Harry O

Harry O

Title screen
Also known as ''Harry-O''
Genre Crime drama
Created by Howard Rodman
Written by Robert C. Dennis
Robert Dozier
Larry Forrester
Herman Groves
Stephen Kandel
Joanna Klasson
John Meredyth Lucas
Howard Rodman
Michael Sloan
Norman Strum
Gene Thompson
Directed by Richard Benedict
Daryl Duke
Harry Falk
Richard Lang
Jerry London
Joseph Manduke
Russ Mayberry
John Newland
Jerry Thorpe
Paul Wendkos
Don Weis
Starring David Janssen
Henry Darrow
Anthony Zerbe
Farrah Fawcett-Majors
Les Lannom
Tom Atkins
Bill Henderson
Theme music composer Billy Goldenberg
Composer(s) Billy Goldenberg
Kim Richmond
John Rubinstein
Country of origin United States
Original language(s) English
No. of seasons 2
No. of episodes 44
Production
Executive producer(s) Jerry Thorpe
Producer(s) Alex Beaton
Robert Dozier
Buck Houghton
Robert E. Thompson
Running time 60 mins. (approx)
Production company(s) Warner Bros. Television
Release
Original network ABC
Original release September 12, 1974 – April 29, 1976
Chronology
Preceded by Such Dust as Dreams Are Made On (1973)
Smile Jenny, You're Dead (1974)

Harry O, sometimes spelled Harry-O, is an American crime drama series that aired for two seasons on ABC from 1974 to 1976. The series starred David Janssen and was executive produced by Jerry Thorpe. Harry O followed the broadcast of two pilot films: Such Dust as Dreams Are Made On (airing March 11, 1973) and then the second (with noticeable retooling), Smile Jenny, You're Dead (airing February 3, 1974), both starring Janssen.[1]

Synopsis

Janssen starred as the title character Harry Orwell, a San Diego cop forced into retirement when he is shot in the back. To support himself, he sets up a private investigation practice out of his beach house on Coronado Island, in San Diego. Henry Darrow originally starred as Lt. Manny Quinlan.

For the second half of the first season, the series was retooled, with the location of the series shifted to Los Angeles, California, due to the high production costs of filming in and around San Diego.[2] The retooling consisted of more than just a location change: a revised theme song and incidental music were composed and new supporting characters were added, notably Lt. Trench of the Santa Monica Police Department, who became Orwell's new foil/contact. (Henry Darrow's character Lt. Manny Quinlan was killed off in a crossover episode.) Most noticeably a lighter tone for the scripts and acting was adopted. Harry would still live in a beach cottage−this time somewhere along the PCH between Santa Monica and Malibu. In Season 2, Episode 5, "Reflections" he gave the address as "1101 Coast Hwy, Malibu". (This beach location was the same location used for both pilot movies.)

The second season would see a further reworking of the opening credits and theme song and recurring characters added. Anthony Zerbe, who played Lt. Trench won a Primetime Emmy Award for his role on the series.

Recurring characters included Farrah Fawcett-Majors, as Harry's attractive next-door neighbor and sometime girlfriend Sue Ingram; Paul Tulley as Sgt. Roberts, Lt. Trench's assistant; Les Lannom as Lester Hodges, a bumbling private-eye wannabe; Tom Atkins as Sgt Frank Cole; and Bill Henderson as Spencer Johnson, Harry's frustrated car mechanic.

Harry's small Austin-Healey, which spent almost all of the first season in non-running condition, would later see more time on the road as the series progressed, though it was never entirely reliable. As well, in the San Diego episodes, the bullet in Harry's back noticeably impeded his ability to get around; by second season, even though the bullet's existence was mentioned in passing, Harry was miraculously able to run, jump and engage in strenuous physical activity with seemingly no issues.

Reception and cancellation

Ratings for the series were initially fair and got a boost after the series was retooled in January 1975. Harry O was picked up for a second season and continued to gain viewership and critical acclaim; however, then-ABC president Fred Silverman decided to take the network in a different direction and canceled the series in favor of Charlie's Angels. Farrah Fawcett-Majors, supporting player to Janssen's Harry O, was selected as one of the 3 stars of that new series. The last original episode aired on April 29, 1976.[3] The series cancellation greatly disenchanted star Janssen, who vowed never to participate in a television series again.

Episodes

Pilot Movies

Both pilot movies are set and shot in Los Angeles.
With the exception of Harry Orwell, none of the recurring characters that would feature in the series appear in the pilot movies. As well, the pilot movies contain some details of Harry's backstory that clash with the character as established in the series.
Note that two of the actors who would feature in the series play different roles in "Such Dust As Dreams Are Made On": Les Lannom (who played Lester Hodges in the series) plays a student, while Mel Stewart (seen as Harry's mechanic Roy in the series) plays Harry's police contact Sgt. Granger.
In the second pilot movie, "Smile Jenny, You're Dead", Barbara Leigh (who would appear as Gina in the series) plays a character called Mildred.
No. in
series
Pilot # Title Directed by Written by Original air date
01"Such Dust As Dreams Are Made On"Jerry ThorpeHoward RodmanMarch 11, 1973 (1973-03-11)
Harlan Garrison (Martin Sheen), a member of the gang that shot Harry in a drug store robbery four years earlier, hires Harry to find Garrison's two accomplices. With Sal Mineo, Will Geer, Margot Kidder, and Mel Stewart.
02"Smile Jenny, You're Dead"Jerry ThorpeHoward RodmanFebruary 3, 1974 (1974-02-03)
Harry is hired to protect Jennifer English (Andrea Marcovicci), a model being tailed by a deranged stalker who also appears to have murdered Jennifer's estranged husband. With Clu Gulager, Zalman King, and Jodie Foster as Liberty Cole, a homeless girl who takes up residence in Harry's boat.

Season 1: The San Diego episodes

Episodes 1-13 are set and shot in San Diego.
The supporting cast for the San Diego episodes includes:
No. in
series
No. in
season
Title Directed by Written by Original air date
11"Gertrude"Jerry ThorpeHoward RodmanSeptember 12, 1974 (1974-09-12)
The sister of an AWOL sailor, Gertrude (Julie Sommars), hires Harry to find him, and the only clue is that his left shoe was mailed to her. But then another clue arrives in the form of two fake Shore Patrol officers. Les Lannom, later a series regular in the role of Larry Hodges, plays the AWOL sailor. Henry Darrow debuts as Lt. Quinlan.
22"The Admiral's Lady"Paul WendkosDel ReismanSeptember 19, 1974 (1974-09-19)
Harry is hired to find an Admiral's wife who is presumed dead by the police, but who turns out to be alive and in genuine danger. With Leif Erickson and Sharon Acker.
33"Guardian at the Gates"Jerry ThorpeStephen KandelSeptember 26, 1974 (1974-09-26)
Harry must protect an obnoxious, self-centred architect (Barry Sullivan) who witnessed a murder and is oblivious to attempts on his own life. This was the first episode filmed for the regular series. With Linda Evans, Anne Archer, Richard Kelton, and Gordon Jump.
44"Mortal Sin"Paul WendkosTeleplay by Stephen Kandel and Robert Malcolm Young;
Story by Robert Malcolm Young
October 3, 1974 (1974-10-03)
A man confesses to murder to a priest and Harry is brought in to help stop the man from killing again. With Laurence Luckinbill.
55"Coinage of the Realm"Richard LangElroy SchwartzOctober 10, 1974 (1974-10-10)
Harry must find a man who is needed to donate a kidney to his daughter, and who also has two hired killers on his trail. With Kenneth Mars, Joan Darling, and Florence Stanley.
66"Eyewitness"Richard LangHerman GrovesOctober 17, 1974 (1974-10-17)
A blind teenager is the only witness to a murder. With James McEachin and Rosalind Cash. Margaret Avery, later a series regular in a different role, plays the teenager's older sister.
77"Shadows At Noon"Paul WendkosRobert DozierOctober 24, 1974 (1974-10-24)
Harry infiltrates a mental hospital that holds people as prisoners and then finds that he can't get out either. With Diana Ewing and Guy Stockwell. It aired one year before the movie One flew over the cuckoo's nest, but 12 years after the eponymous novel that inspired the movie.
88"Ballinger's Choice"Jerry ThorpeGene ThompsonOctober 31, 1974 (1974-10-31)
Harry is hired in a divorce case that turns into a murder. With Juliet Mills, Paul Burke and Lisa Gerritsen.
99"Second Sight"John NewlandTeleplay by Gene Thompson and Barry Trivers;
Story by Barry Trivers
November 7, 1974 (1974-11-07)
Fay Conners (Stefanie Powers), an apparent psychic, predicts a series of murders that all come true amid Harry's search for a missing psychiatrist. Also starring Robert Doyle.
1010"Material Witness"Barry CraneRichard DanusNovember 14, 1974 (1974-11-14)
Harry is hired to protect Dr. Noelle Kira, a witness to crimes by one Joe Kiley; Kira hates Harry and the police and it impedes Harry's efforts as he discovers a mole in the department. With Barbara Anderson and Mike Farrell.
1111"Forty Reasons to Kill (Part 1)"Daryl DukeStephen KandelDecember 5, 1974 (1974-12-05)
A friend of Harry's is framed for drug dealing when he tries to purchase a parcel of land. With Joanna Pettet, Broderick Crawford, Craig Stevens and Paul Benedict.
1212"Forty Reasons to Kill (Part 2)"Daryl DukeStephen KandelDecember 12, 1974 (1974-12-12)
Harry finds himself framed for murder as his investigation of a 40-acre purchase continues. With Joanna Pettet, Craig Stevens and Bill Quinn.
1313"Accounts Balanced"Robert Michael LewisTeleplay by Michael Winder and Herman Groves;
Story by Michael Winder
December 26, 1974 (1974-12-26)
Harry is hired by a woman who believes her husband is having an affair. With Robert Reed, Gerrit Graham and Jerry Hardin. This was the last episode shot in San Diego, and the final episode for Lt. Quinlan as a regular.

Season 1: The Los Angeles episodes

Beginning with episode 14, there was a change in format. Behind the scenes, new production staff members were brought in, and on-camera, the entire supporting cast was dropped. Filming moved from San Diego to Los Angeles.
Episode 14 was a stand-alone story that sent Harry out to perform his investigations in a remote desert location.
From episode 15, Harry relocated to Los Angeles, moving his residence to the same location seen in the pilot movies.
The supporting cast for the Los Angeles episodes (from episode 15) includes:
Seen in one episode each were two characters who would become recurring players in season 2: Les Lannom as amateur criminologist Lester Hodges, and Margaret Avery as friendly informant Ruby Dome. Henry Darrow would also return for one episode ("Elegy For A Cop") as Manny Quinlan.
No. in
series
No. in
season
Title Directed by Written by Original air date
1414"The Last Heir"Richard LangGene ThompsonJanuary 9, 1975 (1975-01-09)
Harry is hired to smoke out a killer of a woman's heirs. With Jeanette Nolan, Clifford David and Whit Bissell.
1515"For the Love of Money"John NewlandTeleplay by David P. Harmon;
Story by Skip Webster
January 16, 1975 (1975-01-16)
A woman helps her boyfriend steal $25,000 and now the boyfriend has disappeared. This is the first episode with Anthony Zerbe as Lt. Trench and Paul Tully as Sgt. Roberts, and the first episode actually set in Los Angeles. The opening theme song is also completely reworked for this and all future season 1 episodes. With Mariclare Costello, Bernie Kopell and Sharon Farrell.
1616"The Confetti People"Richard LangTeleplay by Mann Rubin and Herman Groves;
Story by Mann Rubin
January 23, 1975 (1975-01-23)
An arthritic painter and his wife frame his brother, a mental patient, for murder, until the plan goes awry and the painter is shot dead by the brother. With Diana Hyland, Scott Hylands, John Rubinstein and Marsha Hunt.
1717"Sound of Trumpets"John NewlandTeleplay by Robert Pirosh and Larry Forrester;
Story by Robert Pirosh
January 30, 1975 (1975-01-30)
A recently released jazz trumpeter is pursued by a vengeful record executive who has a left-handed knife killer take the trumpeter's daughter hostage. With Julius Harris, Brenda Sykes, Jim Backus and jazz legend Cab Calloway.
1818"Silent Kill"Richard LangTeleplay by Steven Kandel;
Story by John Meredyth Lucas
February 6, 1975 (1975-02-06)
A deaf-mute janitor is framed for arson. With Kathleen Lloyd, Gail Strickland, Lawrence Pressman and Jack Riley.
1919"Double Jeopardy"John NewlandM. GluckFebruary 13, 1975 (1975-02-13)
A former crime boss mistakenly believes Todd Conway, an aspiring actor, killed the man's daughter, and the evidence points to Conway when it is found the girl was pregnant. With Kurt Russell, Will Kuluva and Ben Piazza; Linda Dano appears very briefly as the murder victim. This is also the first episode with Farrah Fawcett, who plays the semi-regular role of Orwell's neighbor Sue Ingham.
2020"Lester"Richard LangRobert C. DennisFebruary 20, 1975 (1975-02-20)
A college student who wants to be a detective becomes a suspect in the murder of two coeds. With Richard Schaal and Scott Newman. Debut of Les Lannom's character of Lester Hodges, who became a recurring character in the series' second season.
2121"Elegy for a Cop"Jerry ThorpeHoward RodmanFebruary 27, 1975 (1975-02-27)
Harry pursues the killer of his former police friend, Manny Quinlan. About 15 minutes of this episode (all contained in the show's second half) consists of reused and re-purposed footage from the pilot film "Such Stuff As Dreams Are Made On". Kathleen Lloyd and Sal Mineo appear in both newly-shot and recycled footage; Henry Darrow receives "Special Guest Star" billing for his reprisal of the role of Lt. Quinlan (all in newly-shot footage). Also in newly-shot footage, Margaret Avery debuts as Ruby Dome, who will become a recurring character in season 2.
2222"Street Games"Richard LangHerman GrovesMarch 2, 1975 (1975-03-02)
The mother of a teen-age girl who is an addict hires Harry to find her after her boyfriend is murdered by a narcotics dealer. With Maureen McCormick and Philip Sterling.

Season 2

Season 2 remained in Los Angeles. There were some changes to the supporting cast, and the theme was given a second radical re-arrangement.
The season 2 supporting cast includes:
No. in
series
No. in
season
Title Directed by Written by Original air date
231"Anatomy of a Frame"Jerry ThorpeTeleplay by John Meredyth Lucas;
Story by Herman Groves
September 11, 1975 (1975-09-11)
Lt. Trench is framed for murder and must hire Harry Orwell to clear his name. With Rene Auberjonois, James McEachin, Gordon Jump, James Hong, Harold J. Stone and an unbilled Gary Sandy.
242"One for the Road"Harry FalkNorman StrumSeptember 18, 1975 (1975-09-18)
An alcoholic lawyer subject to memory blackouts hires Harry to investigate a hit-and-run incident -- even though she is aware that she may well have been the driver behind the wheel. With Carol Rossen, Larry Hagman and Robert Loggia.
253"Lester Two"Richard LangRobert C. DennisSeptember 25, 1975 (1975-09-25)
Lester Hodges gets mixed up with Harry when diamond smugglers kidnap Harry's neighbor Sue Ingham. With Ina Balin and -- extremely briefly -- Loni Anderson.
264"Shades"Richard LangTeleplay by Michael Sloan;
Story by Eugene Crisci & Ron Jacoby
October 2, 1975 (1975-10-02)
A housekeeper is accused of killing a small-time hood; Harry is hired to clear her name and must work with the hood's ex-partner to find the real killer. With Lou Gossett, Jr., Linden Chiles and Anjanette Comer. G.W. Bailey, seen occasionally as Officer Remsen during the San Diego episodes, also plays a police officer in this episode, identified in the credits as "Garner".
275"Portrait of a Murder"Richard LangRobert C. DennisOctober 9, 1975 (1975-10-09)
Harry attempts to clear a retarded young man accused of a series of murders he says were committed by "a lion" -- a clue to the murderer's actual identity. With Adam Arkin and Katherine Helmond.
286"The Acolyte"Harry FalkTeleplay by Larry Forrester and Robert Blees & Dorothy Robinson;
Story by Robert Blees & Dorothy Robinson
October 16, 1975 (1975-10-16)
Harry must rescue a woman taken in by a religious cult. With Bettye Ackerman, Severn Darden, Barry Atwater, Clyde Kusatsu and Sam Jaffe.
297"Mayday"Jerry LondonJohn Meredyth LucasOctober 23, 1975 (1975-10-23)
A pilot friend of Harry's dies in a plane crash and Harry discovers he was involved in an attempted murder. With Bruce Kirby, Maggie Blye, Linda Kelsey and Geoffrey Lewis.
308"Tender Killing Care"Richard LangNorman StrumOctober 30, 1975 (1975-10-30)
Harry investigates the shady nursing home where Spencer's parents live, while Sue has Harry look for the missing father of three children who have just arrived from Hong Kong. With Kenneth Mars, Howard Hesseman, Jester Hairston and Robert Ito.
319"APB Harry Orwell"Richard LangTeleplay by William R. Stratton;
Story by Alfred Brenner
November 6, 1975 (1975-11-06)
Harry is framed for murder and must escape his cell to find the real guilty party. With Lesley Ann Warren and Michael C. Gwynne.
3210"Group Terror"Russ MayberryDennis LandaNovember 13, 1975 (1975-11-13)
A psychiatrist hires Harry to pose as a patient, to help smoke out a killer among the members of her therapy group. With Joanna Pettet and Linda Lavin.
3311"Reflections"Richard LangMichael SloanNovember 20, 1975 (1975-11-20)
Harry is forced to relive his bitter divorce when his ex-wife is involved in a murder. With Felicia Farr, Andrew Robinson and Peter Donat.
3412"Exercise In Fatality"Russ MayberryKenneth RealmanDecember 4, 1975 (1975-12-04)
A hotheaded policeman is accused of murder when the boyfriend who fathered his daughter's unborn child is found dead; making it worse for Harry, a former lover returns to his life and gets swept into the case. With Ralph Meeker.
3513"The Madonna Legacy"Richard BennettMichael SloanDecember 11, 1975 (1975-12-11)
A former police colleague of Harry's is killed while re-investigating an old murder, and Harry learns that a violent man convicted of the murder was recently released. With John Colicos, Christine Belford and Jack Riley.
3614"Mister Five and Dime"Richard LangRobert C. DennisJanuary 8, 1976 (1976-01-08)
Harry, Lester, and Lt. Trench run into repeated cases of mistaken identity as they pursue a gang of armored car thieves. With Glynnis O'Connor, Michael McGuire, J. Pat O'Malley and Michael Pataki. Harry mentions Lester's mentor Dr. Creighton Fong for the first time in the series.
3715"Book Of Changes"Russ MayberryTeleplay by Michael Sloan and Michael Adams;
Story by Michael Adams
January 15, 1976 (1976-01-15)
A witness to the murder of a gambling club owner hires Harry to find the club owner's book of clients, which has been stolen by extortionists. With Barbara Rhoades and Barbara Cason.
3816"Past Imperfect"Richard LangStephen KandelJanuary 22, 1976 (1976-01-22)
A con artist takes his ex-partner and Harry hostage to get back a suitcase he claims contains several thousand dollars, and they are themselves pursued by two mob hitmen. With Susan Strasberg, Tim McIntire, Granville Van Dusen and David Opatoshu
3917"Hostage"Jerry LondonMichael SloanFebruary 19, 1976 (1976-02-19)
Lt. Trench is called to a hostage situation at a local liquor store, and soon calls on Harry to act as the non-police intermediary the hostage-taker has demanded. With John Rubinstein, George Murdock, Quinn Redeker, Colleen Camp and Tim Thomerson. Guest star Rubinstein also composed the score for this episode.
4018"Forbidden City"Richard LangRobert C. DennisFebruary 26, 1976 (1976-02-26)
Harry investigates the killing of a private detective in Chinatown. With Tina Chen, Ramon Bieri, Benson Fong, James Hong and Jerry Hardin .
4119"Victim"Richard LangTeleplay by John Meredyth Lucas and Michael Sloan;
Story by John Meredyth Lucas
March 4, 1976 (1976-03-04)
A rape victim hires Harry. With Eugene Roche, Michael Lerner and Cynthia Avila. This was the last episode of the series to be filmed.
4220"Ruby"Richard LangTeleplay by Michael Sloan;
Story by Susan Glasgow and Michael Sloan
March 11, 1976 (1976-03-11)
Harry must help one of his informants after a youth gets mixed up in a car theft that results in the death of a policeman. With Joe Ruskin.
4321"The Mysterious Case of Lester and Dr. Fong"Jerry ThorpeRobert DozierMarch 18, 1976 (1976-03-18)
Lester Hodges and his mentor, Dr. Creighton Fong (Keye Luke), work together to find the murderer of members of Lester's family. Harry is seen only in a supporting role, and is absent for long stretches of screen time, as this episode was a back door pilot intended to launch a spin-off series titled "Fong and Hodges". With Anne Archer, Barry Atwater, Sorrell Booke, Dean Jagger and Roddy McDowell.
4422"Death Certificate"Russ MayberryJohn Meredyth LucasApril 29, 1976 (1976-04-29)
Harry investigates a doctor suspected by two women of fatal malpractice. With Ruth Roman and Kiel Martin.

DVD release

On July 11, 2012, Warner Bros. released Harry O: The Complete First Season on DVD in region 1 via their Warner Archive Collection. This is a manufacture-on-demand (MOD) release, available exclusively through Warner's online store and only in the US.[4] The 6-disc set features all 22 episodes of the season as well as the original pilot tele-film "Such Dust as Dreams Are Made On". The second and final season was released by Warner Archive on February 5, 2013.[5]

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Recipient Result
1975 Edgar Award Best Television Episode Howard Rodman
(For episode "Gertrude")
Nominated
1976 Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Continuing Performance by a Supporting Actor in a Drama Series Anthony Zerbe Won

References

  1. "Television Obscurities - Fall 1974: ABC". tvobscurities.com. Retrieved 2009-04-21.
  2. Snauffer, Douglas (2006). Crime Television. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 87. ISBN 0-275-98807-4.
  3. Snauffer, Douglas (2006). Crime Television. Greenwood Publishing Group. pp. 87–88. ISBN 0-275-98807-4.
  4. "Harry O DVD news: Announcement for Harry O - The Complete 1st Season - TVShowsOnDVD.com". tvshowsondvd.com.
  5. "Harry O DVD news: Announcement for Harry O - The Complete 2nd Season - TVShowsOnDVD.com". tvshowsondvd.com.
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