At the start of each episode, a special guest star is announced, and then is promptly killed. Then, straight-laced Detective Frank Drebin (Leslie Nielson) and Captain Ed Hocken (Alan North) solve a variety of strange criminal cases amidst a constant supply of sight gags and misunderstood dialogue. Police scientist Ted Olson (Ed Williams), Detective Norberg (Peter Lupus), and Johnny the Snitch (William Duell) assist them.