"Toma" (1973) TV series 1973-1974

User Rating:

7.9/10   

Creator:

Edward Hume

Seasons:

1

Release Date:

4 October 1973 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama

Plot Keywords:

One Word Title | Character Name In Title

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Tony Musante

...

Det. David Toma (22 episodes, 1973-1974)

Runtime:

60 min (24 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Filming Locations:

RMS Queen Mary - 1126 Queens Highway, Long Beach, California, USA

Company:

Roy Huggins-Public Arts Productions

Trivia:

When Tony Musante agreed to do the series, he refused to commit to more than one full season. He would continue in the role only if the second season was shortened to ten episodes or six 90-minute Movie of the Week episodes. The producers were sure that Musante would change his mind and return for a full second season. So they agreed to the unusual contract. But when the producers tried to renegotiate with Musante after the first season, he still refused and quit the series. The producers wanted Robert Blake to take over the role. But when Blake balked at taking over an established role, the series was retooled as "Baretta" (1975).

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Mystery Science Theater 3000: Master Ninja II (#4.24)" (1992)

Better than "Baretta"

I always thought this, the original undercover detective series, was the better as it was a) realistic and gritty, b) based on a true-life individual, and c) always had a cameo of the real Toma in each episode. It was always fun to try to spot David Toma in his background role before getting the "point-out" in the end credits.

OK, so I have to add enough lines for this to be posted. Well, while I wouldn't expend the money to purchase a DVD of the show, if it ever showed up in rerun heaven, I certainly would not be adverse to setting my VCR to pick up the first (and only) season. And I will say I enjoyed (and watched) Baretta, so I might even say the same for that show as well, though I still maintain that "Toma" is the better of the two.