Route 66 (1960–1964) User Reviews

Marty, George & Driving the Marvel Way

[animal_8_5 · 8/10 · 21 May 2006]

Marty Milner and his sidekick George Maharis get into intrigue and adventure on the highways and byways. Mostly across the good old USA, but one stop each in Canada and Mexico.

Ahhh, what a great concept for a TV series in this post-war period. Two virile young dudes getting into a gorgeous Corvette and driving aimlessly until the gas money ran out. This was one of the more well written and plotted series of the day, too! Some have called the dialogue intellectual and poetic. It is one of those shows that was impossible to stop watching once you were in the first five minutes. Gorgeous scenery and the perpetual sense that adventure was always just around the turnpike.

Stan Lee and Marvel Comics wouldn't admit this, but it would appear they may have unintentionally ripped off the Buzz Murdock character in creating one of their stable characters, Daredevil. According to all the trivial facts about Route 66, Buzz Murdock hails from Hell's Kitchen! Daredevil's secret identity, MATT Murdock, hails from Hell's Kitchen! It seems to me in one episode, Buzz was even blinded! Matt Murdock is blind!

Nah, I don't really care either, but thought somebody out there might find it interesting.

This was a prime time drama about two young men, complete opposites, seeking adventure and purpose.

[zachsandman · 8/10 · 10 July 2006]

"Route 66" was my favorite TV drama series of the 1960s. It was very appealing for a young male of any race. There were these two cool guys, Todd Stiles (Martin Milner), Buzz Murdock (George Maharis) and Lincoln Case (Glenn Corbett) (replaced Maharis during the final season) driving from town to town in a brand new Corvette. Their lives were filled with adventure and lots of girls. Like "The Twilight Zone", it was a series from which many actors got their start. Each week, viewers could see actors like Robert Redford, Lee Marvin, William Shatner, Martin Balsam, Robert Duvall, Ed Asner, Rod Steiger, David Janssen, DeForest Kelley, Burt Reynolds, etc. Plus, the theme song, written by Nelson Riddle, was perhaps the greatest TV theme song of all times. "Route 66" wasn't a "rebel" type of show. This was probably why the series ran from 1960-1964. Although Stiles and Murdock were opposites: Stiles, cultured and educated, while Murdock, street like and not so educated, they were both decent young men. They complimented each other and rarely did they clash with one another. Furthermore, many episodes had "spiritual" overtones. For examples: Two of the best episodes were: "The Strengthening Angels" (1960) and "One Tiger to a Hill" (1962) In "Strengthening Angel", a young and beautiful Suzanne Pleshette plays Lotti Montana, a migrant worker who's going to help pick the peach crop a town called Sparrow Falls. In the opening scene, it's night and raining. Lotti is at the local church about to give her testimony when she instead runs hysterically from the building. She runs out in the street and nearly gets hit by Todd and Buzz in the Corvette. Lotti gets a lift with them. Tired and hungry, they stop at the nearest diner although she insists that they eat outside of the city limits. While at the local diner, Tod and Buzz become acquainted with the town Sheriff (John Larch). Meanwhile, Lotti is waiting in the Corvette and gets harassed by a drunken man who recognizes her. While returning to the car, Todd and Buzz see the drunk harassing Lotti. Buzz pushes him away but the drunk brings so much attention to them that the Sheriff comes after them as they drive away from the scene. The Sheriff stops them further up the road and arrests them for harboring a fugitive, Lotti Montana. Apparently, Lotti is wanted for the murder of the brother of the Sheriff. At the station, the Sheriff releases Todd and Buzz but he detains Lotti. As a result of this, Buzz gets into a fists fight with Sheriff but the Deputy catches Buzz from behind with "cheap" shot. The Sheriff has no intention of keeping buzz locked up in prison but he does just long enough to patch up his busted head and to give him the low down regarding Lotti's past. After Buzz is released he and Todd seek an attorney to take Lotti's case. At first, it appears as though the attorney isn't willing to take the case. However, he does because it turns out that he knows the reason why Lotti killed the Sheriff's brother. The Sheriff's brother had a romantic interest in Lotti and often pursued her to his brother's disliking. One night after getting drunk with his friend, the future attorney, they went by Lotti's place. The Sheriff's brother tried to rape her, so she stabbed him with a pair of scissors. This story is corroborated by Lotti's young daughter who has been sheltered by her mom from ever giving her side of the story. The most magnificent scene takes place when Lotti's Pastor (Harry Townes) visits her in prison and prays with her to receive Christ's forgiveness. Townes gave a stellar performance as Pastor Daniel Wylie. Stirling Silliphant wrote this episode and most of the episodes. The episode concludes with Lotti (Pleshette) being released from prison and giving Buzz a kiss on the lips for helping her. Buzz and Todd drive off while the Sheriff watches from his window.

"One Tiger to a Hill" featured David Janssen as Karno, an ex-Vietnam soldier who hates Todd over a girl (Laura Devon as Toika) and because he escaped the draft as a student in college. Working as salmon fishermen in Astoria, Oregon. Tod and Buzz encounter Karno, who wants to kill or be killed. Todd and Karno have several brawls but the finale comes when they brawl on board a ship where Karno is knocked overboard. Meanwhile, Todd, Buzz, and Toika wait at the dock to receive word from the coast guard regarding Karno. "Lo and behold"! Karno approaches the dock on board a coast guard cutter. The stage is set for the most magnificent scene of the episode. Karno (Janssen) explains his experience underwater. His experience is similar to that of Jonah and the Whale. While underwater, he looks up and sees the sky above. For the first time in his life he fills small, which is good. Then he is miraculously saved from the tempest of the sea. As he said, "All of a sudden I became gigantic. I was born again." Karno and "teary"eyed Toika walk off into the sunset. Around 1985, the series "Route 66" was aired in its entirety on "Nick-at-Nite". I have all 116 episodes on DVD. A. Zachary Sanders

Route 66 and the novel On the Road

[karlanglin651 · 7/10 · 31 August 2007]

Having watched Route 66 on Nick At Nite in 1985, I feel that the series was loosely based on Jack Kerouac's novel, On The Road which was written in 1957. The concept of the Beat Generation was certainly applied to this thought-provoking TV drama. While the two characters in the series were some what upgraded for television audiences, the basic concepts of the freedom to travel about, experiencing the lives of other people, and not settling into predictability produced a strong resonance that reverberates inside of many individuals. In some ways Route 66 could be considered a 20th century version of Mark Twain's classic novel Huckleberry Finn. In many ways. the series is very much a reflection of the human condition and of society looked at from the inside out. Striling Stilliphant was a true master at the craft of writing. May his work stand forever as an example of what solid truthful writing should be.

An excellent series, unjustly neglected

[zippgun · 29 April 2003]

Simply one of the finest shows from American t.v.This is an undeservedly "lost" show ,amazingly neglected when so many inferior 60's series are wildly overpraised.If you have never seen "Route 66" try to,it's a rare gem.The scripts are not just highly literate,but often close to poetic(no wonder Jim Aubrey,downmarketeer boss at CBS TV disliked it!).There's a great deal of acting talent in the guest roles-Boris Karloff,Lee Marvin,Robert Duvall,Warren Stevens,Lew Ayers,Michael Rennie,Martin Sheen,Dorothy Malone,Ed Asner,Walter Matthau,Edward Andrews,Leslie Nielson,Anne Francis,Jack Lord,William Shatner and Dan Duryea are just a few to look out for.The two part story "Fly away home" has a haunting tortured performance by Michael Rennie as a doomed pilot;"Welcome to Amity"featuring Susan Oliver is both uplifting and truly moving; in "A month of Sundays" the "Route 66" camera captures Anne Francis at the peak of her stunning beauty and series regular Martin Milner gives the performance of his life as a drug crazed Tod Stiles in "A thin white line".These are just some of the highlights in "Route 66".The location filming (unusual then and now),provides a marvellous time capsule of a now vanished America.

one word - terrific

[iceturkee1950 · 10/10 · 19 August 2005]

it's funny, i was in 8th grade the last year route 66 aired and got to see a few episodes. this was because one had been filmed in daytona beach so i watched it. then i caught the rest of the last season before it went off the air.

i don't think i could fully appreciate just what a remarkable show this was. shot on location, featuring a literal who's who in Hollywood, i think maybe, this show was way ahead of its time. but it worked so well in the early 60's when quality television was quite common.

anyhow, i always said this was the ONE SHOW i wanted to see in reruns. when it aired on nick at nite in 1985, i watched more than half of the episodes and was never disappointed. mix a way cool theme song, some beautiful country, two hip guys and the corvette, how could you go wrong!!

An amazing snapshot of a bygone America

[JAtheDJ · 10/10 · 22 June 2006]

I've just seen several episodes of Route 66, which I remember from reruns in the late 60's. The location shots are absolutely wonderful - how Martin Milner and George Maharis survived all the travel to shoot on location is amazing in itself.

The story lines deal with people and their personal lives in a very intimate way. Wonderful "guest stars" too - from Robert Redford and Robert Duvall to Walter Matthau and Jack Lord.

I grew to appreciate Milner and Maharis from earlier parts they played -Milner as the stoic, sincere jazz guitarist in "Sweet Smell of Success," in 1957 and Maharis in the first hour-long episode of Naked City in 1960. My kind of actors.

All in all, Route 66 is a great show.

What a wonderful show to grow up watching for a 7 year old!

[magic961 · 10/10 · 25 March 2007]

In 1960, as a seven year old boy growing up in historic Salisbury, North Carolina, the weekly TV show, Route 66, whisked me away to the open road and high adventure in an open-topped red Corvette convertible. Howmuch better could life be for a seven year old boy in Small Town USA?! This was high-living for the next four years of my life.

"Buzz" and "Todd" (the main characters) had quickly become my best friends as I rode with them every Friday night (8PM) to high adventure. I wish "TV Land" would bring this show back into our lives and show kids of today that you don't need to have sex and violence in order to enjoy some great TV! Herbert W. (Bo) Newsome, Salisbury, NC

In summary, This was a wonderful show!

Unique, cutting-edge 60s drama series.

[sonya90028 · 10/10 · 30 June 2009]

Route 66 centered on two young men, who traveled together in a sleek Corvette. The car was bequeathed to one of the main characters, named Tod, by his dead father. His traveling companion was named Buzz. Tod and Buzz were actually polar opposites. Tod came from an affluent background, and had an education that he'd acquired from Harvard. On the other hand, Buzz was a street-wise young tough, who grew up in the urban jungle of 'hell's kitchen', in NYC.

Tod and Buzz were seeking adventure during their travels, and they often got more than they bargained for. As they made their way from town to town, they frequently got into some serious skirmishes, that they were barely able to escape. They also got to assist many of the people that they met, in one way or another. In this way, the show resembled the story-line of the Fugitive, which was also an enormously popular 60s drama series.

George Maharis as Buzz, and Martin Milner as Tod, projected a good on-screen rapport, as the two road buddies. George had a more charismatic appeal as an actor, than Martin Milner did. The cinematography in this show was amazing. Especially considering that the show was produced in the early 60s, before the high-tech film cameras of today were available. The scenery in general, was always one of the most enjoyable parts of Route 66.

This was a quality TV drama series. And it was prescient regarding the restlessness of young people, that would intensify by the latter part of the 1960s. In this way, the show was really on the cutting-edge of hipness. Highly recommended, for fans of 60s TV dramas.

I just finished watching all four seasons in chronological order

[Jim-499 · 7/10 · 28 December 2013]

I just finished watching the entire series in chronological order. It took me almost two years to the day to watch them.

I bought the first three seasons on DVD one season at a time.

Season 4 was not available on DVD unless you bought Route 66 The Complete Series but they did not make the entire series available until after I bought the first three seasons on DVD.

BUT, MeTV was showing the entire series in chronological order so I just waited until the fourth season started.

Within the last hour I watched the final episode. Is was part 2 of 2.

Route 66 ran from fall 1960 to spring 1964. The premise of the series was Tod Stiles father passed away who owned a large business but was in tremendous debt. So his business had to be liquidated and sold. By the time all his debt and creditors were paid off, all his recent Yale graduate son (Tod Stiles) inherited was a brand new Corvette.

One of the guys that worked for his father was an orphan raised in the tough streets of Hell's Kitchen named Buzz Murdoch, who had to learn to fight in one of the worst crime-ridden areas in the country just to survive.

The two of them decided to take to the road and see the country in the new 1961 Corvette.

The first two seasons were very good.

At the end of the second season and at the end of the third season, George Maharis (Buzz Murdoch) missed several episodes. He was replaced at the end of the 3rd season with Lincoln Case (Glenn Corbett), a Green Beret/Vietnam Vet.

As a whole, by the third season, the stories some times had little to do with the main characters; they were some times incidental characters in the stories.

And the Lincoln Case character was not that well defined. They started off defining him well--a Green Beret that when attacked by four hoodlums, sends them all to hospital. Tod Stiles takes umbrage at this, thinking these hoodlums semi-innocent teenagers and challenges Case to a fight. Case agrees not to use his karate so they fight to a stand still. In fact, Case never uses his karate skills throughout the rest of the series taking away what could have been a character-defining gritty toughness.

By contrast, Buzz Murdoch had his tough street-fighter side that defined him and made him interesting with a razor-sharp temper.

Some of these episodes in the fourth season —and even the third--I had to suffer through. The music was sometimes contrived and corny, tried to make me feel differently than what the screen conveyed and oft times there were unrealistic characters that I could also care less about. And unrealistic dialog where one character goes on a poetic monologue.

In the final episode reality was transcended: A character played by Patrick O'Neal dies and it's a joke with no investigation, no sorrow.

A lot of these old shows did not have a definitive ending, perhaps because they did not know they were going to be canceled, one of the exceptions being "The Fugitive." But the final episode of Route 66 DID have an end to the series: Tod Stiles gets married (to Barbara Eden), Linc Case ships his stuff back home to Texas and when Stiles says, "Well we're going that way, straight to Houston"

Case replies, "That's a two-seater you've got there old buddy."

Case walks out to the Corvette, puts Stiles and Eden's luggage in the car, looks the Corvette over one last time, rubs his hands on it, smiles in reminiscing fashion then walks away into the sunset with the Corvette in the foreground and one final musical phrase of the Nelson Riddle/Gil Grau Route 66 theme song. Lincoln Case is saying goodbye to the road.

The character most prevalent in this final scene of the series before it fades is the character most prevalent in the series—the Corvette. Fade Out.

For the end credits, whilst the Nelson Riddle theme song played, Route 66 always showed a still from a scene from the episode. In this case it was the final shot of the episode/series—the Corvette but this time without Lincoln Case in the scene.

The four year road trip had come to an end.

Too bad they couldn't get a cameo by Maharis in the final episode.

PS MeTV started Route 66 over with the first episode. Just for the heck of it I watched it again. The contrast in tension, character development and writing in watching the final episode immediately followed by the first was like night and day. Those early episodes were so much better.

Executive Summary: First two seasons very good (inspired me to look up Maharis' work after Route 66). Third and fourth season hit and miss with the fourth season mostly miss even though I liked GLenn Corbett as an actor. He just did not get that many good scripts.

A product of an American classic. Route 66

[raysond · 8/10 · 8 August 2000]

Long before he became Officer Malloy on the old "Adam-12" TV series, Martin Milner was the coolest cat around during his days as Tod on "Route 66". He was always the hippest cat in that crazy and cool ,and good-looking Corvette as he and he buddy Buz travelled the country in search of fun and sometimes adventure. This was a CBS Friday night staple running four seasons and116 episodes from October 7, 1960 until March 20, 1964. The show's sponsor was the Chevrolet Motor Company where you get to see the new Corvette's that was the stars of the show itself. Only Martin Milner remained with the series throughout its entire run. George Maharis was with the series for the first three seasons and left after the end of the third season. Glenn Corbett came on board as Lincoln Case midway through the third season and stayed for all of the fourth season until the end of the series run in 1964.

The show itself was a symbol of expression and interest basically keeping viewers keen in their escapades. It was filmed on location and was created by Herbert B. Leonard and Stirling Silliphant for Screen Gems/Lancer Productions/CBS Television Network. Writer and producer Stirling Silliphant wrote 70 out of the 116 episodes of Route 66. This was a series that had a roster of guest stars on board each week along with the superb acting and adventure drama this show had. Not to mention some of the best writers contributed to some of the great episodes as well.

The re-runs of this show surfaced quite often, but during part of the mid-1980's,the show ended up on TV's cable stations during the early years of the network as part of its weekly line-up of programming. Its theme song, by the way ,will live on forever as the best jazz score ever made(by composer Nelson Riddle),and to this day.

Pleasant surprise

[jimlacy2003 · 7/10 · 18 September 2008]

I'm a bit to young to have seen this when I was a kid. But now I've seen about six episodes far I'm thinking Great show!

Neat to see all the interesting locations they travel. Interesting to get more of a feel of the attitudes of and culture of the early 60's, etc. Still a time when "Men were men, and Woman where, woman".

A big contrast in TV shows today. There is no obligatory homosexual, racial, or otherwise equality messages that seems necessarily woven in to today's shows to appease everyone. While at the same time not being offensive, it's refreshingly unpretentious. It is what it is.. these guys are just honest straight from the heart men.

Maybe a little over the top in seriousness/drama at times though..

Magnificent portrait of New Frontier America.

[coop-16 · 10/10 · 15 January 2012]

Sterling Silliphant created two television series that should live forever, or at least until we have a nuclear war or a meteor hits us. The first was The Naked City, the first truly great Noir Police Procedural,which fashioned the template for almost every great Cop show that followed. The other had few imitators ( Mving On, Banyon, even , God save us, BJ and the Bear.). It was ,of course, Route 66. I had heard of this show for years, and finally caught many of the episodes from the first season on our local RetroTV affiliate. I know realize that it deserves its Iconic status. All I had known about it was that it had an unforgettable theme( NOT to be confused with the classic song by Bobby ( Emergency) Troup.)and a snazzy Red Corvette. I also knew that Martin Milner had starred in before he starred in Adam-12. After watching an episode, in which Lew Ayres played a Nazi-Hunter who meets our heroes on an oil derrick in Louisiana, I was hooked. The local Retro affiliate ran the show every day at Seven O'clock in the morning, right after The Cisco Kid. Forsaking Don Imus and Joe Scarboough, I watched almost every episode for about five weeks. With one or two exceptions, almost every episode was good, and at least seven were superb. I was especially impressed by "Ministering Angels", "Fly Away Home', "Two Drops of Water", "Play it Glissando", and an episode were Darren McGavin played a prize fighter. Perhaps it helped that I had just read On the Road for the first time. The show was well acted, and often poetic. Then, one morning, I learned that the Local station that ran it and other classic TV shows was switching to , God help us, a "life-style " format. Well, maybe, I 'll move to some city which still has its Rero station. Of course, by the time that happens, I'll be too old to enjoy it. We really need more networks like Retro, that rerun the great shows of all time.

Goodnight sweet blues

[jurkoii · 7/10 · 17 June 2019]

Wow! I don't write reviews of shows often but, this episode really hit home. Lovely story. Ms. Waters is the heart and soul of a lovely woman, played to perfection. A definite must see if you watch no other episode...ever.

George Maharis Nearly Ruined This TV Show For Me

[StrictlyConfidential · 5/10 · 15 November 2020]

(IMO) - "Route 66" had some real potential to be quite an entertaining TV show, but, unfortunately, it just didn't live up to its initial promise.

Not only did I think that Martin Milner and George Maharis were both too old for their parts - But, as their characters of Tod Stiles and Buz Murdock they just weren't convincing as being buddies, either.

With this TV series now being 60 years old I really did try to cut it some slack - But, for the most part, I found "Route 66" to be just average entertainment and nothing more than that.

I too hit the road

[dnegri1 · 26 December 2000]

I saw many of the 1960 and 1961 episodes while in the service. I was so taken by the show that in my mind (confusing reality and television), I decided to hit the road when I got discharged in 1962. I purchased a 1961 Vette and a buddy and I set off from Sacramento, California sometime in May 1963 a la Tod and Buzz to find adventure and romance at every stop. Unfortunately we only got as far as southern Utah when we totally ran out of money. I guess we forgot that Buzz and Tod took time out to work here and there. Anyway, it was fun while it lasted and my only lasting regret was having sold the Corvette. Back to the show: one fascinating aspect is in the scripts. Silliphant in particular was a great writer both serious and comedic - but what is amusing today is the amount of beat-era language, as well as existentialist philosophy. Sterling must have read his Sartre and Camus - or at least Tod did while at Yale. The show had at times a strangely schizophrenic nature: trite, even stupid story lines, but some very profound dialogue (at least for television). And the need for at least one fist fight in every episode gives the lie to any myth of a "kinder and gentler nation" before the counter culture invasion in the mid 60's.

People these days would not, could not appreciate Route 66

[jeanineruby · 10/10 · 12 August 2013]

TV Viewers these days simply cannot and will not appreciate Route 66 - they can't sit still long enough to understand the story lines! Young viewers - 30's and younger - simply cannot comprehend an intelligent show that makes it's audience actually think. Viewers want a show that has more slapstick than knowledge - if they'd just get through a couple of episodes perhaps they'd understand the greatness of Route 66. It's a bygone era and a bygone style of TV writing. So sad for the young viewers - they have no idea what they're missing. Because it's in Black and White, they feel it's "too old" "Outdated" and don't even try. I love the episodes from my home state! I do believe, with the County Libraries help, I've managed to re-watch every episode of Route 66, even that first illusive episode - Black November. It is interesting seeing actors' (Ed Asner, Suzanne Pleshette, Julie Newmar, etc.) guest appearances on these shows! Tod, Buz and Linc were such Good Guys! Such good all American boys traveling to good All American towns. There's love friction, violence, social issues - everything a show has to offer! Route 66 has it all!

Better than average television from the Camelot era

[mozli · 9/10 · 1 August 2010]

There are too many great episodes to go into and so many future stars to list. The episode with Julie Newmar, 'Vicki', sticks with me. It seemed like a set up for a spin-off. Maybe not. Many of the episodes had Buzz and Tod resolving others problems. Some dealt with their own search for female companionship. They weren't Lotharios, that is clear. There's a streak of conservatism in some of Buzz's basic outlook on life. The show is quite liberal in what it delivers to the audience. Tod, though a college grad hasn't gotten enough street smarts for some of the situations he encounters. Its also clear how shows like Twin Peaks, ER, Miami Vice owe a small debt to this program. Something must have happened in the second season because Martin Milner was doing introductory v.o. for many of the episodes in the latter part of that season. Many fascinating actresses passed through: Sylvia Miles, Marion Ross, Lois Nettleton, De Ann Mears and Inger Stevens among them. Big directors as well with Arthur Hiller, Sam Peckinpaugh and Robert Altman. A rich piece of television if you've been avoiding it because perhaps Milner might turn you off. These shows reveal that he could've gone on to better projects if fate were kinder to him.

A top TV show

[searchanddestroy-1 · 10/10 · 9 May 2014]

As a french collector, I don't know if this superb TV show was released in France, back in the sixties. I can't remember. Anyway, it was never shown in the seventies, I am positive about that.

It is a famous TV series in the USA. And I understand why. I just discover it. Terrific screenplays and acting for this dramas and sometimes crime adventures stories. It describes very well all the aspects of the American way of life. The odyssey of two pals all over the USA, where they are always involved in family feuds, or social struggles. I repeat, the characters study is always outstanding.

The only negative point - as far if it is actually a negative one - is that there is always a happy ending in each episode.

I would have preferred a more bittersweet way of finishing each story.

But besides this, it is really a must see TV show. I guess one of the best ever made.

Must-see even if just for the cinematography

[Bowserb46 · 8/10 · 5 July 2010]

As a 12 year-old boy in 1960, the appeal of this series was the Corvette. Period. Now, a few years later, I found the first half of the first season on Netflix. I watched the first episode and was blown away. Jack Marta's cinematography is startlingly good, and not just for TV. That first show was about 300 remarkable black and white still photos. At times, I was completely distracted from the show looking at the photography. I don't know if this is included in required watching in cinematography schools, but it probably should be.

The series in general seems to be a bit inspired by Kerouac's novels and a bit by the worst of Gunsmoke TV. Why, in the midst of great stories, was it necessary to have Buz in a fist fight with someone in what seemed like every episode (indeed, supposedly Jack Kerouac tried to sue the producer for stealing from "On the Road" and adding too much violence). Except for that one departure from reality (plus the fact that these guys with only occasional minimum wage jobs managed to get a new Corvette every year!), the writing is way above anything else of the era.

One other thing. Looking at the series' locations now, this show is also a mini historical look at America at that time. Since every show was shot on location, it doesn't suffer from every "place" looking like Los Angeles or the Universal back lot. Instead, it is a picture of the way things looked in 1960, so it triggers nostalgia among baby boomer like me, I think. Me for sure. Even some of the DVD episodes include the Chevrolet and Corvair commercials, which are fun to watch--particularly the "Unsafe at Any Speed" Corvair!

Update. I've just been watching more episodes on Amazon Prime. My opinion has declined from 10 to 8 stars. That's MY opinion. Here's what I'm seeing now: Besides the gratuitous fist fights, about have of the episodes have story holes that are just not easily excused. In most cases, the holes are left, I think, because fixing them might conflict with the point the story is making. So 10* for the good ones; 6* for those with inconsistencies or plot holes. 8* on average. Again, just one opinion. Still like the photography.

Brilliant idea not faithfully carried out

[dubchi · 7/10 · 16 March 2009]

The basic concept of Route 66 was to be the adventures of two young,totally unattached young men.They were both without parents,siblings,wives,girlfriends,children,property,business careers or any other ties.They were "chasing a star".Searching for the right place to build a life and/or girl to marry.The early episodes were faithful to the series' concept.Tod and Buz and what happened to THEM were the story.As the series went on many of the episodes had Tod and Buz as mere peripheral players to the stories (see "A Bunch of Lonely Pagliacci's" as an example).The illness of George Maharis which caused him to be unable to work (he missed 8 of the first 79 episodes and quit after episode #79) and the generally mundane acting ability of Martin Milner led the producers to focus less on the adventures of the principals and more on "message" stories.As the series continued,many of the "message" stories became darker and less optimistic dealing more and more with death and the future being grim for the characters Tod,Buz and Linc encounter. Maharis as "Buz Murdoch" gave a John Garfield-ish dramatic quality to the stories which balanced the lukewarm Milner's "Tod Stiles". Late in the series,the replacement for "Buz Murdoch","Lincoln Case",was even less true to the series concept."Linc" was far from unattached (both of his parents were still living,married and residing in the family home) and despite having the background of being a Vietnam combat veteran his character was usually even more sedate than Milner's "Tod".Glenn Corbett played the part woodenly and showed very little acting ability. All in all,the initial concept of the series was brilliant and while many of the "message" episodes were quite good,the series became overly talky and less about the experiences of "Tod","Buz" and "Linc"."Message" became more important to the producers of the series than the "search for a place in this world".

They probably couldn't make a series like this today

[robertguttman · 8/10 · 24 June 2020]

This was a great series. However, it occurs to me that they probably could not make a series such as this today. Think about it: every episode was filmed on location in a different part of the country, to which a different set of actors had to be brought, and for which an original script had to be written that had to be relevant to that particular location. Such a television series would probably be prohibitively expensive to produce nowadays. Added to which, consider that it was necessary for the two principal actors (Martin Milner and George Maharis) and the rest of the crew to remain "on the road" for long periods of time while the series was in production.

Cool vintage drama series from the 60's

[thegulls1 · 9/10 · 24 January 2019]

Every young man's dream: hop in a classic Baby Tbird with a buddy & roam across America, taking jobs wherever you find them! Make money--meet pretty girls... Who could ask for more?

Martin Milner & George Maharis star in this classic early 60's series as our 2 adventurers--I was 9 when I watched the show (on CBS?) Friday nights. The show attracted great guest stars, and deviated from the norm by having them die off tragically quite frequently (if it was a female, usually the funeral was 10 minutes after the character agreed to marry one of the boys!).

In the 2nd season, here are 2 great examples: The boys meet an older African-American lady who once sang with a jazz sextet. She has cardiac problems--would the boys find the scattered band members & bring them to the house for 1 final jam session? The band includes a character played by Coleman Hawkins, the great Tenor Sax player.

Next, the pair encounter a kid strung-out on heroin (played marvelously by a young Robert Duvall). Will they help him get cleaned up? It means postponing dates with some real babes! Sure, they will try, even if the chances for success are poor.

These 2 will go out of their way to help a whole bevy of people with unique problems. That was the niche of the show--they might never be family men, but they do care about others. Sometimes, they disagree, but they stay friends anyway. No bad language or skin. Each guy can land a hardy punch when challenged by an outsider. Now available on Prime TV via Amazon (cd format also available).

(*Lyrics excerpt*) - "Get your kicks on Route 66!"

[strong-122-478885 · 5/10 · 22 April 2018]

The TV drama series called "Route 66" premiered on the CBS network on October 7, 1960.

Focusing in on the events and consequences surrounding their journeys - This program followed two, twenty-something buddies travelling across the USA in a Chevrolet Corvette convertible.

Martin Milner starred as Tod Stiles, a recent college graduate. He was joined on his travels by Buz Murdock, a friend and former employee of his father (played by George Maharis).

*Note* - This show had little connection with the U.S. Highway providing its name. Most of the locations in the series were far from "The Mother Road", which passed through only eight states, while the series was filmed in 25 American states plus (one episode) Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

My favorite 60's show!

[camille-7 · 31 October 1999]

I was about ten when this show premiered and watched it with my parents every friday night between Rawhide and Twilight Zone. As you can see Friday was a good night for TV. I was fascinated with the show and its two stars, both of whom I had crushes on. They were both so natural in their acting and always delivered some words of wisdom by the shows end. The fact that the show was always on location made it much more interesting to watch. I was sorry too when Nick at Night quit airing it in the 80's. I watched as many of the reruns as I possibly could and even now have a few on tape. It's a show I think that still holds up today because of its uniqueness and naturalness.

I've been watching this show since it first ran.

[imdb-20938 · 10/10 · 18 December 2017]

It might seem over dramatic and bit corny by todays standards, but it gives a true snapshot of the times. It reflects values of a by gone era - the men are tough but fair and honest - in a mindful way. They get involved in others lives in a way that would seem risky today they actually seem to care about others. Sadly, the HULU video quality is pretty poor - I don't know why but if you can look beyond that you will find some great well written and moving stories. The first season has 30 episodes - wow they we hard workers back then. Now a long season is like 12 episodes! Give it a try...