POLICE TV TOSS UP: KOJAK OR McGARRETT?
Here's the late Telly Savales. Put aside the Gold medallion necklace for a moment and recall this Grammy Award Winning actor from the TV series "Kojak" with the line: "Who loves ya, baby?" What is funny and memorable about Telly is his 1975 album, ("Telly"). He talks through the lyrics. I hope you have a stiff drink handy by the time he gets to Helen Reddy's "You and Me Against the World" or "If" by Bread! But what really made me laugh was how his television character, Theo Kojak would arrive at a crime scene in a green 1973 Buick Century. He'd throw the transmission into "Park" before the car came to a complete stop and kicked open the door, put a lolly pop in his mouth (a heavy smoker, TV producers turned from anti-cigarrette sentiment, so the lolipop became a substitute) and walk around the crime scene asking questions. In my mind, I can still see that car rocking back and forth. Hilarious! Kojak's team of plainclothes officers included Detective Bobby Crocker (Kevin Dobson), Detectives Stavros (played by Telly's real-life brother George Savales), Saperstein (Mark Russell), and Rizzo (Vince Conti). Throwing a car into "Park" prematurely? Kojak had company!
Here's the late Jack Lord. He was acknowledged by Elvis from the stage during one of the tapping's (for rebroadcast) of his historic 1973 "Aloha from Hawaii Via Satellite" concert. The two were friends and Elvis enjoyed Lord's TV show--the police drama, "Hawaii Five-O". Like Telly Savales, Jack Lord also had a penchant for throwing his black unmarked 1965 Mercury into "Park" before he brought the car to a full stop. Producers later gave him an updated Mercury Grand Marquis, but Lord reportedly asked for his old car back! His signature line became, "Book em Danno" (Danny was played by James MacArthur). Sadly, co-stars Kam Fong and Zulu are no longer with us. But I still find this fare amusing! The show was the longest running crime show on American television until the police drama "Law & Order" surpassed it in 2003! There. That's my entire BLOG Post for today...-
HAVE A NICE WEEKEND!
posted by Michael Manning @ 12:00 AM
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10 Comments:
I didn't watch either of the shows. I know they were big hits, but I wasn't in to them. Didn't watch Streets of San Francisco or Baretta either.
Now the Mod Squad, Starsky and Hutch, Charlie's Angels. Those I watched.
P M: I have a friend whose cell phone ring tone is set to the TV Theme for Charlie's Angels. By the third ring, I felt obliged to do my best impersonation of John Forsythe! :D)
I loved Kojack,
Hill Street Blues
was one of my favorite shows too.
Thanks for the memories Michael.
Green Tea: I still have a thing for Veronica Hamel! :D) "Hill Street Blues" will never be equalled. lol!
I remember both shows fondly. A Quality Post!
Jean-Luc Picard: So, I guess to Bev you can say, "Who loves ya, baby?" and to Ensigns: "Aloha!" :D)
I remember both of them but mostly watched Kojak. He was more cutting edge as far as street crime goes.
But the first cop shows i remember were Dragnet and FBI with Efrim Zimblist Jr, hell i don't know if i spelt that right LOL
Walker: Efrim was said to be J. Edgar Hoover's vision of what an FBI agent should look like. I remember him pulling away from the FBI building during the closing credits in the latest Ford Mustang...for some strange reason.
Both also were completely relentless in torturing their respective staffs with mudane legwork or research and then both bust in at the end to take credit for the whole thing.
Ryan: An interesting note! :)
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