Posted on 01/30/2008 12:15:29 PM PST by IowaHawk
The TV police drama genre saw a major overhaul in 1970's, taking on a darker, grittier tone that reflected urban realities of the time. Spurred by the success of programs like "Torino Squad" (starring Lash La Douche of the hit western "Johnny Nuance") and the campus drama "Chutch," NBC debuted the hard-hitting undercover cop series "Makaniak" in October 1975. The short-lived program starred Tony Arizona as maverick police detective Leo Makaniak, a tough-as-nails, dissolutioned Vietnam vet who gains access to the city's seamy drug and prostitution underworld through tough street talk, a burly fu manchu, and skilled car hood-sliding.
"Makaniak" earned critical praise for its portrayal of a conflicted, tough-but-sensitive undercover cop who played both sides of the law, but it struggled in the ratings and was cancelled midway through its second season.
"I'm not sure what what went wrong," says former star Arizona. "Maybe it would have been more popular if Makaniak actually arrested a bad guy."
EPISODE 1-07: "THE FIRST ONE'S FREE"
OPENING CREDITS
Split screen montage: Makaniak running down sidewalks, combing mustache, sliding across car hoods
Theme: "Remember Which Side You're On" (performed by Luther Van Peoples)
Whickachicka Whickachicka Chow-wow-wown
When you're out on the street and patrolling your beat
Don't forget you're the heat in this town now!
In the simmering city where the action is gritty
You can't show your pity when you're getting down now!
Whickachicka Whickachicka
Keep your eyyyyyyes on the prize now!
Makaniak!
Like the hawwwwwwk in the skies now!
He's a maniac!
And when you swoop in for the kill just remember which side you're on!
Yeah!
ACT I: Downtown Police HQ
Captain O'Malley
I don't care how bad you want Makaniak for this case, Granger. I don't like it -- I don't like it one bit! After that Gang of 14 corruption fiasco, do you really expect me to trust him again?
-----------------------------
Rest of the episode TiVo'd Here
Love your stuff Iowahawk, but maybe have the moderator kill this thread and repost with correction?
...Leo Makaniak, a tough-as-nails, dissolutioned Vietnam vet...
Dissolutioned, I don’t think he meant to precipitate a correction.
Probably just a contraction of “dissolute” and “disillusioned.” :D
I love you, Iowahawk. You ALWAYS make me laugh—priceless!
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