Kojak: The best mob episode

Was watching the Kojak film the other night with Michael V. Gazzo
from 1975 and have to say this has to go down as one of the most underated mob films of all time.

Ok, so the plot isn't perfect and there are parts of it that may seem a little retro now but overall the characters and the backdrop of 70's New York City make it for me.

I miss that old New York accent, like the Greek crook selling furs for the mob when he's on the blower to his wife, giving it "I know its Tuesday, nine years we been married now, every week I wake up and I think to myself tonight's the night I could eat your mother's potato pancakes, don't talk to me about Tuesday".

It got me all nostalgic, even though I grew up mostly in the 80's the kinds of characters on Kojak really bought me back.

The one where Kojak goes to NJ is good too, 'Across The River' and the mob have the Chief in so deep he has to runaround like a no-good gopher and Kojak ends up getting into a brawl with two mob guys in the club.

ANyone think of the best Kojak episode with the mob?

Great show. Great episode. I have the entire series on dvd and routinely sing its praises here as the most gritty and realistic television portrayal of the New York City that I grew up in (I was born in 1959).

The episode that you're referring to also co-stars a couple of guys named Eli Wallach and Jerry Orbach. Not bad company if you ask me. Two of the most prolific New York City actors who ever lived.

Are you from New York, Sean?

Although growing up I didn't watch it often myself, Kojak was my father's favorite show.

Quality stuff, thanks for the info. Grew up in Inwood west Of Broadway. Then moved to Bedford Park up by Norwood.

Just saw another episode with a jewel thief, reminds me of a character everyone knew on the UWS, very suave, always one step ahead, the mob hitman tries to blast him through the window, that guy is another great actor.

Thanks Pizzaguy, will have to look out for those other posts on Kojak. Couldn't agree more.

The episode of Kojak you guys are talking about was the first episode of the shows 3rd season.

It was a 2 part episode and was called "A Question of Answers".

Great show, i used to watch it all the time.

I've been watching quite a bit of it lately and can't think of any modern Cop shows that really have the same grit. Writers like John Gores were different class.

Just saw another one called 'The Nicest Guys On The Block' and it had me in tears. Two wiseguys one flew in from Chicago and the other from Miami. When the Cops "haul tail with the diamonds" and the nice guy from the social club tries to plead for some understanding he gets shot down in flames "Where do you chicken munchers get off ?"

Guy responds "I know you don't think we're pros but we've been doing well up to now" and the fella just slams him to the door "Well this morning you be perfect . We'll be waiting here for yer ".

When the guy is gone he just flicks his thumb behind to the door, looks at his buddy and goes "Pros? These guys. No way ".

I was just watching the season four dvd set and came across an episode with Rosie Grier and Danny Aiello (how young they were!). Rosie played a bounty hunter and Danny played a mob guy (big surprise ).

Anyway, they were all after a hitman named Tony Mirra. I'd never picked up on it before even though I'd seen the episode many times before. But I wonder if they didn't borrow the name from the Bonanno soldier of the same name? I mean, Mirra was well known to law enforcement by 1976 (when the episode originally aired), and your Hollywood types have always had an in or two in that world, so I wonder?

I watched it every week and I remember the episode with Stallone in it.

That show spawned the cops-in-suits genre among real detectives.

Was watching it the other night great show

Got the first season on DVD,

Great opening episode with Harvey keitel

David Proval, too .

Keitel and Proval filmed the pilot for "Kojak" shortly after they finished filming "Mean Streets."

Lol didn't even notice proval was in it

Seen this guy on the mobsters show on BIO plenty of times,he also wrote five family's

Had no idea the show was based off his work, a book called justice in the backroom

Hey guys,i am gonna download kojak now.what's the best season?Dont wanna watch it all.heard season 2,is that right?

Try Hulu.com or primewire.ag you don't have to download it just watch it streaming online

Hey thanks ill do that..second season yes or no?

Second season is EXCELLENT, Alex.

Ok thanks pb.gettin right on it

The re-make of the show with Ving Rhames was awful.

CHAZZ Palminteri was on that show and he couldn't save it!

I love Chazz, and he's great at playing to his strengths (neighborhood types). But to be painfully honest, he's pretty limited as an actor.

As far as the "Kojak" remake, I never watched it. But one of the main selling points of the original was the character's Greek roots (more than a few episodes centered around his Greek family). They took that away is casting a non-Greek.

That's nothing against Rhames. I think he's a great actor. But Theo Kojak is Greek. Period.

Only Telly Savalas could look tough sucking on a lollipop. "Who loves ya baby." Never missed a show.

It's true, MC.

That show was on at the same time that Henry Winkler played the Fonz and John Travolta played Barbarino. And the coolest guy on television---by daylight---was a fifty-something year old bald guy from Garden City .

pic host

Just came across this pic, of telly with jennifer aniston and her parents, as he stood in as godfather to her

Yup, Telly was also Godfather to Nicollette Sheridan. He was apparently a great guy.

Aniston's real surname is Anastassakis, which was changed when her family moved to the U.S. from Greece. Her father is legendary soap star John Aniston ('Days Of Our Lives'), who was close friends with Savalas.

I didn't know Selwyn Raab was a writer on Kojak. Great show!

Gotta go with Episode 2 of season 1 is my fav at the moment with Hector Elizondo, guest staring,


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Ordered season 2 & 3 be here by Monday

DVD's arrivived ,
ALot of great guests appearances on second season,

Really well written episodes too

In season three you'll find the episode where Stallone played a young cop who accidentally shot and killed a young boy. It was filmed in the Summer of '75, which was just before he began writing "Rocky." He was 29 years old at the time.

Nice

Seen Leslie neilson and Bruno kirby episodes

You should order the "Columbo" dvds next, buddy. Bruno Kirby's father, Bruce, had a semi-regular part.

You can see the resemblance.

Yeh I've seen his dad as in actor in a few films over years, had no idea that was his dad,

Gotta go with queen of the gypsys as best episode of season 2,

was checking the progess on the avalanches new album , came across this kojak tribute they did, lol