There was a time in the late 1960s up until the late 1970s that tough cops, detectives, lawyers and all-around crime-fighters dominated TV screens.
The shows spotlighted rough and tough individuals who were hard on crime, clever, resourceful, usually ladies men and even in some cases disabled, old or physically rotund (Ironsides, Barnaby Jones and Cannon comes to mind).
I loved them all. They were anti-heroes cut from a different cloth.
One such hero was Anthony J. Petrocelli, a disgruntled East-Coast lawyer who ditched the fast-paced lifestyle for simpler meadows-the West.
What made the Petrocelli series so unique is that’s its star appeared to have clients that were guilty-only Petrocelli always managed to find that one glitch or fact out of place that proved their innocence.
The book is far more than an episode guide although it does supply full episode decriptions, cast and crew listing and airdates.
What makes the book especially interesting is the history of the series, personal recollections by cast and crew, behind-the-scenes tidbits and candid photos. There’s even a foreword by show’s star: Barry Newman and commentaries by the costars Susan Howard and Albert Salmi!
My favorite tough guy series starred Mike Connors as Mannix, the no-nonsense, pistol-packing, fist-swinging private eye with the heart of gold and the wit and know-how to stop the most notorious of bad guys.
It seemed like every week Mannix was knocked unconscious, faced off the bad guys in abandoned warehouses and always discovered the truth, got the girl and saved the day.
What can I say-the formula worked! I loved it`!
The book is not an episode book or a behind-the-scenes expose. Rather it delves into the character of Mannix, the myth, mannerisms, symbolism, character development and the legend of the detective series that dared to be tough and touching at the same time.
To get a real ‘feel’ of what the series was really about take the time to read each and every line as the book successfully unveils the secrets of the series’ success on so many levels.
Mike Connors provided the foreword with a prologue by David Breckman, the mind behind Monk.