No way do I want it on TVLand, they will just hack it up and delete footage so they can jam in more of their self promotion and of course all their on screen clutter and ads. I dumped them years ago.
I was a David Janssen fan from the Fugitive, and faithfully watched this show and wished it had been on the air longer. It was low key with a dry type of humor along with solving the plot each week key (kind of like Rockford Files in that sense)
Always wondered why some cable network like TV Land has never ran some episodes, because I would like to watch it again. PS Farah Fawcett was a part time regular, pre Charlies Angels. Really liked the show and the character he played.
Looks like Warner Brothers is releasing the second Harry O pilot "Smile Jenny You're Dead" on DVD. Just from the Archive but it's better than nothing. Hope it's the start of more being released.
Now we have to wait to see whether it will be available in the UK!
Looks like warner Brothers are releasing the second Harry O pilot "Smile Jenny You're Dead" on DVD. Just from the Archive but it's better than nothing. Hope it's the start of more being released.
Now we have to wait to see whether it will be available in the UK!
@Freddowasher ok can you dumb this down for me? The WB archive is dvd-r correct? NOT official dvd release? I ask cause i See Southland season 2 on their Archive site,yet read elsewhere That season is officially released in july? What would be the difference? more supplementary materials,?
@deckard97 I have to say I'm no expert on DVDs but there will be others who can advise I'm sure. From what I understand Smile Jenny You're Dead has been produced by Warners from existing material it's not a full release and has not been digitally enhanced.
I don't know Southland but I assume that if it is released officially in July it would be better to wait for that as they may have enhanced it. Reviews say the quality of the Harry O DVD is pretty good.
@charlie8575 I welcome it too, would be awesome if they now follow that with the show itself at some point! One thing is no traditional DVD release, that's sad enough, but it'd be extra sad if this great show can't even get an archive release...
Glad to hear they won't be re-doing Rockford Files. Rockford is Jim Garner, not some poser doing his modern-retro take on a 70's classic. The only person capable of doing something close to credible is David Chase, and that won't happen. Harry O was priceless as well, hopefully they won't attempt to remake it.
NBC's remaking the Rockford Files. Maybe ABC will remake Harry O? I'd always hoped for a Harry O remake before Jerry Orbach died. He'd of been perfect: Wise-cracking, world-weary. The only new twists: He's an ex-NYPD cop who retires to SoCal, and the series is called "Jerry O". Add ex-L&O co-star Elizabeth Rohm as his blond next door neighbor (a la Farrah Fawcett). and what wouldn't have worked? Too late now! But anybody else got a potential Harry O remake cast in mind?
@blacktheknife My thought would be either Dennis Farina (who was Orbach's first replacement,) would make a great modern Harry O. Another good choice might be Mark Harmon if NCIS ever goes off the air. Gary Busey (sp?) might also make an interesting selection. For the pretty neighbor, Elizabeth Rohm is a good choice, or Jill Hennessey if you wanted to do something a little different. Done well, a Harry O remake might actually succeed.
This intro is from the second season episode "Past Imperfect." An ex-con bullies his girlfriend into finding an old suitcase with a stack of envelopes inside; she hires Harry and both are taken hostage by the ex-con because he claims the suitcase contains $300,000 stolen from a Mob courier - a fact that rbings two hitmen after them.
Harry O was a semi-invalid, because of a bullet in his back from a robbery that he was supposed to try to stop as a cop. The doctors didn't operate because they thoght that the bullet lodged in his spine would kill him, so he had to cope with that as well as fighting the bad guys. It made for an interesting series!
Catch David Janssen as a rescue astronaut in the movie 'Marooned' about a broken down Apollo spacecraft orbiting earth with trapped astronauts inside. Notably Gene Hackman is still alive today (God Bless Him) while most of cast have passed on.
@1960nosferatu I saw 'Marooned" many times on network TV. Very realistic, but underrated, sci-fi flick that actually happened years BEFORE the real-life Apollo 13 incident (which also had 3 US spacemen marooned, only half-way to the moon!), Janssen stood out as dynamic, maverick astronaut Col. Daugherty. The astronauts' distraut wives (Lee Grant, Mariette Hartley, and Nancy Kovack) are all still alive, too; with Hartley, the best-kept of the lot.
Since episodes have been pulled off YT, I've noticed they're also not being offered for sale 'in those other places' like iOffer. So if it's just Warner showing muscles and claiming their right's issues broken - or - (as we all hope) they're gearing up for an official release we shall see... Fingers crossed anyway, that problems have been removed and we'll eventually see it out on DVD. For real.
Harry-O has been available on DVD for several years now! I've seen the complete, 46 episodes sold in a 10 dvd set online at tvaddicts.tv for $65 (US). Only problem is the company only takes credit cards--no Pay Pal, money orders, or checks. I've also seen similar Harry-O DVDs for sale on similar online sites, but almost all are expensive and hard to get without a credit card payment.
All Harry O DVDs are not official, they're copies. Some are website scams, some are poor quality and others are quite good quality. Warner Brothers are the copyright owners and they haven't released them.
@Capcoor Here's the latest: NBC cancelled the Rockford re-make! NBC shot the pilot, withDermot Mulroney as Rockford. But it was a confusing mix of retro 70s and modern-day L.A.; plus, Mulroney's take wasn't laid-back enough for most; and his looks, not convincing. So Rockford remains one of the few detective classics that hasn't been re-made. I'm still hoping for a Harry-O re-make--maybe a TV movie--because it barely ran 2 years (unlike Rockford). There's so much more of Harry to explore.
I see Warner Brothers have complained about copyright and had all the Harry O episodes removed from You Tube. Bit of a rum complaint when they won't release the DVDs for us to buy. It's not as if the clips that people have very kindly put onto You Tube are depriving them of royalties. It's like they're trying to remove all trace.
On the other hand maybe they are going to release the DVDs. I live in hope!
If they ever release it hope they go back to the original music. It had gone all to pot by the second series. The original music from early in the first series was the best! I'
@Freddowasher Hey, I love this version (lol)! The main instrument (called a theremin) makes it sound like someone programmed the background siren to carry a tune! By season 2, Howard Rodman bowed to network demands for more action. So, Harry's nagging bullet was gone, allowing more fights and car chases. But saddest of all, most of the endearing narrative was cut. The result: cancellation. It was replaced by Charlie's Angels, ironically giving Harry-O guest star Farrah Fawcett her big break!
@youngercga1968 i remember the earlier episodes had Henry Darrow of 'The High Chaparral' western show as a regular cast member ; a former police colleague and friend of Harry he was, but he was then killed off. In real life David Janssen was only 48 when he died of a heart attack in 1980 ; looked older though didnt he ? Must have lived hard !
I never watched 70s detective shows becuase they were too stupid.. Ie,, Cannon getting shot in the shoulder every week and still jumping on the assailant and beating him.
But i stumble on Harry o. by accident. Well done, totally different. He almost always had a reason why he couldn't take the case. Didn't drive a flashy car, and prefered working n his boat. Thats what made the character so interesting.
@xvoy2002 Agree about Cannon, though I like it too it's nowhere near the class of this show or Barnaby Jones. The stories on Cannon were generally less interesting. If only Harry O had been a Paramount or Universal show, we may have seen both seasons out a long time ago...unfortunately it's Warner and they're slow as hell on classic TV... :-/
One of the great cop shows of the 1970's starring the great David Janssen. With a kick ass opening theme by Billy Goldenberg,the show lasted two seasons from 1974 until 1976. Only 44 episodes were made. This show was at the top of the ratings when it was axe by the morons at ABC that replace it with the greatest travesty ever..."Charlie's Angels".
There are a few private individuals out there that make and sell copies of classic tv shows that haven't been released by the studio. Do your homework if you decide to buy from! I have bought a few classic tv shows (bootlegs) and the quality has been decent.
All I can say to your comment is amen, sister. And amen! The classic shows are not being shown as much lately due to a lot of mindless crap that is today's television.
This is from the show's second and final season, when Anthony Zerbe's character replaced Henry Darrow's (Manny Quinlan), who was killed off at the end of the previous season. It nearly got renewed for a third season.
Yes we need the originals and people are being ripped off by dodgy websites. Would be a nice tribute to see them released soon. It will be thirty years next February since David Janssen died.
Come on Warner, this classic needs a release, a REAL DVD release! That archive dvd-r stuff's not good enough a thought, as it's already out there as bootlegs. We want the real deal!
@mikey42 I agree, it's what we need in the UK too.
I've contacted some of TV channels that run classic shows here in the UK about Harry O and all they say is they don't have the rights! Yes, I guessed that, what they don't say is why they don't. Are they too expensive or don't they want them? They run lots of other older US TV shows nowhere near as good as this one.
When you look at what rubbish TV is being produced nowadays and what's also being released on DVD, it makes you weep!
@meterman432110 The Hometheaterforum had a live chat session on Monday with Warner Brothers. I got into it but couldn't stay. The moderator did ask my question about Harry O being released on DVD. "No plans at this time"! Another person on that forum advised that they often say that to test the water and see what people say. CBS is releasing Mannix, it was OK but not a patch on Harry O! Wonder if we should get a petition up. Think there's a website where you can do this.
It is my understanding (through the grapevine) that any DVD release of the series would require a large royalty payment to the David Janssen estate. Such a payment would be in the millions which would make it almost impossible for the studio (Warner Bros) to make a profit. A very common obstacle when it comes to the release of classic tv shows (especially those with stars that had ownership in the show).
@greg6363 Thanks for this information. That's such a shame. However they must have overcome the problem with The Fugitive as David Janssen had a good share in that series. Maybe they think the Harry O sales won't be as good .
We never see this series on TV now. I suppose this could be the reason.
The Fugitive was very popular in syndication while Harry O did not have enough episodes produced to have any impact in the marketplace. You need at least 100 episodes of a series to have any opportunity of generating a profit in syndication.
@greg6363 If so that's a real pity, sad if the estate can't make some kind of exception here and give David's fans what they want...heck, he'd probably want it released too if he could have a say himself... :-/
There's this 70s TV movie called 'Birds of Prey' where David Janssen plays a traffic chopper pilot in pursuit of criminals in another chopper. One of my favorite David Janssen movies & I haven't forgotten it over the years.
"Birds of Prey" has some of the best chopper stunt piloting I've ever seen, especially the scene where the girl is standing there with two choppers having a standoff not more than 20 feet above her...
David Janssen fans take note: he starred in a movie called FER DE LANCE as a sub captain whose boat crashes on the seafloor after a crewmember smuggles a package of extremely deadly snakes onboard(have you seen this plot recently?) . Wish somebody had this, can't find it anywhere. 1974 film.
Actually, there were only TWO seasons. The show had two intros during the 1974-75 season. Unless otherwise noted, this one was seen only during the 1975-76 season.
@vividwatch47, make that the second. The first, "Dust Are The Dreams Are Made Of", aired on March 1, 1973 (according to Witkopedia), and was shown in syndication as "Harry O">
Harry-O among many other classic TV shows were awesome, Especially compared to the CRAP we have now to choose from!! David Janssen was great in The Fugitive, Probably one of his best performances!!
Totally disagree. The acting was great, the scripts were terrific, the settings were good and the music like that of many American TV detective shows was so suited to the specific programme.
It's all a matter of taste really. Let's face it The Professionals was terrible but the biggest rubbish is being produced now with so called reality TV. All on the cheap!
Anthony Zerbe won a well-deserved Emmy award for his role of Lt. Trench. I read he was notified of this by Fred Silverman, the exec who cancelled "Harry-O"! Thanks for axing a great show, Fred!
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Amazes me to see what utter garbage people would watch back then - mind you we still watch utter garbage now but it is better acted (well most of it - and has better effects - cgi included)
This comment has received too many negative votesshow
Actually it was - all seasons - do your research.
I still maintain that this and other rubbish like Banacek and Columbo should never have been filmed, let alone bought by the BBC and ITV. Shame on us for having to pay for that crap.
Could be wrong but I thought it was BBC that screened it in the seventies. They tended to screen most of the USA TV detective series like Kojak, .Don't think it was ITV.
Apparently they re- ran it on one of the satellite channels more recently.
In the last scene of the intro where a man falls off a building, I'm curious as to who he was. I think it might have been the late Dar Robinson who was much sought after back then for 'tall building jump' stunts. Does anyone know? That scene has always stayed with me over the years.
Not sure if it was Dar, but i do know one thing -- this stuntman mis-timed his fall. Instead of landing flat on his back (as he should have), he obviously landed on a more standing up position (check the video and see where it freeze-frames).
I loved series & the theme music. It's one of my favourite TV shows during my formative teenage years together with Bareta & Kojak. I saw the Harry O pilot and still remember a scene where he crashes a police motorbike during a chase. The Harry Orwell character played by the late David Jensen had a reasonable and philosophical nature about him. The series always had a shot of Harry O sitting in his boat called 'The Answer'. He frequently took a bus when he had to move around.
Another great series with a great star. You know, I noticed that for a series that ran two seasons, there are 3, maybe 4 different intro openings, throughout its run, huh?
And I tape recorded said epi from the weekend in 2005 where TVLand was celebrating Warner Brothers' golden anniversary. That, along with an epi from "The FBI," and "Spenser for Hire."
A shame, though, that they couldn't include an hour from the classic "Bugs Bunny-Road Runner Show," or even some of the poignant "ER" episodes(such as Dr. Greene's divorce from Jen, his buddy Dr. Ross leaving town, and his final episode where he dies of the brain tumor).
Check out Anthony Zerbe in The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions. He played one of the counsel members(same character in both films).I also remember him in The Omega Man w/ the late Charlton Heston (I Am Legend was the 3rd movie version based on the same novel).
Come to think of it, this show might've been in A&E's 1990s line up of detective shows such as Columbo, Mrs. Columbo, Delvechio, McCloud,Rockford Files,McMillian and Wife,The Fugitive, etc.
Thank you for posting this.I'm 39 and I have'nt seen this since the 70s. They don't make shows like these anymore. Shows like these from our childhood era would make you a good thinker, allow you insight into law enforcement, allow you to consider going into law enforcement, and give you good morals, and sharpen one's detective skills.I'd like to see both seasons on DVD! Man,I love that theme music. It brings back so many memories.Too bad David Janssen's hard drinking and smoking took him at 49.
And one of his buddies was the great William Conrad, of "Cannon" and "Jake and the Fatman" fame. In the "Fugitive" book(1994), Conrad told Mel Proctor(the author) how he and Janssen oftentimes used to spend all hours drinking together. "Dave could drink 'em all under the table, and so could I," said he.
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I cannot believe all the praise hauled on to this junk tv show from the fashion-forgotten 70's! Zerbe looks cool? Hah! Zerbe and Jannsen both look a mess! It was hard to hear clearly what was being said or see clearly what was going on on Harry O. Janssen's other show The fugitive was so much better!
Absoulutely my fathers all time favorite show and it was mine too. I just adored David Jansenn in this role -even though I was 19 years old when this show came on I could relate to this life weary, crippled middle age man. To tell you the truth those are my characteristics now.
This was my all-time favourite TV series. Absolutely adored David Janssen & really liked Anthony Zerbe in it too - he had quite a stunning voice! Nothing made these days can ever match this!
I never watched Harry O, but had the chance to listen to the themes from each of the two seasons from another Web site a few years back (before YouTube came along). Does anyone have the clip from the first Harry O season (I think the music's tempo is slightly different)? Thanks in advance.
the 1st season version was on you tube until recently but no longer sadly. hopefully itll turn up again. its a slower paced version of this music. i watched Harry O here in Britain during the 70's on the BBC on sat nights approx 9pm. really good series.
glad you remember it too!! it was part of the classic saturday night line on the beeb back then. that day/time slot used to be occupied by the likes of HARRY O, STARSKY & HUTCH, PETROCELLI, CANNON etc etc. followed by MOTD and parky!! those were the days. cheers
Love David Janssen ... all that hard drinking and smoking were prematurely aging him by this point though -- if this is the second-season opening, he is only 44 years old. sadly he didn't live past 49 ...
You should see him in Inchon which was his last performance. He looked like he was 80. The stars of old lived hard. Smoking, drinking, popping pills. Today's group of partying celebrities have nothing on their elders.
Wonderful theme . I saw this as a kid and I never forgot the music.
farnumbp 3 months ago
Huge thanks! I use to stay up late night as a kid and watch this but had completely forgot about it and the intro.
shakoror 3 months ago
The second HARRY O pilot, SMILE JENNY YOU'RE DEAD, is now available from Warner Archive Video.
bretmaverick2004 5 months ago
Damn... I've never even heard of this show until now, but this intro looks awesome. I sooo want to see more (I'm a huge 70s TV fan!)
marriott7999 5 months ago
This DOESN'T need a DVD release. What needs to happen is for TV Land to START BROADCASTING BETTER PROGRAMMING.
airdriver 6 months ago
No way do I want it on TVLand, they will just hack it up and delete footage so they can jam in more of their self promotion and of course all their on screen clutter and ads. I dumped them years ago.
ChrisC1 5 months ago 2
I was a David Janssen fan from the Fugitive, and faithfully watched this show and wished it had been on the air longer. It was low key with a dry type of humor along with solving the plot each week key (kind of like Rockford Files in that sense)
Always wondered why some cable network like TV Land has never ran some episodes, because I would like to watch it again. PS Farah Fawcett was a part time regular, pre Charlies Angels. Really liked the show and the character he played.
honeymoonlady 8 months ago 3
@honeymoonlady isn't it on MEtv or Antenna tv? i am barely getting those in my area
deckard97 7 months ago
This has been flagged as spam show
Looks like Warner Brothers is releasing the second Harry O pilot "Smile Jenny You're Dead" on DVD. Just from the Archive but it's better than nothing. Hope it's the start of more being released.
Now we have to wait to see whether it will be available in the UK!
Freddowasher 9 months ago
Looks like warner Brothers are releasing the second Harry O pilot "Smile Jenny You're Dead" on DVD. Just from the Archive but it's better than nothing. Hope it's the start of more being released.
Now we have to wait to see whether it will be available in the UK!
Freddowasher 9 months ago
@Freddowasher ok can you dumb this down for me? The WB archive is dvd-r correct? NOT official dvd release? I ask cause i See Southland season 2 on their Archive site,yet read elsewhere That season is officially released in july? What would be the difference? more supplementary materials,?
deckard97 7 months ago
@deckard97 I have to say I'm no expert on DVDs but there will be others who can advise I'm sure. From what I understand Smile Jenny You're Dead has been produced by Warners from existing material it's not a full release and has not been digitally enhanced.
I don't know Southland but I assume that if it is released officially in July it would be better to wait for that as they may have enhanced it. Reviews say the quality of the Harry O DVD is pretty good.
Freddowasher 7 months ago
This is when Television was good...Today it's HORSESHIT!!!
bjroberts65 9 months ago 5
@bjroberts65 preach it-you are so right.I miss the 60's,70's,80's shows
deckard97 7 months ago
Yes, he was human not superhuman...
komodoman 9 months ago 3
i didnt like this detective he was always getting beat up.
doctorw2 9 months ago
Okay, looks like they're going the archive route with this great show after all, according to their Facebook page it's coming soon!
komodoman 9 months ago 3
@komodoman Do you have more information? All I can say is....YES! It looks like the pilot will be available May 3.
charlie8575 9 months ago
@charlie8575 I welcome it too, would be awesome if they now follow that with the show itself at some point! One thing is no traditional DVD release, that's sad enough, but it'd be extra sad if this great show can't even get an archive release...
komodoman 9 months ago 2
I love this theme , memorable and haunting
farnumbp 9 months ago
Glad to hear they won't be re-doing Rockford Files. Rockford is Jim Garner, not some poser doing his modern-retro take on a 70's classic. The only person capable of doing something close to credible is David Chase, and that won't happen. Harry O was priceless as well, hopefully they won't attempt to remake it.
MrDavearama 10 months ago
@MrDavearama If they do all these hopeless remakes, do like me, just ignore them. It shows they have no originality these days.
sewitt60 10 months ago
great music
MrRobIngram 10 months ago
NBC's remaking the Rockford Files. Maybe ABC will remake Harry O? I'd always hoped for a Harry O remake before Jerry Orbach died. He'd of been perfect: Wise-cracking, world-weary. The only new twists: He's an ex-NYPD cop who retires to SoCal, and the series is called "Jerry O". Add ex-L&O co-star Elizabeth Rohm as his blond next door neighbor (a la Farrah Fawcett). and what wouldn't have worked? Too late now! But anybody else got a potential Harry O remake cast in mind?
blacktheknife 1 year ago
@blacktheknife My thought would be either Dennis Farina (who was Orbach's first replacement,) would make a great modern Harry O. Another good choice might be Mark Harmon if NCIS ever goes off the air. Gary Busey (sp?) might also make an interesting selection. For the pretty neighbor, Elizabeth Rohm is a good choice, or Jill Hennessey if you wanted to do something a little different. Done well, a Harry O remake might actually succeed.
charlie8575 9 months ago
@charlie8575 no, mark harmon would be an inappropriate choice, he's too pretty.
whydoesmypussysmell 8 months ago
This intro is from the second season episode "Past Imperfect." An ex-con bullies his girlfriend into finding an old suitcase with a stack of envelopes inside; she hires Harry and both are taken hostage by the ex-con because he claims the suitcase contains $300,000 stolen from a Mob courier - a fact that rbings two hitmen after them.
STP43FAN1 1 year ago
Harry O was a semi-invalid, because of a bullet in his back from a robbery that he was supposed to try to stop as a cop. The doctors didn't operate because they thoght that the bullet lodged in his spine would kill him, so he had to cope with that as well as fighting the bad guys. It made for an interesting series!
RodneyIsCougerMan 1 year ago
Catch David Janssen as a rescue astronaut in the movie 'Marooned' about a broken down Apollo spacecraft orbiting earth with trapped astronauts inside. Notably Gene Hackman is still alive today (God Bless Him) while most of cast have passed on.
1960nosferatu 1 year ago
@1960nosferatu I saw 'Marooned" many times on network TV. Very realistic, but underrated, sci-fi flick that actually happened years BEFORE the real-life Apollo 13 incident (which also had 3 US spacemen marooned, only half-way to the moon!), Janssen stood out as dynamic, maverick astronaut Col. Daugherty. The astronauts' distraut wives (Lee Grant, Mariette Hartley, and Nancy Kovack) are all still alive, too; with Hartley, the best-kept of the lot.
blacktheknife 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
Since episodes have been pulled off YT, I've noticed they're also not being offered for sale 'in those other places' like iOffer. So if it's just Warner showing muscles and claiming their right's issues broken - or - (as we all hope) they're gearing up for an official release we shall see... Fingers crossed anyway, that problems have been removed and we'll eventually see it out on DVD. For real.
komodoman 1 year ago
@komodoman Let's hope....
charlie8575 9 months ago
Comment removed
komodoman 1 year ago
Harry-O has been available on DVD for several years now! I've seen the complete, 46 episodes sold in a 10 dvd set online at tvaddicts.tv for $65 (US). Only problem is the company only takes credit cards--no Pay Pal, money orders, or checks. I've also seen similar Harry-O DVDs for sale on similar online sites, but almost all are expensive and hard to get without a credit card payment.
blacktheknife 1 year ago
@blacktheknife
All Harry O DVDs are not official, they're copies. Some are website scams, some are poor quality and others are quite good quality. Warner Brothers are the copyright owners and they haven't released them.
Freddowasher 1 year ago
@blacktheknife Info please!
Capcoor 1 year ago
@Capcoor Here's the latest: NBC cancelled the Rockford re-make! NBC shot the pilot, withDermot Mulroney as Rockford. But it was a confusing mix of retro 70s and modern-day L.A.; plus, Mulroney's take wasn't laid-back enough for most; and his looks, not convincing. So Rockford remains one of the few detective classics that hasn't been re-made. I'm still hoping for a Harry-O re-make--maybe a TV movie--because it barely ran 2 years (unlike Rockford). There's so much more of Harry to explore.
blacktheknife 1 year ago
RIP David Janssen (the original Fugitive)
saanzacs 1 year ago
I see Warner Brothers have complained about copyright and had all the Harry O episodes removed from You Tube. Bit of a rum complaint when they won't release the DVDs for us to buy. It's not as if the clips that people have very kindly put onto You Tube are depriving them of royalties. It's like they're trying to remove all trace.
On the other hand maybe they are going to release the DVDs. I live in hope!
Freddowasher 1 year ago
If they ever release it hope they go back to the original music. It had gone all to pot by the second series. The original music from early in the first series was the best! I'
Freddowasher 1 year ago
@Freddowasher Hey, I love this version (lol)! The main instrument (called a theremin) makes it sound like someone programmed the background siren to carry a tune! By season 2, Howard Rodman bowed to network demands for more action. So, Harry's nagging bullet was gone, allowing more fights and car chases. But saddest of all, most of the endearing narrative was cut. The result: cancellation. It was replaced by Charlie's Angels, ironically giving Harry-O guest star Farrah Fawcett her big break!
blacktheknife 1 year ago
Harry O'' Yeah!!!
bjroberts65 1 year ago
Comment removed
bjroberts65 1 year ago
I remember the music a little fuller
mstephens44 1 year ago
it is too bad the studio does not release this on dvd.
I would love to have this show in my collection. Nothing beats classic tv shows from the 1960/1970s/1980s.
youngercga1968 1 year ago 3
@youngercga1968 i remember the earlier episodes had Henry Darrow of 'The High Chaparral' western show as a regular cast member ; a former police colleague and friend of Harry he was, but he was then killed off. In real life David Janssen was only 48 when he died of a heart attack in 1980 ; looked older though didnt he ? Must have lived hard !
kenfig 1 year ago
I never watched 70s detective shows becuase they were too stupid.. Ie,, Cannon getting shot in the shoulder every week and still jumping on the assailant and beating him.
But i stumble on Harry o. by accident. Well done, totally different. He almost always had a reason why he couldn't take the case. Didn't drive a flashy car, and prefered working n his boat. Thats what made the character so interesting.
xvoy2002 1 year ago
@xvoy2002 Agree about Cannon, though I like it too it's nowhere near the class of this show or Barnaby Jones. The stories on Cannon were generally less interesting. If only Harry O had been a Paramount or Universal show, we may have seen both seasons out a long time ago...unfortunately it's Warner and they're slow as hell on classic TV... :-/
komodoman 1 year ago 3
A terrific detective show. Coming on right after "The Streets of San Francisco," it made for a very entertaining Thursday night.
ftsjr 1 year ago 2
One of the great cop shows of the 1970's starring the great David Janssen. With a kick ass opening theme by Billy Goldenberg,the show lasted two seasons from 1974 until 1976. Only 44 episodes were made. This show was at the top of the ratings when it was axe by the morons at ABC that replace it with the greatest travesty ever..."Charlie's Angels".
rayssonation 1 year ago 3
My dad and I would watch this when I was a kid...RIP, dad!
Kukojin 1 year ago
Home Theater Forum holds a new online chat with Warner April 5, hope someone here will sign up and ask about Harry O on DVD...!
komodoman 1 year ago 3
There are a few private individuals out there that make and sell copies of classic tv shows that haven't been released by the studio. Do your homework if you decide to buy from! I have bought a few classic tv shows (bootlegs) and the quality has been decent.
diapertom2001 1 year ago 8
will they ever make great shows like this or are we going to suffer through these ridiculous reality shows
creolelady182 1 year ago 13
@creolelady182
All I can say to your comment is amen, sister. And amen! The classic shows are not being shown as much lately due to a lot of mindless crap that is today's television.
budscin 1 year ago
This is from the show's second and final season, when Anthony Zerbe's character replaced Henry Darrow's (Manny Quinlan), who was killed off at the end of the previous season. It nearly got renewed for a third season.
vividwatch47 1 year ago
Iv'e recently tried to buy Harry O on DVD , it turned out to be a scam , beware !
stephenthompson33 1 year ago 6
There are definitely scams out there. Warner Brothers hasn't released this series for some reason.
Freddowasher 1 year ago 7
This comment has received too many negative votes show
was david janssen clark gables son?
SuperBagshot 2 years ago
No he was not!!
diapertom2001 2 years ago
Simply the best ever theme tune to any cop series in my opinion
BIGSOULMAN1 2 years ago 14
@BIGSOULMAN1, but who composed it?
vividwatch47 1 year ago
Billy Goldenberg
BIGSOULMAN1 1 year ago
Can someone post scenes with Farrah Fawcett, please? She played his neighbor. Thanks!
flenif2247 2 years ago 2
Great theme tune,great series: and what a fine actor David Janssen was.
stephenthompson33 2 years ago 7
Yes we need the originals and people are being ripped off by dodgy websites. Would be a nice tribute to see them released soon. It will be thirty years next February since David Janssen died.
Freddowasher 2 years ago 40
Simply the best TV theme ever!
glamgran7 2 years ago 13
@glamgran7 Ain't that the truth!!!!
55Ariz 1 year ago
Come on Warner, this classic needs a release, a REAL DVD release! That archive dvd-r stuff's not good enough a thought, as it's already out there as bootlegs. We want the real deal!
komodoman 2 years ago 78
@komodoman Actually, what America wants badly is a cable station, any station that will broadcast the old shows. Nobody's listening though.
mikey42 1 year ago
@mikey42 I agree, it's what we need in the UK too.
I've contacted some of TV channels that run classic shows here in the UK about Harry O and all they say is they don't have the rights! Yes, I guessed that, what they don't say is why they don't. Are they too expensive or don't they want them? They run lots of other older US TV shows nowhere near as good as this one.
When you look at what rubbish TV is being produced nowadays and what's also being released on DVD, it makes you weep!
Freddowasher 1 year ago
@komodoman
Me too! I just hope if released on DVD, it is NOT made by CBS/Paramount!
danielboone72 7 months ago
oh this show is a classic
meterman432110 2 years ago 86
@meterman432110 The Hometheaterforum had a live chat session on Monday with Warner Brothers. I got into it but couldn't stay. The moderator did ask my question about Harry O being released on DVD. "No plans at this time"! Another person on that forum advised that they often say that to test the water and see what people say. CBS is releasing Mannix, it was OK but not a patch on Harry O! Wonder if we should get a petition up. Think there's a website where you can do this.
Freddowasher 1 year ago
It is my understanding (through the grapevine) that any DVD release of the series would require a large royalty payment to the David Janssen estate. Such a payment would be in the millions which would make it almost impossible for the studio (Warner Bros) to make a profit. A very common obstacle when it comes to the release of classic tv shows (especially those with stars that had ownership in the show).
greg6363 1 year ago
@greg6363 Thanks for this information. That's such a shame. However they must have overcome the problem with The Fugitive as David Janssen had a good share in that series. Maybe they think the Harry O sales won't be as good .
We never see this series on TV now. I suppose this could be the reason.
Freddowasher 1 year ago
The Fugitive was very popular in syndication while Harry O did not have enough episodes produced to have any impact in the marketplace. You need at least 100 episodes of a series to have any opportunity of generating a profit in syndication.
greg6363 1 year ago
@greg6363 If so that's a real pity, sad if the estate can't make some kind of exception here and give David's fans what they want...heck, he'd probably want it released too if he could have a say himself... :-/
komodoman 1 year ago 2
One of the great shows of the '70s. Wish it were available on DVD.
JoeLeydon 2 years ago 42
This comment has received too many negative votes show
Harry-O, a poor man's Kojak.
BigEdDunkel 2 years ago
Comment removed
diapertom2001 2 years ago
I'm another person who would like harry o
to be released out on DVD
morgan8757 2 years ago 9
I just saw Anthony Zerbe with the late Paul Newman in a 60s movie called 'Cool Hand Luke' last night. Coudn't miss him with those features of his!
Nanning1960 2 years ago
There's this 70s TV movie called 'Birds of Prey' where David Janssen plays a traffic chopper pilot in pursuit of criminals in another chopper. One of my favorite David Janssen movies & I haven't forgotten it over the years.
Nanning1960 2 years ago
It's available on pre-recorded tape, from some fly-by-night company, but probably hard to find now.
recordman64 2 years ago
"Birds of Prey" has some of the best chopper stunt piloting I've ever seen, especially the scene where the girl is standing there with two choppers having a standoff not more than 20 feet above her...
mubirshu 2 years ago 3
David Janssen fans take note: he starred in a movie called FER DE LANCE as a sub captain whose boat crashes on the seafloor after a crewmember smuggles a package of extremely deadly snakes onboard(have you seen this plot recently?) . Wish somebody had this, can't find it anywhere. 1974 film.
wmaught7 2 years ago
I had this on tape, but the quality was crap--I had no outside antenna or cable when I taped it off late night TV.
recordman64 2 years ago
I remember watching that movie with my Dad when I was a kid. I totally forgot the name of that movie. Thanks for the memory.
BlankVideo88 2 years ago 2
this looks like a cool show and would be good to see this on dvd.
younger1968 2 years ago 4
This show was great, every bit as good as Rockford Files, etc, and Janssen and Zerbe were fun to watch together. Should have lasted much much longer.
mattthecat77 2 years ago 12
I did some research, and this theme was from Season 3. David Janssen as Harry O was on ABC from 1973-1976.
DJKhrome 2 years ago
Actually, there were only TWO seasons. The show had two intros during the 1974-75 season. Unless otherwise noted, this one was seen only during the 1975-76 season.
kresblain 2 years ago
The T.V.M. pilot "Smile, Jenny You're Dead" aired early in 1974.
vividwatch47 1 year ago
@vividwatch47, make that the second. The first, "Dust Are The Dreams Are Made Of", aired on March 1, 1973 (according to Witkopedia), and was shown in syndication as "Harry O">
vividwatch47 1 year ago
trhe first film did not sell but the second one did. When the above titled filmed was put in sydication they added deleted footage
frankd1965 1 year ago
The above titled movie was picked up as a series
frankd1965 1 year ago
Ah, Harry O. A great TV show for its time.
If you loved David Janssen in The Fugitive, you had to adore him in Harry O.
And Anthony Zerbe was stellar.
Wish we could love TV shows now the way we loved them then.
keefek 2 years ago 2
Harry-O among many other classic TV shows were awesome, Especially compared to the CRAP we have now to choose from!! David Janssen was great in The Fugitive, Probably one of his best performances!!
diapertom2001 2 years ago 4
Totally disagree. The acting was great, the scripts were terrific, the settings were good and the music like that of many American TV detective shows was so suited to the specific programme.
It's all a matter of taste really. Let's face it The Professionals was terrible but the biggest rubbish is being produced now with so called reality TV. All on the cheap!
Freddowasher 2 years ago 4
Anthony Zerbe won a well-deserved Emmy award for his role of Lt. Trench. I read he was notified of this by Fred Silverman, the exec who cancelled "Harry-O"! Thanks for axing a great show, Fred!
mikecleona 2 years ago 3
It was mentioned in "T.V. Guide".
vividwatch47 1 year ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
Amazes me to see what utter garbage people would watch back then - mind you we still watch utter garbage now but it is better acted (well most of it - and has better effects - cgi included)
garwento 2 years ago
This wasnt broadcast in the uk so wtf do u know about it
chookter1 2 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
Actually it was - all seasons - do your research.
I still maintain that this and other rubbish like Banacek and Columbo should never have been filmed, let alone bought by the BBC and ITV. Shame on us for having to pay for that crap.
garwento 2 years ago
This was definitely shown in the UK. I saw it! So that's how I know about it
Freddowasher 2 years ago
Aha, u must b on a different region then
chookter1 2 years ago
Could be wrong but I thought it was BBC that screened it in the seventies. They tended to screen most of the USA TV detective series like Kojak, .Don't think it was ITV.
Apparently they re- ran it on one of the satellite channels more recently.
Freddowasher 2 years ago
Kewl, thanks!
chookter1 2 years ago
David Janssen's acting in Harry 0 was amazing.
TheCrimsonSkull 2 years ago 4
In the last scene of the intro where a man falls off a building, I'm curious as to who he was. I think it might have been the late Dar Robinson who was much sought after back then for 'tall building jump' stunts. Does anyone know? That scene has always stayed with me over the years.
Nanning1960 2 years ago
Not sure if it was Dar, but i do know one thing -- this stuntman mis-timed his fall. Instead of landing flat on his back (as he should have), he obviously landed on a more standing up position (check the video and see where it freeze-frames).
Ouch.
DailyMouth 2 years ago
Yes, There are bootleg cpoies of Harry-o, but becareful who you buy them from.
Dont buy from Tvaddicts, DVD AVENUE ETC.
they go under about a dozen different names and its a SCAM...
diapertom2001 2 years ago
I think there are DVDs available but they are not produced by the original owners of the copyright, Warner Bros..
Don't know why they were never released.
Freddowasher 2 years ago
this music is super clean. i don't remember the show, but the theme definitely go.
saveal 2 years ago 2
I always watched this show. Farrah Fawcett was in a few episodes as I recall
dwayne0t 2 years ago 3
I remember this as a little kid staying up late and watching cop shows. This was one of my favorites.
jericho4004 2 years ago 3
I loved series & the theme music. It's one of my favourite TV shows during my formative teenage years together with Bareta & Kojak. I saw the Harry O pilot and still remember a scene where he crashes a police motorbike during a chase. The Harry Orwell character played by the late David Jensen had a reasonable and philosophical nature about him. The series always had a shot of Harry O sitting in his boat called 'The Answer'. He frequently took a bus when he had to move around.
Nanning1960 2 years ago 7
Very underrated series.
kelime 2 years ago 5
Great show. why isn't the series out on DVD?
hfelton 2 years ago 7
Harry O was the best TV private eye show ever.
AndiJF 2 years ago 5
TWO MINUTE WARNING
bjroberts65 3 years ago
I like that theme!
joel1975 3 years ago 5
Another great series with a great star. You know, I noticed that for a series that ran two seasons, there are 3, maybe 4 different intro openings, throughout its run, huh?
THEHUNGRYVEGETARIAN 3 years ago
There were three.I prefer this one.
Capcoor 3 years ago
COOL!
bjroberts65 3 years ago
Taken from the episode 'PAST IMPERFECT',first broadcast January 1976.
JFBridge 3 years ago
And I tape recorded said epi from the weekend in 2005 where TVLand was celebrating Warner Brothers' golden anniversary. That, along with an epi from "The FBI," and "Spenser for Hire."
A shame, though, that they couldn't include an hour from the classic "Bugs Bunny-Road Runner Show," or even some of the poignant "ER" episodes(such as Dr. Greene's divorce from Jen, his buddy Dr. Ross leaving town, and his final episode where he dies of the brain tumor).
StukInBuf 3 years ago
Let me correct my prior post here... WB's 50th anniversary in TV.
StukInBuf 3 years ago
Best detective series ever. A shame it only ran two seasons.
gaIIery 3 years ago 4
This intro kicks ass!
publica6 3 years ago 2
I loved it, too.
StukInBuf 3 years ago 2
I liked Harry O
He was a cool dude for his
age back then.
He had his own style!
illiniev1 3 years ago 2
David Janssen Looked a lot older than he was-
Believe it, he was only 42 here; and died in 1980 at 49-
Very sad-
Lots of Booze and Cigarettes and hard living-
42 in Harry-O
Hard to believe-He appeared to be nearer to 60 ; didn't he?
poitrenaud 3 years ago 4
Yeah without a doubt!
I appreciate good health which is
why I changed my lifestyle habits
a tad bit.
Thanks poitrenaud!peace!
illiniev1 3 years ago 2
Yes, he did.
StukInBuf 3 years ago
He sure did. He was 48 when he died, only one month shy of 49. He smoked 4 packs a day plus booze, plus work-a-holic. He was "the man"
CADILLACMAC98 3 years ago 5
Great intro, love the guitar
chookter1 3 years ago
THANK'S FOR POSTING THIS!
bjroberts65 3 years ago 3
Check out Anthony Zerbe in The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions. He played one of the counsel members(same character in both films).I also remember him in The Omega Man w/ the late Charlton Heston (I Am Legend was the 3rd movie version based on the same novel).
BiggJ1969 3 years ago 2
How about "Cool Hand Luke?" "Look what he did to Blue (sobbing and crying)"
chompychomps 3 years ago 2
If anybody has full episodes, please post.
creolelady182 3 years ago 3
Come to think of it, this show might've been in A&E's 1990s line up of detective shows such as Columbo, Mrs. Columbo, Delvechio, McCloud,Rockford Files,McMillian and Wife,The Fugitive, etc.
BiggJ1969 3 years ago
Thank you for posting this.I'm 39 and I have'nt seen this since the 70s. They don't make shows like these anymore. Shows like these from our childhood era would make you a good thinker, allow you insight into law enforcement, allow you to consider going into law enforcement, and give you good morals, and sharpen one's detective skills.I'd like to see both seasons on DVD! Man,I love that theme music. It brings back so many memories.Too bad David Janssen's hard drinking and smoking took him at 49.
BiggJ1969 3 years ago 5
Totally agree, sir.
davidsomerset 3 years ago 4
I seem to remember him in a movie where
he was an alcoholic.
I think Angie Dickinson was his wife
He looked like he could slam a few
bottles.
I still liked Harry O though
illiniev1 3 years ago
And one of his buddies was the great William Conrad, of "Cannon" and "Jake and the Fatman" fame. In the "Fugitive" book(1994), Conrad told Mel Proctor(the author) how he and Janssen oftentimes used to spend all hours drinking together. "Dave could drink 'em all under the table, and so could I," said he.
StukInBuf 3 years ago 5
I believe that!
Yeah!I remember "Big Cannon".He used to
drive that big Lincoln and carry that
lil snub nose.I think he's out on DVD
now.Thanks for the info.
illiniev1 3 years ago 3
Anthony Zerbe was one of the great character actors. He was in a lot of Mission Impossible episodes back in the day
creolelady182 3 years ago
I liked Zerbe a lot too ... here he even looks like a poor man's Jack Nicholson -- especially the sunglasses shot at :28
DesiluTrek 3 years ago
i remember this, yes sir!
bjroberts65 3 years ago 2
This was a good show; and Janssen was very good, as was Anthony Zerbe-
As you can see, Susan Strasberg was in this episode--and she has now passed away, as has David Janssen.
Sad.
poitrenaud 3 years ago 4
This comment has received too many negative votes show
poor david jansen---he never recovered from Fugitive and ended up as a cold war pawn of john wayne in the Green Berets
wbaker7 3 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
I cannot believe all the praise hauled on to this junk tv show from the fashion-forgotten 70's! Zerbe looks cool? Hah! Zerbe and Jannsen both look a mess! It was hard to hear clearly what was being said or see clearly what was going on on Harry O. Janssen's other show The fugitive was so much better!
BestManMe09 3 years ago
This was a good show, I watched this on the American Life TV Network, until I got satellite.
jhzenor61481 3 years ago 4
Absoulutely my fathers all time favorite show and it was mine too. I just adored David Jansenn in this role -even though I was 19 years old when this show came on I could relate to this life weary, crippled middle age man. To tell you the truth those are my characteristics now.
creolelady182 3 years ago 2
This was my all-time favourite TV series. Absolutely adored David Janssen & really liked Anthony Zerbe in it too - he had quite a stunning voice! Nothing made these days can ever match this!
midlander07 3 years ago 8
This comment has received too many negative votes show
I never liked Harry O. I saw him as a middle-aged, morose, alcoholic. Oh fuck. That's what I am now!!!!
scorpdan 3 years ago
Love The Theme. Too bad I can't download it...
Kukojin 3 years ago 6
Anthony Zerbe looks too cool in these credits. Too bad they don't rerun this show these days.
davew244 3 years ago 6
It was a very entertaining show. Coupled with "The Streets of San Francisco," Thursday night on ABC was great.
ftsjr 3 years ago 5
I used to like this show!
Cool dude that Harry O!
illiniev1 3 years ago 3
to all you fans out there. The series that replaced "Harry O" was.....
"Charlie's Angels"...believe it or not.
DAngelo136 3 years ago 2
I never watched Harry O, but had the chance to listen to the themes from each of the two seasons from another Web site a few years back (before YouTube came along). Does anyone have the clip from the first Harry O season (I think the music's tempo is slightly different)? Thanks in advance.
d72jjpilc 4 years ago 3
hi D72
the 1st season version was on you tube until recently but no longer sadly. hopefully itll turn up again. its a slower paced version of this music. i watched Harry O here in Britain during the 70's on the BBC on sat nights approx 9pm. really good series.
cheers
atvmidlands
ATVmidlands5581 4 years ago 4
Yes I watched it on Sat night BBC as well during the 70's.
Is it available on DVD I wonder ?.
Covenanter 4 years ago
hi covenanter
glad you remember it too!! it was part of the classic saturday night line on the beeb back then. that day/time slot used to be occupied by the likes of HARRY O, STARSKY & HUTCH, PETROCELLI, CANNON etc etc. followed by MOTD and parky!! those were the days. cheers
atvmidlands uk
ATVmidlands5581 4 years ago
Love David Janssen ... all that hard drinking and smoking were prematurely aging him by this point though -- if this is the second-season opening, he is only 44 years old. sadly he didn't live past 49 ...
DesiluTrek 4 years ago 2
David Janssen died than young ?Christ-he looked around 60.
mavericstud1 4 years ago
hey we all are going to die one day,so i say live it up like theres no tomorrow,cause we go around only once.
allen362002 3 years ago
You should see him in Inchon which was his last performance. He looked like he was 80. The stars of old lived hard. Smoking, drinking, popping pills. Today's group of partying celebrities have nothing on their elders.
greg6363 2 years ago 2
A great series I loved it in the 70's the gorgeous Farrah Fawcett was his neighbour and the boat "The Answer" Superb !.
Covenanter 4 years ago
yea great show,,never smiled much did he though
telstar9 4 years ago