Though he was well known for his deadpan humor on M*A*S*H, there was a time when Harry Morgan struggled with such restraint in his acting. Luckily, a little show called Dragnet was able to teach Morgan in spades. In an interview with The Los Angeles Times, Morgan said that his character, Officer Bill Gannon, "took a little getting used to" as an actor. "The underplaying was a change," he said. "But I think it's working out fine."

While the character he played was tougher while on the job, Morgan was sure to add some levity to his character in order to diversify the role. "He's a family man with a couple of kids," Morgan said of Gannon. "A dedicated, honest man with droll humor. He's a good sidekick for Friday."

Speaking of sweet Sgt. Friday, Morgan also explained that having Jack Webb as a costar and boss on Dragnet definitely benefitted him. "It's great being with Jack," he said. "This is the only show on TV that has one boss — period! Jack is the boss, there's no indecision. It's very pleasant because an actor likes to know where he stands."

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In an interview with The Columbus Ledger, Morgan also added that Webb's penchant for realism also helped Morgan develop his character, as he was able to meet with real police officers who served as advisors on Dragnet.

This way, Morgan was able to ensure that no matter what his character's attitude was, he'd be portraying Gannon in an honest light. "A role like this affects you principally through the guys you meet," he said. "The officers who serve as technical advisors are high caliber fellows...I've developed a sympathy and admiration for them. They are very intelligent."

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