MovieChat Forums > Kojak (1973) Discussion > Five reasons Why I Like This Show

Five reasons Why I Like This Show

posted 12 years ago by kokopop-3
16 replies | jump to latest

#1
The writing is excellent (much better than a lot of current TV). The plots are distinctive but not too gimmicky and I love the dialogue.
#2
Everything about this show, from the clothes, the cars and the gritty atmosphere are a time capsule of, and an homage to, 1970's New York.
#3
Telly Savalas
He looks great in the Botany 500 suits, has some of the best lines and more than anything, is just so REAL. He makes the viewer believe that he isn't acting, he's just being himself. He IS Kojak.
#4
The guest stars include every name actor who was working at that time. I didn't even know Harvey Keitel ever did TV until I saw the first episode.
#5
The onscreen relationships. I love it when Kojak and Captain MacNeil bicker like an old married couple, Kojak is like an older brother to Crocker acting like a mentor to the younger cop.

[–] vestdennis 12 years ago

The writing, acting & directing were all excellent! The supporting cast made this one of the best cop shows of it's time too. It accurately portrays the gritty side of city life & the cops who try to keep it safe.

[–] kokopop-3 12 years ago

And it has turned me into a big Kevin Dobson fan. I didn't really start watching Kojak until fairly recently and I always thought of him as more of a night time soap actor but I really like how he made Crocker a bit naïve instead of the standard persona of a cop. It was a smart acting choice because it made for a good contrast with Kojak and gave both actors a lot of opportunity to play off each other.

[–] hrtonslv 11 years ago

Much to my wife's chagrin, I had recently busted out the VHS tapes of Kojak and watched almost every episode. "Why can't we watch Criminal Minds?" She regretted asking the question because it opened me up to explain in detail of how much better Kojak is to just about any cop show you see today. First of all, the scripts (as already pointed out by the posters who responded to the original post) are not only believable, but simply well written. You don't see the outrageous, sensational crap that today's tv writers inject onto the pages in the 1970s Kojak scripts. They should learn a lesson from Abby Mann and Co. Write a good script and let the actors who portray the characters put some realism into the scenes. You don't need the unbelievable plot lines. Criminal Minds attempts to have controversy between the FBI agents and I don't buy it. The polish and the gloss pales in comparison to the grit you see in Kojak.

[–] vestdennis 11 years ago

I don't have any on DVD o VHS b/c I'm trying to build up other collections (for my golden years of retirement soon I hope!). Nothing beats Kojak, The Rockford Files, and many of the great cop shows from this era.

Criminals Minds, CSI & Law & Order (how many of those are there?) are just too polished. Every character is drop-dead gorgeous & looks like a model. I watched CSI:Miami the other night & every cop was beautiful! Not a one overweight, losing hair or even remotely plain! I mean looking at the hot ladies like Eva LaRue is definitely easy on the eyes & great for my fantasies but it makes for lousy realistic TV. Come on, the real world isn't like this!

[–] hrtonslv 11 years ago

You hit the nail on the head in your assessment of today's cop shows, brother.

And speaking of the Rockford Files, back about 25 years ago I recorded my "away" message on my home phone. "This is *my name* at the tone leave your name and message I'll get back to you." I have never changed the message. And not one person in 25 years has said "Hey, you got the Rockford Files message on there."

Boo hoo.

[–] oscarunger 11 years ago

I did the same thing but I erased any doubt by playing the Rockford theme on the message right after (-:

[–] thefamoc 11 years ago

I love Kojak. The man was tough but had a sense if humor in most cases. CROCKER!!

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[–] Goose-62 11 years ago

1: Telly Savalas, the perfect actor for the perfect part.

2: That gritty 70's look, the police station is a slum, the streets are grimy, etc.

3: Not a computer insight, just stacks of files, phones constantly ringing, it's all about just good hard leg work and instinctive coppering.

[–] 11 years ago

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[–] yashamom 10 years ago

Soooo agree!

[–] LiteraryLegend 10 years ago

I agree 100% with all 5 of your listings and the other opinions listed. I didn't watch Kojak when it was on the air, but I'm on Season 5 now and I am CRAZY about this show. Telly Savalas is one of the sexiest men to ever grace a screen. Now that I'm older I can honestly say this. No, he isn't "pretty" like a young Robert Redford or the late, great Brando or Paul Newman, but his sex appeal more than makes up for it. They don't make men like this anymore. He's the way Sinatra and Bogart were...one of a kind. Still loving ya baby!

Actors are mere products of a good writer's imagination

[–] 10 years ago

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[–] Maddyclassicfilms 10 years ago

It's gritty, realistic, well written, thrilling and has some great performances from the regular cast and guest stars.

Telly Savalas makes Kojak one of the best TV detectives ever. He's an honest badass who's always on the victims side. I love his funny one liners to criminals(often very funny but too intelligent for them to understand that they are really insults.)

It is my business to protect your majesty.... against all things.