In this week's episode of "NCIS," it was fun to see the return of Robert Wagner as the debonaire, but broke, father of Tony (Michael Weatherly).
(How much did I pay attention to Wagner? I just found out Bruce Boxleitner ("Scarecrow and Mrs. King") was also on the episode, so I've got to go back and re-watch. Ah, the perils.....)
The role is a variation on the portrayals Wagner has perfected in more than 40 years on television.
Wagner started in the movies during the 1950s. He was a featured player in such films as "With a Song In My Heart" and "The Pink Panther," but it took television to really let him shine.
Wagner is one of the rare "television triples" - a star with three hit shows:
*"It Takes a Thief," ABC, 1968-70: Wagner came to television prominence with this show, where he played cat burglar Alexander Mundy, who was recruited by the federal government to do his stealing for them as a spy. Part of the fun of this series was that legendary dancer Fred Astaire played Alistair Mundy, Alex's father.
Unbelievably, this series isn't yet available on DVD. Episodes could be seen on Hulu.com until a few months ago, but don't seem to be available now, alas.
*"Switch," CBS, 1975-78:
"Do you ever stop being a con man?"
"Do you ever stop being a cop?"
That was how the introduction between Eddie Albert's character, retired police officer Frank McBride, and Wagner's character, ex-con man Pete Ryan - both turned detectives - went each week. Sharon Gless ("Cagney and Lacey") was also in the cast as their receptionist, as was comedian Charlie Callas. Sorry, no DVD release yet.
*"Hart To Hart," ABC, 1979-84: The delightful best is saved for last with this series, a takeoff on the classic movie series "The Thin Man," with Wagner and Stefanie Powers starring as millionaire industrialist Jonathan Hart and his writer wife, Jennifer, whose hobby (so well put by butler/confidant Max, played by Lionel Stander) "is...murder." They also had one of the cutest dogs in television history, little Freeway.
The first two seasons have been released on DVD.
This is one series that's worth making into a big-screen film (but never, never remake it as a series, PLEASE!!!!).
So lift a glass of champagne to R.J. for truly gracing us with his television presence.
See you next week. Until then, Happy Viewing!
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