Know Your 70's TV

I've noticed that people don't remember their 70's TV any longer, and that makes me sad. In order to remedy that situation, I've prepared a primer, to remind those of us who were there what was on, and to let the younger generation be properly horrified. Those who do not remember the past are doomed to repeat it.

Detective Shows
What would you do after eight PM on a weekday without detective shows?

Baretta
   A street-smart cop who plays by his own rules. He's anti-establishment enough to be an anti-hero, but he has a heart of gold, much like the hookers he hangs out with. Baretta liked to wear disguises to work.

Starsky and Hutch
   Two street-smart cops who play by their own rules. It's like a buddy picture, only worse. Both Starsky and Hutch, while tough, have hearts of gold and a friend who's a pimp.

Vega$
   A street-smart Vietnam veteran turned private investigator in Las Vegas, who plays by his own rules. He knows mafia people, but he doesn't owe them anything. He lets his heart of gold guide his actions. And though he doesn't really hang out with prostitutes, he does know a lot of showgirls and has two secretaries.

Cannon
   A street-smart former cop turned private detective, who plays by his own rules. Though morbidly obese, Cannon does not hesitate to engage in foot pursuit of wrongdoers, which puts his heart of gold at risk of a heart attack.

Kojak
   A street-smart police detective who plays by his own rules. He sucks on lollipops and shaves his head daily. He has a heart of gold, which he keeps in a box by his desk.

Mannix
   A street-smart Korean War veteran turned private investigator who plays by his own rules. He has a devoted secretary, who was never a prostitute. And he not only has a heart of gold, he has a car phone too, back when only Elvis had a car phone.

Streets of San Francisco
   A new police detective, with a heart of gold, helps fight crime alongside an older, crustier decteive, who also has a heart of gold. Though firmly entrenched in the system and a model for 'The Man,' they both play by their own rules.

Rockford Files
   A low-key ex-con, with a heart of gold, lives on the beach in a trailer. Almost needless to say, he plays by his own rules. In the era of low-tech, he had an answering machine.