Target: The Corruptors!

Target: The Corruptors! follows a determined investigator who fights corruption and organized crime in a bustling early 1960s city. The show centers on McNally's lead as he threads through a tangle of graft, theft, and political pressure, taking on cases that cross from street corners to the corridors of power. Each episode presents a self contained mystery that tests his resolve, relying on sharp dialogue, careful observation, and practical investigative moves rather than flashy tricks. The mood blends noir sensibility with the pacing of a procedural, keeping the focus on character grit and moral complexity instead of sensational twists. The approach feels grounded, with tension built through evidence, interviews, and the slow unveiling of motive. The cast around the lead supports a steady, credible rhythm that suits the show's investigative focus.

Produced by Dick Powell's Four Star Television, Target: The Corruptors! aired on ABC from September 29, 1961 to June 8, 1962. Stephen McNally led the cast, with Robert Harland among the regulars; direction rotated across episodes with a lean look.

Reception was modest and the themes stayed close to the era's crime drama playbook. It centers on the costs of rooting out corruption, the tension between duty and danger, and the gray zones where justice meets power, pacing itself rather than spectacle. Critics noted the storytelling stays practical, favoring straightforward deductions.

Today the show is a curiosity for fans of early television and Four Star's catalog rather than a defining moment in pop culture. It offers a snapshot of 1960s production values, performance style, and the way crime stories were told on the small screen. Its style preserves vintage TV charm.

There are no widely documented major award nominations or wins for Target: The Corruptors!, reflecting its status as a short lived, largely overlooked series. Its place in television history rests more on its context and cast than on accolades from critics. Its status matters to collectors.