Harry-O

I first remember seeing this show in the late '70s on BBC - I was (and am) a big fan of Raymond Chandler's Philip Marlowe and Harry Orwell was as close to a modern-day version as I could imagine.

Taciturn and laconic, David Janssen's portrayal of the world-weary detective was far above the quality of many other shows of the day, and a marked contrast to one of my other favourites, The Rockford Files, where every week Jim got knocked on the head, argued with Dennis and got in a car chase, although, granted, his car was always in good shape.

The stories were intelligently-written, the supporting cast always first-class (Henry Darrow and Anthony Zerbe providing excellent foils for Janssen), and guest artists either well-established or up-and-coming stars.

'Harry O' is a show that deserves a DVD release - when one considers the availability of more obscure shows it's difficult to understand why it hasn't had its turn.

Like Harry, I'm a patient man, but I'd like to see this show again before I die...

This was one of the best shows on television. The writing and the photography was outstanding. David Janssen was one of my very favorite actors and I really miss him. He had "mumbling" down to an art form and his understated style of acting was second to none. Harry-O made me feel good every time I would sit down and watch. Harry Orwell was an everyman's type of guy. You could relate to him. I think it was because you could sense his vulnerability. Episodes did not always end on a happy note and that added some credibility to the character and his profession. Warner Brothers needs to hurry up and release this series to DVD. I would buy the entire series in a heart beat. A classic!!

In 1973 I failed to watch this private eye show. It would take many years of maturity until I rediscovered how great David Janssen's The Fugitive was. It has become one of my all-time favorites. It was excellent on many levels and taking to it's full potential was David Janssen. Given the chance in 2018 to see episodes of Janssen's post fugitive show Harry O was a no-brainer, I was in.

This is a show that fits with the natural on-screen persona of Janssen, not the other way around. Harry O is a retired cop on an early disability. He now spends his days working the occasional private case and living on the beach in San Diego. We don't, at least in the early episodes, know much about Harry's back story because what's important is where he's headed. He's somewhat of a loner, rather cool, but definitely a thinker. He doesn't drive a flashy car, in fact he rarely drives as his is a beater most often in for repairs. There's good elements here to make an interesting character and Janssen is adept at playing one that is layered yet not at all flashy.

Harry is a thinker, not a head knocker. Still he does get in some spots where his thinking put him in a bit of a precarious situation. Janssen, again, is perfect in this persona. Combine this with some fair writing (it's not as sharp or deep as that of The Fugitive) and Harry O is a very watchable and entertaining show. While it doesn't have the deep hook of his previous work, David Janssen gives this show legs. I like location filmed shows and San Diego is a nice backdrop in addition. At the point of the first episode I don't see a story arc like The Fugitive and I must say I think the previous show's episodes building to an arc will be missed. That said, I do recommend Harry O to fans of Janssen and those who like crime shows that don't condescend in bombast.

If ever a series deserved a better fate, it's this one. A quirky, three-dimensional main character, interesting plots and smart dialogue. It should have lasted

years, lasted 44 episodes. Janssen was terrific (better than in The Fugitive, a show where you only had to see the first episode and the last), his supporting players were almost as good and the writing, particularly by creator Howard

Rodman, was a cut above the typical TV fare. Yes, it was just another detective show and it did follow some of the typical cliches, but hey, it also provided a poignancy and adult (not X-rated, but intelligent) point of view rarely seen on the little screen. Hey, Warner Brothers (I think)! Where's the DVD collection?

Only 2 comments so far? That can't be right!

I can't believe how rarely shown this show is, I've only ever caught 2 episodes! But even just 2 episodes were enough to tell that this was a series of quality, in all departments. David Jansen brought something special to every role he played and definitely gives extra depth and believability to the character of Harry O, compared with most other shows of this type. I've always had a soft spot for The Rockford Files and Harry O reminds me of it in some ways, but there seems much more to Harry O that would keep me watching over and over, if only the TV companies would actually show it! All 44 episodes on DVD would be even better of course. Soon Please, come on.