User reviews

"Kojak" was a fairly tough police drama series that wasn't exactly known for being flamboyant or pretentious. The feature length pilot episode proved all this, thanks to its rather grim but realistic plot. Telly Savalas was given the role of his career as the title character. He had been very successful in portraying some villainous characters. Finally, he had the chance to be cast against type for this television show. The actor proved he could play honest and decent characters and Kojak is that, plus tough. He is very good at his job as police officer in a Manhattan precinct but was also quite harsh when necessary. Telly Savalas gave a sterling performance. The writing was very good on the whole as the show lasted five seasons and over a 100 episodes. There are all kinds of cases that were covered during the series, from police corruption to drug trafficking, armed robbery, problems within the department etc. The show lent itself to some gritty realism and it served its purpose very well. There wasn't a good deal of location shooting and the studio backlot came in useful. This caused "Kojak" to look slightly artificial at times but I can overlook this. Another winner from "Universal" studios.

Overall, this disappointed me because it wasn't the Kojak remembered until the final few episodes of this first season: you know, the "Who loves ya baby?" Kojak played so well by Telly Savalas.

It took half the episodes before Kojak even sucked on his first lollipop. In other words, the "Theo Kojak" as we remember him, took almost a year to develop and that took up most of this disk. I am hopeful that more seasons will come out on DVD because those would all be what I was looking for in the first place. So far, I haven't heard any word of that happening. Maybe this first season DVD did not sell well.

The last month of this season, when the shows got a lot more entertaining, were so not only because Kojak came to life but humor was injected with "Stavros" (George Savalas) and his pet plant "Shirley," as well as a few other neat touches.

One of the episodes in this first set interested me because it starred Lola Albright, the blonde who was a knockout on the old Peter Gunn television series. It was interesting to see her after a long absence. Speaking of women, this was the first look I had of Kojak's girlfriend who was something else - a great looker - but suddenly disappeared and never came back with no explanation!

The most interesting of the earlier shows was the one that featured James Woods as a student in a crime class. If you know Woods, you know he wound up playing an intense, evil guy.

The cast in here is good. Kojak's boss, "Frank" (Dan Frazer) was a good guy as was one of Kojak's assistants "Crocker" (Kevin Dobson) who got more screen time as the series went on. Stavros was always fun to watch, especially Kojak calling him "Curly" or "Fatso" or "Baldy."

Now that everything is on a roll, please, give us the rest of the series!

This series, a vehicle for star Telly Savalas, stands out in my mind as becoming more as it developed. The location filming in NY jogs memories of those who visited or lived in the city at that time. The plots frequently involved The Mob, which reflects the time. Some stories were patently unrealistic, but every time I'd complain about such, the camera would move into the street and that winter grating steam would wind around the sound of shoe leather, giving a pretty good suggestion of Dashielle Hammett (sp?). Interesting guest stars would occasionally show up, George Savalas proved a very natural actor and some of the humor appeared unforced and ad lib. A better show than much of the drivel in that decade.

Telly Savalas portrayed New York City (Manhattan) detective Theo Kojak in this highly rated and revered television series that aired Sunday nights on the CBS network.

Savalas was all in as a world weary, passionate detective Kojak. Kojak was gruff and sardonic but competent and dedicated to solving the case and advocating for victims.

Kojak's supporting cast included his captain as well as junior detectives.

Of particular note is Savalas' real life brother who plays portly detective Stavros.

The cases that Kojak got involved in ran the gamut from murder to theft to blackmail, narcotics and more. Kojak was a police officer but often had the approach of a gumshoe from the film nor 1940s or 50s.

Savalas wielded influence to subtly incorporate elements of Greek-American culture into the show, showing an American ethnic cohort that scarcely ever had seen showcase beyond the comedic or satiric.

The show ended its run in 1978 and has been seen in syndication ever since.

He sounds much better in Spanish than English more manly and if you haven't seen hike that way go and watch some you tube videos...victor Alcocer was a master of dubbing in Latin America and he was the voice of kojak in Spanish it was these series a great success in the 70s and 80 s and still you can grab a few re runs ..... I just don't know why they canceled this show or he stooped making movies because he had a great personality in war movies ....I still remember when I was young coming back from school and turning on the tv just to watch kojak series and sometimes even at night hearing my dad in the other room watching this series as well.

I remember this show like the back of my hand going through the dimensions of time and space itself. "Kojak" was the brainchild of creator and executive producer Abby Mann that aired for 118 episodes from October 24,1973 until March 18, 1978 for CBS-TV where it was a ratings winner in prime-time for the five great seasons it was on the air. Telly Savalas was the undisputed king of detectives as N.Y. Lt. Theo Kojak who had a sense of style and grace,who had the lollipops,was a ladies man with a sense of family values and drove that great big gas- gussing Buick for a cop car around the slimy streets of Manhattan and all parts of the city. Kojak had a knack for solving crimes his own way and bringing in the baddies with his old Greek standards mixed in with the Noo Yawk(New York)attitude.

However,the stories that made that show were some of the best ever since some of the episodes dealt with racial issues,police corruption, women's rights,and the harrowing issue of alcoholism and drugs. However,several of the guest stars who appear on the show were just starting out but in turn had some grand performances including up and coming actors like Harvey Keitel and Paul Micheal Glaser(aka Starsky from Starsky and Hutch),to Christopher Walken, Janet DuBois, Sherman Hemsley, Esther Rolle, and Haywood Nelson(What's Happening!)to having special guest appearances by Danny Thomas and former NFL Great Rosey Grier. Other guest stars included Tina Louise, Dabney Coleman, John Ritter, former Bond-girl Maud Adams, Sylvester Stallone,Forrest Tucker,James Woods, Shelley Winters,and Sammy Davis, Jr. Great cop show while it lasted,and to this day I still have the original "Kojak" game from Milton Bradley for the heyday(circa,1975).

After the success of "Kojak's" five year-run on CBS from 1973-1978, and some 11 years after the series' finale, ABC picked it up for six made for television movies during the mid-1980's as part of the network's "Mystery Movie" line-up.

Telly Savalas, a film,stage,and television actor whose career span more than four decades with television guest appearances ranging from "The Twilight Zone",to "The Virginian","Combat!","The Fugitive","Wagon Train",and "Hawaii Five-O" all the way to his Oscar nominated for Best Supporting Actor for the 1962 motion picture "Birdman of Alcatraz",to his roles in such movie classics as "The Greatest Story Ever Told",his villain role as Blofeld in the James Bond film "On Her Majesty's Secret Service" to box office movie gold with "The Dirty Dozen","Kelly's Heroes","Pretty Maids All In A Row","Battle of the Bulge",and "The Scalphunters",and "Terror Train",to name a few.

In 1973,Telly Savalas premiered in a weekly crime drama series that would change everything on television. On Tuesday October 24,1973,the television series "Kojak" premiered on CBS-TV with Telly Savalas as title character,New York City Police Department Detective Lieutenant Theo Kojak. A total of 118 episodes were produced in color. When it premiered in 1973,the show was on Tuesday nights at 10:00e/9:00c where it took the time slot of "Cannon" which was moved one hour earlier for all of Season 1. From Season 2 onward,CBS moved the series from Tuesday nights to Sunday nights for the remainder of its entire run where it was placed at the 10:00e/9:00c time slot until its cancellation on March 18,1978. Out of the 118 episodes that this series produced,only 35 episodes were produced for Season 1. For Season 2 thru 5,a total of 83 episodes were produced. Filmed entirely on location in New York City and in some segments on the Hollywood backlot of Universal Studios.

The show was created by Abby Mann,who was an Oscar winning film writer for such classics as "Judgment at Nuremberg","A Child Is Waiting",and for "The Detective". Mann was also known for his best known work for such television drama anthologies as "Robert Montgomery Presents",and "Playhouse 90" Creator Abby Mann along with executive producers James Duff McAdams and James Moser set the television series "Kojak" around the daily operations of the New York City Police Department's Eleventh Precinct in Manhattan's South Patrol Borough with Telly Savalas as the tough and incorruptible Lieutenant Theo Kojak who have a knack of solving crimes and murders in his investigation of crimes with a tendency to break the rules to bring the criminals to justice. Theo not only had a sense of solving mysteries but Savalas also did it with a fashion statement with displaying a dark cynical wit to the role. In the early episodes of the series,and this was during its first season,Kojak is seen smoking thin brown More cigarettes. He substituted cigarettes for lollipops as an alternative where the lollipop made its debut in the Season 1 episode "Dark Sunday" that aired on December 12,1973:where Kojak lights a cigarette as he begins questioning a witness,but thinks better of it and sticks a lollipop in his mouth instead to cut his habit of smoking.

His supervisor was Capt. Frank McNeil(Dan Frazer). Later in the series McNeil was promoted to Chief of Detectives in Manhattan where Kojak is the commander of the Manhattan South Precinct's Detective Squad. His squad consists of Detective Bobby Crocker(Kevin Dobson),Detective Stavros(played by Telly Savalas' real-life brother George Savalas),who originally used the name "Demosthenes" in the screen credits. Others were Detective Saperstein(Mark Russell,Season 1),and Detective Rizzo(Vince Conti,Season 1)who all gave Kojak support. Roger Robinson appeared in 12 episodes of Season 1 as Detective Gil Weaver.

Only actors Telly and George Savalas along with Dan Frazer and Kevin Dobson remained throughout the show entire five-year run.

The guest star roster consisted of new talent where future up and coming actors like James Woods, Harvey Keitel,John Ritter,David Proval,to Paul Michael-Glaser,Christopher Walken,Danny Aiello,and Richard Gere,and Kathleen Quinlan where making their marks where as other guest stars ranging from Lynn Redgrave,Forrest Tucker,Ann Jillian, Haywood Nelson, Eli Wallach,Shelley Winters,Ruth Gordon,Jess Walton,Tina Louise,Blair Brown,Paul Benjamin,Robert Hooks, Antonio Fargas, Janet DuBois,Hector Elizondo,Sheree North,along with former Bond girl Maud Adams,Paula Kelly,Isabel Sanford to Marla Gibbs,and Danny Thomas.

The scripts were for this series outstanding,especially in the first three seasons were pinned by Abby Mann,Jack Laird,Robert Foster,and Halston Wells with superb direction from the likes of Jeannot Szwarc, Joel Oilansky,Charles S. Dubin, Leo Penn, Christian Nyby and Russ Mayberry. Even Telly Savalas directed several episodes of this series.

Several episodes from this series as memorable classics from the premiere episode "A Siege of Terror",to "Dead On His Feet","Therapy In Dynamite","Last Rites For A Dead Priest",to "Halls of Terror","Web of Death","Cross Your Heart And Hope To Die","Lady In The Squadron",to the two-part episodes "A Shield of Terror",and "Kojak's Days" to others like "Where Do You Go When You Have Nowhere To Go",to the final episode of the series "In Full Command" as one of the great cop shows to come out of the 1970's. After the success of this series and 11 years after it was canceled by CBS, ABC-TV revised the series with Telly Savalas returning as Theo Kojak for a number of made for television mystery movies that ran from 1989 until 1992.

When I worked at New York State Crime Victims Board and of necessity I had to contact a lot of police. And cops like any other profession run the gamut in quality. I met time serving slugs, I met a group who were competent at their jobs, and I also met some folks who would really go the extra mile for the victims.

I saw that in Telly Savalas as Detective Lieutenant Theo Kojak. He was passionate about his job, cared about the people he was sworn to protect and serve, and honest almost to a fault. And he had a precinct captain in Dan Frazer who backed him to the hilt although I think Frazer might have gotten a few gray hairs in the process.

Of Greek ancestry in the show and in real life, Telly Savalas never missed an opportunity to show a personal life steeped in Greek-American culture. Jack Webb's Sgt Friday was as honest and dedicated as Kojak, but we never saw a personal side for that guy. And comic relief in this intensely dramatic series was always provided by George Savalas as Kojak's fellow Greek detective Stavros. Poor Stavros just sat amiably by as Kojak bounced a few zingers off him. But his expressions were priceless. The brothers played well off each other.

Kevin Dobson was a young idealistic Detective Bobby Crocker who practically worshiped the tough Kojak. There was also Mark Russell and Vince Conti in the squad who got about as much dialog as those extra Bowery Boys with Leo Gorcey and Huntz Hall. Every time something was afoot, Telly Savalas would always bellow out their names, "Saperstein and Rizzo" and these two would follow like Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. I do wish the show had developed them as real people as they did for both Savalas brothers and Dobson.

Watching the show on the METV network sure takes me back to New York of the Seventies. And I wish all the cops I dealt with were on the Kojak model.

According to this show, a small time cop has higher rank that the FEDS (that's all we know them as). Internal Affairs is an evil organization that employs bumbling idiots. He threatens people in front of witnesses (with no punishment). He gives orders to his superiors. And this is a reality based show? I loved this show when i was a kid but now realize how dumb it was! I paid $45 for a region 2 box set, I wish I hadn't!!!

Sure, Dragnet was in a category all its own and Naked City did pave the way for Kojak, but the grit was too shiny and fake. I grew up in NYC and later, after I moved away, when I watched Kojak in syndication I would get so homesick. What got to me the worst wasn't seeing landmarks like The Angry Squire or Washington Square, but by shooting on city streets, the NYC detritus was blowing down the sidewalk. Yes, that made me lonesome for home. Kojak was a show by, for, and about New Yorkers. Kojak's attitude was a New York cop's attitude, he was tough and glib and underneath that layer was the soft chewy center.

Law & Order owes a huge debt to Kojak. I knew I would have to watch L&O because of what I can only describe as Kojakisms, and it is a disservice to Kojak (& to Telly) that he is only remembered for "Who Loves Ya, Baby?". Kojakisms were as rich and varied as literature.

Here are some of my favorites:

"That's the way the baklava crumbles, baby"

"Whatever you do, don't you so much as double park anywhere near Manhattan South, 'cause you'll get a Hear Ye and a Hear Ye and a greeting you'll never forget."

"Light a candle, baby; a Get Well card won't do."

"...kiss off Goldilocks, your porridge is getting cold."

"You could package that with a wrap-around deodorant and still come out with a stink."

"...the Internal Affairs shoo-flies, they're gonna be all over us like a groom on a honeymoon. And lemme tell ya something, we all better be virgins or have a pretty good story."

"Gather ye rosebuds while ye may; there's a chill in the air.'

"The wine, it smells beautiful baby, but the company, strictly down the tubes."

"Ya know what a vendetta is? It's when a whole bunch of people kill a whole bunch of people for years and years and years and like that!"

" Yer no good! And that's the end of the story!"

Absolutely one of the best shows ever.

If there was one Series on TV, that brought pure pleasure in watching was "Kojak." The dialog was fast paced, the greatest American slang and humor (so much so the audiences in England, were astounded with the slang), the greatest and smartest detective, the nasal and overbearing Captain Mcneil. brilliant direction that never sagged in the quality, the greatest side-kicks in the way of Stavros and Crocker. Those incredible stories series after series. The only intellectual TV show that came close to this was "Banaceck" with George Peppard, but that was a solo act that lacked the brilliance of an ensemble like "Kojak". This was a TV series, where things came together like a zig-saw puzzle. This is the "God Father" of the TV and the director is the "Coppola" of TV directors. If there is one set of DVD's in entirety that I would own, those would clearly be "Kojak" "All In The Family" and "Law&Order." Who loves ya baby!!

Working with Telly for five years was a highlight of my career. He taught me so much. I was the Stunt Coordinator and directed second unit. He insisted that all action must be designed to fit the character. With a "who loves you, baby" attitude, Telly molded me into the man I became. Truth in character and actions was Kojak. Watch the show and you will see 70's New York in a special way. Telly respected the crew like no other actor I worked with during my 38 year career. As a result, everyone on the set gave their best to make the city of New York a leading character. It was a major success in making Kojak's New York Telly's New York.

"Who loves you, baby?" Watch the show and you will!

What A Show...!

The 70's Saturday night tv came alive once "Kojak" came onto our screens. There has never been a cop show such as"Kojak" that could compare or equal the authenticity and realism that the drama Kojak produced..! The storylines, the scenery, the guest actors that appear in each episode of this creative series, made the show a much more believable and realistic drama for the time than has ever been produced. New York streets had never looked so authentic before, it was amazing to see realism at it's best.. Kojak is one in a million. His cool and suave sophistication that rolled with his banter can never to be surpassed. 70's Saturday night was, and is, the most exciting era for tv ever, real quality broadcasting and programming for all ages..!

It was sheer delight that all 5 series of Kojak was recently released again on channel 4, shown twice daily Mon-Fri'. It would have been superb if there had been more series of Kojak commissioned...!

To our delight, additional spin-off made for tv movies of Kojak were released in the 80s, which were just as enjoyable to watch and a real surprise. It was a fab' return of our beloved lollipop sucking man himself Kojak...!

"Who Loves Ya' Baby " What A Guy...! They don't make them like himself anymore.

Cheers Telly.. Here's Lookin' Up to Ya....:) You are surely missed, one of our brightest stars.

I wanted to explore the 1970s but every 70s cop show I watch is more boring than the other. I think this one might be the very worst! It's even more dull and boring than Mannix & Starsky & Hutch put together. Mannix leaves me cold, but at least it's got stylistic elements one can't deny: it's a very pretty show. Each scene was carefully framed by the director (upon orders of the production, no doubt?) to feature beautiful objects, beautiful clothes, beautiful people and their beautiful makeup. S&H had its moments but was mostly dull.

This show? ECH! First off, everybody speaks with a thick accent. From where? I have no idea! It's just very hard to understand because everyone mumbles. Including the lollipop sucking baldie lead. I'm trying to get thru this episode, but it started off with a Black guy robbing an old man whose wife is sick. Next scene? Him and Baldie are BFFs. WTF? It's kinda like that. I can't follow the plots, I have no idea what's going on or who the bad guy is supposed to be.

This show is boring and I'll tell you why: not only there's no pretty people nor clothes, but the stories are very hard to follow. You need to be an insider, know police lingo perhaps or even understand jive. I'm watching this with subtitles and I need someone to explain it to me. Truth is, all the elements of this poor production bore me. Cannon, Barnaby Jones, the same. But at least, Barnaby Jones is fascinating man to watch. Not so with this arrogant actor.

I watched a video of Telly Savalas interviewed in this era by a blonde (Mary Hart?) and he came on to her, told her he wanted to make "beautiful babies" with her. How creepy! Watch it for her reaction. (And I think he was shirtless, which is even worse!) They had some good, fun shows in the 70s but they weren't cop shows. The fluff of fantasy shows was done much better and is still way more entertaining than this schlock. I have yet to watch Police Woman, but I don't expect much, considering how dull her colleagues were (and how homely they looked!) Wishing the old TV stations would move away from overdone sitcoms (Golden Girls, Facts of Life) boring Westerns and dull cops shows (aforementioned) and would move on to showing the fun stuff. The most entertaining 70s shows, of course, only lasted 1 season. And so it goes. 4/10 because I don't want the fans to start crying if I give it the 2 it really deserves. (But for what? I have no idea what's worth even 2 stars in this show!) Let's just say it bores me but I don't hate it. The stuff I hate, I score lower.

Telly Savalas used his considerable charisma to breathe a little life into this look at a New York detective.Helped by some good location filming in the Big Apple and fairly realistic plots(not to mention that Noo Yawk attitude), Kojak stands as an above average 70's cop show.

Kojak was/is the best cop show ever. Telly Savalas was the best man for the job. His charisma, whit, and cool demeanor was unmatched for its time and even now. I really wish the show stayed on longer than 5 seasons. Its very hard to find the 5 season DVD set. All I've come across is the first 3. I've seen all 5 seasons but only the 4th and 5th seasons once. This show is so good that you can watch it over and over and not get bored with it. Telly's (kojak) other movies and guest appearances were great as well. Check out all his other movies right here on IMDb the man is awesome as an actor and a person. He is/was the coolest actor on TV and when i say cool i mean everyone wanted to be like him. My friends father is from New York and he said in the 70's-90's if you were cool and bald everyone called you KOJAK... TELLY IS MY FAVORITE ACTOR. ENJOY HIS MOVIES IF YOU HADNT ALREADY. get this he beat out Marlon Brando for the Kojak job. Marlon wanted to play a tough cop bad but Telly came along and was the man for the job. Telly IS THE BEST.

I've been watching Kojak on Hulu and am impressed with the acting by the main stars, the cinematography style, and the overall HD streaming quality. Many up and coming stars are given their break into show business courtesy of the main star, Telly Savalas, as Kojak. I was amazed to see how the police were portrayed back in the 70's. "Stop or I'll shoot" is said often and they actually shoot criminals in the back when they run.

The technical adviser, Detective Burton Armus was the guy that gave Telly the idea about the lolly pop. Burton was a detective working out of the 7th district homicide squad and advised the show. He went on in the film and TV industry as writer and director. A very special gut and I was proud to work with him for the short time I was there( the squad ). I met Telly on two occasions and when I told him that I was NYCPD he shook my hand and said he liked and respected our department. He was much like Jack Webb, anyone who met him , liked him because he was real. Hope the new show will be worth watching. We know it won't be the same, what re-make is?

"KOJAK"...What more can you say regarding this man.??? He is & was the most Coolest of all Tv Detectives .. I grew up in part watching this show in the 70's & boy..didn't we all wake-up to what the streets of New York were really like to part of. Before 'Kojak' New York was always painted in cinema & on our tv screen as the perfect city. The bright lights of 'Manhattan' being the be all & end all of the city of course. Before Kojak, there had not been another cop show on tv more realistic & true to life on the streets of New York. He will be fondly remembered & his show is still watched today with great affection and valour..!! RIP Telly...!!! You Were One In A Million...

Great series! 30 years after, I always feel the same pleasure to re-discover each story. Just one regret: your list mentions 24 episodes; the box "Season 1" just has 22; 0/The Marcus Nelson murders and 4/The Trade-Off are missing. As I watched the first Season, there were a lot of stories I had forgotten. So hope that the 2 missing will be reported to another special DVD or box. By the way, starring Sgt Bobby Crocker was/is the best role for Kevin Dobson, except his terrific "spotted cravats", which (by chance!) did not took away anything from his natural charm. Hope the next series will be soon on the swiss/french market. Just for the pleasure to "crack for Crocker"!

It was my mother's favorite show on TV.Her, being part Greek born in Egypt she and her friends found Kojak very sexy.I enjoyed his quirky remarks,his lollipop and his poor poor brother Stavros. Stavros of the talking to the plants guy! Everyone in the series shone,not so much for any violent stunts or microscopic dissecting of a cadaver(like the CSI of todays TV),no they were entertaining and spellbinding simply by solving crimes,witty dialogue and astute observations of human behavior.No DNA or gleaming forensic rooms with computers etc,these men solved crimes methodically and with common sense. I have purchased series one of this show and would love to see the rest of series two to five released on DVD.Would make a great birthday present for Mum. Millie

Kojak the TV Series was The Best TV Series Television had to offer.This was one show that kept you in your seat from the start to the Finish each week, and kept you coming back for more,There has never been a better made for tv show since then. Telly Savalas was born to play Kojak, Never before has an actor put so much of himself into a role, and made it seem so real. I still miss Kojak today and if they would bring back the Series today it would have a new following. I guess you could say that's like saying they will bring back the Drive-In Movie. Not much chance of that happening.

Telly Savalas is an amazing actor! What a gem of a TV series!!!!! His personality and one liners are unrivaled!!!!!!!