List of Starsky & Hutch episodes
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This is a list of episodes from the 1970s US series Starsky & Hutch.
Series overview[]
Season | Episodes | Originally aired | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
First aired | Last aired | ||||
1 | 22 | September 10, 1975 | April 21, 1976 | ||
2 | 25 | September 25, 1976 | April 16, 1977 | ||
3 | 23 | September 17, 1977 | May 17, 1978 | ||
4 | 22 | September 12, 1978 | May 15, 1979 |
Episodes[]
Pilot movie[]
Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | |
---|---|---|---|---|
"Pilot" | Barry Shear | William Blinn | April 30, 1975 | |
In Bay City, California, there is a shooting in which two teenage lovers are killed, and District Attorney Mark Henderson (Albert Morgenstern) thinks the intended targets were Detectives David Michael "Dave" Starsky and Kenneth "Hutch" Hutchinson, because the car that the victims were in turns out to look exactly like Starksy's red and white Ford Gran Torino. Starsky and Hutch are told by local criminal Fat Rolly (Michael Lerner) that there's a contract out on Starsky. All indications point to Frank Tallman (Gilbert Green), a local crime lord who is awaiting trial, as being behind it, but Tallman denies it, saying that someone's trying to frame him for it. With the help of their informant, Huggy Bear, Starsky and Hutch set out to find the killers, a pair of hit men named Zane (Richard Lynch) and Cannell (Michael Conrad), only to discover that one of the victims, 19-year-old Patricia Talbot (Karen Lamm), was indeed the intended target. Starsky and Hutch suspect that Zane and Cannell were hired by someone inside the department. Note: The pilot features Richard Ward playing Captain Dobey. |
Season 1 (1975–76)[]
No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 1 | "Savage Sunday" | Jack Starrett | Fred Freiberger | September 10, 1975 | |
Henny Wilson (Arthur Peterson) and his wife Sarah (Hope Summers), an elderly couple desperate to draw attention to the horrid living conditions in their convalescence home, the Eastside Home For The Aged. Despite spending the past two years complaining to the city council about the home, and falling on deaf ears, the couple are angry, rigging their car with a time-bomb, using fifty sticks of dynamite and a timer, they plan to set it off outside City Hall. But after a stop the local diner, the car is stolen by Wilbur Sloane (Edward Walsh) and Gregg Morton (Bob Delegall), two men who are on a spree of armed robberies, are completely unaware that the car is loaded with explosives in the trunk ticking away. Detectives Starsky and Hutch are put on the hunt for Sloane and Morton. What they learn is that Sloane is a gambling addict, resorting to robbery whenever he owes money to bookies, who threaten to kill him if he doesn't pay them. Note: Bernie Hamilton assumes the role of Captain Dobey for the remainder of the series after Richard Ward had left the show after filming the pilot episode, and future Three's Company actress, Suzanne Somers, stars in one of three guest appearances. | ||||||
2 | 2 | "Texas Longhorn" | Jack Starrett | Michael Mann | September 17, 1975 | |
At 5:00am one morning, wealthy used-car dealer Zack Tyler (Med Flory) and his wife Emma Lou (Alta Christopher) stop to help two men, John Brown Harris (Charles Napier) and Little Huey Chaco (George Loros), who are having car trouble, only for them to rob the couple, with Harris raping and fatally strangling Emma Lou. Starsky and Hutch are assigned to the case, going all-out, using their underground contacts, to track down Harris and Chaco, learning that they are heroin addicts. But the two detectives didn't realize is that once they've found Harris and Chaco, an understandably enraged Zack plots revenge upon the felons. Note: This is Michael Lerner's last appearance on the show as Fat Rollie. | ||||||
3 | 3 | "Death Ride" | Gene Nelson | Edward J. Lakso | September 25, 1975 | |
Starsky and Hutch are involved in safeguarding Andrew Mello (Jeff Corey), a big-time crime boss who has agreed to testify before a Senate sub-committee against some leading underworld figures. But during the escorting, the party is ambushed and Mello is shot and hospitalized. Everyone knows that a man named Kester ordered the hit, and Starsky and Hutch think Kester's got a mole in the department who's feeding him the information. Mello refuses to go ahead with the testimony unless his daughter, Joanne Wells (Kathleen Miller), is brought safely to him. Problem is, she lives in Bryland, just outside of San Francisco. At the request of District Attorney Coleman (Paul Hecht), Starsky and Hutch are assigned to find Joanne and bring her back to Bay City. The trip is a dangerous one, with hit-men who are after them, seeing that both detectives and the girl never make it out alive, and that the trial never goes through. | ||||||
4 | 4 | "Snowstorm" | Bob Kelljan | Robert I. Holt | October 1, 1975 | |
Starsky and Hutch, along with three highly experienced detectives -- Kalowitz (Bill Sorrells), Burke (Paul Benjamin), and Corman (Richard Venture) -- are involved in a large-scale drug bust, where pure cocaine with a street value of $4,000,000 is seized. Following the successful raid, Starsky and Hutch come under suspicion when $1,000,000 worth of the cocaine mysteriously disappears. Captain Dobey gives them 48 hours to clear their names and those of Kalowitz, Burke, and Corman, who they assume to be innocent, and nail Stryker (Gilbert Green), the drug kingpin behind everything. Captain Dobey REALLY wants to nail him because Stryker was the killer of Captain Dobey's best friend and former partner Elmo Jackson years ago -- his body found hung on a hook in a meat factory. Now, Starsky and Hutch's informant, Marty Crandell (George Dzundza), is found dead, and throughout the case, Hutch keeps spotting a Dalmatian that seems to appear whenever danger lurks nearby. Note: George Dzundza appears in this episode as Crandell. | ||||||
5 | 5 | "The Fix" | William Crain | Robert I. Holt | October 8, 1975 | |
Hutch is dating Jeanie Waldon (Leigh Christian), who was formerly associated with big-time crime boss Ben Forest (Robert Loggia). He is then abducted by the jealous Ben, who gets him addicted to heroin to get him to confess to where Jeanie is located, which he does in his drug-induced stupor. Hutch escapes from the mobsters, who is found by Starsky, noticing the needle marks on Hutch's arm. He and Huggy Bear secretly nurse Hutch back to health from the terrible withdrawal symptoms of the addictive substance. Ben, now furious that Hutch escaped, tells his right-hand man, Allen "Monk" Philos (Geoffrey Lewis), to make sure he is killed. Hutch tells Starsky that the henchmen who abducted him wanted to escape with Jeanie in tow. Starsky heads out to find the mobsters, and the determined Hutch heads out a short time later to do the same thing, despite his slow recovery from the heroin earlier. Note: Originally banned by the BBC, the episode "The Fix" was first shown on British television on May 31, 1999 on Channel 4 as part of a Starsky & Hutch theme night. Edward Andrews has an uncredited role as the crook in the police station who was just arrested by Starsky, and Robert Loggia has a role as the Crime boss Benjamin Forest. | ||||||
6 | 6 | "Death Notice" | William Crain | Robert C. Dennis | October 15, 1975 | |
When a message is left scrawled on a table cloth in a strip club, owned by Manny Birnbaum (Milt Kogan), that one of the strippers, Ginger (Suzanne Charney), will be killed. Starsky and Hutch are called in to protect the ladies, and find the strange man who was sitting at the table. The hunt for this man intensifies when Ginger is found murdered, and another stripper, Sonia (Rosanne Katon), is warned in a message that she's next. The accused man who scrawled the note at the strip club was Anton Rusz (Ivor Francis), a Hungarian immigrant, but in a surprise twist, leads Starsky and Hutch to realize the suspect that they pursued is not the killer. | ||||||
7 | 7 | "Pariah" | Bob Kelljan | Michael Fisher | October 22, 1975 | |
When Starsky and Hutch respond to an armed robbery, one of the masked robbers, 22-year-old Joseph Tramaine (Gregory Rozakis), gets away with $200, and Starsky is forced to fatally shoot the other robber in self-defense -- and the robber that Starsky shot turns out to be 16-year-old Lonnie Malcolm Craig. Lonnie's mother Eunice (Hilda Hayes) is devastated, and Starsky feels extremely guilty. A coroner's inquest is then opened: Tramaine turns out to be a drug-addict who commits robberies to get money to feed his addiction with. The case gets the attention of George A. Prudholm (Stephen McNally): a thoroughly enraged man with a grudge against Starsky. George calls the station and warns them that if Starsky is cleared, then the cops will pay in spades. Starsky is cleared of any wrong-doing, and he and Hutch want to find whoever supplied Lonnie with the gun. Because Starsky was cleared, George starts killing cops while demanding Starsky's resignation, promising that the killings will continue until Starsky complies. Two years prior of the occurrence, Starsky and Hutch's first assignment after being promoted out of uniform, was working an undercover narcotics investigation at McKinley High School: Starsky arrested George's 19-year-old son, Gary Vincent Prudholm, for drug-dealing, who then got stabbed to death in the city jail. George was devastated, and he has always blamed Starsky for Gary's death. George wants Starsky to pay in spades by being forced resign, and get his name dragged through the mud before George gets his chance to kill Starsky. Note: This is Stephan McNally's first of two appearances as Crazy George Prudholm, and Anita Ford also appears in this episode. | ||||||
8 | 8 | "Kill Huggy Bear" | Michael Schultz | Fred Freiberger | October 29, 1975 | |
Dewey Hughes (Roger Robinson), an old "acquaintance" of Huggy Bear's, robs a candy store, shooting Roy Jones (Ed Cambridge), the man who runs the store, and Starsky and Hutch investigate. Dewey, seeing how much money he has taken, goes to Huggy, warning him that the store is actually a front for a numbers racket run by crime boss Lou Malinda (Hamilton Camp). Dewey, who once saved Huggy's life and calling in the debt, asks Huggy to use his underworld contacts and return the $50,000 to Lou if he forgives him for the robbery. As a result, Huggy winds up owing the $50,000 to Lou. Starsky and Hutch learn that the police department's gambling squad had the store under surveillance for some time. Captain Dobey would love for Starsky and Hutch to nail Lou, and outwit the gambling squad on this bust. Dewey's girlfriend, Sarah Kingston (Gloria Edwards), and her new lover, Harry Martin (Dick Anthony Williams) learn about the $50,000 that Harry in now in Huggy's possession. Harry murders Dewey, then in a joint effort, Harry and Sarah mug Huggy of the money before he can return it. Starsky and Hutch must work fast to save Huggy -- Lou had vowed to kill him if the money isn't returned. | ||||||
9 | 9 | "The Bait" | Ivan Dixon | Story by : James Schmerer & Don Balluck Teleplay by : James Schmerer & Don Balluck & Edward J. Lakso | November 5, 1975 | |
Starsky and Hutch work undercover as Rafferty and O'Brien, flashy drug dealers from Texas, in an operation to put a heroin syndicate out of business. They spring Cheryl Waite (Lynne Marta), a young woman arrested for unwillingly acting as a drug courier, from jail, and they convince her to act as a lure in a bid to nail Mr. Danner (Charles McCaulay), the elusive drug kingpin who is the head of the syndicate. But Danner is having his right-hand man, Billy Harkness (Michael DeLano), keep an eye on them to make sure nothing suspicious is going on. Cheryl tells Starsky and Hutch that her roommate and friend, Joanne Stockwood, who had become addicted to heroin, has been missing for four weeks. Cheryl knows Danner had something to do with it, and Starsky and Hutch agree to look for Joanne. Later, Starsky and Hutch go to Cheryl's place to find that she's been beaten up by Billy. Cheryl says she can't help Starsky and Hutch anymore, because Billy will kill her if she does. Hutch lets Cheryl stay at his place. Billy is killed in a confrontation, and Dobey tells Starsky and Hutch that Joanne was found dead of a heroin overdose, washed up on a beach. Cheryl, who is devastated, tells Starsky and Hutch that Joanne was trying to kick the heroin habit. Starsky and Hutch realize that Danner knew that, and he decided that he couldn't trust Joanne anymore, having her killed. Starsky and Hutch decide to use Danner's history as a stamp collector to try to lure him out in the open. Problem is, one of Danner's men, Shockley (David Cass), knows who Hutch is, because he arrested Shockley before for dealing. | ||||||
10 | 10 | "Lady Blue" | Don Weis | Michael Mann | November 12, 1975 | |
Starsky's ex-girlfriend Helen Davidson, a fellow cop, is found murdered, with her body bizarrely wrapped in radio antenna wire. As Starsky and Hutch investigate, it is revealed that Helen had been working undercover as a go-go dancer at the Mellow Yellow to stop a violent burglary ring, and she had been undercover for two months. The Mellow Yellow, owned by Ruby Solenko (Victor Argo),is to be the ring's de facto headquarters. Two days before Helen was killed, she spotted someone tailing her, and was afraid that her cover was blown. There are several suspects as to the killer's unknown identity, as the detectives realize that they're up against a serial killer. Note: Elisha Cook Jr. appears in this episode as Polly The Snitch. | ||||||
11 | 11 | "Captain Dobey, You're Dead" | Michael Schultz | Michael Fisher | November 19, 1975 | |
Starsky and Hutch are put on the case when Captain Dobey and his family are terrorized by Leo Moon (William Watson), a crooked ex-Cop who has just escaped from prison and is determined to make Dobey pay in spades for putting him away. Dobey and Moon went through the police academy together. About five years ago, Moon was convicted of extortion and murder. Dobey was instrumental in putting Moon away, and now Moon wants to make Dobey pay in spades for that. But Dobey is trying to solve a cold case -- the murder of civil rights leader Isaac Douglas, who was one of Dobey's best friends and was killed a little over a year ago. Starsky and Hutch gets a lead on a company called Woodfield Industries, whose CEO is C. J. Woodfield (Lester Rawlins). Starsky and Hutch suspect that Woodfield might be involved up to his neck in Douglas's murder because Woodfield Industries was one of the companies that Douglas named as getting special treatment on city contracts. Starsky and Hutch figure out that Douglas had the goods on Woodfield, so he had Douglas killed. Dobey re-opens the murder investigation, heating things up for Woodfield, so the corrupt CEO had Moon sprung from prison to kill Dobey for him, to which Moon would be all too happy to do. Note: Only episode in which Captain Dobey's family appear. Lynn Hamilton appears in this episode as Edith Dobey, and Taaffe O'Connell also appears as Lola Brenner. | ||||||
12 | 12 | "Terror on the Docks" | Randal Kleiser | Fred Freiberger | November 26, 1975 | |
Starsky and Hutch are tracking down a dock-worker suspected of murdering Officer Ed Jamieson (Joe Warfield), an undercover cop investigating a series of waterfront heists. Hutch's childhood friend, Nancy Blake (Sheila Larken), is preparing to get married, and it seems that her groom-to-be, Billy Desmond (Stephen McHattie), might be involved in the heists. Note: Steven McHattie appears in this episode as Billy. | ||||||
13 | 13 | "The Deadly Imposter" | Dick Moder | Story by : Mann Rubin Teleplay by : Michael Fisher & Parke Perine & Mann Rubin | December 10, 1975 | |
John Colby (Art Hindle), an old academy friend of Starsky and Hutch, had ended up leaving the department and going into the Air Force. Now, John shows up with a story about being presumed dead while spending five years in a POW camp in Vietnam, asking them to help him find his ex-wife Karen (Suzan Gailey) and young son Corey. Starsky and Hutch are happy to help out an old friend, but when they locate Karen, she says she's never seen John before in her life. As it turns out, John's actually an imposter named Mike, a hit-man hired by local crime boss Nate Garvin (Gene Darcy). Karen is now the wife of Warren G. Karpel (Peter Brandon), a former chief accountant who previously worked for Nate Garvin. Warren, now a federal witness willing to testify against Garvin, Mike is the assassin hired to kill Warren. Note: Gordon Jump's last appearance as the owner of Vinnie's Gym, also Art Hindle appears in this episode as John Colby, and this is the first of Ann Foster's four guest appearances as Abigail Crabtree. | ||||||
14 | 14 | "Shootout" | Fernando Lamas | David P. Harmon | December 17, 1975 | |
After the particularly long and awkward interrogation with a suspect who has been accused of putting a 19-year-old woman in a coma, Starsky and Hutch decide to unwind for the evening by going for a meal at Giovanni's, an Italian restaurant down by the docks. But the evening out is hardly the relaxing time that they had anticipated: the mostly empty restaurant is taken over by Tom Lockly (Albert Paulsen) and Joey Martin (Steven Keats), two hit-men planning to kill powerful mob boss Vic Monte upon arrival at the restaurant. Theresa De Fusto (Jess Walton), who runs the restaurant, set Monte up for revenge for having her teenage brother killed. In addition, Joey and Tom have threatened to kill Theresa's mother if her daughter does not help them. Among the hostages are a hapless comedian, Sammy Grovner (Norman Fell), and his companion, Robin Morton (Barbara Rhoades). In the initial commotion, Joey shoots Starsky in the back, leaving him severely wounded. Hutch must try to keep Starsky alive, while appeasing the killers and making sure no harm befalls any of the other hostages. Note: Huggy Bear says Starsky's full name: David Michael Starsky. Danny Wells appears in this episode as Harry Sample, Jess Walton appears in this episode as Theresa Defusto, also Farrah Fawcett has an uncredited role as the party guest[citation needed], and Norman Fell appears in this episode as Sammy Grovner. | ||||||
15 | 15 | "The Hostages" | George McCowan | Edward J. Lakso | January 7, 1976 | |
Starsky and Hutch do a favor for a waitress at the local diner where they have their breakfast, and stumble upon the body of a murdered security guard. This leads them to discover a plot to rob an armored car by an experienced gang, who is not only holding hostage driver Tom Cole (John Ritter), but his pregnant wife, Ellie (Linda Kelsey), threatening to kill her if he fails to obey their orders. Note: John Ritter appears in this episode as Tom Cole, Linda Kelsey appears in this episode as Ellie Cole, Nellie Bellflower makes one of two appearances as Sweet Alice, and Kristy McNichol appears as Meg. | ||||||
16 | 16 | "Losing Streak" | Don Weis | Story by : Robert I. Holt Teleplay by : Michael Fisher | January 14, 1976 | |
Six months ago, for five weeks, down-on-his-luck jazz pianist Vic Rankin (Dane Clark) played piano at the GW, a jazz club, owned by Gil White (Arthur David Roberts), who never paid him, owing Vic $2000. After being assaulted by White's right-hand man, Gordon Foote (), Vic steals $2000, unaware that the money is actually counterfeit. In over his head, Vic finds himself a pursued man on the run. White, who is connected to the Mob, sends his heavies out to retrieve the money, as well as kill the man who dared to steal it. It's a race against time for Starsky and Hutch to find Vic before White and his men find him. Note: Dane Clark and Jacqueline Scott appear in this episode as Vic and Evelyn Rankin, Zitto Kazann also appears in this episode as Gordon Foote, an earlier appearance from Arthur Roberts, and Connie Hoffman's one of two appearances. | ||||||
17 | 17 | "Silence" | George McCowan | Story by : Donald R. Boyle Teleplay by : Parke Perine | January 21, 1976 | |
Responding to a shoplifting complaint, Starsky and Hutch encounter a child-like deaf mute struggling to turn his life around. Unfortunately, the tough-talking priest, who runs the halfway house where he lives, is using his position to compel residents into committing crimes. | ||||||
18 | 18 | "Omaha Tiger" | Don Weis | Edward J. Lakso | January 28, 1976 | |
After a retired ex-cop and friend is murdered at his new job running the concession business at a sports arena, Starsky and Hutch are drawn into the world of Professional Wrestling. Note: James Luisi known for playing Lieutenant Doug Chapman on the Rockford Files guest stars as the arena manager. | ||||||
19 | 19 | "JoJo" | George McCowan | Michael Mann | February 18, 1976 | |
Starsky and Hutch run afoul of federal agent Bettin, when his scheme to collar crime kingpin Dombarris puts the psychopathic serial rapist Jojo back on the streets. Starsky and Hutch are then determined to put him away for good. Note: This episode was written by Michael Mann, the creator of Miami Vice. | ||||||
20 | 20 | "Running" | Don Weis | Michael Fisher | February 25, 1976 | |
A Junior High School classmate of Starsky, who found fame as a high fashion model, suffers an emotional breakdown from a series of personal tragedies and the pressures of stardom. Fleeing to a rough part of Bay City, she then falls into a downward spiral of depression and alcohol abuse. When she is victimized by a burglar, who murders any witnesses to his crimes, Starsky is inadvertently drawn back into her life. Against the very strong objections of his partner Hutch, Starsky relocates her to his residence and attempts to help her get back on her feet. As Hutch reluctantly covers for his partner, the depraved individual committing the burglaries, is closing in on her. Note: Jan Smithers, who played Bailey Quarters on WKRP in Cincinnati, guest stars. | ||||||
21 | 21 | "A Coffin for Starsky" | George McCowan | Arthur Rowe | March 3, 1976 | |
Starsky is drugged and injected with a slow-acting poison by an unknown assailant. After convincing the Doctor to release him from the hospital, Starsky joins Hutch in a desperate 24-hour search to find the person who injected him, and learn the nature of the poison in a last-ditch attempt to save his life. | ||||||
22 | 22 | "Bounty Hunter" | Don Weis | Steve Fisher | April 21, 1976 | |
Starsky and Hutch investigate an arson and murder, instigated by the ruthless owner of a bail bonds company, and the dangerous Bounty Hunter protecting her interests. |
Season 2 (1976–77)[]
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No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | Prod. code |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
23 24 | 1 2 | "The Las Vegas Strangler: Parts 1 & 2" | George McCowan | Michael Fisher | September 25, 1976 | 201-202 |
Starsky and Hutch are temporarily assigned to the Las Vegas Police Department to assist in the capture of a serial killer targeting Vegas Showgirls. After arriving in the city the detectives learn that the assignment was not random and Hutch may have ties to the prime suspect in the murders. Note: Lynda Carter of Wonder Woman fame appears in the episode as a target of the killer. Also features the new theme music by Tom Scott entitled Gotcha. It replaces the original music composed by Lalo Schifrin and used for the entirety of season one. | ||||||
25 26 | 3 4 | "Murder at Sea: Parts 1 & 2" | George McCowan | Ron Friedman | October 2, 1976 | 203-204 |
After a ship's Purser involved in a cocaine smuggling operation is murdered, Starsky and Hutch join the ship's crew as entertainers Hak and Zak. Their subsequent investigation uncovers a meeting between rival mob bosses to determine the leader of organized crime activity in Bay City. When the meeting goes awry, five explosive devices are set to destroy the ship eliminating all witnesses. | ||||||
27 | 5 | "Gillian" | George McCowan | Story by : Amanda J. Green Teleplay by : Ben Masselink | October 16, 1976 | 205 |
Detective Sergeant Hutchinson enters into a passionate relationship with a beautiful and cultured woman Gillian (played by Karen Carlson). While investigating a brutal daylight murder that occurred near an infamous sex shop, Starsky inadvertently discovers that Gillian is working as a prostitute for a crazed gangster and his domineering mother (played by Sylvia Sidney) Note: Karen Carlson was married to David Soul at the time of filming. | ||||||
28 | 6 | "Bust Amboy" | George W. Brooks | Ron Friedman | October 23, 1976 | 206 |
A powerful mobster Amboy is controlling drugs and prostitution becomes a personal target of Detectives Starsky and Hutchinson. After an attempt to bribe them fails miserably, the two protagonists redouble their efforts to bring him down. Yanked off the case under charges of harassment by two federal undercover agents working the scene, both detectives hear from a call girl that Amboy is about to skip town, and are placed on sick leave by a sympathetic Captain Dobey. Now acting on their own, the detectives uncover a major drug deal about to occur. After tracking the suspects to a Funeral Parlor acting as a front for a brothel, Starsky and Hutch not only confront the corrupt undercover agents, but also Amboy and his henchmen. | ||||||
29 | 7 | "The Vampire" | Bob Kelljan | Michael Grais & Mark Victor | October 30, 1976 | 207 |
After the mysterious late night murder of am exotic dancer, the investigation reveals that elements of vampirism and sanguivorism are present in the crime when the victim is found drained of her blood. While the city is gripped in fear, Starsky and Hutch investigate a lead from an occultist, involving the detectives in a disturbing subculture of Satanism and the supernatural. When a connection is made between two of the attack victims and a dance school, the disabled dance instructor (played by John Saxon) becomes the prime suspect. Both detectives then make an effort to prevent any further attacks and apprehend the criminal. Note: Suzanne Sommers makes her second of three appearances in the series, each time playing a different character. | ||||||
30 | 8 | "The Specialist" | Fernando Lamas | Robert Earll | November 6, 1976 | 208 |
When Starsky and Hutch and two other cops are chasing some criminals, an unfortunate woman by-stander is killed in the crossfire near a flower display cart. Even after the whole situation is ruled out as an accidental death, the woman's husband doesn't accept it. When the two cops involved are killed, Starsky and Hutch suspect the husband, to whom they also learn that he is a government agent who was laid off by his employers. | ||||||
31 | 9 | "Tap Dancing Her Way Right Back Into Your Hearts" | Fernando Lamas | Edward J. Lakso | November 20, 1976 | 209 |
Starsky goes undercover as Ramone the dance instructor, and Hutch as wealthy Texan rancher and dance student Charlie McCabe to expose a blackmail operation. | ||||||
32 | 10 | "Vendetta" | Bob Kelljan | Don Patterson | November 27, 1976 | 210 |
An investigation of brutal assaults leads Starsky and Hutch to Arty Solkin, a Fagin-like character who seems to be manipulating a troubled teen, who was an escapee from an insane asylum, to wreck havoc to his victims. When Arty targets Hutch, will he and his girlfriend, Abigail, be safe from the hitman? | ||||||
33 | 11 | "Nightmare" | Randal Kleiser | Steve Fisher | November 28, 1976 | 211 |
Two thugs rape and assault a mentally challenged teen-aged girl, but the court case was dropped. Bad news for them: Lisa is a friend of Starsky & Hutch's, who will relentlessly stop at nothing to see them put behind bars. Carl Weathers appears as Al Martin. | ||||||
34 | 12 | "Iron Mike" | Don Weis | Story by : Arthur Norman Teleplay by : Ron Friedman & Arthur Norman | December 18, 1976 | 212 |
Starsky and Hutch inadvertently discover that a highly-revered police captain may be in collusion with a criminal. | ||||||
35 | 13 | "Little Girl Lost" | Earl Bellamy | Ben Masselink | December 25, 1976 | 213 |
Molly "Pete" Edwards, a young girl living with her alcoholic, ex-con father, finds herself suddenly orphaned just before Christmas. Starsky and Hutch attempt to help her when her father's partners-in-crime come looking for her... and a hidden cache of stolen diamonds. Note: Kristy McNichol guest stars as Molly. | ||||||
36 | 14 | "Bloodbath" | Paul Michael Glaser | Story by : Christopher Joy & Wanda Coleman Teleplay by : Ron Friedman | January 1, 1977 | 214 |
In retaliation for arresting the mass murdering cult leader Simon Marcus, Starsky is kidnapped by Marcus' followers, and held prisoner in an underground secret cult compound. Hutch attempts to decipher Marcus' cryptic clues and find his friend before Starsky is to be murdered as a sacrifice. | ||||||
37 | 15 | "The Psychic" | Don Weis | Michael Mann | January 15, 1977 | 215 |
A burnt-out psychic running a diner helps Starsky and Hutch by lending clues with his clairvoyant abilities when a schoolgirl daughter of a wealthy football team owner is kidnapped. | ||||||
38 | 16 | "The Set-Up: Part 1" | George McCowan | Joe Reb Moffly | January 22, 1977 | 216 |
Starsky and Hutch are assigned to protect a criminal who's supposed to testify against his associates, but someone kills him. Later, the man who kills him claims to have no remorse because the mobster killed his wife. However, when they check his story, they find out that he doesn't exist and neither did his wife. He tries to show them all the things he remembers like the hospital he was in, which turns out to be a convent, as well the bank account he withdrew from which doesn't exist. Both detectives wonder what is going on, as well as who is secretly pulling the strings. | ||||||
39 | 17 | "The Set-Up: Part 2" | George McCowan | Joe Reb Moffly | January 29, 1977 | 217 |
Terry Nash confesses to assassinating a mob boss turned informant just before he was about to testify, in retaliation for his wife's murder. Starsky and Hutch discover that nothing Terry remembers is real, and they work to unravel an elaborate conspiracy with the help of Nash, Capt. Dobey, and Huggy Bear's pilot friend "The Black Baron." | ||||||
40 | 18 | "Survival" | David Soul | Tim Maschler | February 5, 1977 | 218 |
When Hutch goes missing after he is ambushed by an unknown assailant on a mountain road, Starsky must depend on the help of a mentally-addled WW II veteran and a young ham radio operator to find him before it's too late. | ||||||
41 | 19 | "Starsky's Lady" | Georg Stanford Brown | Robert Earll | February 12, 1977 | 219 |
George Prudholm, who previously appeared in the season 1 episode "Pariah," has a grudge against Starsky. His desire for revenge puts Starsky's girlfriend, Terry Roberts, a special education teacher, in the line of fire. | ||||||
42 | 20 | "Huggy Bear and the Turkey" | Jack Starrett | Ron Friedman | February 19, 1977 | 220 |
Informant Huggy Bear goes into business on his own with the help of Turkey, an aspiring private eye. NOTE: This was the lowest-rated "Starsky and Hutch" ever | ||||||
43 | 21 | "The Committee" | George McCowan | Robert I. Holt | February 26, 1977 | 221 |
A cadre of corrupt cops is taking the law into its own hands, acting as judge, jury and executioner on hardened criminals freed by a soft judicial system. Starsky goes undercover as a disgruntled cop in order to infiltrate the vigilante group. | ||||||
44 | 22 | "The Velvet Jungle" | Earl Bellamy | Parke Perine | March 5, 1977 | 222 |
A Costa Rican seamstress is murdered in the garment district, but an immigration official seeks to squash Starsky and Hutch's investigation. The interference only stirs their suspicions and strengthens their resolve to catch the killer. | ||||||
45 | 23 | "Long Walk Down a Short Dirt Road" | George McCowan | Edward J. Lakso | March 12, 1977 | 223 |
Sue Ann Grainger, country singer, is stalked by a gravelly-voiced psychopath who insists that she owes him $10,000. Stalling the investigation is her resistance to Starsky and Hutch's offer to help track down the extortioner. Note: Country star Lynn Anderson stars as singer Sue Ann Grainger. | ||||||
46 | 24 | "Murder on Stage 17" | Earl Bellamy | Ben Masselink | March 19, 1977 | 224 |
A set of a Western movie is the site of a murder, and another in a series targeting members of actor Steve Hanson's Wolf pack club. Starsky and Hutch go undercover as stuntmen to protect Steve and find out who the murderer and saboteur really is. Note: Jeff Goldblum stars as the movie's director. | ||||||
47 | 25 | "Starsky and Hutch Are Guilty" | Bob Kelljan | David P. Harmon | April 16, 1977 | 225 |
A pair of Starsky and Hutch look-a-likes, hired by a shady lawyer trying to discredit the detectives, hit the streets in an imitation Striped Tomato Gran Torino to terrorize informants and extort money from citizens. The real Starsky and Hutch must try to clear their names and nab the imposters before their badges are revoked and reputations are ruined. Note: Gary Epper, who played Hutch look-a-like Hanson, was David Soul's stunt double. |
Season 3 (1977–78)[]
![]() | This section needs a plot summary. (December 2018) |
No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | Prod. code |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
48 49 | 1 2 | "Starsky & Hutch on Voodoo Island: Part 1 & 2" | George McCowan | Ron Friedman | September 17, 1977 | 301-302 |
The boys are tasked with investigating Voodoo Island. The island is owned by billionaire William Thorne. A series of deaths has attracted the attention of the authorities; they believe the appearance of Johnny Doors, a high ranking crime syndicate figure may indicate an attempt to take over the financial empire by the Mob. Note: Joan Collins guest stars as photographer Janice. | ||||||
50 | 3 | "Fatal Charm" | Earl Bellamy | Jeff Kanter | September 24, 1977 | 303 |
Starsky and Hutch are on a sting operation to try and catch a major drug dealer. While on the case Hutch meets a young lady nurse, to whom he discovers, not only has a very nasty jealous streak, but is also a delusional and murderous stalker. Will Starsky save his partner before she strikes? | ||||||
51 | 4 | "I Love You, Rosey Malone" | Rick Edelstein | Tim Maschler | October 1, 1977 | 304 |
Starsky gets involved with the daughter of a mobster. | ||||||
52 | 5 | "Murder Ward" | Earl Bellamy | Anthony Yerkovich | October 8, 1977 | 305 |
Starsky arranges to be committed to a mental asylum where Hutch has been planted as a male nurse, to investigate why this particular hospital is suddenly having such a high fatality rate... Note: Suzanne Somers returns for her third (unrelated) guest appearance as reporter Jane Hutton. Otis Day and Vincent Schiavelli guest as fellow patients. | ||||||
53 | 6 | "Death in a Different Place" | Sutton Roley | Tom Bagen | October 15, 1977 | 306 |
Starsky's childhood mentor, Police Lt. John Blaine, is found dead under compromising circumstances. Both Starsky and Hutch must to contend with their preconceptions about homosexuality as they try to solve the homicide. | ||||||
54 | 7 | "The Crying Child" | Georg Stanford Brown | James Schmerer | October 22, 1977 | 307 |
When their schoolteacher friend, Carol Wade, discovers a terrible secret about one of her students, she turns to Starsky and Hutch for help. They learn about the challenges facing the Child Abuse Unit. Note: Scream Queen Dee Wallace guest stars are Carol. | ||||||
55 | 8 | "The Heroes" | Georg Stanford Brown | Kathy Donnell & Madeline DiMaggio Wagner | October 29, 1977 | 308 |
Reporter Chris Phelps rides along with Starsky and Hutch in order to research an article on "the counter-culture cops, the new breed," as they investigate pushers who are cutting their drugs with strychnine. Note: Karen Carlson (Chris Phelps) previously played the titular character in season 2's "Gillian." | ||||||
56 | 9 | "The Plague: Part 1" | Bob Kelljan | William Douglas Lansford | November 19, 1977 | 309 |
Lt. Jake Donner dies of a mysterious, highly-contagious virus a few days after returning from Europe. Starsky and Hutch try to hunt down the only patient who has survived the disease, as he holds the only possibility of a cure. Unfortunately, he is an international hit man who does not want to be found... and Hutch contracts the virus. | ||||||
57 | 10 | "The Plague: Part 2" | Bob Kelljan | William Douglas Lansford | November 26, 1977 | 310 |
As Hutch fights for his life when quarantined with a deadly virus, Starsky continues the search for the only hope of a cure, an elusive hit man who recovered from the disease. Starsky even confronts the hit man's target and turns to the media for help. | ||||||
58 | 11 | "The Collector" | Ivan Nagy | Don Patterson | December 3, 1977 | 311 |
An acrophobic former child star, turned loan shark, suddenly finds herself working with a new collector with a hidden agenda. Note: Danny DeVito plays bookie John "John John the Apple" DeAppoliso. | ||||||
59 | 12 | "Manchild on the Streets" | David Soul | Story by : Steve Fisher Teleplay by : Rick Edelstein | December 10, 1977 | 312 |
A black man who's a friend of Starsky and Hutch is shot by a cop who tries to cover it up by lying. When a witness says the cop is lying he reveals himself to be a racist. The man's son is so upset that his father died and that the man who killed him will probably not be punished, he wants to get away so he turns to a friend to get money. The guy convinces him the best way to get it is to rob the pharmacy at the hospital where Dr. Sammie Mason works. | ||||||
60 | 13 | "The Action" | Ivan Nagy | Story by : Al Friedman Teleplay by : Al Friedman & Robert Swanson | January 7, 1978 | 313 |
When a friend of theirs is severely beaten due to gambling debts, Starsky and Hutch go undercover as high rollers to investigate illegal gambling at the Marlborough Health Club. Note: Melanie Griffith, John Carradine, and M. Emmet Walsh guest star. | ||||||
61 | 14 | "The Heavyweight" | Earl Bellamy | Story by : Norman Borisoff Teleplay by : Robert Swanson | January 14, 1978 | 314 |
Starsky and Hutch investigate the murder of an undercover officer in the warehouse district and a witness finds that he is unable to come forward due to complex circumstances in the world of boxing. | ||||||
62 | 15 | "A Body Worth Guarding" | Rick Edelstein | Story by : Sam Paley Teleplay by : Sam Paley & Rick Edelstein | January 25, 1978 | 315 |
Due to threats on her life, Starsky and Hutch are assigned to protect a visiting Russian ballerina. Hutch, a big fan who is impressed by her talent, is disappointed by her bristling personality due to a bad first impression with each other. | ||||||
63 | 16 | "The Trap" | Earl Bellamy | Story by : Sid Green Teleplay by : Sid Green & Robert Swanson | February 1, 1978 | 316 |
Starsky & Hutch are lured into a trap by an ex-con seeking revenge for the death of his brother, which he blames on Hutch. They discover a stowaway in the Torino, which complicates matters. Note: Kristy McNichol's third appearance in the series. | ||||||
64 | 17 | "Satan's Witches" | Nicolas Sgarro | Bob Barbash | February 8, 1978 | 317 |
A weekend trip to Captain Dobey's cabin turns sinister for Starsky & Hutch when they discover a Satanic cult across the lake and try to determine why the sheriff and the local people of the nearby small town are treating them so strangely. Note: Charles Napier guest stars as the small-town sheriff. | ||||||
65 | 18 | "Class in Crime" | Paul Michael Glaser | Don Patterson | February 15, 1978 | 318 |
Hutch goes undercover as a college student to catch a professor committing murder. | ||||||
66 | 19 | "Hutchinson: Murder One" | Bob Kelljan | Story by : Jackson Gillis Teleplay by : Robert Swanson | February 22, 1978 | 319 |
Hutch becomes the prime suspect when his ex-wife is murdered in his apartment - with Hutch's gun as the murder weapon. | ||||||
67 | 20 | "Foxy Lady" | Nicolas Sgarro | Robert Swanson | March 1, 1978 | 320 |
A witness to a murder plans to skip town. | ||||||
68 | 21 | "Partners" | Charles Picerni | Rick Edelstein | May 3, 1978 | 321 |
During a high-speed chase, Starsky's reckless driving lands the partners in the hospital, where Hutch appears to be stricken with amnesia. Starsky attempts to revive Hutch's memory by reminding him of their past adventures. | ||||||
69 | 22 | "Quadromania" | Rick Edelstein | Anthony Yerkovich | May 10, 1978 | 322 |
Starsky poses as a cabbie in order to catch a serial killer who has already murdered four other taxi drivers. Philip Michael Thomas makes a pre-Miami Vice appearance as cabbie controller Kingston St. Jacques, as does Lynne Marta who was dating David Soul at the time. | ||||||
70 | 23 | "Deckwatch" | Paul Michael Glaser | Don Patterson | May 17, 1978 | 323 |
A serial killer who preys on prostitutes is wounded during his latest attack. When he takes Hutch's friend and her invalid mother hostage in their home, Hutch poses as a paramedic to get inside the house. |
Season 4 (1978–79)[]
![]() | This section needs a plot summary. (December 2018) |
No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | Prod. code |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
71 | 1 | "Discomania" | Arthur Marks | Rick Edelstein | September 12, 1978 | 401 |
Along with a female officer, the Detectives go undercover at Fever, a popular discotheque, in order to set a trap for a serial killer who is murdering women that refuse to dance with him. | ||||||
72 | 2 | "The Game" | Leo Penn | Tim Maschler | September 19, 1978 | 402 |
After the duo fail to capture a wanted felon, Hutch bets that he can successfully elude Starsky for 48 hours. The game becomes deadly serious when Starsky discovers that Hutch has unknowingly eaten soup contaminated with botulism. | ||||||
73 | 3 | "Blindfold" | Leo Penn | Pat Fielder & Richard Bluel | September 26, 1978 | 403 |
Starsky is grief-stricken when Emily Harrison (guest star Kim Cattrall) is accidentally blinded by a shot from his gun. | ||||||
74 | 4 | "Photo Finish" | Sutton Roley | Story by : Michael Wagner & Robert Swanson Teleplay by : Robert Swanson | October 10, 1978 | 404 |
When philandering artist Tony Braddock meets his doom, Starsky and Hutch begin some black-tie sleuthing on the champagne circuit. | ||||||
75 | 5 | "Moonshine" | Reza Badiyi | Fred Freiberger | October 17, 1978 | 405 |
Starsky and Hutch pose as good old country boys in order to track down moonshiners who have brewed up a lethal batch of bootleg hooch. | ||||||
76 | 6 | "Strange Justice" | Reza Badiyi | Richard Kelbaugh | October 24, 1978 | 406 |
A veteran cop's daughter is raped and the cop shoots the suspect - Starsky and Hutch try to keep the cop out of trouble and also put the rapist in jail. | ||||||
77 | 7 | "The Avenger" | Sutton Roley | Robert Swanson | October 31, 1978 | 407 |
Starsky unknowingly places himself in serious danger when the Detectives investigate a woman's claims that a jealous ex-lover from San Francisco has followed her and is responsible for the murders of her recent one-night stands. | ||||||
78 | 8 | "Dandruff" | Sutton Roley | Ron Friedman | November 14, 1978 | 408 |
Starsky and Hutch work undercover in a beauty salon in order to set a trap for an international jewel thief. Note: Rene Auberjonois guest stars. | ||||||
79 | 9 | "Black and Blue" | Rick Edelstein | Rick Edelstein | November 21, 1978 | 409 |
Hutch is wounded by a teenage thief, Starsky dubiously goes to work with his new partner. | ||||||
80 | 10 | "The Groupie" | Nicholas Colasanto | Robert Dellinger | November 28, 1978 | 410 |
Starsky and Hutch pose as an eccentric photographer and a timid swimwear buyer when the duo enter the fashion world to investigate a garment-business racketeering ring. | ||||||
81 | 11 | "Cover Girl" | Rick Edelstein | Story by : Dan Ullman Teleplay by : Robert Dellinger & Rick Edelstein | December 12, 1978 | 411 |
A top model believes she has terminal cancer and arranges for a genius hit-man to end her life. She discovers the cancer is in remission, but it is too late to cancel the contract, so she turns to old flame Hutch to prevent her own death. Calvin Lockhart, Marki Bey, and Jeffrey Tambor guest star in the episode. | ||||||
82 | 12 | "Starsky's Brother (a.k.a. Starsky's Little Brother)" | Arthur Marks | Story by : Ralph Wallace Davenport Teleplay by : Ralph Wallace Davenport & Robert Earl | December 19, 1978 | 412 |
Starsky's little brother, a smalltime hustler, arrives in town to visit Starsky. He's approached by the mob and he thinks he's become a big fish until he gets caught up in a net he can't get out of without Starsky's help. | ||||||
83 | 13 | "The Golden Angel" | Sutton Roley | Story by : George Arthur Bloom Teleplay by : Joe Reb Moffley & Robert Dellinger & George Arthur Bloom | January 16, 1979 | 413 |
In order to draw out a suspect, Starsky goes into the ring when he and Hutch are assigned to protect a wrestler who has received a death threat. | ||||||
84 | 14 | "Ballad for a Blue Lady" | Paul Michael Glaser | Story by : Sidney Ellis Teleplay by : Sidney Ellis & Paul Michael Glaser | January 23, 1979 | 414 |
Hutch dates a lounge singer and is badly beaten and marked for death by her racketeer brother. | ||||||
85 | 15 | "Birds of a Feather" | Charles Picerni | Story by : Amanda J. Green Teleplay by : Amanda J. Green & Rick Edelstein | January 30, 1979 | 415 |
In order to pay off his wife's gambling debts, a former partner of Hutch's arranges for the murder of a witness. | ||||||
86 | 16 | "Ninety Pounds of Trouble" | Leo Penn | Robert Swanson | February 6, 1979 | 416 |
Hutch poses as a hitman and bluffs the murder of Starsky to support his identity after a kid accidentally blows his cover. | ||||||
87 | 17 | "Huggy Can't Go Home (a.k.a. Huggy Can't Go Back)" | David Soul | Story by : Rick Edelstein Teleplay by : Richard Kelbaugh | February 13, 1979 | 417 |
Huggy Bear works alone to help a friend retrieve some stolen money | ||||||
88 | 18 | "Targets Without a Badge: Part 1" | Earl Bellamy | Richard Kelbaugh | March 6, 1979 | 418 |
Starsky and Hutch lose Huggy Bear's trust when they are unable to save his close friend from assassination. | ||||||
89 90 | 19 20 | "Targets Without a Badge: Parts 2 & 3" | Earl Bellamy | Story by : Jeffrey Bloom & Steven Nalevansky Teleplay by : Joe Reb Moffly | March 11, 1979 | 419 |
91 | 21 | "Starsky vs. Hutch" | Peter Levin | Rick Edelstein | May 8, 1979 | 421 |
Starsky and Hutch are dating the same undercover policewoman while all three try to catch a dance hall killer. | ||||||
92 | 22 | "Sweet Revenge" | Paul Michael Glaser | Story by : Steven Nalevansky & Joe Reb Moffly Teleplay by : Steven Nalevansky | May 15, 1979 | 422 |
James Marshall Gunther, the businessman who was the lead villain in "Targets Without a Badge" two shows earlier, returns to put out a murder contract on Starsky & Hutch. Starsky is critically wounded and seems to be dying (Hutch took cover & remained unscathed; he told Starsky to get down but it wasn’t in time). Hutchinson wants revenge, but can't seem to find Gunther -- until Gunther unexpectedly hands him a present -- the corpse of his own lawyer Bates in Gunther's office. Note: Series Finale |
References[]
External links[]
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- Lists of American crime drama television series episodes
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