"Shaft" (1973) TV series 1973-1974

Seasons:

1

Release Date:

9 October 1973 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Crime | Drama

Plot:

Based on the movies of the same name, John Shaft is a two-fisted black private eye along the lines of Mike Hammer and Phillip Marlowe...

Plot Keywords:

Based On Film | Black Cop | African American | Character Name In Title

Cast

Richard Roundtree	...	John Shaft (7 episodes, 1973-1974)
Eddie Barth	...	Lt. Al Rossi (7 episodes, 1973-1974)

Runtime:

73 min (7 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Company:

MGM Television

Trivia:

This series alternated on Tuesday evenings with "Hawkins" (1973) which may have led to the early demise of both series. Contemporary analysts suggested that since the two shows appealed to vastly different audience bases, alternating them only served to confuse fans of both series, giving neither one the time to build up a large viewership.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Ripley's Basque-R-Aid (2004)

This Sooooo Needs to be on DVD

I caught two of these episodes on TNT in the mid 90's.

Hit and Run with Anthony Geary and another, maybe Cop Killer. They were both very cool. I was quite impressed. As accessible as Shaft's Big Score.

I have no idea why it was cancelled after only 7 episodes, or why Warner Bros has not found a reason to put these episodes on 2 discs, and charge $29.99 for them. If they double side one of the discs there will be plenty of room for a interview with Richard Roundtree. With only seven episodes, they can probably interview most of the guest cast too.