5 detective shows from the 70s that still hold up today

Before the ’70s, the idea of ​​a perfect TV cop was a hero who played by the rules, backed by a law enforcement institution committed to fighting crime the right way. But as the public became more skeptical of those responsible amid the unrest of the Vietnam era, the abandonment of impeccable heroes gave rise to the era of more flawed, smarter detectives. The 1970s were a boom time for the genre, with approximately 42 crime shows created during the decade, according to the Museum of Broadcast Communications. As networks fought for viewers, each fashioned their own type of cop, from a private detective who worried more about his bills than the bad guys, to two partners who took a bullet for each other. Shows like “Police Woman” and “Get Christie Love!” even cast women in leading roles at a time when crime dramas were dominated by men.

Of course, not all cop shows of this generation have aged gracefully. Some are bothered by dated dialogue or not-too-believable action sequences that pale next to today’s highly rated crime dramas. However, the best crime TV shows from this era still have a lot to offer. From memorable characters to gritty stories exploring the human angle of being a cop, these series helped reshape the genre. Their methods may be old-school, but those ’70s cop shows still hold up today.

“Columbo’s” unusual storytelling format, where the perpetrator is revealed at the start of each episode, is what sets the series apart from its peers. Instead of guessing who committed the crime, viewers get to see Lt. Columbo (Peter Falk) use his style of questions that seem to go nowhere to disarm overconfident criminals. And just when it seems the detective has fallen for the lies, he turns back to the door with “just one more thing.”

Falk’s first appearance as a lieutenant was in the 1968 TV movie “Prescription: Murder,” and the Richard Levinson and William Link series aired on NBC from 1971 to 1978 before returning for TV movies on ABC. In his rumpled raincoat, Columbo was the antithesis of the typical television detective. He was neither macho nor violent and drove a battered Peugeot. But don’t let his erratic appearance fool you, because he was usually the sharpest person in the room.

During its original run, the series attracted memorable guest stars including Martin Sheen, Johnny Cash and William Shatner, while Steven Spielberg directed the 1971 episode “Murder by the Book”. As the title character, Falk became a television icon, winning four Emmy Awards and a Golden Globe. Today, the show’s influence can be seen in “Poker Face,” whose creator Rian Johnson told NPR was modeled on ’70s “Columbo.”

A private investigator who lives in a Malibu trailer and charges $200 a day, plus expenses, might be hard to find in today’s Los Angeles. But that was the story of Jim Rockford (James Garner) in the NBC series “The Rockford Files” by Roy Huggins and Stephen J. Cannell, which ran from 1974 to 1980.

While other ’70s TV detectives searched for their weapons, Rockford kept his in a cookie jar. For what? In his words, “Because I don’t want to shoot anyone.” He often took cases that the police had already closed and usually discovered there was more than what the cops had uncovered.

Rockford’s relationship with his father, Rocky (Noah Beery Jr.), also gave the series a personal touch, while his friendship with Angel Martin (Stuart Margolin) provided plenty of comedy. Margolin’s role as a devious informant earned him two Emmy Awards, and the series won five in total, including Outstanding Drama Series in 1978. Garner’s performance also made Rockford a relatable hero, earning him an Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series in 1977. More than five decades after its premiere, “The Rockford Files” is taking on a new lease of life, with the NBC reboot scheduled for January 2027. David Boreanaz will play Rockford, who the series’ official timeline describes as “newly paroled after serving time for a crime he didn’t commit,” according to TheWrap.

Imagine a detective who, in the middle of questioning a suspect, takes his time to unwrap a lollipop just before starting to analyze the suspect’s statement. Well, it was Lt. Theo Kojak (Telly Savalas), the bald, quiet star of the CBS crime series “Kojak,” which aired from 1973 to 1978. Savalas didn’t have to look far for a co-star. His own brother, George, played the role of detective. Stavros, one of the cops on Kojak’s team, while Kevin Dobson played the role of the detective. Bobby Crocker.

The character first appeared in “The Marcus-Nelson Murders,” a 1973 TV movie based on the real-life case of George Whitmore Jr., wrongly accused of the Wylie-Hoffert murders. As a detective, Kojak understood the difference between bending the rules and crossing the line into corruption, and he sometimes crossed that line in his quest to fight crime. Decades after its premiere, “Kojak” still resonates today, mainly because of Savalas’ impressive performance and the series’ mix of humor, investigation and moral complexities.

In 1974, Savalas won the Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series, while his line “Who loves you, baby?” gained momentum across the country. Savalas’ lollipops also had a practical origin: the actor used them to help him cut down on his smoking. The series’ appeal was strong enough to inspire a USA Network remake in 2005 starring Ving Rhames.

ABC’s crime drama “Starsky & Hutch” tells the story of David Starsky (Paul Michael Glaser) and Ken “Hutch” Hutchinson (David Soul), two Bay City detectives who often turned to a well-connected informant, Huggy Bear (Antonio Fargas) for advice. From 1975 to 1979, the two men faced drug dealers, mafia hitmen and engaged in numerous undercover operations. Although the series featured a lot of action, what stood out more was the relationship between its protagonists. Soul said in the 2004 documentary “He’s Starsky, I’m Hutch” that the series “allowed two men to show their feelings for each other,” according to the New York Times. Most people have a friend who is nothing like them but would drop everything to help them, and “Starsky & Hutch” were that friend to each other.

The popularity of the series even inspired a film adaptation in 2004 starring Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson. Besides the practical stunts, drama and humor, “Starsky & Hutch” featured plenty of style, from Starsky’s bright red Ford Gran Torino with its distinctive white stripe to its memorable funk theme music. Even though the action has become dated in some respects, the series remains captivating because of the partnership that constitutes it.

From 1972 to 1977, ABC’s “The Streets of San Francisco” followed veteran Lt. Mike Stone (Karl Malden) and his younger partner, Detective Steve Keller (Michael Douglas), as they investigated crimes across the city. While the cases created a lot of suspense among fans, the relationship between the lead detectives is what gave the series its emotional core. Despite their differences in experience and approaches to police work, the partnership blossomed into one of mutual respect.

Most people remember the first boss who really taught them the business, and for Douglas, Malden filled that role off-camera as well. “Karl became the mentor of my life,” he said in a 2022 Television Academy interview. However, Douglas left before the final season to produce “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest,” with Richard Hatch guesting. Based on Carolyn Weston’s 1971 novel “Poor, Poor Ophelia,” the series racked up 16 Emmy nominations during its five-year run. Today, Quinn Martin’s production is still worth revisiting, especially for the way it highlighted the city of…