KOJAK

Show Type: Police Drama

First Telecast: October 24, 1973

Last Telecast: June 30, 1990

Broadcast History:

October 1973 – September 1974, Wednesday 10:00-11:00 on CBS

September 1974 – September 1975, Sunday 8:30-9:30 on CBS

September 1975 – January 1977, Sunday 9:00-10:00 on CBS

January 1977 – September 1977, Monday 10:00-11:00 on CBS

September 1977 – December 1977, Sunday 10:00-11:00 on CBS

December 1977 – April 1978, Saturday 10:00-11:00 on CBS

November 1989 – June 1990, Saturday 9:00-11:00 on ABC

Cable History:

USA Network

60 Minutes

Original Episodes: 2005 (10 episodes)

Premiered: March 25, 2005

Cast (1973-1978)

Lieutenant Theo Kojak..... Telly Savalas

Frank McNeil..... Dan Frazer

Lieutenant Bobby Crocker..... Kevin Dobson

Detective Stavros..... George Savalas

Detective Rizzo (1974-1977)..... Vince Conti

Detective Saperstein (1974-1977)..... Mark Russell

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Cast (1989-1990)

Inspector Theo Kojak..... Telley Savalas

Detective Winston Blake..... Andre Braugher

Detective Paco Montana..... Kario Salem

Pamela...... Candace Savalas

Chief George "Fitz" Morris..... Charles Cioffi

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Cast (2005)

Inspector Theo Kojak..... Ving Rhames

Detective Frank McNeil..... Chazz Palminteri

Assistant D.A. Carmen Warrick..... Roselyn Sanchez

Detective Bobby Crocker...... Michael Kelly

Detective Henry Mussina..... Chuck Shamata

Detective Emily Patterson..... Sybil Temtchine

SYNOPSIS

When they started out together in the New York Police Department, Theo Kojak and Frank McNeil had worked together and, for a number of years, been partners. Over the years, Frank had worked his way up the hierarchy to the point where he was now chief of detectives for the 13th Precinct in the Manhattan South district. Kojak, who had a cynical sense of humor and was determined to do things his way regardless of what his bosses thought, was now working for him. Kojak was outspoken and streetwise, and was not above stretching the literal interpretation of the law if it would help him crack a case. Working closely with him was plainclothes detective Bobby Crocker, as close to a regular partner as he had.

The supporting role of Detective Stavros was played by Telly Savalas's brother George who, during the first two seasons the show was on the air, was billed as Demosthenes in the credits rather than by his real name. Starting with the 1976-1977 season, considerable location filming was done in New York with Kojak seen all over the city licking his trademark lollipops. Kojak received much favorable publicity from police departments around the country for its realistic portrayal of police work.

In 1989, three years after the original series ended, 65-year-old Telly Savalas returned to the mean streets of New York to make some new Kojak films for the ABC Mystery Movie. Kojak was now an Inspector with a bright, young assistant named Winston Blake. Paco was Blake's regular partner, and Pamela was Kojak's secretary. Lollipops and "who loves ya, baby?" were once again the order of the day, and in one episode, a character from the old series even turned up: Crocker (played by Kevin Dobson), now a hotshot assistant D.A., was out to prosecute his successor Blake for murder.

There was yet another attempt to revive the venerable series in 2005 on USA Network, this time with Ving Rhames playing the titular hero as a big, tough, older black guy. This Kojak still sucked on a lollipop, loved jazz and had plenty of attitude. Frank was his no-nonsense boss; Carmen, from the D.A.’s office, his girlfriend; Henry, a gruff old cop; and Bobby, a younger one. An old photo in one episode was captioned “Captain Theocrates Kojakias,” suggesting the series knew its roots. It was a rather dark, humorless revival, and Kojak seemed rather old and tired, and it lasted only a few months.

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