They Finally Did It, Joe

I forgot when I wrote this post after Mike Connors's death that I had written a post about the show just over nine years ago. That post was itself sparked by a WaPo article which, besides giving an excellent look back at the show and the actors, wondered why the series hadn't been released to DVD.

Mannix was the last of a certain type of American manhood, circa early '70s. He wore a tie and a wistful smile. He did not know doubt but was a friend of irony. He didn't worry about giving women "their space," and he wasn't "in touch with his feelings." He was kind to small dogs, little old ladies, and femmes fatales in deep trouble and short skirts.

He drove too fast, drank too much and smoked like he got paid for it. He slugged people and shot guys and never got pulled in by the cops. "The body count, even in the first few minutes of the show, could sometimes be appalling," notes one television reference guide.

Connors did live to see it happen, the series was released on DVD in 2015.