Kojak: Season 02 (1974)

Bald, cynical, lollipop-sucking New York police detective Lt. Theo Kojak returns in the person of Telly Savalas for a second season of thrill-packed episodes. Likewise returning to the fold are supporting characters Chief Frank McNeil (Dan Frazer), Lt. Crocker (Kevin Dobson), and Detective Stavros (played by "Demosthenes," aka Telly Savalas' brother George Savalas). New recipients of Kojak's trademarks jibes and insults include Detective Rizzo (Vince Conti) and Detective Saperstein (Mark Russell). Season two of Kojak opens with the two-part "The Chinatown Murders," which has since been syndicated as a separate TV movie. In later episodes, Kojak butts heads with the feds while trying to solve a cop killing; matches wits with a deadly stock manipulator; protects a terrified bookkeeper from an insane criminal; endeavors to prove that a judge's suicide was murder (and, incidentally, contemplates allowing a killer to walk in order to crack the case); crosses swords with a clever woman who uses her husband's "accidental" death to cover up a diamond heist; and ducks and dodges a "curse" placed upon him by a vengeful gypsy woman. Season two's lineup of Kojak guest stars includes Ray Sharkey, Martin Balsam, Paul Anka, Leslie Nielsen, Erik Estrada, Robert Loggia, and Ruth Gordon. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi