"Kojak" (1973) TV series 1973-1978

User Rating:

7.4/10   

Creator:

Abby Mann

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

Release Date:

24 October 1973 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Mystery

Plot:

A bald police detective with a firey righteous attitude battles crime in his city.

Plot Keywords:

Kojak | Detective | Police | City | New York

Awards:

Won 3 Golden Globes. Another 7 wins & 19 nominations

Cast

Telly Savalas	...	Lt. Theo Kojak (118 episodes, 1973-1978)
Dan Frazer	...	Capt. Frank McNeil (112 episodes, 1973-1978)
Kevin Dobson	...	Det. Bobby Crocker (112 episodes, 1973-1978)
George Savalas	...	Det. Stavros / ... (110 episodes, 1973-1978)
Mark Russell	...	Det. Saperstein / ... (78 episodes, 1973-1978)
Vince Conti	...	Det. Rizzo / ... (61 episodes, 1974-1978)

Runtime:

60 min (118 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Singapore:PG | Finland:K-18 (DVD) (2005) (self applied) | Canada:PG | Australia:PG | Argentina:13 | Australia:M (some episodes)

Filming Locations:

Century City, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Universal TV

Trivia:

The series was translated to Hungarian in the 1970s. The actor who gave his voice to Kojak, László Inke, resembled Telly Savalas so much that a movie was shot in which he actually played Kojak (Kojak Budapesten (1980)). While the original series is in color, the Hungarian film is black and white. Also, according to the film's plot, Kojak was born in Hungary, and had been a very clumsy cop before emigrating.

Quotes:

Kojak: You can't corrupt it. And you know why? Because to corrupt it, you've got to show how corrupt you really are.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Law & Order: Mad Dog (#7.18)" (1997)

Sunday night action on CBS back in the 70's

I remember this show like the back of my hand going through the dimensions of time and space itself. My dad and my cousins used to watch this show all the time when it came on Sunday nights(originally when it ran on CBS-TV during 1973-78,where it was on at 9:00pm/EST) which it ran for five great seasons. Telly Savalas was the undisputed king of detectives as N.Y. Lt. Theo Kojak who had a sense of style and grace,who had the lollipops,was a ladies man with a sense of family values and drove that great big gas-gussing Buick for a cop car around the slimy streets of Manhattan and all parts of the city. Kojak had a knack for solving crimes his own way and bringing in the baddies with his old Greek standards mixed in with the Noo Yawk(New York)attitude.

However,the stories that made that show were some of the best ever since some of the episodes dealt with racial issues,police corruption, women's rights,and the harrowing issue of alcoholism and drugs. However,several of the guest stars who appear on the show were just starting out but in turn had some grand performances including up and coming actors like Harvey Keitel and Paul Micheal Glaser(aka Starsky from Starsky and Hutch)and regulars like Esther Rolle,John Amos(Good Times),and Haywood Nelson(What's Happening!). Great cop show while it lasted,and to this day I still have the original "Kojak" game from Milton Bradley for the heyday(circa,1975).

PS-Only several of the episodes are out on video. Catch some of the best.