"77 Sunset Strip" (1958) TV series 1958-1964

User Rating:

8.2/10   

Creator:

Roy Huggins

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6

Release Date:

10 October 1958 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Crime | Drama

Plot:

Stu Bailey and Jeff Spencer were the wisecracking, womanizing private detective heroes of this Warner Brothers drama...

Plot Keywords:

Detective | Private | Thief | Racetrack | Male Female Relationship

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Primetime Emmys. Another 2 wins

Cast

Efrem Zimbalist Jr.	...	Stuart Bailey / ... (162 episodes, 1958-1964)
Roger Smith	...	Jeff Spencer (81 episodes, 1958-1963)
Edd Byrnes	...	Kookie / ... (80 episodes, 1958-1963)
Jacqueline Beer	...	Suzanne Fabray / ... (66 episodes, 1958-1963)

Also Known As:

"Sunset 77" (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

60 min (206 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound Recording)

Certification:

Australia:PG

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Warner Bros. Television

Trivia:

This series was produced by Warner Brothers for ABC and the episode "The Kookie Caper" (episode 2.2, October 9, 1959) has some inside jokes about other series produced by that studio for ABC. Early in episode, Kookie (Edd Byrnes_ indicates that he doesn't know that Will Hutchins is the star of "Sugarfoot" (1957). Later, he can be seen reading an issue of TV Guide magazine with the stars of "Maverick" (1957), James Garner and Jack Kelly, on the cover. Both of those shows were produced by Warner Bros., as was this one.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Mystery Science Theater 3000: Eegah! (#6.6)" (1993)

Great Detective Show didn't take itself too seriously

This was a wonderful show. Kookie and Roscoe gave it an added comic element. It also allowed for human effort. As I recall, even the secretary often gave ideas for solving cases.

I recall the caper where Roscoe, the horse player who always played hunches (and always lost) had to come up with all the winners for the day's races. After much effort he did so, but of course he did not bet on a single one.

I watch little TV any more but I tried out Remington Steele, because the daughter of Efriam Zimbalist, Jr.: Stephanie Zimbalist was cast as one of the leads. The two shows shared much similarity. They were both detective shows which really was only peripherally about solving cases. Mostly they were about relationships.

I'm guessing that all the film of these shows is not around any more or I think they would be shown as reruns. I would sure love to see some of these shows either on TV or bought on VHS tapes.