The First Bromance
'Starsky and Hutch' was a legendary detective TV series that pioneered many of the topics and things we’re so used to today in television.
Read on to see exciting things you didn’t know that will make you see the show in a completely new light.
Aaron Spelling and the other producers of Starsky and Hutch referred to the American cop thriller as TV’s first heterosexual love affair. Their us-against-the-world attitude was not a normal bond that men had during the 1970s.
The Iconic Car
It was not looked at as masculine.
The producer originally wanted a green and white Camaro rather than the red and white Ford Torino we all have come to love.
Cool Sweater, Bro
Chevy was unable to help them with their request.
Starsky was played by Paul Michael Glaser and he was known for his trademark cardigan.
Huggy Bear Brown
However, he only wore the sweater three times during the four seasons including; Starsky and Hutch: Pilot (1975), Starsky and Hutch: Terror on the Docks (1975), and Starsky and Hutch: Running (1976).
Rev Your Engine
Instead of referring to the coolest guy around as his name, Huggy Bear, the French credited him “Huggy les bons tuyaux.” This translates to “Huggy good tips,” which is just strange for all of us!
If you are a true diehard fan of Starsky and Hutch, you might be able to find one of the 1,000 special edition Gran Torino hardtops the Ford Motor Company created in 1976.
Smoking Guns
It has the same paint job, but a different stripe design.
Throughout the seasons, the partners use different guns from a Beretta to a Smith & Wesson to a Colt. However, Hutch’s handgun is the same one used in the 1973 Dirty Harry film Magnum Force.
Pardon My French
They must have real weapons as Hollywood props, obviously.
The reason why this particular TV series was so popular overseas, especially in France, was because the actors’ ad-libbed funny even absurd lines rather than sticking to the script.
He’s Serious
This dramatic flair made the characters even more lovable.
Despite the fan’s love for the car, Starsky actor Paul Michael Glaser hated it in real life.
The AIDS Epidemic
He has spoken about it on several occasions.
Paul Michael Glaser is a prominent AIDS advocate.
A Quick Character Change
His wife and daughter both died of AIDS and his son is HIV positive.
The pilot debuted on April 30, 1975, but the first episode did not air until five months later.
Now You’re Speaking My Language
Captain Dobey was originally played by Richard Ward, but replaced by Bernie Hamilton for the first episode.
Did you know David Soul is multilingual? He speaks German, Spanish, and English.
A Double Threat
He was born in Chicago in 1943.
Hutch actor David Soul is not only an actor, he is a musician. He recorded four albums from 1977 – 1982.
On The Map
He even had a number one hit under his belt called Don’t Give Up On Us Baby.
The show was filmed around Los Angeles, but the detectives worked for the fictional Bay City Police Department.
He’s Not That Cuddly
There are several Bay City towns throughout the United States including one in Michigan.
Since Huggy Bear was so popular, the producers thought about giving him his own spin-off show.
An Award-Winning Writer
However, during a test pilot, it proved to be not as popular as they thought.
William Blinn actually got the name Starsky because it was the name of his high school friend.
Famous Cameos
Huggy Bear was also the same name of a local disc jockey that William Blinn knew.
During the second season, there is an episode called Long Walk Down a Short Dirt Road. It is based on the real-life incident involving country superstar Dolly Parton and a stalker.
News These Days
However, Lynn Anderson played the role on the TV show.
Because of a rising concern of violence on television in 1977, the writers had to cut back on the action scenes.
Contract Deals And Lawsuits
They turned to more romantically and socially-themed plots, which also allowed them to play-up the buddy-buddy aspect of the two main characters.
Paul Michael Glaser voiced several times that he wanted to quit the show.
Sometimes You Need To Improvise
Before the third season, he went as far as to sue the producers to make them release him from his contract.
Because good ol’ Starsky was not supposed to return after the third season, Roz Kelly played Officer Linda Baylor to fill the void.
A New Starsky?
Different scripts were drafted, but we will never know if they would have changed the name of the show.
Although he came back, during the fourth and final season Paul Michael Glaser again wanted out. This time, John Herzfeld was introduced as Nick, Starsky’s younger brother.
He’s So Fickle
This way, if he did bail, they would not have to worry about messing with the title.
As we all know, Paul Michael Glaser stuck around to play Starsky until the fourth season.
The Super Cops
A fifth season was planned, but given his sketchy past, it was up in the air if it would last.
Two real undercover police detectives in New York City actually inspired the ‘70s hit.
Only The Strong Survive
These same men also inspired the 1974 movie The Super Cops.
The final episode was rewritten several times during the earlier drafts.
Starsky And Hutch- The Movie!
As Starsky was gunned down, the producers decided not to kill him off and have him survive for rerun and syndication purposes.
2004 a movie adaptation came out for Starsky and Hutch. Paul Michael Glaser even had a guest role in the movie.
The movie casted some pretty big names...