"Kojak" (1973) TV series 1973-1978

Creator:

Abby Mann
(more)

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

Release Date:

24 October 1973 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Mystery

Tagline:

Who loves ya, baby?

Plot:

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

Plot Keywords:

Kojak | Detective | City | Police | Bald

Awards:

Won 3 Golden Globes. Another 11 wins & 26 nominations

Cast

Telly Savalas	...	Lt. Theo Kojak (118 episodes, 1973-1978)
Dan Frazer	...	Capt. Frank McNeil / ... (117 episodes, 1973-1978)
Kevin Dobson	...	Det. Bobby Crocker / ... (117 episodes, 1973-1978)
George Savalas	...	Det. Stavros / ... (115 episodes, 1973-1978)
Mark Russell	...	Det. Saperstein / ... (105 episodes, 1973-1978)
Vince Conti	...	Det. Rizzo / ... (92 episodes, 1974-1978)

Series Directed by
Charles S. Dubin		(14 episodes, 1973-1978)
Jeannot Szwarc		(13 episodes, 1973-1977)
Sigmund Neufeld Jr.		(10 episodes, 1975-1976)
Russ Mayberry		(9 episodes, 1974-1978)
Nicholas Sgarro		(7 episodes, 1975-1977)
Leo Penn		(6 episodes, 1974-1977)
Telly Savalas		(5 episodes, 1974-1978)
David Friedkin		(5 episodes, 1974-1976)
Daniel Haller		(5 episodes, 1974-1976)
Joel Oliansky		(4 episodes, 1974-1977)
Jerry London		(4 episodes, 1974-1975)
Ernest Pintoff		(4 episodes, 1975-1978)
Edward M. Abroms		(4 episodes, 1976-1978)
Richard Donner		(3 episodes, 1973-1974)
William Hale		(3 episodes, 1973)
Gene R. Kearney		(3 episodes, 1977-1978)
Charles R. Rondeau		(2 episodes, 1973-1974)
Christian Nyby		(2 episodes, 1974-1975)
Allen Reisner		(2 episodes, 1974)
Seymour Robbie		(2 episodes, 1974)
Jim Benson		(2 episodes, 1978)

Series Writing credits
Abby Mann		(118 episodes, 1973-1978)
Selwyn Raab		(118 episodes, 1973-1978)
Gene R. Kearney		(26 episodes, 1974-1978)
Jack Laird		(14 episodes, 1973-1977)
Chester Krumholz		(10 episodes, 1976-1978)
Burton Armus		(9 episodes, 1974-1977)
Morton S. Fine		(6 episodes, 1973-1975)
James M. Miller		(5 episodes, 1973-1976)
Robert M. Young		(4 episodes, 1973-1976)
William P. McGivern		(4 episodes, 1974-1976)
Sean Baine		(3 episodes, 1974-1977)
Robert W. Lenski		(3 episodes, 1974-1977)
Joseph Polizzi		(3 episodes, 1974-1977)
Joe Gores		(3 episodes, 1975-1977)
Matthew Rapf		(3 episodes, 1977-1978)
Ross Teel		(3 episodes, 1977-1978)
Jerrold Freedman		(2 episodes, 1973-1977)
Mark Rodgers		(2 episodes, 1973-1976)
Halsted Welles		(2 episodes, 1973-1974)
Eric Kaldor		(2 episodes, 1974-1977)
Charles Sailor		(2 episodes, 1974-1977)
Albert Ruben		(2 episodes, 1974-1975)
Robert C. Dennis		(2 episodes, 1974)
Alvin Sapinsley		(2 episodes, 1974)
Alvin Boretz		(2 episodes, 1975-1976)
James Duff McAdams		(2 episodes, 1975-1976)
L.T. Bentwood		(2 episodes, 1976-1977)
Rift Fournier		(2 episodes, 1978)
Dirk Wayne Summers		(unknown episodes)

Series Produced by
James Duff McAdams	....	producer / supervising producer / ... (117 episodes, 1973-1978)
Matthew Rapf	....	executive producer / supervising producer / ... (117 episodes, 1973-1978)
Jack Laird	....	supervising producer (72 episodes, 1974-1977)
Arthur E. McLaird	....	associate producer (20 episodes, 1974-1975)
Chester Krumholz	....	producer (15 episodes, 1976-1978)
Michael Scheff	....	associate producer (14 episodes, 1975-1976)
Gene R. Kearney	....	producer (8 episodes, 1977-1978)
Abby Mann	....	executive producer (6 episodes, 1973)

Series Original Music by
John Cacavas		(114 episodes, 1973-1978)
Billy Goldenberg		(3 episodes, 1973)

Series Cinematography by
Charles Correll		(41 episodes, 1974-1976)
Sol Negrin		(24 episodes, 1974-1977)
Gerald Perry Finnerman		(22 episodes, 1973-1974)
John McPherson		(20 episodes, 1977-1978)
Vilis Lapenieks		(9 episodes, 1974)
Robert E. Collins		(2 episodes, 1978)

Series Film Editing by
Sigmund Neufeld Jr.		(21 episodes, 1973-1975)
Larry Lester		(19 episodes, 1973-1975)
Jim Benson		(17 episodes, 1975-1978)
Donald Douglas		(13 episodes, 1974-1976)
John Kaufman		(12 episodes, 1973-1974)
Diane Adler		(8 episodes, 1975-1976)
Leon Ortiz-Gil		(7 episodes, 1977-1978)
Eric Albertson		(6 episodes, 1976-1977)
Patrick McMahon		(6 episodes, 1976-1977)
Robert L. Kimble		(6 episodes, 1977-1978)
Anthony Redman		(5 episodes, 1976)
Jerrold L. Ludwig		(4 episodes, 1975-1976)
Sidney Katz		(4 episodes, 1976-1977)
Ronald LaVine		(3 episodes, 1974-1977)
Fred Baratta		(3 episodes, 1975-1976)
Robert Q. Lovett		(3 episodes, 1976-1977)
Richard Marks		(3 episodes, 1976-1977)
Tim Shoemaker		(3 episodes, 1977-1978)
Bill Brame		(2 episodes, 1974)
William Mandell		(2 episodes, 1977)
Louis San Andres		(2 episodes, 1977)
Howard B. Anderson		(2 episodes, 1978)
Stanley Frazen		(unknown episodes)

Series Casting by
Milt Hamerman		(4 episodes, 1975)

Series Art Direction by
William H. Tuntke		(51 episodes, 1974-1976)
Ira Diamond		(22 episodes, 1977-1978)
James A. Taylor		(15 episodes, 1976-1977)
John Leimanis		(11 episodes, 1975-1976)
Robert Kinoshita		(8 episodes, 1973-1974)
Edward Burbridge		(5 episodes, 1976-1977)
John J. Lloyd		(3 episodes, 1973)
Raymond Beal		(2 episodes, 1976-1977)

Series Set Decoration by
Richard B. Goddard		(33 episodes, 1974-1976)
John M. Dwyer		(19 episodes, 1973-1974)
Anne D. McCulley		(17 episodes, 1975-1976)
Alan Hicks		(11 episodes, 1976-1977)
Sam Gross		(11 episodes, 1977-1978)
Tom Pedigo		(9 episodes, 1977)
Philip Smith		(8 episodes, 1976-1977)
Ed Baer		(2 episodes, 1976-1977)
Robert L. Zilliox		(2 episodes, 1976)
Joseph A. Armetta		(2 episodes, 1977)

Series Costume Design by
George Whittaker		(15 episodes, 1977-1978)
Bill Jobe		(14 episodes, 1976-1977)
Charles Waldo		(8 episodes, 1973-1978)
Ruth Morley		(unknown episodes)

Series Makeup Department
Jan Van Uchelen	....	hair stylist (14 episodes, 1975-1976)

Series Production Management
Mike Frankovich Jr.	....	unit manager (42 episodes, 1974-1978)
Mel A. Bishop	....	unit manager (42 episodes, 1975-1977)
Joseph C. Cavalier	....	unit manager (26 episodes, 1973-1974)
Ralph S. Singleton	....	unit manager (9 episodes, 1977)
David Golden	....	unit manager (7 episodes, 1976-1977)
Carter De Haven Jr.	....	unit manager (4 episodes, 1975)
Barrie M. Osborne	....	unit manager (4 episodes, 1976)
Bud Brill	....	unit manager (2 episodes, 1973)
G. Warren Smith	....	unit manager (2 episodes, 1976-1977)

Series Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Sam Freedle	....	assistant director (21 episodes, 1974-1976)
Burt Bluestein	....	assistant director (21 episodes, 1976-1978)
Thomas Foulkes	....	assistant director (13 episodes, 1974-1975)
G. Warren Smith	....	assistant director (10 episodes, 1975-1976)
William Holbrook	....	assistant director (9 episodes, 1973-1974)
Jan R. Lloyd	....	assistant director (9 episodes, 1977-1978)
Mike Frankovich Jr.	....	assistant director (8 episodes, 1973-1974)
Mark Sandrich Jr.	....	assistant director (3 episodes, 1973-1975)
Morris R. Abrams	....	assistant director (3 episodes, 1973)
Phil Cook	....	assistant director (3 episodes, 1974-1976)
Steve Barnett	....	assistant director (3 episodes, 1976-1977)
Dwight Williams	....	assistant director (3 episodes, 1977)
Clifford C. Coleman	....	assistant director (2 episodes, 1976)
Candace Suerstedt	....	second assistant director (unknown episodes, 1977)
John Slosser	....	second assistant director (unknown episodes)
Lou Watt	....	assistant director (unknown episodes)

Series Art Department
Margaret Mazzola	....	leadman (22 episodes, 1977-1978)
Alixe Gordin	....	artistic consultant (18 episodes, 1976-1977)
Kenneth Milfred	....	set dresser (7 episodes, 1977)
Michael Casey	....	assistant property master (unknown episodes)

Series Sound Department
John R. Carter	....	sound (23 episodes, 1973-1974)
Jerry Smith	....	sound (22 episodes, 1977-1978)
Bill Wistrom	....	sound effects editor (21 episodes, 1977-1978)
James F. Rogers	....	sound (20 episodes, 1974-1975)
Don Sharpless	....	sound (18 episodes, 1975-1976)
Leslie Gaulin	....	assistant sound editor / apprentice sound (17 episodes, 1973-1974)
John H. Bolz	....	sound (10 episodes, 1976-1977)
Gordon Ecker	....	sound effects editor (8 episodes, 1976-1977)
James Perdue	....	sound recordist (6 episodes, 1973-1977)
Arthur Bloom	....	sound / sound mixer (6 episodes, 1973-1976)
Ron Kalish	....	sound effects editor (6 episodes, 1976-1977)
James R. Alexander	....	sound (5 episodes, 1974)
James Sabat	....	sound (4 episodes, 1975-1977)
Melvin M. Metcalfe Sr.	....	sound (4 episodes, 1975)
Stan Bochner	....	sound effects editor (4 episodes, 1976-1977)
Dan Sable	....	sound effects editor (4 episodes, 1976-1977)
Edwin J. Somers Jr.	....	sound (3 episodes, 1976)
Andrew Gilmore	....	sound (2 episodes, 1976-1977)
Gus Mortensen	....	sound (2 episodes, 1976)
Arthur Moshlak	....	boom operator (2 episodes, 1976)
George Fredrick	....	supervising sound editor (unknown episodes)
Dennis C. Salcedo	....	cable person (unknown episodes)
Maurice Schell	....	adr editor (unknown episodes)

Series Special Effects by
Ken Speed	....	special effects assistant (unknown episodes)

Series Stunts
Charlie Picerni	....	stunt coordinator / stunts (59 episodes, 1973-1978)
Bob Bralver	....	stunt coordinator (3 episodes, 1976-1978)
Craig R. Baxley	....	stunts (2 episodes, 1975)
Denny Arnold	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Steven Burnett	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Jean Coulter	....	stunt double (unknown episodes)
Nick Dimitri	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Dick Durock	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Louie Elias	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Bob Herron	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Jim Lovelett	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Dennis Madalone	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Bob Minor	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Joe Pronto	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Jerry Summers	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Jesse Wayne	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Ted White	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
James Winburn	....	stunts (unknown episodes)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Earl C. Williman	....	lamp operator (24 episodes, 1973-1975)
Howard Block	....	camera operator (unknown episodes)
Larry Newberg	....	still photographer (unknown episodes)
Johnny Walker	....	second assistant camera (unknown episodes)
Ron Zarilla	....	second assistant camera (unknown episodes)

Series Costume and Wardrobe Department
Bill Jobe	....	costumes / costumes: women (48 episodes, 1974-1976)

Series Editorial Department
Richard Belding	....	editorial supervisor (69 episodes, 1973-1976)
Kevin Lee	....	assistant editor (unknown episodes)

Series Music Department
Billy Goldenberg	....	composer: theme music (93 episodes, 1973-1977)
Hal Mooney	....	music supervisor (69 episodes, 1973-1976)
Robert Mayer	....	music editor (46 episodes, 1976-1978)

Series Transportation Department
Mario Simon	....	driver: cast (24 episodes, 1973-1975)
Chris Haynes	....	driver / production driver (17 episodes, 1973-1978)

Series Other crew
Burton Armus	....	technical advisor (95 episodes, 1973-1977)
Phill Norman	....	title designer: main titles (69 episodes, 1973-1976)
Gene R. Kearney	....	story editor (61 episodes, 1973-1976)
George Savalas	....	production assistant / production associate (47 episodes, 1973-1975)
Chester Krumholz	....	executive story consultant (22 episodes, 1976-1977)
Ed Griffin	....	technical advisor (22 episodes, 1977-1978)
Volney Howard III	....	assistant: producer (19 episodes, 1973-1974)
Sonny Grosso	....	technical advisor (13 episodes, 1973-1974)
Lou Ferragher	....	technical advisor (6 episodes, 1973-1974)
Robert Earll	....	story editor (2 episodes, 1978)
Carole Brody Sheppard	....	script supervisor (unknown episodes)
Lynda Van Damm	....	assistant production accountant (unknown episodes)

Series Thanks
Walter Linsenmaier	....	acknowledgement: Insects of the World (1 episode, 1973)

Production Companies

• Universal TV

Distributors

• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1973-1978) (USA) (TV)
• MCA/Universal Pictures
• Radio Télévision Belge Francophone (RTBF) (????) (Belgium) (TV)
• Shout! Factory (2011) (USA) (DVD) (season two)
• Shout! Factory (2012) (USA) (DVD) (season five)
• Shout! Factory (2012) (USA) (DVD) (season four)
• Shout! Factory (2012) (USA) (DVD) (season three)
• Studios USA Television
• Universal Pictures Benelux (2005) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Universal Pictures Finland Oy (2007) (Finland) (DVD)
• Universal Pictures (2005) (Germany) (DVD)
• Universal Studios Home Entertainment (2005) (USA) (DVD) (season one)

Other Companies

• Universal Title  titles and opticals
• Botany 500  wardrobe: Telly Savalas

Also Known As:

Runtime:

60 min (118 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

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

Filming Locations:

Downtown, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Universal TV

Trivia:

During its 5 year run, Telly Savalas, Dan Frazer, Kevin Dobson and George Savalas, are the only actors to appear in every episode.

Quotes:

Kojak:Who loves ya, baby?

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Romance & Cigarettes (2005)

Kojak changed everything

Sure, Dragnet was in a category all its own and Naked City did pave the way for Kojak, but the grit was too shiny and fake. I grew up in NYC and later, after I moved away, when I watched Kojak in syndication I would get so homesick. What got to me the worst wasn't seeing landmarks like The Angry Squire or Washington Square, but by shooting on city streets, the NYC detritus was blowing down the sidewalk. Yes, that made me lonesome for home. Kojak was a show by, for, and about New Yorkers. Kojak's attitude was a New York cop's attitude, he was tough and glib and underneath that layer was the soft chewy center.

Law & Order owes a huge debt to Kojak. I knew I would have to watch L&O because of what I can only describe as Kojakisms, and it is a disservice to Kojak (& to Telly) that he is only remembered for "Who Loves Ya, Baby?". Kojakisms were as rich and varied as literature.

Here are some of my favorites:

"That's the way the baklava crumbles, baby"

"Whatever you do, don't you so much as double park anywhere near Manhattan South, 'cause you'll get a Hear Ye and a Hear Ye and a greeting you'll never forget."

"Light a candle, baby; a Get Well card won't do."

"...kiss off Goldilocks, your porridge is getting cold."

"You could package that with a wrap-around deodorant and still come out with a stink."

"...the Internal Affairs shoo-flies, they're gonna be all over us like a groom on a honeymoon. And lemme tell ya something, we all better be virgins or have a pretty good story."

"Gather ye rosebuds while ye may; there's a chill in the air.'

"The wine, it smells beautiful baby, but the company, strictly down the tubes."

"Ya know what a vendetta is? It's when a whole bunch of people kill a whole bunch of people for years and years and years and like that!"

" Yer no good! And that's the end of the story!"

Absolutely one of the best shows ever.