Mark your calendars. The complete Season One dvd of Starsky & Hutch hits store shelves Tuesday, March 2nd. As the gold standard for buddy cop shows it deserves a prestigious place on the shelf right next to the first season sets of Baretta and S.W.A.T. The character archetypes- contemplative, laidback armchair philosopher Ken Hutchison and impetuous streetwise hothead Dave Starsky- have been replicated countless times since. Same too for the influence of their ride- the tricked out candy stripe 1974 Ford Gran Torino. These initial 22 episodes plus pilot were the best of the lot.
Not nearly as jazzed about the new movie starring Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson in the titular roles. Snoop Dogg assumes the Huggy Bear handle (word is Antonio Fargas auditioned to reprise the part & was turned away) & they seem to be going for a strictly comedic vibe in line with the show's quality-sliding last season. But who knows, it might surprise. Also on the immediate horizon for unrepentant 70s cathode ray-junkies, season one of Kung Fu. David Caradine's got juice, but I still say Bruce was robbed.
Posted by derek on February 25, 2004 11:13 AMHere's a trivia question for old farts (youngsters like Nirav who was only a twinkle in the eye of his father's balls when S&H first hit the screen need not apply :)) - I remember three theme tunes for Starsky & Hutch: the second one was the Tom Scott piece ("Gotcha" I think) but the one before it in series one was a great dramatic movie theme (not at all funky). I could sing it to you but that wouldn't help. Anyone know what it is (was)?
Yeah, Huggy Bear.. main man.
"But who knows, it might surprise."
Two words: Vince Vaughn. Derek, have you completed your Old School assignment yet?
Posted by: al at February 25, 2004 12:04 PMDan, Lalo Schifrin scored the original theme, but does it have another name? J.J. Johnson also did original music for the show.
Al, still working on the OLD SCHOOL homework. Can’t I just watch ANIMAL HOUSE again instead & call it a day?
Posted by: derek at February 25, 2004 12:34 PMOne of the most incredible moments of my entire life occurred when I was a wee lad of 9 or so, living for a brief span in Los Angeles. It was a sunny afternoon (what other kind is there in L.A.?) and a bunch of us kids were playing some street kickball or something by the school. There was, all of a sudden, a huge roaring noise and then a squealing sound. We all stopped, turned, and there it was: the mighty Gran Torino itself. Mssrs. Glazer and Soul leapt out, and leaned across the hood with revolvers pointed at some unseen perps. We all froze. The ball was dropped and rolled away. Holy shit: TV is fucking real, I thought. It was only then that the camera car pulled into view from the rear and our momentary revelation was undermined. But that fucking rocked anyway.
Posted by: Jason at February 25, 2004 2:52 PMS&H rocked when I was about 11 or 12. Now it seems........very 70s.
Posted by: jesus marion joseph at February 25, 2004 3:20 PMJason, killer anecdote, man.
“Now it seems........very 70s.”
And that’s a bad thing, how?
I would be wary of any film employing Snoop.
Posted by: mwanji at February 26, 2004 1:08 AM
“Now it seems........very 70s.”
And that’s a bad thing, how?>>
I'm not suggesting that the 70s are bad, just.......70s-ish.
Posted by: jesus marion joseph at February 26, 2004 8:02 AMThat makes sense even if it is a bit tautological.
Fwiw The Ventures do a killer version of Scott’s S&H theme on TELE-VENTURES (EMI). It’s also got 24 other tv themes in Ventures-ized incarnations incl. “Streets of San Francisco,” “Police Woman” and “Medical Center.” Fun stuff!
Thanks for that Derek! That one goes straight on the shopping list
Posted by: dan at February 26, 2004 9:33 PM. . .absolutely scintillating anecdote, Biv!
Posted by: Michael Schaumann at March 2, 2004 2:15 PM.................................................. © 2003 - 2006 bagatellen ..................................................