Starsky and Hutch

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For the film, see Starsky & Hutch (film). For the song by LL Cool J, see Phenomenon. For the Video Game released based on the series, see Starsky & Hutch (video game).
Starsky and Hutch

Starsky and Hutch (later) Season One Opening Credits (note the "&" in place of the early "and").
Format Police drama
Created by William Blinn
Starring David Soul
Paul Michael Glaser
Antonio Fargas
Bernie Hamilton
Richard Ward (pilot)
Country of origin Flag of the United States United States
No. of seasons 4
No. of episodes 90
Production
Running time 60 minutes
Broadcast
Original channel ABC (American Broadcasting Company)
Original run April 30, 1975 – May 15, 1979
External links
IMDb profile
TV.com summary

Starsky and Hutch (to use its original spelling; it became Starsky & Hutch a few episodes into the run) is a 1970s American television series that consisted of 92 episodes of 60 minutes and a single-90 minute pilot; created by William Blinn, produced by Spelling-Goldberg Productions, and broadcast between April 30, 1975 and May 15, 1979 on the ABC network; distributed by Columbia Pictures Television in North America and, originally, Metromedia Producers Corporation in some other parts of the world.

Contents

[edit] Overview

One of the third generation Ford Torinos used in the motion picture Starsky and Hutch.
One of the third generation Ford Torinos used in the motion picture Starsky and Hutch.

The protagonists were two Southern California policemen: the dark-haired Brooklyn transplant David Starsky (Paul Michael Glaser) who was a streetwise detective with intense, sometimes childlike moods, and the blond Duluth, Minnesota native Kenneth 'Hutch' Hutchinson (David Soul), a more reserved and intellectual character; Under the radio call sign "Zebra Three", they were known for tearing around the streets of "Bay City" in Starsky's two-door Ford Torino, which was red with a large white vector stripe. It was nicknamed the "Striped Tomato" by Hutch in the episode Kill Huggy Bear; the nickname was subsequently adopted by the fans of the series. However, the term didn't come from the writers - it came from a real-life comment that Glaser made. When he was first shown the Torino by Aaron Spelling, Glaser sarcastically said, "That thing looks like a striped tomato!" Hutch also had a car, a beaten-up 1973 Ford Galaxie 500, which occasionally appeared when the duo needed separate vehicles, or for undercover work.

Their main underworld contact was the street-wise, jive-talking Huggy Bear (Antonio Fargas), who often dressed extravagantly and (in some seasons) ran his own bar. The duo's boss was the gruff, no-nonsense but fair Captain Harold Dobey, played by Bernie Hamilton in the series (gravel-voiced actor Richard Ward in the pilot). Starsky and Hutch has been credited for being one of the first prime-time dramatic shows to cast black characters in a positive light; with both Captain Dobey, and - despite his walking on the edge of the law - the honest and trustworthy Huggy seen to be positive black role models. Huggy's immense popularity caused Spelling and Goldberg to consider giving Fargas his own series. The second season episode Huggy Bear and the Turkey was the test pilot for a proposed spin off with Huggy and his friend, former Sheriff "Turkey" Turquet (Dale Robinette) becoming private investigators; however, it never led to a series. In the episode it was revealed that Huggy's last name is Brown (no clue as to his first name was given).

Two character names came from William Blinn's past: "Starsky" was the name of a high school friend, and "Huggy Bear" was a local disc jockey.

Fans loved the gritty, often violent, plotlines, comic banter, and particularly the close, devoted and enduring friendship between Starsky and Hutch. In stark contrast to police characters on TV up until this time, Starsky and Hutch were open with physical gestures of affection, often declaring that they trusted only each other against the world (leading to some claiming that there were homosexual overtones between the pair; in fact, some in the Hollywood press referred to the characters as "prime-time homos"). This parallels a similar claim that was leveled by psychologist Fredric Wertham in his 1954 book Seduction of the Innocent about the relationship between the comic book hero Batman and his sidekick Robin. But most observers see this simply as male bonding, which soon became commonplace, as "new men" could admit to having feelings of many shades, with no homosexual implication - certainly the case with Starsky & Hutch. However, during the 1980s some fans, mostly women, started writing and extralegally publishing "slash fiction" stories about the pair and continue to do so in print and on the Internet. [1]

Many fans were attracted not just by the characters, but the quality of writing during the first two seasons (despite the fact that the majority of first season stories were actually existing scripts that were merely adapted to fit the series). The second season episode Long Walk Down a Short Dirt Road, featured country star Lynn Anderson as a singer being stalked by a deranged person and was based upon a real-life incident involving Dolly Parton. The part was written with Parton in mind, but Anderson wound up playing the role.

In 1977, a rising concern about violence on TV forced the screenplay writers to cut down on violent action scenes and to employ more romantic and socially themed episodes, and play up the "buddy buddy" aspect of the show's leads even more. At the same time, the lead actors, in particular Glaser, became jaded with the general theme of the series. These factors, among others, contributed to the fading popularity of the series.

Glaser indicated several times that he wanted to get out of his contract and leave the series. At the start of the third season, it seemed that he would not be returning for filming. To fill the gap he would have left, the character of Officer Linda Baylor, played by Roz Kelly was created, and a number of alternative scripts featuring the character instead of Starsky were written (whether the show's name would have remained the same is unknown). Ultimately, Glaser was persuaded to continue, and Baylor only ever appeared in one episode (alongside both Starsky and Hutch) in the Play Misty For Me-inspired episode Fatal Charm.

Glaser again voiced his desires to leave during the fourth season. This time, Starsky's younger brother Nick (John Herzfeld) was introduced in the fourth season episode Starsky's Brother, mixed up with some bad company. It was intended that if Glaser was to quit, that the reformed Nick would join the force and fill Glaser's place (this time at least being able to keep the show's title as Starsky & Hutch). Again, this idea never came to anything. Although a fifth season was at one stage planned, it was ultimately Glaser's desire to quit the series, as well as by this time falling ratings, which brought an end to the series. Ironically, as with many leading actors in hit shows over the years (such as Leonard Nimoy in Star Trek, Adam West in Batman, Tom Baker in Doctor Who, etc.), Glaser initially had little regard for his most famous role[citation needed], and wanted to be distanced from it, but in more recent years has come to embrace it.

After its prime-time run, Starsky and Hutch was offered in syndication and has been shown on several local and cable networks, including The National Network and WWME-CA in Chicago.

Much of the show was shot on location in the Los Angeles beach community of San Pedro. The building that was used as the "Metro Division" headquarters is now San Pedro's City Hall.

[edit] List of episodes

[edit] First Season (1975–76)

Title Episode # Airdate Director Writer(s)
Starsky and Hutch 101/1 April 30, 1975 Barry Shear William Blinn, Jeff Kanter
Savage Sunday 102/2 September 10, 1975 Jack Starrett Fred Freiberger
Texas Longhorn 103/3 September 17, 1975 Jack Starrett Michael Mann
Death Ride 104/4 September 24, 1975 Gene Nelson Edward J. Lasko
Snowstorm 105/5 October 1, 1975 Robert Kelljan Robert I. Holt
The Fix 106/6 October 8, 1975 William Crain Robert I. Holt
Death Notice 107/7 October 15, 1975 William Crain Robert C. Dennis
Pariah (a.k.a. What Do You Do When Justice Fails) 108/8 October 22, 1975 Robert Kelljan Michael Fisher
Kill Huggy Bear 109/9 October 29, 1975 Michael Schultz Fred Freiberger
The Bait 110/10 November 5, 1975 Ivan Dixon James Schmerer, Don Balluck, Edward J. Lakso
Lady Blue 111/11 November 12, 1975 Don Weis Michael Mann
Captain Dobey, You're Dead! 112/12 November 19, 1975 Michael Schultz Michael Fisher
Terror on the Docks 113/13 November 26, 1975 Randal Kleiser Fred Freiberger
The Deadly Impostor 114/14 December 10, 1975 Dick Moder Michael Fisher, Parke Perine, Mann Rubin
Shootout 115/15 December 17, 1975 Fernando Lamas David P. Harmon
The Hostages 116/16 January 7, 1976 George McCowan Edward J. Lakso
Losing Streak 117/17 January 14, 1976 Don Weis Michael Fisher
Silence 118/18 January 21, 1976 George McCowan Parke Perine
The Omaha Tiger 119/19 January 28, 1976 Don Weis Edward J. Lakso
Jojo 120/20 February 18, 1976 George McCowan Michael Mann
Running 121/21 February 25, 1976 Don Weis Michael Fisher
A Coffin for Starsky 122/22 March 3, 1976 George McCowan Arthur Rowe
The Bounty Hunter 123/23 April 21, 1976 Don Weis Steve Fisher
  • Submitted scripts that were not filmed: 'Knockover' and 'Dead Man Walking'.

[edit] Second Season (1976–77)

  1. The Las Vegas Strangler - Part 1
  2. The Las Vegas Strangler - Part 2
  3. Murder at Sea - Part 1
  4. Murder at Sea - Part 2
  5. Gillian
  6. Bust Amboy (a.k.a. Nightlight)
  7. The Vampire
  8. The Specialist
  9. Tap Dancing Her Way Right Back Into Your Hearts
  10. Vendetta (a.k.a. The Monster)
  11. Nightmare
  12. Iron Mike (a.k.a. Captain Mike Ferguson)
  13. Little Girl Lost
  14. Bloodbath
  15. The Psychic
  16. The Set-Up - Part 1
  17. The Set-Up - Part 2
  18. Survival
  19. Starsky's Lady (a.k.a. Revenge)
  20. Huggy Bear and the Turkey
  21. The Committee
  22. The Velvet Jungle
  23. Long Walk Down a Short Dirt Road
  24. Murder on Stage 17
  25. Starsky and Hutch Are Guilty
  • Submitted scripts that were not filmed: 'Mojo' and 'Sixty Miles To Hell'

[edit] Third Season (1977–78)

  1. Starsky & Hutch on Playboy Island (a.k.a. Murder on Voodoo Island) - Part 1
  2. Starsky & Hutch on Playboy Island (a.k.a. Murder on Voodoo Island) - Part 2
  3. Fatal Charm
  4. I Love You, Rosey Malone
  5. Murder Ward
  6. Death in a Different Place
  7. The Crying Child
  8. The Heroes
  9. The Plague - Part 1
  10. The Plague - Part 2
  11. The Collector
  12. Manchild on the Streets
  13. The Action
  14. The Heavyweight
  15. A Body Worth Guarding
  16. The Trap
  17. Satan's Witches
  18. Class in Crime
  19. Hutchinson: Murder One (a.k.a. Hutchinson for Murder One)
  20. Foxy Lady
  21. Partners
  22. Quadromania
  23. Deckwatch
  • Submitted scripts that were not filmed: 'Die Before They Wake'.

[edit] Fourth Season (1978–79)

  1. Discomania
  2. The Game
  3. Blindfold
  4. Photo Finish
  5. Moonshine
  6. Strange Justice
  7. The Avenger
  8. Dandruff
  9. Black and Blue
  10. The Groupie
  11. Cover Girl (a.k.a. No Deposit, No Return)
  12. Starsky's Brother (a.k.a. Starsky's Little Brother)
  13. The Golden Angel
  14. Ballad for a Blue Lady
  15. Birds of a Feather
  16. Ninety Pounds of Trouble
  17. Huggy Can't Go Home (a.k.a. Huggy Can't Go Back)
  18. Targets Without a Badge - Part 1 (a.k.a. The Snitch)
  19. Targets Without a Badge - Part 2
  20. Targets Without a Badge - Part 3
  21. Starsky vs. Hutch
  22. Sweet Revenge
  • Submitted scripts that were not filmed: 'The Halls Of Terror'.

[edit] DVD Releases

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has released all 4 Seasons on DVD in Region 1 and 2 in the UK for the very first time.

DVD Name Ep # Release Date
The Complete 1st Season 23 March 2, 2004
The Complete 2nd Season 25 July 20, 2004
The Complete 3rd Season 23 March 15, 2005
The Complete 4th Season 22 October 17, 2006

[edit] International

  • In France, the show was shown on TF1. The French version replaces the original theme(s) with a French song, singing about "Starsky et Hutch".
  • In the United Kingdom, the series was a huge hit when shown in the 1970s on BBC One, with occasional re-runs through to the early 1990s. It was re-run by Five in 2003 in a 10 a.m. slot (later 11 a.m.; moving later on to an afternoon 2:30 p.m. slot); During its prime-time run, however, the BBC heavily edited or skipped altogether certain episodes; in fact, the first season episode "The Fix" (in which mobsters inject Hutch with heroin in order to extract information from him) was deemed too graphic and was effectively "banned" from all the corporation's runs of the series (despite being shown after the 9 p.m. watershed). Several other controversial episodes did on occasion air, but were heavily edited and / or seldom aired due to their nature. "The Fix" was never shown on British terrestrial television until May 31, 1999, as part of Channel 4's "Starsky & Hutch Night". On January 10, 2003, Five actually broadcast "The Fix" in their regular 10 a.m. slot; however, the episode was notably edited, and the scene of Hutch being injected with heroin was almost completely absent. It is now shown on the UK satellite / cable station Bravo.
  • The success of Starsky and Hutch caused British TV producer Brian Clemens to respond with a more hard edged, gritty show called The Professionals which aired on UK TV between 1977 and 1983.
  • Although the two shows debuted within a few months of each other, so one was unlikely to have been directly influenced by the other, there are also some notable parallels with gritty 1970s UK Police series The Sweeney (1975-78), which was the predecessor to The Professionals.

[edit] Cars

Ford Gran Torino
Manufacturer Ford Motor Company
Production 1974–1976
Assembly Dearborn, Michigan Chicago, Illinois
Class mid-size car
Body style(s) 2-door coupe
Layout FR layout
Engine(s) 351 Windsor
351 Cleveland
351 Modified
400 Modified
460 Lima
429 Lima
Transmission(s) 3-speed automatic
Length 213.6" (2-door)

Stunt cars, camera cars, tow cars, dolly cars, and cars used for "beauty" shots varied in model year from 1974 to 1976 Ford Torinos, since the body style of the Gran Torino was unchanged. Obviously, no 1976 models were used in the pilot episode or the first season. Originally, Blinn was to have Starsky drive a Chevrolet Camaro because he fondly remembered a green and white Camaro that he owned. However, when production started on the pilot, Ford Motor Company's Studio-TV Car Loan Program was the lease supplier for Spelling-Goldberg that year. They looked at lease stock and chose two (one main, one backup) 351 Windsor V8-powered "Bright Red" (code 2B) 2-door Gran Torinos for the characters. They were equipped with chrome exterior rearview mirrors and protective black bodyside moldings; the interiors were black with vinyl bench seats. They were custom painted (on top of the factory red paint color) with the distinctive white "vector" stripe (running from the front fender, across the doors, up and over the roof, and then symmetrically back down the other side above the molding, ending in a point at the middle of the front marker lights on either side), had their rear ends lifted by air shocks, had "U.S." brand 5-slot mag wheels added with larger rear tires, and had chrome tips on the exhaust pipes. They also replaced the original 2.75 to 1 rear axle gearing (standard, along with automatic transmission, on 1975 and newer Torinos) with numerically higher gears for better acceleration during stunt driving scenes; this was done during all four seasons to the S-G Torinos. Engine sounds were dubbed in since the Torinos were stock; California law forbade mechanically modifying the engines of new cars. When the pilot was successful, Spelling-Goldberg ordered two new red Torinos for the first season. These cars were powered by 400 Modified V8s because extra power was going to be needed for additional stunt driving scenes. The Torinos had no bodyside moldings, body-colored "sport" mirrors, and cloth bench seats; the stripe was thicker and ended at the front of the car. In '76, they were replaced by three new Torinos that had vinyl benches like the pilot cars and were specially painted the previous year's 'Bright Red' because Ford used a different shade of red for the new models; the cars can be identified by their silver 'sight shields' (bumper filler panels) which Ford used on specially painted cars. They also had chrome mirrors and bodyside moldings like the pilot cars; however, the stripe was integrated with the moldings. They were powered by 460 Lima V8s, and Spelling-Goldberg kept these Torinos until production ceased. Over time, they discovered an unforeseen problem with the Torinos during stunt driving scenes involving the main stars. In sharp left-hand turns, David Soul would slide across the vinyl bench into Paul Michael Glaser; in addition to being irritating, it could've been a potential safety hazard. S-G decided to solve the problem by replacing the front bench of the number two Torino with bucket seats. Due to the success of S&H, in 1976 (the Torino's final year) Ford released a limited edition (only 1000 units) Starsky and Hutch replica Gran Torino.[2] Manufactured at the Chicago plant, one of these code "PS 122" units was leased by S-G from the middle of the 2nd season until the series' end as a backup for the main cars; this vehicle was known as "Unit 129". It was originally equipped with a 351 Modified V8; however, during filming, one of the stuntmen damaged the engine beyond repair, and it was replaced overnight with a 429 Lima V8 (type unknown). During the last season of Starsky and Hutch, The Dukes of Hazzard premiered on CBS, and one of the factory replicas was used in the first episode, "One Armed Bandits", seen to be driven by regular character Cooter Davenport (Ben Jones). This was the only ever appearance of the Torino in the series, and many fans have speculated over its strange one-off appearance. One theory is that it was merely an in-joke, with the Torino being TV's former iconic car, now being taken over by The General Lee (The Dukes' car). Indeed, on the DVD audio commentary for the episode, John Schneider (Bo Duke) spots the car and comments on it, but is none the wiser as to why it is there. After Starsky and Hutch was cancelled, the cars were returned to Ford and sold at auction. Currently, Torino #1 is owned by a man in Ohio.[3] Unrestored, it still has its original 460, interior, and paint. Torino #2[4] is owned by a New Jersey man who supplied the main close-up Torino (featured on the movie posters)[5] for 2004's big-screen Starsky & Hutch movie. During its life after Starsky and Hutch, #2 was wrecked and sold as salvage. It was repaired; however, it was repainted the wrong shade of red and the stripe was improperly redone. Still equipped with bucket seats, #2 no longer has its original 460; somewhere along the line, a 2.8 liter Ford V-6 was installed. It is currently undergoing restoration in Pennsylvania. #3 reportedly resides in the South, and "Unit 129" is owned by a man in New Hampshire.[6] The Torino has many fans and collectors in the United Kingdom, as evidenced by the large number of UK-owned replicas (both factory and aftermarket).[7]

As stated previously, Glaser wasn't fond of the Torino; he found the car to be garish. Due to his contempt for the Torino, he mistreated it during close-up stunt scenes when he drove(this was admitted to in a 1997 letter he wrote to the owner of the #1 Torino). He would often stop the car by hitting the front wheels against curbing; he would also be seen coming into driveways at high speed and bumping into garbage dumpsters.

[edit] Firearms

In the pilot episode Starsky carries a Colt 1911 in .45 ACP, but once the series started Starsky now carries a Smith and Wesson Model 59 in 9mm Luger. There is proof of Starsky mentioning a Beretta 92 in 9mm Luger, and a Colt Diamondback in .38 Special.

In the pilot episode, and through the series entire run Hutch carries a Colt Python in .357 Magnum. In one episode Hutch carried a Walther PPK in .32 ACP, and in one part of an episode Hutch carried a Remington 1100 in 10 gauge.

The murder gun used in the one episode, which killed Martin "Marty" Crandell and Phillip "Phil" Corman, that belong to Edward "Ed" Crown was a Smith and Wesson Model 10 in .38 Special.

The criminals carry a variety of guns, ranging from rifles, shotguns, pistols, and revolvers, in a variety of makes and models ranging from Beretta to Walther, and in a variety of calibers ranging from 22 LR to .357 Magnum.

[edit] Theme music

The first season of the show had a theme written by Lalo Schifrin, used heavily during the US pilot episode. This was replaced for the second season by a Tom Scott-written theme entitled "Gotcha". The iconic "Gotcha" is the best known of the show's themes, and has been covered by several musicians, including the James Taylor Quartet and the Ventures. A version of "Gotcha" was featured on Scott's 1977 album Blow It Out. For the third season, a more dramatic theme was used that highlighted more socially-conscious and light-hearted stories. It was written by Mark Snow and released on an LP around 1979.

A revamped "Gotcha", similar to the version on Blow It Out, returned for the fourth and last season. The revamped version was the most easy-going of the different themes for the series, reflecting the last season's "buddy buddy" feel.

[edit] External links