One of the memorable images of 1970s TV was the sight of the iconic cherry red Ford Torino with the white racing stripe flying down city streets in Starsky and Hutch, which ran for several seasons on ABC. The series paired detectives David Starsky (Paul Michael Glaser) and Ken Hutchinson (David Soul) together to fight crime in the fictional Bay City area of California. Though each were very different- Starsky was the dark haired, more street-wise, fiery one while the blond Hutch displayed a more even-tempered demeanor- the two complimented each other perfectly. Plots emphasized their close friendship and the care they showed for each other as much as it did the car chases and suspect rousting. This elevated Starsky and Hutch above many other cop shows of the era.
Critics of the series point to the supposed homosexual overtones ("Can two guys simply be close friends without being gay?") and the implausibility of two plain-clothes detectives flying around in the most gaudy vehicle possible. Neither was a factor in my enjoyment of the series.
Of greater concern was the almost immediate shift in style and tone only a couple years into its run. Gone was the gritty score by Lalo Schifrin along with the similarly themed plots and in its place came a more commercial approach. The show was still good, but one wonders what might have been had it stayed on its initial path. Paul Michael Glaser's increasing disenchantment with the direction of the series led to its eventual cancellation.
Bernie Hamilton and Antonio Fargas had good support roles as no-nonsense Police Captain Dobey and confidential informant Huggy Bear. Starsky and Hutch is forever etched in the annals of great 70's TV!
Critics of the series point to the supposed homosexual overtones ("Can two guys simply be close friends without being gay?") and the implausibility of two plain-clothes detectives flying around in the most gaudy vehicle possible. Neither was a factor in my enjoyment of the series.
Of greater concern was the almost immediate shift in style and tone only a couple years into its run. Gone was the gritty score by Lalo Schifrin along with the similarly themed plots and in its place came a more commercial approach. The show was still good, but one wonders what might have been had it stayed on its initial path. Paul Michael Glaser's increasing disenchantment with the direction of the series led to its eventual cancellation.
Bernie Hamilton and Antonio Fargas had good support roles as no-nonsense Police Captain Dobey and confidential informant Huggy Bear. Starsky and Hutch is forever etched in the annals of great 70's TV!