If the basic concept of Matt Houston seemed so familiar when the series launched in 1982, well, look no further than the guy who was the show's producer---Aaron Spelling.
Series creator Lawrence Gordon came up with the idea of Houston, a Texas oil magnate, spending his free time in LA as a private eye. Basically, Houston (Lee Horsley) was the diametric opposite of another famous Texas oil magnate in prime time----J. R. Ewing (Larry Hagman, Dallas). Houston spent his money to finance his cases, mostly helping friends in distress. But the point I was trying to get to was that, aside from the oil, Houston was a civilian version of Frank Gilroy's millionaire cop, Amos Burke, and Spelling was a producer on Gene Barry's seminal crime drama, Burke's Law.
Helping Houston along was lawyer C. J. Parsons (Pamela Hensley, ex-Buck Rogers in the 25th Century), who not only dispensed legal advice, but also some tender loving care, and more than once ended up a damsel in distress.
However, not all was well. The supporting cast was overhauled after the first season, with only Hensley returning, aside from Horsley. Paul Brinegar (ex-Rawhide) played a ranch hand, his first TV gig in years. In the 3rd season, TV legend Buddy Ebsen, a few years removed from Barnaby Jones, joined the show as Houston's uncle. That mirrors Universal's decision to bring in Fred Astaire to back up Robert Wagner on It Takes a Thief. The end result was the same. Matt Houston was cancelled after 3 seasons.
Here's the open:
Horsley would follow up with Paradise, which was rechristened Guns of Paradise in its 2nd season, then teamed with 70's icon Lynda Carter in Hawkeye, a one year wonder for producer Stephen Cannell.
Rating: B.
4 comments:
Typical Aaron Spelling schtick: A bazillionaire taking on elite/upscale criminals with a side of healthy jiggle and HUGE HAIR! This cast had more hair than anyone on TV except of course the OTHER Spelling creations.
Lee Horsely actually did a decent job in the character except when he overdid the Teyuxuss Drawwwwl. The fistfights were well choreographed and the office penthouse set was interesting in short doses. BABYT, the wondrous '80s computer with all the supporting cast headshots, was a miracle of Texas Instruments technology.
Ms Hensley, married to the Producer, was a scenery chewer of sorts, never underdressed, and a vital part of the stories. Like many female leads before her (Gail Fisher in Mannix, Kate Jackson in The Rookies) she got kidnapped more than needed, but even bound and gagged in a desert shack her rouge and eye makeup were flawless!
The best ep in the series, IMHO, was late in season 2 when the former LAPD contact, John Aprea's Vince Novelli, returned, having been framed for theft of a week's worth of 1984 TV production crew cocaine from the Evidence locker. After beinbg shot and pensioned from duty he had moved to Hawaii to run his mom's restaurant. The solution of the crime and the clearing of his name itself was run of the mill but the Ha=waii element rose at the end when Novelli gives Houston a red Hawaiian shirt identical to that worn by that OTHER big mustached TV DETECTIVE guy with lotsa hair and a fast red car, TOM SELLECK. You don't see much subtle humor in any of ol' Aaron's series.
Gotta tell you, I HATED this series when it was first run. Give me MANNIX or HARRY ORWELL instead of these over-funded pretty boys from Spelling or Cannell. That said, I had a decent time watching most of the Houston series. I kept the groaning to a minimum and only threw stuff at the screen once or twice. I'm mellowing with age.
I think things started to pick up when Spelling hired Buddy Ebsen in a stunt move to boost ratings. Buddy, a ways removed from Barnaby Jones, play Matt's dad.
Not his dad, that was David Wayne. He was 'Uncle Roy.
Oh, right.
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