DAVID JANSSEN IN CRIME SERIES

Press, 18 October 1976, Page 17

DAVID JANSSEN IN CRIME SERIES

Television Two will begin a new crime series, “Harry O” next Wednesday, following the pilot film on Saturday, In the premiere movie viewers met Harry Orwell a former San Diego police detective forced to retire on a disability pension because someone put a bullet in his spine.

He lives in a house on the beach, where he is building a sailboat, but he is in no hurry to get it finished. His car is in the garage and he is not particular!}' worried about when he gets its back. He jogs on the beach every day, more as therapy than recreation. As he says, “Jogging isn’t a sport, it’s a pennance. My sins aren’t that gaudy, but I’m cautious.” He does not need much and he does not want much, but he is willing to take on the occasional case, if he is asked and if it is worth it—and money does not make it worth it. The star of the show is David Janssen, one of television’s most experienced actors. His credits include the series “The Fugitive” and “O’Hara, United States

Treasury” and many motion pictures. He made his screen debut at the age of 9, playing Johnny Weismuller’s kid brother in “Swamp Fire,” hit television in 1956 with a series called “Richard Diamond, Detective” which ran until 1960, and now over a decade and many accolades he’s back in the underworld.

The one person who is consistently closer to Harry than anyone else is Detective Lieutenant Manny Quinlan of the San Diego Police Department, played by Henry Darrow. Darrow is a veteran of nearly 100 series episodes and TV movies and can be seen in “The High Chaparral” and “The New Dick Van Dyke Show.” - As Quinlan, he is Harry O’s friend—and his adversary. Whenever Harry shows up at the scene of a police investigation, Quinlan’s job becomes a little more complicated. Juggling a heavy caseload, he is forced to play each investigation by the book, while Harry is free to cut comers and go for the direct approach. The two men know each other well, and, while they might deny it face to face, they share a respect for each other’s abilities. The producer for the series is veteran writerproducer Robert E. Thompson. His production credits include “Mission Impossible,” “Rawhide” and many others but his greatest recognition was received for his

screenplay for the movie “They Shoot Horses Don’t They.” He is in good company with the series executive

producer, Jerry Thorpe, who once was vice-president of the Desilu Studios but. made his mark as executive producer for “The Untouchables” and “Kung Fu.”

Co-creator of the series was Howard Eodman, one of Hollywoods most prolific writers with credits including “Madigan’ ’and the recent Walter Mattau feature “Charley Varrick,”