"Starsky and Hutch" (1975) TV series 1975-1979

User Rating:

7.0/10   

Creator:

William Blinn

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4

Release Date:

10 September 1975 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Crime | Drama

Plot:

Two streetwise cops bust criminals in their red-and-white Ford Torino with the help of police snitch called Huggy Bear.

Plot Keywords:

Police | Detective | Cult TV | Police Detective | Police Partners

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 4 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

David Soul	...	Det. Ken 'Hutch' Hutchinson / ... (81 episodes, 1975-1979)
Paul Michael Glaser	...	Det. Dave Starsky / ... (81 episodes, 1975-1979)
Bernie Hamilton	...	Capt. Harold Dobey (74 episodes, 1975-1979)
Antonio Fargas	...	Huggy Bear (68 episodes, 1975-1979)
Justin O'Neill	...	ILB Ranie Sobek (27 episodes, 1975-1978)

Also Known As:

Starsky & Hutch (USA) (alternative spelling)
Starsky y Hutch (Argentina) (Spain) [es]
Hamogelastoi detectives (Greece) [el]
Starsky & Hutch (Italy) [it]
Starsky et Hutch (France) [fr]
Starsky i Hutch (Spain: Catalan title) [ca]
Starsky och Hutch (Sweden) [sv]
Starsky und Hutch (West Germany) [de]

Runtime:

60 min (88 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Netherlands:12 | Australia:M (DVD rating) | UK:15 | Argentina:13

Filming Locations:

1027 Abbot Kinney Boulevard, Venice, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Spelling-Goldberg Productions

Trivia:

Inspired by the same two undercover NYC detectives that also inspired the film The Super Cops (1974).

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: Frequently throughout the series, a criminal will be seen using a revolver with a silencer attached. A silencer is useless on a revolver (except for the Russian Nagant M1895) as the sound of the gunshot will escape through the cylinder gap, the space between the front of the cylinder and the muzzle.

Quotes:

Capt. Harold Dobey: Starsky, about this report, it reads like a comic book: "The fiery Torino sped into the street and we spilled into action."

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "That '70s Show: The Keg (#1.5)" (1998)

Season 5: Shoulda, Woulda, Coulda!!!

As a second-generation fan I discovered this TV Gem from repeats in the mid-nineties. I've just finished watched the final series and you can't help but think that a fifth season would have rounded it off rather nicely, 'Sweet Revenge' intentionally leaves the door wide open for the fifth series but with it's cancellation we'll never know what becomes of our favourite duo; does Starsky return to work? do they quit, get their happy ending in the shape of happy love affairs that's not doomed for once - what?!

The dynamic of Paul Michael Glaser and David Soul as the loyal, live-wired cops has hardly ever been equalled: Glaser brings passion and humour - not to mention the sexy strut and a smile to die for - into Dave Starsky. While David Soul brings humility and quiet strength into Ken Hutchinson, together they really are quite something. Then you have the coolest sidekick on '70's TV Huggy Bear played by Antonio Fargas though acquiring odd clothes he usually hogged the best lines! The second and third season is really when Starsky & Hutch is at it's finest: whether it goofing around in Las Vegas or on an exotic island, the stories are gripping in one minute then sensitive and serious in the next. My particular favourites are 'Murder on Playboy Island', Starsky's Lady, 'A Body worth Guarding', 'Murder at Sea' and 'Gillian'

First Season is slow but has some memorable episodes, the fourth is very gritty, realist and uneven at times. Showcasing the actors' restlessness. But episodes like Targets without a badge and of course Sweet Revenge proved that the show still had some sparkle left, pity really......