NBC's answer was Tales of the Texas Rangers, featuring real-life cases from the Texas lawmen. CBS countered with The Lineup, a gritty show about police work, followed by 21st Precinct and Nightwatch. Nightwatch, while featuring a real-life cop on patrol, broke new ground in realism, paving the way for modern shows like Cops.

Unlike Dragnet's focus on documented cases, The Lineup weaved fictional narratives that felt authentic. Kidnappings, murders, robberies, even obscene phone calls – the show tackled a diverse range of crimes, keeping listeners on the edge of their seats. 

Each episode opened with this iconic scene – the Sergeant barking instructions, suspects nervously awaiting identification, before the Sergeant would address the audience: "May I have your attention please? Especially those of you observing in the audience room." He'd then explain the lineup procedure, assigning numbers and charges to each suspect.

The Lineup itself served a dual purpose: it established the episode's central mystery and injected a dose of dark humor through the often-reluctant responses of the suspects. While rarely the key to solving the case, the Lineup became a show staple, setting the rhythm and introducing a unique element of audience participation.

Debuting in 1950 as a summer replacement, The Lineup quickly proved its worth, earning a permanent slot on radio before transitioning exclusively to television in 1953. In a crowded field of police dramas, The Lineup carved its own path, proving that realism didn't have to be by-the-book. It offered a distinct voice in the genre, one that paved the way for future police procedurals with its unflinching portrayal of the daily grind and human drama of law enforcement.