Kojak: Season 03 (1975)

Question: "Who loves ya, baby?" Answer: "The whole world." By the time the gritty detective drama Kojak entered its third season in the fall of 1975, the series had been exported to dozens of countries outside the U.S., and star Telly Savalas had become an international celebrity. Savalas' portrayal of cynical, hard-boiled, lollipop-loving Lt. Theo Kojak was no longer just another TV job: he had become an icon. Likewise beloved the world over were the series' supporting characters, including Chief of Detectives Frank McNeil (Dan Frazer), Lt. Crocker (Kevin Dobson), and Detective Stavros (played by Telly Savalas' brother George Savalas, who beginning in season three is billed under his own name rather than his nom de screen, "Demosthenes"). Like the previous season, season three opens with a two-part drama, "A Question of Answers." And as in years past, a number of fascinating guest stars appear this season, beginning with a pre-Rocky Sylvester Stallone as a guilt-ridden cop who accidentally shoots a young boy in the line of duty. In later episodes, future Soap star Robert Mandan plays a vicious drug dealer; Eileen Brennan is seen in the story of a highly suspect religious-revival organization; John Larroquette shows up in the season's Christmas episode, "How Cruel the Frost, How Bright the Stars"; former football star Rosey Grier appears in the later installment "Bad Dude"; and the season finale features the brilliant actress Diana Hyland, two years removed from her tragic early death. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi