Kodiak

You know, I always remember this show because it was a part of the triple K's that was on during that time. Kolchak, Kojak, Kodiak. If I remember it right, Kodiak came on Friday nights. I didn't know it replaced the Brady Bunch, of course, I was watching Sanford & Son by then. Also, I didn't know Clint Walker stared in it. I thought it was a some what smaller native American Ranger, who drove a jeep, and used some unique form of martial arts to foil crime in the north west area. Well, at any rate, I do remember, and gladly not the only one, to also remember that there was a T.V. show named Kodiak in the early 70's. Hey!Perhaps my memory of the native American in that role would make a good show now.

The reason why the short-lived series "Kodiak" has a place in television history and one of the forgotten cop shows of the 1970's?

For one,this series replaced "The Brady Bunch" which was a huge ratings winner for the five astounding seasons that it ran on ABC. And to think that network executives at ABC thought that "Kodiak" would out do "The Brady Bunch"? However,it was the opposite.

"Kodiak" produced four episodes(and also an unknown episode that was never telecast)and it ran on ABC-TV from September 13,1974 until its demise on October 4,1974. The series was produced by Stanley Shpetner for Warner Bors. Television. "Kodiak" was filmed on location in Alaska. For one,the series was on Friday nights at the 8:00 hour(where they put this on the same time slot where "The Brady Bunch" used to be),and it was clobbered in the ratings opposite CBS' short-lived action-adventure science fiction series "The Planet of the Apes",and opposite the NBC powerhouse comedies of "Sanford and Son",and "Chico and the Man",which were Number One in their timeslots.

"Kodiak" ran a half-hour and the series stars Clint Walker(Cheyenne)as Alaska State Patrolmen Cal "Kodiak" McKay who was responsible for 50,000 square miles of rugged country for all the criminals,avalanche victims,miners and con-artists he had to contend with therein the Alaskan wilderness. Basically he does get his man in every episode,and in the process rescues people in great danger with his assistant Abraham(Abner Biberman). Only four episodes were produced of this series,which I can say about some shows that don't even stay on the air more than less these days. Some of the episodes were in order:"Red Snow,White Death"(telecast 9-13-74,special guest star Stefanie Powers), "Death Chase"(telecast 9-20-74,special guest star Kay Lenz),"A Time To Die"(telecast 9-27-74,special guest star Steve Forrest),and the final episode of the series "The Last Enemy"(telecast 10-4-74,special guest star William Shatner). The unknown episode that was never telecast was titled "Lesson In Terror". After this series,it to know the reason why Clint Walker went into retirement after this.

According to the other post, Kodiak was canceled after two episodes. Very likely. Other shows have been canceled much quicker.

So no one remembers Kodiak, with Clint Walker. It wasn't watched. I certainly don't remember it from when I was a kid at the age of 8.

So what is Kodiak's distinction? What makes Kodiak a standout in television history?

Kodiak is the show that replaced the Brady Bunch when it was canceled after it's miraculous five season run.

The family Brady was sent off the air after Greg's graduation for this forgotten show about an Alaskan ranger. They have certainly outlasted him, that's for sure.

But I guess it was the decision of one fellow,

The network programmer, who thought he had a hunch,

That Kodiak would really get high ratings,

And perhaps even outdo the Brady Bunch.

Actually, there were four programs shown: (Red Snow, White Death, aired September 13, 1974. (Guest star: Stefanie Powers); Death Chase, aired September 20, 1974. (Guest star: Kay Lenz); A Time To Die, aired September 27, 1974. (Guest star: Steve Forrest); and The Last Enemy, aired October 4, 1974. (Guest star: William Shatner); or so states Wikipedia. And according to Wikipedia it was its air time against Sanford and Son that was its demise...America's growing interest in Afro-American situation comedies I guess (hey...remember Amos and Andy. At any rate...given a better time slot and promo it may have made it, for actually Clint is not that bad an actor...its just hard to break a 6'6" mold (hey at least he was not Lurch or Jaws).

Yes........Remembering when there was a time that television at least was making an attempt at being adventurous and exciting. Even if it was on a hokey family level. Now we have been reduced to seeing prime time become infested with the dreadful likes of the reality show revolution. Watching fat people work out and whine about how much being a porker has ruined their lives. Or, licking our chops at seeing the back stabbing behind the back two timing that is the very life breath of shows like "Survivor". Not even the situation comedy seems likely to survive the venomous infection that is realty TV. What chance does an old fashioned family drama have. If its all the same to you, I will catch a rerun of Kodiak. If there ever is one....