Kojak

1 9 7 3 - 1 9 7 8 (USA)
125 x 60 minute episodes

The favourite detective show of police around the US, Kojak made the streets of New York safe, baldness sexy and  Chuppa Chups (Tootsie Pops) an acceptable vice. Developed from a telly (no pun intended) movie, the show centred around the incorruptible Lieutenant Theo Kojak from the Manhattan South Precinct.

Regular cast members included Kevin Dobson (later from Knots Landing) as Detective Bobby Crocker, Dan Frazer as Captain McNeil and Telly's real-life brother George as Detective Stavros. 

Kojak was an immediate success with more than just the law enforcement crowd, and shot into the top 10 in its very first season on air in the US.

When they started out together in the NYPD, Theo Kojak and Frank McNeil had worked together for many years as partners. Over the years, Frank had worked his way up the chain of command to Chief of Detectives for the 13th Precinct in the Manhattan South district. Kojak, who had a cynical sense of humour and was determined to do things his way regardless of what his superiors said, was now working for him.  Kojak was outspoken and streetwise and was not above stretching the law if it meant cracking his case. 

Starting with the 1976-77 season, location filming was done in New York with Kojak seen all over the city with his trademark lollipops sticking out of his mouth. In 1989, 65-year-old Telly Savalas reprised his role and once again hit the streets of New York to make some new Kojak films for the ABC Mystery Movie.  

Kojak was now an  Inspector  and his assistant was Winston Blake. Paco was Blake's partner and Pamela was Kojak's secretary. Lollipops and "who loves ya, baby?" were once again present in this new, hipper version of Kojak. In one episode, a character from the old series popped up - Crocker (still played by actor Kevin Dobson), who was now a hotshot assistant D.A. and was out to prosecute Blake for murder.

Telly Savalas lost his battle with prostate cancer in 1993 and died at the age of 69.