Is T. J. Hooker appropriate for children?

"T. J. Hooker" is a 1980s police drama starring William Shatner that features strong violence throughout its crime-fighting storylines. While it has no sexual content, profanity, or horror elements, the frequent action sequences and violent confrontations make it better suited for older children and teenagers rather than younger viewers.

What age is T. J. Hooker suitable for?

Our verdict for T. J. Hooker is: Not recommended. See the age grid on this page for specific recommendations by age group.

Is T. J. Hooker safe for children? | ScreenWise Parent Guide

Content breakdown

🔫

Violence

Strong

🗣️

Language / Profanity

None

🔞

Sexual Content

None

👻

Horror / Scary

None

About this TV show

Type

TV Show

Released

1982

Rating

TV-PG

Genre

Drama, Crime

Synopsis

Sergeant Thomas Jefferson Hooker is a tough-as-nails veteran police officer with the LCPD who turns his back on a gold badge and goes back to patrolling the streets and training recruits. Along with his young partners in blue, Hooker take on Lake City's toughest criminals.

Cast

William Shatner

Sgt TJ Hooker

Heather Locklear

Officer Stacy Sheridan

James Darren

Officer Jim Corrigan

Full cast on IMDb ›

Stimulus level

Medium stimulus

This adult crime drama has standard TV pacing with action sequences and dramatic music that would likely overstimulate infants and toddlers, and the violent content is not appropriate for this age group.

Stimulus rating reflects pacing, visual complexity, and sensory intensity — factors associated with attention development in children under 3. Learn more

Age suitability

Under 6

Not yet

Ages 6–8

Not recommended

Ages 9–12

Not recommended

Ages 13+

Not recommended

Where to watch

🎬 Find on Amazon

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Parents also checked

Ratings based on MPAA/TV classification and TMDB metadata. Updated March 2026.
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