Small Town Security

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Television series

title: "Small Town Security" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["2012-american-television-series-debuts", "2014-american-television-series-endings", "2010s-american-reality-television-series", "amc-(tv-channel)-original-programming", "american-english-language-television-shows"] description: "Television series" topic_path: "geography/united-states" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Small_Town_Security" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Television series ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox television"]

Field	Value
image	Small Town Security Title Card.jpg
image_size	250
genre	Reality
country	United States
language	English
num_seasons	3
num_episodes	24
executive_producer
runtime	30 minutes
company	Left/Right Productions
channel	AMC
first_aired
last_aired
::

Small Town Security is an American reality television series produced by Ken Druckerman and Banks Tarver from Left/Right Productions for the AMC network. The unscripted show focused on a small, family-owned, private security company called JJK Security, located in the North Georgia city of Ringgold.

The show, green-lit along with Comic Book Men, was picked up for a season of eight half-hour episodes and premiered after the season 5 premiere of Breaking Bad on July 15, 2012. A second season of eight half-hour episodes started on May 9, 2013. The eight-episode third season premiered on May 6, 2014.

On October 10, 2014, AMC announced that Small Town Security had been canceled and would not be returning for a fourth season.

Cast

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/51/Small_Town_Security_Promotional_Poster.jpg" caption="Promotional poster of the cast: (clockwise) Brian Taylor, Dennis Croft, Joan Koplan with Lambchop, Christa Stephens, and Irwin Koplan"] ::

Joan Koplan (The Chief): Head of JJK Security and former actress/public access television host. Joan Koplan died on March 31, 2016.
Dennis Starr Croft (The Captain): Joan's live-in lieutenant who later became Captain
Irwin Koplan (The Major): Joan's husband died June 14, 2024.
Brian Taylor (Office Manager): The company's detective, process server, and business manager
Christa Stephens (Secretary): The office secretary who is also a "licensed cosmetologist"
Lambchop: Joan's feisty 14-year-old chihuahua
Charlotte: Lambchop's replacement, after Lambchop became ill and had to be euthanized

Production

In a July 2012 interview with Hollywood.com, series star and JJK Security owner Joan Koplan explained how the series came to television: "I've had people coming into my office for a long time saying how crazy it is and how it should be a reality show. I knew Matt Saul from William Morris Endeavor [talent agency], so I called him and asked if he'd be interested in doing something. He said we'd have to make a DVD, so I did that. After he saw it, he said, 'Yeah, I see what you mean, that's a crazy place.' About four days later, he calls and tells me that Ken Druckerman from Left/Right Productions in New York City is interested in it. I almost crapped my pants." When Joan was asked about audience reaction to Lieutenant Croft's transgender secret being revealed on her public access show and, subsequently, on network television, she said: "Keep in mind, this is the Bible Belt. Some people—well, nobody was rude, I will tell you that. But some people felt very sorry for him. But there was a lot of understanding. I got very few calls that were derogatory." In an interview with The Advocate, Croft also responded about the feedback: "I haven't really felt a change. Those who know me and about me haven't flinched. I found that surprising. It has not been what I expected of others, and I see that folks are not the typical haters of my kind that I thought. The South has grown up from the childish games of prejudice."

Reception

Critical reception

Small Town Security has received mixed reviews from critics. Boston.com blogger Frazier Moore observed that the series "bristles with authenticity", adding, "Part of the secret to the show's success is this: The characters regularly own up to their quirkiness, but without flaunting it for the cameras. They share without showing off. And what they reveal is much more than stereotypes. This makes the viewer not a voyeur, but a privileged onlooker." Pete Vonder Haar of the Houston Press stated there was "nothing redeeming" about the series, calling it "depressing" and he added: "AMC seems to think it has something 'quirky' and 'off the wall.' In reality (no pun intended) it feels like something the North Korean government broadcasts to sap its citizens' will to live."

In the New York Magazine's "Approval Matrix" for the week of May 27, 2013, the series was given a "lowbrow brilliant" rating, stating that it was "regularly enjoyable."

Awards

In 2014, Small Town Security was nominated for a GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Reality Program for fairly and accurately representing the LGBT community and its relevant issues. It was also nominated in 2013.

Series overview

::data[format=table]

Season	Episodes	Originally aired
	1	8
	2	8
	3	8
::

Episodes

Season 1 (2012)

::data[format=table] | No. in series | No. in season | Title | Original air date | U.S. viewers (million) | |---|---|---|---|---| | EpisodeNumber = 1 | EpisodeNumber2 = 1 | Title = Joan Koplan's Forum | 2012|7|15}} | public access]] station, but it was canceled for her "foul language." Brian and Dennis convince her to get her show back. The station owner allows it, as long as she "keeps it clean." On the new show, Joan plays an old video segment in which it is revealed that Dennis used to be a woman named Denise. | ::

Season 2 (2013)

::data[format=table] | No. in series | No. in season | Title | Original air date | U.S. viewers (million) | |---|---|---|---|---| | EpisodeNumber = 9 | EpisodeNumber2 = 1 | Title = The Wicked Witch of Georgia | 2013|5|9}} | ShortSummary = Lt. Croft's 45th birthday is coming up. Croft hopes to become legally male before the big day, marking it as his "first true birthday." On patrol with Joan, Croft says he enjoys taking care of her, but asks her to show him more kindness. She admits that she resents Croft for being in love with her because "I'm not into a half man and a half woman." They also discuss Croft's birthday. Croft says he needs a new fake penis, since three others "didn't hold up to his beating." Because of the show, JJK has lost numerous accounts, so Irwin decides to boost efforts to get new business, but he needs help and Christa becomes his new sales and marketing protege. Brian helps Christa improve her grammar, and Irwin trains her in the "secrets of selling" and has her listen to an audiotape called "Say Goodbye to Your Southern Accent." Finally, Irwin takes Christa around town to make cold calls. At the end of the day, Irwin is pleased that Christa never got turned away. The team celebrates the birthday with a penis-shaped cake. Joan privately gives Lt. Croft a card that declares, "I-O-U one penis." Lt. Croft tears up, explaining "this means she's accepting me." | ::

Season 3 (2014)

::data[format=table] | No. in series | No. in season | Title | Original air date | U.S. viewers (million) | |---|---|---|---|---| | EpisodeNumber = 17 | EpisodeNumber2 = 1 | Title = Someone's Got the Meatball | 2014|5|06}} | ShortSummary = Joan describes a violent scenario where she and Dennis battle armed robbers. Dennis interrupts, saying that her scenario is not a good plot for the future JJK training video meant to prevent the type of situations she describes. Later, Dennis, Brian, and staff member Lt. Turner hold auditions among friends and employees and cast a team to film the video. Joan loves the final product. Meanwhile, she and her friend Wayne record a song, developed by Joan, called "Speecy Spicy Meatballs". After many takes, Dennis provides Joan some direction. She ultimately pronounces it "a hit". | ::

References

"Small Town Security — About". AMCTV.com.
Von Doviak, Scott. (July 15, 2012). "Other Shows". [[The A.V. Club]].
[http://www.multichannel.com/article/473160-AMC_Greenlights_Two_Unscripted_Series.php AMC Greenlights Two Unscripted Series] ''Multichannel News'' September 1, 2011
[https://web.archive.org/web/20140404054548/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2014/04/02/freakshow-small-town-security-to-premiere-may-6-on-amc/250484/ 'Freakshow' Season Two & 'Small Town Security' Season Three to Premiere May 6 on AMC]
"AMC Scraps Majority of Unscripted Programming - Which Shows Made the Cut? - Today's News: Our Take {{!}} TVGuide.com".
"Ringgold reality TV star Joan Koplan dies".
(July 15, 2012). "'Small Town Security' Star Joan Koplan On What Happens Off-Camera — EXCLUSIVE Q&A". [[Hollywood.com]].
Anderson-Minshall, Diane. (July 16, 2012). "AMC's Small Town Security Surprise: Transgender Security Specialist Dennis Croft". [[The Advocate (LGBT magazine).
Moore, Frazier. (July 12, 2012). "'Small Town Security' cops to a quirky workplace". [[Boston.com]].
Vonder Haar, Pete. (July 25, 2012). "Reality Bites: Small Town Security". [[Houston Press]].
(May 19, 2013). "The Approval Matrix: Week of May 27, 2013". [[Houston Press]].
(30 January 2014). "GLAAD Media Award Nominees Announced". [[The Hollywood Reporter]].
Kondolojy, Amanda. (July 17, 2012). "Sunday Cable Ratings: 'True Blood' Beats 'Breaking Bad' Premiere, + 'Keeping Up With the Kardashians', 'Very Funny News', 'Real Housewives of New Jersey', 'Falling Skies' & More". TV by the Numbers.
Bibel, Sara. (July 31, 2012). "Sunday Cable Ratings:'True Blood' Wins Night, 'Keeping Up With the Kardashians', 'Breaking Bad', 'The Newsroom', 'Political Animals', 'Longmire' & More". TV by the Numbers.
Bibel, Sara. (August 19, 2012). "Sunday Cable Ratings:'True Blood' Wins Night, 'Keeping Up With the Kardashians', 'Breaking Bad', 'The Newsroom', 'Political Animals', 'Longmire' & More". TV by the Numbers.
(May 10, 2013). "Thursday's Cable Ratings: "Swamp People" Pulls Back in Front for History". The Futon Critic.
(May 17, 2013). "Thursday's Cable Ratings: TNT, ESPN Top Charts with NBA Playoffs". The Futon Critic.
(May 24, 2013). "Thursday's Cable Ratings: "Swamp People" Tops Demos, Viewers for History". The Futon Critic.
(May 31, 2013). "Thursday's Cable Ratings: "Pawn Stars" Return No Match for NBA Playoffs". The Futon Critic.

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