View source for Baretta

{{Short description|American detective television series}}
{{Other uses}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2013}}
{{Infobox television
| image                = Baretta Title Screen.jpg
| caption              = ''Baretta'' title screen
| genre                = [[Detective fiction]]<br>[[Police procedural]]
| camera               =
| runtime              =
| creator              = [[Stephen J. Cannell]]
| developer            =
| producer             =
| executive_producer   =
| starring             = {{Plain list|
* [[Robert Blake (actor)|Robert Blake]]
* [[Dana Elcar]]
* [[Tom Ewell]]
* [[Michael D. Roberts]]
}}
| voices               =
| narrated             =
| theme_music_composer = {{Plain list|
* [[Dave Grusin]]
* Morgan Ames
}}
| opentheme            = {{Plain list|
* "Keep Your Eye on the Sparrow"
* Sung by [[Sammy Davis, Jr.]]
* Played by [[El Chicano]]
}}
| endtheme             =
| country              = United States
| location             =
| language             = English
| network              = [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]]
| company              = {{Plain list|
* Roy Huggins-Public Arts Productions
* [[Universal Television]]
}}
| first_aired          = {{Start date|1975|1|17}}
| last_aired           = {{End date|1978|5|18}}
| num_seasons          = 4
| num_episodes         = 82
| list_episodes        = List of Baretta episodes
| related              = ''[[Toma (TV series)|Toma]]''
}}
'''''Baretta''''' is an American [[detective fiction|detective]] television series which ran on [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] from 1975 to 1978.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://tv.nytimes.com/show/153629/Baretta/overview|title=Baretta|work=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=March 13, 2012}}</ref>
The show was a revised and milder version of a 1973–1974 ABC series, ''[[Toma (TV series)|Toma]]'', starring [[Tony Musante]] as chameleon-like, real-life [[New Jersey]] [[police officer]] [[Dave Toma|David Toma]]. When Musante left the series after a single season, the concept was retooled as ''Baretta'', with [[Robert Blake (actor)|Robert Blake]] in the title role.<ref>{{cite web|work=[[People (magazine)|People]] |date=1980-07-07|title=With Stunning Intensity, David Toma, Ex-Cop, Ex-Addict and Model for TV's 'Baretta', Harangues Kids Against Drugs| first= Kristin| last= McMurran| url= http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20076917,00.html}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|work=[[People (magazine)|People]] |date=1975-04-28|title=A Time Bomb Named Robert Blake Re-Explodes as 'Baretta'| first=Lois |last= Armstrong| url=http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20065195,00.html}}</ref>
"[[Keep Your Eye on the Sparrow]]," the show's theme music, was composed by [[Dave Grusin]] and Morgan Ames<ref>{{cite web| url= http://www.cs.ubc.ca/~davet/music/track/TVGREHIT_003/TVGREHIT_003-52.html| via= cs.ubc.ca| publisher= University of British Columbia | title= Dave Grusin & Morgan Ames: Baretta ('Keep Your Eye on the Sparrow')| work= Dave Tomkins: Musica Database| access-date= August 22, 2018}}</ref> and sung by [[Sammy Davis Jr.]],<ref>{{cite web | url= https://www.metv.com/stories/sammy-davis-jr-added-lyrics-to-so-many-instrumental-tv-theme-songs| date= October 29, 2016| title= Sammy Davis Jr. added lyrics to so many instrumental TV theme songs| publisher= [[MeTV]].com| access-date= August 23, 2018}}</ref> in addition to being a chart hit for two other artists.
==Overview==
Anthony Vincenzo "Tony" Baretta is an unorthodox [[Undercover operation#Plainclothes law enforcement|plainclothes]] [[police detective]] (Badge #609) with the 53rd Precinct in an unnamed, fictional city. He resides in Apartment 2C of the run-down King Edward Hotel with Fred, his [[Triton cockatoo]]. A master of disguise, Baretta wears many while performing his duties. When not working he usually wears a short-sleeve sweatshirt, casual slacks, a brown suede jacket and a [[newsboy cap]].
Baretta is often seen with an unlit cigarette in his lips or behind his ear. His catchphrases include "Don't do the crime if you can't do the time", "You can take dat to da bank" and "And dat's the name of dat tune." When exasperated, he occasionally speaks in asides to his late father, Louie Baretta. He drives a rusted-out Mist Blue 1966 [[Chevrolet Impala]] four-door sport sedan nicknamed "The Blue Ghost" ([[license plate]] 532 BEM). He frequents Ross's Billiard Academy and refers to his numerous girlfriends as his "cousins".
==Episodes==
{{main|List of Baretta episodes}}
{{:List of Baretta episodes}}
==Cast==
* Anthony Vincenzo "Tony" Baretta ([[Robert Blake (actor)|Robert Blake]]), a police detective.
* Billy Truman ([[Tom Ewell]]), retired cop who used to work with Baretta's father Louie at the 53rd Precinct.
* Rooster ([[Michael D. Roberts]]), a streetwise [[pimp]] and Baretta's favorite [[informant]].
* Inspector Shiller ([[Dana Elcar]]) and Lieutenant Hal Brubaker ([[Edward Grover]]), Baretta's supervisors.
* Detective Foley ([[John Ward (American actor)|John Ward]]), police detective.
* Fats ([[Chino 'Fats' Williams]]), a gravelly-voiced, older detective.
* Detective Nopke ([[Ron Thompson (actor)|Ron Thompson]]), a rookie detective.<ref name="PM">{{cite web|url=https://www.popmatters.com/160872-american-pop-matters-ron-thompson-the-illustrated-man-unsung-2495833587.html|work=[[PopMatters]]|date=August 2, 2012|title='American Pop'... Matters: Ron Thompson, the Illustrated Man Unsung|first=J.C.|last=Maçek III}}</ref>
* Little Moe ([[Angelo Rossitto]]), a shoeshine man and informant.
* Mr. Nicholas ([[Titos Vandis]]), a mob boss.
* Mr. Muncie ([[Paul Lichtman]]), the owner of a liquor store at 52nd and Main.
==Production==
Upon watching Blake in the 1973 film ''[[Electra Glide in Blue]]'', then ABC executive [[Michael Eisner]] contacted him about doing a police series, which culminated in ''Baretta''.  Blake was given creative control in most aspects of production.<ref>{{YouTube|ttYemel958s |Robert Blake: I ain't dead yet, so stay tuned...}}</ref>
The series came about as a reboot of ''[[Toma (TV series)|Toma]]'' when actor [[Tony Musante]] chose to move on after completing his single season commitment to the series.<ref>O'Connor, John (1974-07-24). "TV: Star of Dropped ''Toma'' Tells What Happened". The New York Times.</ref>
[[File:Robert Blake Baretta and Fred 1976.JPG|thumb|right|200px|Baretta with Fred.]]
The theme song, "Keep Your Eye on the Sparrow", was written by [[Dave Grusin]] and Morgan Ames; initially an instrumental, lyrics were added in later seasons that were sung by [[Sammy Davis, Jr.]] Every episode of ''Baretta'' began with the song, which contained the motto, "Don't do the [[crime]] if you can't do [[imprisonment|the time]]." According to Blake, studio executives did not want Davis's vocals for the theme song for fear that audiences would think ''Baretta'' was a black series.  Blake threatened to leave production if Davis's recording was rejected.  His bosses relented.<ref>{{YouTube|pfCfTqAZuxk|Robert Blake: I ain't dead yet, so stay tuned...}}</ref>
The song was released as a single in Europe in 1976, reaching number one in the Dutch Top 40 as "Baretta's Theme". The music for the theme song was performed by Los Angeles-based Latin influenced Rock band [[El Chicano]]. [[El Chicano]] also released the song as a 45 and also as a track on one of their albums. The ''Baretta'' theme song by El Chicano was a huge hit in many countries including Turkey, Malaysia, Singapore, France and The Philippines.
The song was released as a single in the US, but only charted as high as #42 on the Adult Contemporary Chart, while it "[[Bubbling Under Hot 100|bubbled under the Hot 100]]" at #101.
Fred the cockatoo was portrayed by two [[Triton cockatoo]]s named Lalah and Weird Harold, the latter used as a stunt double for flying sequences.<ref name="sandiegozoo">{{cite web |title=Cockatoo |url=https://animals.sandiegozoo.org/animals/cockatoo |website=San Diego Zoo |access-date=3 January 2023}}</ref>
==Cancellation==
On April 27, 1977, Blake announced that he would leave after completing his contractual run on the show for the season. "I proved everything I had to prove," he said. Through his efforts, he said, ''Baretta'' became the only midseason replacement to win an Emmy.
"I put ''Baretta'' in the top 10, I tried to make a human being out of a cop and I tried to do a cop show and make social comment," he added.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Fraser |first=C. Gerald |date=1977-04-02 |title=Robert Blake Plans to Quit 'Baretta' Show |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1977/04/02/archives/long-island-opinion-robert-blake-plans-to-quit-baretta-show.html |access-date=2023-03-29 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>
In a 1996 TV interview with [[Tom Snyder]], Blake stated that he hated being committed to the series and compared it to screwing a gorilla. "''Baretta'' was a terrible experience," Blake stated, "you do a series so you can work with giants [in film]."<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xi82HBw05VY | title=Tom Snyder: Robert Blake Feb 23 1996 | website=[[YouTube]] | date=March 6, 2018 }}</ref>
==Broadcast syndication==
After its initial run in syndication beginning in 1979, the series later re-appeared on [[TV Land]] in 1999 as part of a package of series licensed from [[Universal Pictures|Universal]]. [[MeTV]] aired reruns of ''Baretta'' on Saturday afternoons in 2007. It was also aired on [[WKAQ-TV]].
==Home media==
On October 29, 2002, [[Universal Pictures Home Entertainment|Universal Studios]] released the first season of ''Baretta'' on [[DVD region code#1|Region 1]] DVD in the United States.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hive4media.com/buying_guide/scripts/bg_matrix.cfm?studiosort=43|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021017183144/http://www.hive4media.com/buying_guide/scripts/bg_matrix.cfm?studiosort=43|title=Announcements|website=hive4media.com|archive-date=October 17, 2002|access-date=September 16, 2019}}</ref> On July 26th, 2017, The Complete 2nd Season was released in the UK with French audio as the only audio option.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Baretta - Saison 2 - Coffret 6 DVD |url=https://www.elephantfilms.com/baretta-saison-2-coffret-6-dvd-c2x34441356 |access-date=2024-10-08 |website=Elephant Films}}</ref> The series has been rarely televised or even streamed since the late 2000s.  Many have asserted that this is due to Blake's alleged involvement in the 2001 murder of his second wife [[Bonnie Lee Bakley]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.hometheaterforum.com/community/threads/baretta-has-enough-time-passed-or-ever.334879/ |title=Baretta:Has Enough Time Passed? Or, Ever? |website=Home Theater Forum |date=September 30, 2014}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
|+Release dates
!DVD name
!Ep #
!Region 1
!Region 2 (France)
|-
|Season 1
|12
|Oct 29, 2002
|February 26, 2014
|-
|Season 2
|22
|N/A
|July 26, 2017
|}
==Cultural references==
[[Mad (magazine)|''Mad'']] magazine spoofed the series as "Barfetta".
In Taskmaster Live, a 2016 show at the Edinburgh Festival contested by five television executives, Jeff Ford, the UK Managing Director of Fox Networks Group and SVP and Content Development Manager for Europe and Africa, described Baretta as a "lesser known 1960s vehicle".
In the [[Barney Miller (season 4)|''Barney Miller'']] episode "Copycat", Detective Arthur Dietrich tells a [[copycat crime#Television series|copycat]] criminal that cops and committing a crime are not like they are depicted on television, and ends by saying, "And dat's the name of dat tune."
In the film ''[[Reservoir Dogs]]'', protagonist Mr. Orange steels himself before meeting main antagonist Joe Cabot by saying "You're not gonna get hurt. You're fucking Baretta. They believe every fucking word 'cause you're super cool."<ref>{{Cite web |date=2012-10-15 |title=The mirror has two faces: 15 great movie scenes where characters meet their reflection |url=https://www.avclub.com/the-mirror-has-two-faces-15-great-movie-scenes-where-c-1798234110 |access-date=2023-03-10 |website=The A.V. Club |language=en}}</ref>
In the sitcom ''[[That '70s Show]]'', in the season one episode “Stolen Car”, Bob Pinciotti tells his wife Midge, "you can't tell me anything while I'm watching ''Baretta'', it's complicated."
In the ''[[Party Down]]'' episode "Investors Dinner" (2009), the opening scene is an argument about why Tony Baretta is named so, with two characters arguing that it's because he carries a [[Beretta]] pistol.
==References==
{{reflist}}
==External links==
{{Commons category|Baretta}}
*{{IMDb title|0072471}}
*[https://archive.today/20130105054342/http://www.tvacres.com/char_baretta_tony.htm TV Character Bio: Tony Baretta] at [[TV Acres]]
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XsB5gsi2PzI Roy Huggins discusses the creation of ''Baretta'' in an Archive of American Television Interview]
{{Stephen J. Cannell}}
[[Category:1975 American television series debuts]]
[[Category:1978 American television series endings]]
[[Category:1970s American crime drama television series]]
[[Category:American detective television series]]
[[Category:American English-language television shows]]
[[Category:Television series by Stephen J. Cannell Productions]]
[[Category:Television series by Universal Television]]
[[Category:Television shows set in New Jersey]]
[[Category:Television series created by Stephen J. Cannell]]
[[Category:American Broadcasting Company television dramas]]