Season 1 was a great event for me. I really looked forward to sitting down and watching each episode and would recommend it to anyone.
But now, with Season 2 Volume 2, I'm watching more because I've paid for it and might as well than for any great pleasure. Is it me? Or was there only so much to be got out of this formula?
Very reasonable observation Louis. By the mid-second season, the US Senate had convened hearings on "television violence" and "The Untouchables" was Exhibit A.
There'd been a mob contract (subsequently rescinded) put out on Desi Arnaz because of the "unflattering" portrayal of Italians in the series. FCC Chairman Newton Minow had declared TV "a vast wasteland" and this trifecta caused Desilu to:
1. "Soften" the Ness character. More charm, warmth, understanding. Less "Ness".
2. Do away with many of the Italian surnames.
3. Depict less violence and gunplay.
4. Introduce a female agent (Barbara Stanwyck) in season 4.
5. "Update" the theme and incidental music with a more jazz-like sound.
"The Untouchables" finally died of its' own weight. Had there not been so many efforts made to satisfy the affinity groups the show had "offended", the series had legs enough for at least a fifth season and maybe more. "The Untouchables"
may have been TV's first-ever victim to "political correctness".
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According to Paul Picerni (who plauyed Lee Hobson) in his oustanding autobiography publihsed in 2007, the real reason for the ending of the show was: (1) the show was not makine any money, as the costs of Desilu in producing each episode (about $65,000-75,000) were about the aame or exceeded the revenue it brought in from ABC to the studio. Desilu saw that it could earn more money throuhg syndication of reruns, but a clause in its contract prevented it from showing any reruns while the show was still active. In fact, the reruns were pehnominally successful in earning revenue; they made a lof money for the studio and for the actors. I think we should take Picerni's view as the accurate one; he would know.
The Italian surnames were ereduced after year 1. However, I saw no reduction in the violence and gun play or any softening of Ness's character. I don't recall Barbara Stanwyck in season 4, but according to Picerni, season 4 suffered because of an arrogrant and incompetent producer who wanted to focus much more on Ness and less on the other untouchables and the guest stars. For example, there were fewer appearances of Bruce Gordon as Frank Nitti.
I don't think political correctness had anyhting to do with the shortening of the show, although it did cause changes.
Maybe they just ran out of old cars to wreck.
shareThat was a very useful post as a result of which I watched a Season 1 episode, "The Empty Chair", and it was indeed very good.
shareI was too young in 1959 to watch such a violent show but I sure saw it in syndication in the late '60's. In the Philadelphia market, it was on late on Saturday night. I tried to stay awake many a Saturday watching this show.
"Two more swords and I'll be Queen of the Monkey People." Roseanne
I saw the TV series when it first aired. Having a week between each show probably causes you to enjoy the show more than watching each epidode right after another episode.
shareThat's unfortunate, I'm thinking about watching the whole series.
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