Harry O is an American

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 crime drama

Police procedural

The police procedural is a subgenre of detective fiction which attempts to convincingly depict the activities of a police force as they investigate crimes. While traditional detective novels usually concentrate on a single crime, police procedurals frequently depict investigations into several...

 series that aired for two seasons on ABC

American Broadcasting Company

The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...

 from 1974 to 1976. The series starred David Janssen

David Janssen

David Janssen was an American film and television actor who is best known for his starring role as Dr. Richard Kimble in the television series The Fugitive , the starring role in the 1950s hit detective series Richard Diamond, Private Detective , and as Harry Orwell on Harry O.In 1996 TV Guide...

 and was executive produced by Jerry Thorpe

Jerry Thorpe

Richard Jerome "Jerry" Thorpe is an American TV and film director and producer.He won an Emmy award for his work on an episode of Kung Fu.-External links:...

. Harry O followed the broadcast of two pilot films

Television pilot

A "television pilot" is a standalone episode of a television series that is used to sell the show to a television network. At the time of its inception, the pilot is meant to be the "testing ground" to see if a series will be possibly desired and successful and therefore a test episode of an...

: Such Dust as Dreams Are Made On (airing March 11, 1973) and then the second (with noticeable retooling), Smile Jenny, You're Dead (airing February 3, 1974), both starring Janssen.

Synopsis

Janssen starred as the title character Harry Orwell, a San Diego cop forced into retirement when he is shot in the back. To support himself, he sets up a private investigation

Private investigator

A private investigator , private detective or inquiry agent, is a person who can be hired by individuals or groups to undertake investigatory law services. Private detectives/investigators often work for attorneys in civil cases. Many work for insurance companies to investigate suspicious claims...

 practice out of his beach house on Coronado Island, in San Diego. Henry Darrow

Henry Darrow

Henry Darrow is a prolific Puerto Rican-American character actor of stage and film. Darrow is probably best remembered for his role as Big John Cannon's teasing brother-in-law, and Buck Cannon's favorite ranch hand, and best friend, Manolito Montoya, in the 1960s television series The High...

 originally starred as Lt. Manny Quinlan. Late in the series' first season, the location of the series shifted to Santa Monica, California

Santa Monica, California

Santa Monica is a beachfront city in western Los Angeles County, California, US. Situated on Santa Monica Bay, it is surrounded on three sides by the city of Los Angeles — Pacific Palisades on the northwest, Brentwood on the north, West Los Angeles on the northeast, Mar Vista on the east, and...

 due to the high production costs of filming in San Diego. Harry again set up a PI agency out of his beach house (somewhere along the PCH between Santa Monica and Malibu), with Quinlan killed off, and Anthony Zerbe

Anthony Zerbe

Anthony Jared Zerbe is an American stage, film and Emmy-winning television actor. Notable film roles include the post-apocalyptic cult leader Matthias in The Omega Man, a 1971 film adaptation of Richard Matheson's 1954 novel, I Am Legend; Milton Krest in the 1989 James Bond film Licence to Kill;...

 (who later won a Primetime Emmy Award

Primetime Emmy Award

The Primetime Emmy Awards are awards presented by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences in recognition of excellence in American primetime television programming...

 for his role on the series) became Orwell's foil/contact, Lt. K. C. Trench of the Santa Monica

Santa Monica, California

Santa Monica is a beachfront city in western Los Angeles County, California, US. Situated on Santa Monica Bay, it is surrounded on three sides by the city of Los Angeles — Pacific Palisades on the northwest, Brentwood on the north, West Los Angeles on the northeast, Mar Vista on the east, and...

 Police Department.

Additional characters included Farrah Fawcett-Majors

Farrah Fawcett

Farrah Fawcett was an American actress and artist. A multiple Golden Globe and Emmy Award nominee, Fawcett rose to international fame when she first appeared as private investigator Jill Munroe in the first season of the television series Charlie's Angels, in 1976...

, as Harry's attractive next-door neighbor and sometime girlfriend Sue Ingram; Paul Tulley as Sgt. Don Roberts, Lt. Trench's assistant; Les Lannom

Les Lannom

Les Lannom is an American actor and musician. Lannom is best known for playing Lester Hodges on the television series Harry O from 1974 to 1976, and his role as Sergeant Casper in Southern Comfort.-Career:...

 as Lester Hodges, a bumbling private-eye wannabe; Tom Atkins as Sgt Frank Cole; and Bill Henderson

Bill Henderson

Bill Henderson is a Canadian singer/songwriter. He first appeared on the Canadian music scene as a member of the group The Collectors, but he is best known for his work with the group Chilliwack in the 1970s and 1980s, who produced such hits as "Lonesome Mary", "California Girl", and "My Girl "...

 as Spencer Johnson, Harry's frustrated car mechanic.

Reception and cancellation

Ratings for the series were initially fair and got a boost after the series was retooled in January 1975. Harry O was picked up for a second season and continued to gain viewership and critical acclaim, however, then-ABC president Fred Silverman

Fred Silverman

Fred Silverman is an American television executive and producer. He worked as an executive at the CBS, ABC and NBC networks, and was responsible for bringing to television such programs as the series Scooby-Doo , All in the Family , The Waltons , and Charlie's Angels , as well as the...

 decided to take the network in a different direction and canceled the series in favor of Charlie's Angels

Charlie's Angels

Charlie's Angels is a television series about three women who work for a private investigation agency, and is one of the first shows to showcase women in roles traditionally reserved for men...

. The last original episode aired on April 29, 1976. The series cancellation greatly disenchanted star Janssen, who vowed never to participate in a television series again.

Season 1

Episode #	Episode title	Original airdate	Summary	Notes
1-1	"Gertrude"	September 12, 1974	The sister of an AWOL sailor hires Harry to find him, and his only clue is one of his shoes mailed to her.
1-2	"The Admiral's Lady"	September 19, 1974	Harry is hired to find an Admiral's wife who is presumed dead by the police but who turns out to be alive and in genuine danger
1-3	"Guardian at the Gates"	September 26, 1974	Harry must protect an obnoxious architect who witnessed a murder and is oblivious to attempts on his own life	This was the first episode filmed.
1-4	"Mortal Sin"	October 3, 1974	A man confesses to murder to a priest and Harry is brought in to help stop the man	The working title was "The Twelfth Tradition."
1-5	"Coinage of the Realm"	October 10, 1974	Harry must find a man to donate a kidney to his daughter before two hired killers find the man	Janssen skinned his hand during a fight sequence and hurt his back when he slipped during shooting, incidents noted in TV Guide TV Guide TV Guide is a weekly American magazine with listings of TV shows.In addition to TV listings, the publication features television-related news, celebrity interviews, gossip and film reviews and crossword puzzles... 's January 11, 1975 feature on him
1-6	"Eyewitness"	October 17, 1974	A blind teenager is the only witness to a murder	The episode's working title was "Underground Man." Janssen was hit by a falling arc light, delaying shooting by a day; Janssen talked about the accident in an appearance on Johnny Carson Johnny Carson John William "Johnny" Carson was an American television host and comedian, known as host of The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson for 30 years . Carson received six Emmy Awards including the Governor Award and a 1985 Peabody Award; he was inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame in 1987... 's shown on January 15, 1975.
1-7	"Shadows At Noon"	October 24, 1974	Harry infiltrates a mental hosptial that holds people as prisoners.
1-8	"Ballinger's Choice"	October 31, 1974	Harry is hired in a divorce case that turns into a murder.
1-9	"Second Sight"	November 7, 1974	Fay Conners, a psychic, predicts a series of murders that all come true	Janssen reteams with Stefanie Powers Stefanie Powers Stefanie Powers is an American actress best known for her role as Jennifer Hart in the 1980s television series Hart to Hart.-Early life:...  from his film Warning Shot Warning Shot Warning Shot is a 1967 movie about a police sergeant who kills a man in self-defense while on a stakeout. He must clear his name when the gun pulled on him disappears... and Robert Doyle Robert Doyle Robert Keith Bennett Doyle is an Australian politician and the 103rd Lord Mayor of Melbourne, elected on 30 November 2008...  from two episodes of The Fugitive The Fugitive (TV series) The Fugitive is an American drama series produced by QM Productions and United Artists Television that aired on ABC from 1963 to 1967. David Janssen stars as Richard Kimble, a doctor from the fictional town of Stafford, Indiana, who is falsely convicted of his wife's murder and given the death... .
1-10	"Material Witness"	November 14, 1974	Harry is hired to protect Dr. Noelle Kira, a witness to crimes by one Joe Kiley; Kira hates Harry and the police and it impedes Harry's efforts as he discovers a mole in the department
1-11	"Forty Reasons to Kill (Part 1)"	December 5, 1974	A friend of Harry's is framed for drug dealing when he tries to purchase a parcel of land.
1-12	"Forty Reasons to Kill (Part 2)"	December 12, 1974	Harry find himself framed for murder as his investigation of a 40-acre purchase continues.
1-13	"Accounts Balanced"	December 26, 1974	Harry is hired by a woman who believes her husband is having an affair.
1-14	"The Last Heir"	January 9, 1975	Harry is hired to smoke out a killer of a woman's heirs	This was the last episode shot in San Diego
1-15	"For the Love of Money"	January 16, 1975	A woman helps her boyfiend steal $25,000 and now the boyfriend has disappeared	The working title was "Mind Over Matter"
1-16	"The Confetti People"	January 23, 1975	An arthritic painter and his wife frame his brother, a mental patient, for murder, until the plan goes awry and the painter is shot dead by the brother	Janssen reteams with Diana Hyland Diana Hyland Diana Hyland was an American actress best known for her television appearances and occasional films.-Career:Hyland made her acting debut in 1955 in an episode of Robert Montgomery Presents... , a periodic guest star on The Fugitive The Fugitive (TV series) The Fugitive is an American drama series produced by QM Productions and United Artists Television that aired on ABC from 1963 to 1967. David Janssen stars as Richard Kimble, a doctor from the fictional town of Stafford, Indiana, who is falsely convicted of his wife's murder and given the death...
1-17	"Sound of Trumpets"	January 30, 1975	A recently-released jazz trumpeter is pursued by a vengeful record executive who has a left-handed knife killer take the trumpeter's daughter hostage	Guest starring Jim Backus Jim Backus James Gilmore "Jim" Backus was a radio, television, film, and voice actor. Among his most famous roles are the voice of Mr...  and jazz legend Cab Calloway Cab Calloway Cabell "Cab" Calloway III was an American jazz singer and bandleader. He was strongly associated with the Cotton Club in Harlem, New York City where he was a regular performer....
1-18	"Silent Kill"	February 6, 1975	A deaf-mute janitor is framed for arson
1-19	"Double Jeopardy"	February 13, 1975	A former crime boss mistakenly believes Todd Conway, an aspiring actor, killed the man's daughter, and the evidence points to Conway when it is found the girl was pregnant	Janssen reteams with two guest stars from The Fugitive The Fugitive (TV series) The Fugitive is an American drama series produced by QM Productions and United Artists Television that aired on ABC from 1963 to 1967. David Janssen stars as Richard Kimble, a doctor from the fictional town of Stafford, Indiana, who is falsely convicted of his wife's murder and given the death... - Kurt Russell Kurt Russell Kurt Vogel Russell is an American television and film actor. His first acting roles were as a child in television series, including a lead role in the Western series The Travels of Jaimie McPheeters... , from the episode "Nemesis," and Will Kuluva, from the episode "Never Wave Goodbye."
1-20	"Lester"	February 20, 1975	A college student who wants to be a detective becomes a suspect in the murder of two coeds	Les Lannom Les Lannom Les Lannom is an American actor and musician. Lannom is best known for playing Lester Hodges on the television series Harry O from 1974 to 1976, and his role as Sergeant Casper in Southern Comfort.-Career:... 's character became a recurring character in the series' second season.
1-21	"Elegy for a Cop"	February 27, 1975	Harry must pursue the killers of his former police friend	Most of this episode is reused footage from "Such Stuff As Dreams Are Made On" that was used in the episode's original 1973 airing
1-22	"Street Games"	March 2, 1975	The mother of a teen-age girl who is an addict hires Harry to find her after her boyfriend is murdered by a narcotics dealer.

Season 2

Episode #	Episode title	Original airdate	Summary	Notes
2-1	"Anatomy of a Frame"	September 11, 1975	Lt. Trench is framed for murder and must hire Harry Orwell to clear his name
2-2	"One for the Road"	September 18, 1975	A beautiful lawyer is framed for drunk driving by her deranged husband, who when cornered tries to kill himself	Janssen reteams with Carol Rossen, a periodic guest star on The Fugitive The Fugitive (TV series) The Fugitive is an American drama series produced by QM Productions and United Artists Television that aired on ABC from 1963 to 1967. David Janssen stars as Richard Kimble, a doctor from the fictional town of Stafford, Indiana, who is falsely convicted of his wife's murder and given the death...
2-3	"Lester Two"	September 25, 1975	Lester Hodges gets mixed up with Harry when diamond smugglers kidnap Harry's neighbor Sun Ingram (Farrah Fawcett Farrah Fawcett Farrah Fawcett was an American actress and artist. A multiple Golden Globe and Emmy Award nominee, Fawcett rose to international fame when she first appeared as private investigator Jill Munroe in the first season of the television series Charlie's Angels, in 1976... )
2-4	"Shades"	October 2, 1975	A housekeeper kills a small-time hood and Harry is hired to clear her name	David Janssen's wedding to Dani Crayne Greco occurred two days after this episode aired
2-5	"Portrait of a Murder"	October 9, 1975	Harry must clear a retraded young man accused of a series of murders he says were committed by "a lion," which turns out to be the shirt of the actual murderer
2-6	"The Acolyte"	October 16, 1975	Harry must rescue a woman taken in by a relogious cult	The working title was "Image Of Murder"
2-7	"Mayday"	October 23, 1975	A pilot friend of Harry's dies in a plane crash and Harry discovers he was involved in an attempted murder
2-8	"Tender Killing Care"	October 30, 1975	Harry must investigate a nursing home suspected of murder.
2-9	"APB Harry Orwell"	November 6, 1975	Harry is framed for murder and must escape his cell to find the real guilty party	The opening dialogue between Harry and Lt. Trench involves them eating crackers covered with peanut butter; this scene was ad-libbed by David Janssen
2-10	"Group Terror"	November 13, 1975	A psychiatrist who takes a sensual liking to Harry hires him to help smoke out a killer among the members of her group
2-11	"Reflections"	November 20, 1975	Harry must remember his bitter divorce when his ex-wife is taken hostage
2-12	"Exercise in Fatality"	December 4, 1975	A hotheaded policeman is accused of murder when the boyfriend who fathered his daughter's unborn child is found dead
2-13	"The Madonna Legacy"	December 11, 1975	A former partner of Harry's is killed investigating an old murder, and Harry learns that a violent man convicted of the murder was recently released
2-14	"Mister Five and Dime"	January 8, 1976	Harry, Lester, and Lt. Trench run into repeated cases of mistaken identity as they pursue a gang of armored car thieves
2-15	"Book of Changes"	January 15, 1976	A gambling club owner is murdered and a book of clients must be found before extortionists get to it
2-16	"Past Imperfect"	January 22, 1976	A con artist takes his ex-partner and Harry hostage to get back a suitcase he claims contains several thousand dollars, and they are themselves pursued by two mob hitmen
2-17	"Hostage"	February 19, 1976	Harry must intervene to help settle a hostage crisis in which Lt. Trench is one of the hostages
2-18	"Forbidden City"	February 26, 1976	Harry investigates the killing of a private detective in Chinatown.
2-19	"Victim"	March 4, 1976	A rape victim hires Harry	This was the final episode shot
2-20	"Ruby"	March 11, 1976	Harry must help one of his informants after a youth gets mixed up in a car theft that results in the death of a policeman.
2-21	"The Mysterious Case of Lester and Dr. Fong"	March 18, 1976	Lester Hodges and his mentor, Dr. Creighton Fong, must find the murderer of members of Lester's family	Harry's role is little more than a cameo Cameo appearance A cameo role or cameo appearance is a brief appearance of a known person in a work of the performing arts, such as plays, films, video games and television...  as the episode was intended to launch a spin-off series titled "Fong and Hodges"
2-22	"Death Certificate"	April 29, 1976	Harry investigates a doctor suspected by two women of fatal malpractice.

Awards and nominations

Year	Award	Result	Category	Recipient
1975	Edgar Award Edgar Award The Edgar Allan Poe Awards , named after Edgar Allan Poe, are presented every year by the Mystery Writers of America...	Nominated	Best Television Episode	Howard Rodman (For episode "Gertrude")
1976	Primetime Emmy Award Primetime Emmy Award The Primetime Emmy Awards are awards presented by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences in recognition of excellence in American primetime television programming...	Won	Outstanding Continuing Performance by a Supporting Actor in a Drama Series	Anthony Zerbe