Mannix

There's lots of competition in the private investigator premise for TV shows, but this was a standout in believability. Reminding one of the Johnny Cash quote, "Winners got scars, too", Joe Mannix got a fat lip or two but usually prevailed, or strategically retreated. Sort of a forerunner of the Jim Rockford character in occasional discretion-is-the-better-part-of-valor angles. Some episodes are now on VHS.

Despite over thirty films to his credit, Mike Connors will be best remembered for his television work. In 1959, he created a sensation as the undercover agent with the hidden gun behind his back, in "Tightrope", and in 1967, at 42, he introduced one of the most popular detectives in television history, "Mannix".

The initial concept of the series was intriguing; a high-tech investigative agency, Intertect, headed by Joseph Campanella, possessed all the tools to analyze and fight crime, except one; a P.I.'s instincts, that ability to play hunches and make correct decisions by 'gut feeling'. So they hired the best veteran private eye in the business, Joe Mannix, and utilized his services whenever the 'human touch' was required, while backing him with all their resources.

While the Intertect episodes were often imaginative, and Connors and Campanella had good chemistry, CBS quickly realized that the program's fans were watching because of the rugged Mannix, who, each week, despite being beaten, tortured, drugged or worse, managed to emerge victorious. So Campanella and Intertect were dropped by the second season, and Mannix returned to more traditional digs, accompanied by a new secretary, Peggy Fair (Gail Fisher), the widow of a cop. With aid from his 'buddies' on the Force (Robert Wood, Jack Ging, and "Brady Bunch" patriarch, Robert Reed), Joe Mannix would take on cases as simple as petty theft, to unsolved murders, while still taking more than his share of abuse each week.

With his chiseled features and thick jet-black hair, Mannix was a hero attractive enough to appeal to women, yet tough enough to keep men watching, as well. Fiercely loyal to his Greek heritage and many friends, a sucker for a 'hard luck' story, and with a well-stocked (and used) medicine cabinet, the series 'fit' like a pair of well-worn, comfortable shoes, and audiences quickly developed a viewing habit that would last seven more seasons, until 1975. The success of "Mannix" would open the door for a whole new generation of 'gumshoes' that followed, from "Cannon" and "Barnaby Jones", to "The Rockford Files" and "Magnum, P.I."

It is a heritage that Mike Connors can be proud of!

Very good writing and very good camera work, in both angles and continuity. This show is still viewable by today's standards. Some may appreciate how 'car phones' were the leading edge of technology in the late 1960s and early 1970s when not even fax machines existed. Others may reminisce on the occasional fad fashion statement even while the main characters wore what was considered conservative. Few can ignore how thoughtful the episodes were. Sometimes complex, the well scripted plots often kept the armchair detective puzzled until the very end. It is as though every single object, mannerism, and facial expression had a purpose towards telling the story.

Hard action, yes. Violent, maybe. Graphic blood and guts, no. Realistically, cars didn't flip over other cars and burst into flames at every car chase. Just like everyone experiences similar issues within each respective profession, some plots had similarities but they were so well thought out that they were very different in the end. Consequently, soft and caring moments were interspersed with happiness, sadness, and action. It was a fairly real show with few, if any, stupid scenes; a show where people didn't do superhuman stunts. It contains mystery and some suspense. The theme song is classic. It's a good series that can still be enjoyed today, on reruns, of course.

Mannix was one of the top private eye shows of all time. Mike Connors did a great job in the role, and the writers always strove for creative plots that stretched the genre.

It was a rare series that never got old. The last few shows in the series were as good as the first few shows.

In the first season, Mannix worked for a high tech agency, and was the maverick among their investigators.

They decided to move him out on his own, which eliminated some very interesting character struggles, but also introduced the wonderful Gail Fisher as his secretary, Peggy. She was worth losing the Intertec character conflict.

As a child growing up "Mannix",was the family get together hour on Saturday nights after either "Mission: Impossible", or "The Carol Burnett Show",which was on the CBS network. "Mannix" may have some of the usual PI fare,but it was like no other detective show ever! He may go beyond the limits to solving a case,but in turn he kicked major butt!!! Mike Connors was the PI who was always sufficient in doing what he had to do,but in some cases,ended up getting either in fights or shot at every once in a while. The camerawork on the show,as well as visual effects,and locations were a standard,and it raised the quality of it definely. There was a twist in every episode to see who done it,or got away with murder, which is lead by the assistance of his secretary Peggy(played by Gail Fisher,who won an Emmy for her work on the series back in 1969),who herself ended up in great danger,and it was always Joe Mannix to the rescue to save her from some craze stalker,drug pusher,or killer. The show's theme song is a classic by Lalo Schifrin,who also composed the theme to Mission:Impossible as well.

It still comes on in re-runs on TV Land,but was the action packed show(and one of the most violent ever for television) on Saturday nights for the CBS network, which ran from 1967-1975.