Shaft is a television series that aired along with Hawkins during 1973–74 television season on The New CBS Tuesday Night Movies. Broadcast every third week, the series is a follow-up continuation of the three feature films that preceded its release. Starring Richard Roundtree as private detective John Shaft, it serves as the fourth installment overall in the Shaft franchise. Ed Barth costars as Al Rossi.
Production Because it was to be aired on over-the-air television, CBS felt that the narrative of Shaft needed to be toned down as compared to the original three films. Now instead of opposing the police, Shaft worked with them, creating conflicts with Hawkins starring cinema legend James Stewart, another police series with a starkly different viewership. Contemporary analysts suggested that since Shaft and Hawkins appealed to vastly different audience bases, alternating them only served to confuse fans of both series, giving neither one the time to build up a large viewership. A further contributor to its ratings failure was competition from other crime drama series starring African-American private investigators, NBC's Tenafly and ABC's Get Christie Love!. Richard Roundtree himself publicly expressed disdain for the small-screen version of Shaft."Richard Roundtree." Unsung Hollywood. Nar. Gary Anthony Williams. Exec. Prod. Frank Sinton, Arthur Smith, Kent Weed, and Mark Rowland. TV One, 25 Mar. 2015. Television.
Episodes
Cast and characters Richard Roundtree as Det. John Shaft: A private detective working with the New York Police Department (NYPD). Roundtree reprises his role from the theatrical Shaft film series. Ed Barth as Lt. Al Rossi: An NYPD police lieutenant working with Shaft. Barth replaces Angelo Gnazzo, who portrayed the character in Shaft's Big Score! (1972).
Overview This table only shows characters that have appeared in three or more films in the series. A dark grey cell indicates that the character was not in the film or that the character's presence in the film has yet to be announced. Character Episodes The Enforcers The Killing Hit-Run The Kidnapping Cop Killer The Capricorn Murders The Murder Machine 1973 1974 John Shaft Richard Roundtree Lt. Al Rossi Ed Barth The Detective Rudy Doucette Rudy Doucette Rudy Doucette The Hood Arnold Roberts Arnold Roberts Laura Parks Judie Stein Judie Stein The Pit Boss Nick Borgani The Sportsman Robert Strong Robert Strong Marshall Cunningham Robert Culp Det. Sgt. Lew Turner Richard Jaeckel Gerald Felk Kaz Garas Juan Otero Rafael Campos Charles Dawson Noah Keen Judge McCormick Dean Jagger Bobby Michael Gregory Gordon Dana Charles Boyd Walter Anderson Maurice Hill Stan Burgess Harv Selsby Dr. Helen Connors Jeanne Sorel Sister Elizabeth Diana Webster Jane Cunningham Barbara Babcock Cathy Cunningham Melissa Sue Anderson Court Member Dusty Cadis Numbers Peter Elbling Court Member Bill Hickman Don Lewis Richard Lawson Diana Richie Ja'net DuBois Kyle Bruckner Leonard Frey Sergeant Duff Michael Ansara Sonny Bruckner Michael Pataki Stanley Hollister Henry Beckman Archie McGill Ron Soble Victor Perrine Jared Martin Captain Rigano Val Avery Charley Vito Scotti Jack Benjamin Louis Guss Mrs. Richie Royce Wallace Logan Albert Popwell Selma Thomas Jacque Lynn Colton Judge Graves Michael Fox Judge Weinberg Jack Bernardi Iggie Lou Kane Bailiff Benjie Bancroft Courtroom Spectator Al Beaudine Court Clerk Billy Beck Court Reporter Dick Cherney Juror George Holmes Passerby Kathryn Janssen Workman Danny Sands Gambler Eddie Smith Detective Nico Stevens Tom Oliver Howard Duff Marcus Lowell Percy Rodrigues Ann Lowell Judy Pace David Oliver Tony Geary Paul Hanson Don Matheson Clifford Grayson Tony Curtis Charles Harris Nicky Blair Mona Pat Delaney Secretary Paula Shaw Pit Boss Ted Jordan Jacquard Jason Wingreen Mrs. Pattion Shirley Anthony Hoods Fred Carson Bill Catching Croupiers Sig Frohlich Joseph La Cava Dealer Bob Harks Club Patrons Eddie Garrett Robert Hitchcock Joe Pine Bartender Shep Houghton Eddie Simmons Charlie Picerni Pit Boss Hank Robinson Crouper George Washburn Elliot Williamson Paul Burke Nancy Williamson Karen Carlson Matthew Potter Nicholas A. Beauvy Beck Greg Mullavey Hayden Timothy Scott Leo Vic Brandt Sheriff Bradley Frank Marth Deputy Walter Philip Kenneally Deputy Daley Erik Holland Deputy Milton Frank Whiteman Mr. Tolliver Stephen Coit Debbie Jayne Kennedy Potter Richard Stahl Cab Driver Joseph Petrullo Bank Customer Robert Casper Wally Doyle George Maharis Officer Charles Tyler James A. Watson Jr. Tom Donegan Richard Schaal Brock Arch Johnson Marcia Tyler Kim Hamilton Eve Talya Ferro Capt. Brian Brewster Darren McGavin Dr. Meyer Gene Elman Helen Rossi Mitzi Hoag Tony Max Gail Marks Joseph George Cargill Peter Canon Bartender Vic Christy J. L. Teague Don Knight Gil Kirkwood David Hedison Joanna Kirkwood Cathy Lee Crosby Harry Praeger Robert Phillips Fire Investigator Bert Freed Frank Lucas Arthur O'Connell Bank Clerk June Dayton Bank Officer Dean Harens Myrna Candice Rialson Carol Thelma Pelish Nicky Jo Ella Deffenbaugh Police Officer David Armstrong Franklin Carter George Bryson Boermer Edward Colmans Gunther Gil Perkins Detective Ray Pourchot Intern Walter Smith Richard Quayle Clu Gulager Louise Quayle Fionnula Flanagan Henry Kassner Mills Watson Gerald Wallace Joe Warfield Frank Higget Sheldon Allman Plainclothesmen John Garwood Glenn Robards Bookie Danny Wells Moon Bill Walker Girl Janice Durkin Higget's Bodyguard Sid Haig Corman Than Wyenn
References
External links
TV Party: "Shaft" on TV Steve Aldous Guide to Shaft TV Series 1973-4