Skip to main content

Detroit celebrates RoboCop Day, cyborg cop set to throw out first pitch at Tigers game

robocop statue unveiled today detroit part day
Image used with permission by copyright holder

UPDATED: After reading conflicting reports online regarding the status of this event, we reached out to the Detroit Police Department and confirmed that the statue unveiling festivities that were supposed to happen at 1301 Third St. have been cancelled. This includes the presentation of the actual statue, the presentations, and the photo opps. There’s no word on what the status of the statue is now, or whether the festivities will be rescheduled.

That said, “RoboCop” will still be throwing out the first pitch for tonight’s Tigers home game at Comerica Park.

ORIGINAL POST: Three years after an innocent tweet suggested that Detroit should erect a statue of RoboCop, the hero of Paul Verhoeven’s 1987 film about a police officer who’s transformed into a cyborg, that suggestion is becoming a reality on “RoboCop Day” in the Michigan city.

A 10-foot tall, bronze statue of the character will be unveiled today at the headquarters of the Detroit Police Department, and the event will kick off a full day of RoboCop-themed events, capped off with RoboCop throwing out the first pitch at a Detroit Tigers baseball game at Comerica Park. While the statue’s permanent home hasn’t been determined yet, the fact that the statue even exists at all is a triumph of sorts for, well… anyone who thinks a monument to RoboCop statue is a cool idea.

The statue also serves as a testament to the power of social media and crowd-funding site Kickstarter, as the idea for it originated in a 2011 tweet directed at former Mayor Dave Bing suggesting that Detroit follow Philadelphia’s lead with the city’s Rocky Balboa monument and erect a statue honoring its most prominent ambassador in Hollywood, RoboCop. Bing dismissed the idea, but the suggestion caught fire on Twitter and resulted in a Kickstarter campaign by non-profit arts group Imagination Station that raised more than $50,000 to create the statue.

And that statue makes it grand debut at noon today.

Here’s the full itinerary of events provided by local news outlet MLive, which also has some backstage photos of the statue ahead of its official unveiling:

  • 12:00 PM: RoboCop and Detroit Police Department arrivals
  • 12:10 PM: RoboCop presentation and statue announcement
  • 12:30 PM-1:00 p.m: Fan photo opportunities with RoboCop
  • 1:00 PM: RoboCop and Detroit Police Department departure to protect the City of Detroit
  • 7:00 PM: RoboCop throws out the first pitch at Comerica Park

It’s worth noting that, despite today’s release of the recent RoboCop remake on DVD and Blu-ray, the statue is indeed based on the original 1987 film’s version of the character as portrayed by Peter Weller. As it should be.

Rick Marshall
A veteran journalist with more than two decades of experience covering local and national news, arts and entertainment, and…
3 underrated shows on Peacock you need to watch in December
Tony Shalhoub in Monk.

Aside from original programs from NBC, Peacock doesn't tend to add a lot of new shows on a monthly basis. But it does have a lot of titles from NBC, USA, and other networks that came to an end years ago. Many of these series tend to fall by the wayside as people look for something new. That's why we're championing the three underrated shows on Peacock that you need to watch in December.

This month, we're putting Monk back in the spotlight, as well as Everybody Hates Chris, and Blackbeard. And if you're looking for something more recent, check out our roundup of everything new on Peacock.
Monk (2002-2009)

Read more
Indiana Pacers vs. Milwaukee Bucks live stream: watch NBA In-Season Tournament semifinal
Giannis Antetokounmpo goes up for a dunk on a basketball court.

After an exciting month of pool play, the semifinals are set in the inaugural NBA In-Season Tournament. The first semifinal will feature Tyrese Haliburton and the Indiana Pacers taking on Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks. The game starts at 5 p.m. ET/2 p.m. PT on Thursday, December 7, and will be played inside T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Pacers won a thrilling game against the Boston Celtics to advance to the semifinals, while the Bucks dominated the New York Knicks to reach the final four.

The Pacers versus Bucks will air on ESPN. The studio shows for ESPN and TNT will combine to provide pregame and postgame coverage of Thursday's broadcast. The winner of this game will move to the finals, where they will play either the New Orleans Pelicans or Los Angeles Lakers. Catch the action on ESPN on Thursday afternoon. NBA fans do not need a cable subscription anymore to watch ESPN. Streaming television services, like Sling TV, offer ESPN as an alternative to cable. Keep reading to see how to watch NBA games from anywhere with Sling TV below.
Watch the Pacers vs. Bucks live stream on Sling TV

Read more
The 18 best sitcoms on Netflix right now (December 2023)
Iain Armitage as Sheldon in Young Sheldon.

Sitcoms seem to be a dying breed on television, but the genre lives on thanks to Netflix in the form of original shows, as well as series from the past that have found a home at the streamer. This month's top new addition to the sitcom lineup is Young Sheldon, which was most recently streaming on Max. We're also putting a spotlight on two Netflix original sitcoms, Merry Happy Whatever and Blockbuster, as well as a former NBC sitcom, Great News.

Netflix is also the home for all-time great sitcoms like Seinfeld, Arrested Development, and Community, all of which you can find on our list of the best sitcoms on Netflix right now. And more sitcoms are coming in 2024 because Netflix is constantly adding new shows. So keep checking back as we update this list every month.

Read more