, the dialogue was not changed; as a result, Claudette displayed an uncompromising attitude toward criminals and colleagues alike.
- #123
Michael Chiklis said that while filming Vic's breakdown in the first season finale, the intensity of his performance gave him a real panic attack. He stated that the moment when he clutches his chest was completely instinctive and that he was not acting. The scene is remembered as a moment that pushed the limits of acting.
- #124
- #125
- #126
- #127
Before the series began, Michael Chiklis was best known for the chubby, good-natured commissioner role on 'The Commish'. The contrast between that lovable character and Vic Mackey's ruthless style was so great that Mackey was often referred to as the 'Anti-Commish' in first-season promos. With this transformation, Chiklis laid his acting range bare.
- #128
Michael Chiklis recounted that after watching the pilot, his mother wrote him a four-page letter expressing her disappointment. His mother worried that her son was taking this role 'at the cost of his immortal soul'. But after watching the entire first season, she completely changed her mind and decided it was her son's best work.
- #129
After winning great acclaim for the role of Monica Rawling, Glenn Close had the opportunity to stay on the series. However, she turned down another season because she did not want to miss her daughter's senior year of high school and had recently remarried. Close felt that family time mattered more than her career.
- #130
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. This improvised moment strikingly conveyed the character's desperation and rage. When the director saw the scene's emotional impact, he approved it immediately.
- #131
- #132
The first choice for the role of Detective Vic Mackey was actually Eric Stoltz. But by a twist of fate, the role went to Michael Chiklis, who became virtually synonymous with it. While Stoltz's career evolved in a different direction, Chiklis delivered a performance that would go down in television history.
- #133
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.
- #134
- #135
- #136
- #137
- #138
Sal Lopez, David Marciano, Richard Portnow and Mark Rolston had all appeared in the television series 'Wiseguy' before 'The Shield.' The paths of these four actors crossing again proved once more that the world of television is a small universe. Each contributed to 'The Shield's rich cast in their own distinctive style.
- #139
After appearing in small roles in 'The Shield,' Omar Dorsey and Michael Peña came together with Danny McBride in the series 'Eastbound & Down.' Walton Goggins later continued this connection by working with McBride on 'Vice Principals.' This coincidental network laid bare the fluidity of actors between comedy and drama.
- #140
The first name the series' creator Shawn Ryan had in mind was "The Barn." The FX channel feared viewers might mistake it for a gardening program and tune out. Inspired by the controversial corruption allegations involving the Los Angeles Police Department's Rampart division, the name "Rampart" was also considered and used in the first promotional materials. However, due to objections from the LAPD and the concern that those unfamiliar with the Rampart scandal might not understand the name, the series was given the name "The Shield" at the last moment.
- #141
The Strike Team was 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.
- #142
In the first draft of the series presented to FX, the Strike Team members were conceived as background characters, and Vic Mackey was planned to interact mainly with other characters. However, with David Rees Snell and Kenny Johnson joining the cast as Strike Team members, it was decided to make these characters a regular part of the show.
- #143
- #144
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 introduced into the story as a serious threat to Mackey's downfall, Ryan was surprised to find that almost everyone supported Mackey and hated Kavanaugh.
- #145
- #146
Behind the Scenes (12)
- #147
- #148
- #149
- #150
At first the uniformed officers wore realistic LAPD-style badges over the left breast, as the real Los Angeles Police Department does, symbolically over the heart. After the real LAPD criticized the show's portrayal of corrupt cops, the badges were swapped, starting midway through the first season, for less realistic ones worn over the right breast.
- #151
- #152
- #153
- #154
Michael Chiklis prepared for Vic Mackey by getting in shape and going through special training, and he learned to speak Spanish as well.
The Shield (2002): Michael Chiklis smiling on setImage: Wikimedia Commons · Ygor Luna, CC BY-SA 3.0 - #155
- #156
- #157
At the end of the first season, when his family leaves him and Mackey throws his badge into the kitchen in a rage, the moment was Michael Chiklis's own idea. Improvised on the spot, it captured the character's desperation and fury so strongly that the director signed off on it as soon as he saw it.
- #158
Characters & Cast (68)
- #159
- #160
- #161
- #162
- #163
- #164
- #165
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 in order 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 the 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)).
- #166
- #167
- #168
- #169
- #170
- #171
- #172
- #173
- #174
- #175
- #176
While preparing for the role of Vic Mackey, Michael Chiklis not only got in shape and took special training, he also learned Spanish. This language skill was a deliberate choice to enhance the character's authenticity on the street. Chiklis paid attention to every detail to do justice to his role.
- #177
FX initially hesitated to add Walton Goggins to the regular cast. To prove his talent, the producers rewrote the episodes 'Our Gang' and 'The Spread' to highlight Goggins's performance. The move worked, but due to contract delays the character of Shane could not appear in three episodes; during that time, Vic Mackey worked with different partners.
- #178
Shawn Ryan originally wrote the character of Claudette as a man. A phone call from CCH Pounder's manager made him realize that a woman in the detective role would add a whole new dimension to the story. At Pounder's request, the dialogue was not changed; as a result, Claudette displayed an uncompromising attitude toward criminals and colleagues alike.
- #179
Michael Chiklis said that while filming Vic's breakdown in the first season finale, he suffered a real panic attack from the intensity of his performance. He stated that the moment when he clutched his chest was completely instinctive, that he was not acting. That scene is remembered as a moment that pushed the limits of acting.
- #180
- #181
- #182
- #183
Before the series began, Michael Chiklis was best known for his chubby, good-natured commissioner role on 'The Commish.' The contrast between that lovable character and Vic Mackey's ruthless style was so great that Mackey was often referred to as the 'Anti-Commish' in first-season promotions. With this transformation, Chiklis laid his acting range bare.
- #184
Michael Chiklis recounted that his mother, after watching the pilot episode, wrote him a four-page letter expressing her disappointment. His mother had worried that her son was taking this role 'at the cost of his immortal soul.' But after watching the entire first season, she completely changed her mind and decided it was her son's best work.
- #185
After winning great acclaim for the role of Monica Rawling, Glenn Close had the opportunity to stay on the series. But because she did not want to miss her daughter's senior year of high school and had recently remarried, she refused to play another season. Close felt that family time was more important than her career.
- #186
- #187
- #188
- #189
The first choice for the role of Detective Vic Mackey was actually Eric Stoltz. But by a twist of fate the role went to Michael Chiklis, and Chiklis became virtually identified with it. While Stoltz's career evolved in a different direction, Chiklis delivered a performance that would go down in television history.
- #190
Michael Chiklis, who played the Strike Team leader at The Barn, later returned to the screen as Captain Nathaniel Barnes in the second season of Fox's 'Gotham.' There he formed a crime-fighting team called Strike Force alongside Detective James Gordon. Chiklis thus led similarly themed units in two different universes.
- #191
Years before 'The Shield,' Walton Goggins and Kenny Johnson had played teammates in the film 'Major League: Back to the Minors.' This coincidental pairing contributed to the pair's chemistry on set. The two actors always recalled this experience they shared early in their careers with a smile.
- #192
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 shows the actors' success at keeping their personal views out of their roles.
- #193
- #194
- #195
- #196
- #197
Sal Lopez, David Marciano, Richard Portnow and Mark Rolston had all appeared in the television series 'Wiseguy' before 'The Shield.' The four actors' paths crossing again proved once more that the world of television is a small universe. Each contributed to 'The Shield's rich cast in his own distinctive style.
- #198
After appearing in small roles in 'The Shield,' Omar Dorsey and Michael Peña came together with Danny McBride in the series 'Eastbound & Down.' Walton Goggins later worked with McBride on 'Vice Principals,' continuing this connection. This coincidental network laid bare the fluidity of actors between comedy and drama.
- #199
FX initially objected to casting Walton Goggins. To convince them, the episodes 'Our Gang' and 'The Spread' were rewritten to showcase Goggins's abilities. Although these episodes convinced FX, contract delays meant the character of Shane was absent from three episodes. During that stretch, Vic Mackey partnered with the character played by Kenny Johnson or helped Detective Wyms and Wagenbach on a case.
- #200
Shawn Ryan originally wrote the character of Claudette as a man. After a call from CCH Pounder's manager, he realized that having a woman in the detective role would add a new dimension to the story. The only thing Ryan did not change was the dialogue; this allowed Claudette to keep her tough attitude toward her colleagues and criminals. This was done at Pounder's request.
- #201
- #202
- #203
- #204
- #205
Before the series began, Michael Chiklis was best known for the chubby, good-natured lead character on 'The Commish'. Because of the contrast between that character's easygoing, friendly style and Vic Mackey's savage, ruthless style, Mackey was often called the 'Anti-Commish' during the first season.
- #206
In the season 1 commentary, Michael Chiklis recounted that after watching the pilot, his mother was very disappointed and wrote him a four-page letter asking whether he had done this 'at the cost of his soul'. After watching the rest of the first season, however, she changed her mind, calling it her son's best work and saying she fully understood the character he was playing.
- #207
After winning great acclaim for her role, Glenn Close had the opportunity to continue working on The Shield. However, she refused to do another season because she did not want to miss her daughter's senior year of high school. She had also just married her third husband and felt she would not be able to devote enough time to her family.
- #208
- #209
- #210
- #211
- #212
- #213
- #214
- #215
- #216
- #217
- #218
- #219
The first name series creator Shawn Ryan had in mind was "The Barn." The FX network feared viewers might mistake it for a gardening program and tune out. Inspired by the controversial corruption allegations involving the Los Angeles Police Department's Rampart division, the name "Rampart" was also considered and used in the first promotional materials. However, due to objections from the LAPD and the reasoning that those unfamiliar with the Rampart scandal might not understand the name, the series was given the name "The Shield" at the last moment.
- #220
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. It was also alleged that some officers linked to Death Row Records 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.
- #221
In the first draft of the series submitted to FX, the Strike Team members were conceived as background characters, and Vic Mackey was planned to interact primarily with the other characters. However, with the addition of David Rees Snell and Kenny Johnson to the cast as Strike Team members, it was decided to turn these characters into a regular part of the show.
- #222
- #223
When the series began airing, creator Shawn Ryan noticed that viewers were split over whether to love or hate Vic Mackey, and some wanted him caught. When Lieutenant Jon Kavanaugh was introduced into the story as a serious threat to Mackey's downfall, Ryan was surprised to find that almost everyone supported Mackey and hated Kavanaugh.
- #224
- #225
- #226
Easter Eggs & References (12)
- #227
- #228
Detective Vic Mackey, leader of The Barn's Strike Team, was not Michael Chiklis's last tough cop: he joined Fox's TV series Gotham (2014) for its second season as Captain Nathaniel Barnes, putting together a crime-fighting team called the Strike Force with Detective James Gordon (Ben McKenzie).
- #229
- #230
- #231
- #232
- #233
- #234
- #235
- #236
- #237
- #238
Deeper Meaning (8)
- #239
- #240
- #241
- #242
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.
- #243
- #244
In the beginning, uniformed officers wore realistic LAPD badges on the left side of the chest, over the heart, as the real Los Angeles Police Department does. After the real LAPD criticized how the show depicted corrupt police, the badges were replaced from mid-first season with less realistic ones and moved to the right side.
- #245
The Strike Team took its cue from the corrupt anti-gang unit of the Los Angeles Police Department's Rampart Division, Community Resources Against Street Hoodlums (CRASH). Over 70 officers connected to CRASH faced misconduct accusations, including unjustified shootings, beatings without cause, planting false evidence, stealing and selling drugs, bank robbery, perjury and covering up evidence of it all. They were also tied to Death Row Records (linked to the Bloods street gang), with many officers moonlighting as security for a very generous fee, and some were alleged to have been involved in, perhaps even responsible for, the murder of rapper The Notorious B.I.G. In the end, 90 percent of CRASH members were found to have been either directly involved in misconduct or fully aware of it.
- #246
Uniformed officers first wore realistic LAPD-style badges over the left breast, the real Los Angeles Police Department standard, because that sits symbolically over the heart. After the real LAPD criticized the series for showing corrupt police, the badges were replaced from the middle of the first season with less realistic ones worn on the right breast.
Career & Awards (4)
- #247
- #248
- #249
Critics loved Glenn Close in the role, and she was offered the chance to continue on The Shield. She declined 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 she would have given up too much family time.
- #250
Life & Family (3)
- #251
- #252
On the first-season cast and crew commentary, Michael Chiklis explains that his mother was so disappointed by the pilot that she wrote him "a four-page letter wondering if (he) was doing this at the expense of (his) immortal soul". After seeing the rest of the first season, she felt very differently, calling it her son's best work and fully understanding the character Chiklis was playing.
- #253
Continue through the archive
Sources & editorial notes
Reference databases
- Wikipedia
- IMDb
Sources for the entries on this page
- arkaevren.com arkaevren.com kaydı
- arkaevren.com arkaevren.com kaydı
- arkaevren.com arkaevren.com kaydı
- arkaevren.com arkaevren.com kaydı
- arkaevren.com arkaevren.com kaydı
Information from external sources is independently selected, consolidated and edited by Arka Evren. Sources are listed for verification and further reading. Encyclopedia text is used under its licence (CC BY-SA). How we work