Show that inspired the famous misquote "Just the facts, ma'am"
Published by Naitik Mehta · March 29, 2026
Stuck on the clue Show that inspired the famous misquote "Just the facts, ma'am" from the New York Times Daily for March 29, 2026? We have the correct 7-letter answer, including the definition, alternative hints, as well as other answers from the same crossword. Ready to learn more about this clue?
Clue
Show that inspired the famous misquote "Just the facts, ma'am" (7)
Answer
The answer to Show that inspired the famous misquote "Just the facts, ma'am" is Dragnet (7 letters).
Why does Dragnet fit this clue?
This is a direct-definition clue where the entire phrase points to DRAGNET, the classic American police procedural. Dragnet is a radio and television series that ran from the late 1940s through the 1960s, following Los Angeles Police Department Sergeant Joe Friday as he investigated real-style crimes. The phrase "Just the facts, ma'am" became so closely tied to the show that most people believe Friday said it regularly, but he never actually spoke those exact words on air, making it one of the most famous misquotes in pop culture history. The actual line was closer to "All we want are the facts," yet the misquote stuck and became the show's defining cultural fingerprint.
What does Show that inspired the famous misquote "Just the facts, ma'am" mean?
We break down each word in the clue and show its dictionary definitions below.
misquote
noun
•an inaccurate or false quotation
verb
•to quote someone inaccurately
Where did this clue appear?
This clue appeared as 95-across in the New York Times Daily on March 29, 2026, by Michael and Oliver Schlossberg, edited by Will Shortz. See all answers for this puzzle.
Read the NYT Wordplay column for this puzzle.
NYT Daily — Mar 29, 2026
Get help on the whole puzzle
What does Dragnet mean?
noun
•A net dragged across the bottom of a body of water.
•(law enforcement) Heightened efforts by law-enforcement personnel to capture suspects.
verb
•To drag a net across the bottom of a body of water.
•(law enforcement) To make heightened efforts to catch a suspect.
Origin of the word Dragnet
•origin: Middle English 'dragge' + 'net'
•period: 14th century
The word originally described a fishing net dragged along the bottom of a body of water before being metaphorically applied to police investigations in the 20th century.
How to use Dragnet in a sentence
Here are 3 examples of how to use the word Dragnet.
•“The 1950s TV series Dragnet, starring Jack Webb as Detective Joe Friday, popularized the phrase 'Just the facts, ma'am' even though those exact words were never actually spoken on the show.”
•“Police cast a wide dragnet across the city to capture the escaped convict, setting up roadblocks and searching every neighborhood.”
•“The FBI's dragnet operation resulted in the arrest of dozens of suspects in the international smuggling ring.”
Learn about related clues
All clues from the New York Times Daily, Mar 29, 2026 crossword
The New York Times Daily for March 29, 2026 titled “Roundabouts” was published by Michael and Oliver Schlossberg and has 140 clues. Curious about all the answers from this crossword puzzle? View all answers here.
Across
Down
Recently added clues
Frequently asked questions about Show that inspired the famous misquote "Just the facts, ma'am"
- What is the answer to Show that inspired the famous misquote "Just the facts, ma'am"?
- The answer is Dragnet (7 letters).
- Where did this clue appear?
- This clue was last seen in the New York Times Daily on March 29, 2026.
- How many letters does the answer to Show that inspired the famous misquote "Just the facts, ma'am" have?
- The answer has 7 letters: Dragnet.
Author
Naitik Mehta
Co-founder
Naitik is a gaming enthusiast who loves solving daily word games and enjoys the friendly competition from time to time. He is the co-founder of Crossword Chef and enjoys thinking about how to make crossword solving more fun for everyone around the world.
Puzzle
NYT Daily — Mar 29, 2026
Get help on the whole puzzle
provider
editor
Will Shortz
date
position
95 Across
answer length
7 letters