Kojak

[FRR]

I have been watching Kojak and the Rockford Files on ME-TV since they came on last Fall here in Cincinnati. I know that Rockford folded when James Garner became ill and had to stop working. I know the producers sued him and the suit dragged on a long time......Question,,,,,,Why did Kojak end production during the 5th season?  Was it poor ratings or other reasons? I've tried to research it but to no avail. I knew the folks that follow this Board would know for sure.....Thanks in advance to all of you

[Lkeller]

I have been watching Kojak and the Rockford Files on ME-TV since they came on last Fall here in Cincinnati. I know that Rockford folded when James Garner became ill and had to stop working. I know the producers sued him and the suit dragged on a long time......Question,,,,,,Why did Kojak end production during the 5th season?  Was it poor ratings or other reasons? I've tried to research it but to no avail. I knew the folks that follow this Board would know for sure.....Thanks in advance to all of you

Don't know about Kojak - IIRC-  the ratings were down.  But a correction regarding The Rockford Files: Garner sued the producers a few years later, not the other way around.  As part of his compensation package, Garner was promised a percentage of the profits.  But somehow, even after 4 of 5 years of wide-syndication, no "profits" ever appeared.  He felt he was being cheated, and I believe that after years of protracted legal wrangling, Garner won the lawsuit and damages.

[Lkeller]

From Wikipedia:

"In 1978, after five seasons and 118 episodes, CBS cancelled the show due to low ratings. Savalas was unhappy about the show's demise, but he got the chance to reprise the Kojak persona in several TV movies."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kojak

[Mark_Giardina]

From Wikipedia:

"In 1978, after five seasons and 118 episodes, CBS cancelled the show due to low ratings. Savalas was unhappy about the show's demise, but he got the chance to reprise the Kojak persona in several TV movies."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kojak

One can always tell when a long-running show is about to be cancelled because the theme song changes. Kojak had a great opening  for years then someone tried to "modernize it".

Another example is Harry O. In the three years that show was on the air the theme also changed three times.

Speaking of Harry O why can't MeTV air that show and get rid of Honey West? West only had one season on ABC and already MeTV is airing repeats of repeats. Besides Harry O is a better program in my opinion.

[onairb]

Another curious cancellation in the mid-70s: CBS rather abruptly dropped 'Mannix' in 1975, even though its ratings in season 8 had been very good. I'm asuming this had something to do with the 'Family Hour' directive that season, which didn't leave networks with as many options for dramas after having to move some sitcoms to 9/8Central time?

As for 'Kojak',Most of the early-mid'70s cop shows had run their course by 1978(and the few that hung on past that year probably shouldn't have), so 'Kojak' was just a victim of changing times/viewer preferences.
Sunday viewing habits changed that season('77-78); ABC's 'The Six Million Dollar Man' also got the axe that year after a 5-year run. NBC's Mystery Movie was gone(except for an occasional 'Columbo' special), and, somewhat surprisingly, CBS's 'Rhoda', which had appeared to be running out of steam in '77, was the highest-rated network show in its time slot. By then, most viewers opted for 'movie night' on ABC or NBC, with CBS sitcoms as the alternative.

[FRR]

I have been watching Kojak and the Rockford Files on ME-TV since they came on last Fall here in Cincinnati. I know that Rockford folded when James Garner became ill and had to stop working. I know the producers sued him and the suit dragged on a long time......Question,,,,,,Why did Kojak end production during the 5th season?  Was it poor ratings or other reasons? I've tried to research it but to no avail. I knew the folks that follow this Board would know for sure.....Thanks in advance to all of you

Don't know about Kojak - IIRC-  the ratings were down.  But a correction regarding The Rockford Files: Garner sued the producers a few years later, not the other way around.  As part of his compensation package, Garner was promised a percentage of the profits.  But somehow, even after 4 of 5 years of wide-syndication, no "profits" ever appeared.  He felt he was being cheated, and I believe that after years of protracted legal wrangling, Garner won the lawsuit and damages.

Thanks for the clarification. I watched an interview with Garner taped several years ago and he claimed once his doctors told him to stop working he said he informed the producers " and they sued me". That was his quote, so that is the reason I thought it went down that way.

[azumanga]

Another curious cancellation in the mid-70s: CBS rather abruptly dropped 'Mannix' in 1975, even though its ratings in season 8 had been very good. I'm asuming this had something to do with the 'Family Hour' directive that season, which didn't leave networks with as many options for dramas after having to move some sitcoms to 9/8Central time?

I read somewhere that the first and last season of "Mannix" was never syndicated -- while the first season was understandable (Mannix worked for a computer detective agency that season), I wonder why the final season was never syndicated? Maybe the quality of the show went down, or maybe the show struggled to comply with "Family Hour" guidelines?

[onairb]

Another curious cancellation in the mid-70s: CBS rather abruptly dropped 'Mannix' in 1975, even though its ratings in season 8 had been very good. I'm asuming this had something to do with the 'Family Hour' directive that season, which didn't leave networks with as many options for dramas after having to move some sitcoms to 9/8Central time?

I read somewhere that the first and last season of "Mannix" was never syndicated -- while the first season was understandable (Mannix worked for a computer detective agency that season), I wonder why the final season was never syndicated? Maybe the quality of the show went down, or maybe the show struggled to comply with "Family Hour" guidelines?

To clarify, 'Family Hour' went into effect in the fall of '75, just after 'Mannix' was cancelled. Thus, there were never any episodes made under the guidelines, but CBS most likely cancelled it in anticipation of trouble.
I can't find the ratings data for that season, but I know 'Mannix' was a top 20 show that year(the prior season, it had missed the top 30, so it's interesting CBS would cancel it after a noticeable improvement; the guidelines almost had to be the reason.)
'Gunsmoke' also was likely cancelled, at least in part, due to Family Hour, but more due to its age and deteriorating ratings(it barely finished in the Top 30 in '74-'75.)

[landtuna]

From Wikipedia:

"In 1978, after five seasons and 118 episodes, CBS cancelled the show due to low ratings. Savalas was unhappy about the show's demise, but he got the chance to reprise the Kojak persona in several TV movies."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kojak

I seem to remember that Savalas didn't fly and so commuted to the NYC filming location by bus and was getting tired of the long ride.  Not sure if this had anything to do with the cancellation or was just one of those transient media stories.