Baretta

1 9 7 5 - 1 9 7 8 (USA)
80 x 60 minute episodes

Tony Baretta was a tough and unconventional streetwise cop who lived in an old hotel managed by ex-cop Billy Truman. 

He usually wore a T-shirt, jeans and a baseball cap (hang on, that sounds like a conventional American TV cop). He was also an Italian-American (Yep, see what I mean).

Tony was a master of disguise and because of his Italian heritage and tough appearance he was able to infiltrate criminal groups, motorcycle gangs and even the mafia. 

He always worked alone, refusing to have a partner assigned to him. 

His original boss was Inspector Shiller (later replaced by Lieutenant Brubaker). The almost obligatory (for American cop shows) humorous interludes were provided by Tony's extravagant informant/friend Rooster and by his pet cockatoo Fred.

Baretta started life as Toma in 1973, a series starring Tony Musante and based on the adventures of a real-life cop who used his wits and imaginative disguises. But Musante left after one season, leaving a show with reasonable ratings and nowhere to go.

It was revived in 1975 with ex-child star Robert Blake as Baretta, faring badly at first despite the name change. Then it was moved to Wednesday nights . . . Ratings soared and Baretta demolished Cannon over on rival network CBS to become an ABC mainstay, as well as earning Blake an Emmy for Best Actor.

This was a hard, action series, despite Blake's public protestations that he was opposed to violence on TV. Robert Blake (real name Michael Pubatosi) had mostly played American Indians until he hit fame with Baretta. 

He failed to go on to much greater things but did star in NBC's Hell Town (1986) as Father Noah 'Hardstep' Rivers, an ex-con turned Catholic priest and guardian angel in a tough East Los Angeles neighbourhood.

The theme song, Keep Your Eye on the Sparrow, was sung by Sammy Davis Jnr.