The Origins of Harry O
Original Airdates: May 30-June 2, 2025
TVC 692.1: Ed welcomes Steve Aldous and Gary Gillies, co-authors of The Harry O Viewing Companion: History and Episodes of the Classic Detective Series, a new book that not only takes a deep dive into the making of Harry O (ABC, 1974-1976), the short-lived but fondly remembered private eye series starring David Janssen, Henry Darrow, and Anthony Zerbe, but offers insight into what made Harry O so special. Topics this segment include a clarification of some of the details pertaining to the early development of the Harry Orwell character; why series creator Howard Rodman originally aimed to make the series a character-driven crime drama, versus one that was plot-driven; and why the eleven episodes of Harry O that were filmed in San Diego during the summer of 1974 are almost a series unto itself. The Harry O Viewing Companion is available wherever books are sold through McFarland Books.
Why Harry O has more soul than most other TV detective series
Original Airdates: May 30-June 2, 2025
TVC 692.2: Steve Aldous and Gary Gillies, co-authors of The Harry O Viewing Companion: History and Episodes of the Classic Detective Series, talk to Ed about why Harry O has more in common with the Lew Archer novels by Russ MacDonald than the Raymond Chandler novels featuring Philip Marlowe or the Dashiell Hammett novels with Sam Spade; how David Janssen’s skill at performing voice-overs was one of the ways in which he fully inhabited the Harry Orwell character; and how the onscreen rapport between Janssen and Anthony Zerbe changed the dynamics of Harry O for the better. The Harry O Viewing Companion is available wherever books are sold through McFarland Books.
Harry O in San Diego
Original Airdates: June 13-16, 2025
TVC 694.5: Part 2 of a conversation that began two programs ago with Steve Aldous and Gary Gillies, co-authors of The Harry O Viewing Companion: History and Episodes of the Classic Detective Series, a deep dive into the making of Harry O (ABC, 1974-1976), the short-lived but fondly remembered private detective series starring David Janssen, Henry Darrow, and Anthony Zerbe, that also offers insight into what made Harry O so special. Topics this segment include Janssen’s mounting frustration with ABC once each of the qualities that had made Harry O stand out from other private eye shows on television at the time were slowly taken away once production of the series moved from San Diego to Los Angeles. The Harry O Viewing Companion is available wherever books are sold through McFarland Books.
The Allure of Harry O
Original Airdates: June 13-16, 2025
TVC 694.6: Steve Aldous and Gary Gillies, co-authors of The Harry O Viewing Companion: History and Episodes of the Classic Detective Series, talk to Ed about the various reasons why Harry O was canceled in the spring of 1976, despite holding its own in the ratings; the contributions of series producer Jerry Thorpe and director Richard Lang; and why part of the allure of Harry O stems from the fact that it only ran for two seasons. The Harry O Viewing Companion is available wherever books are sold through McFarland Books.
