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T.H.E. Cat: The Precursor to '80s Action Hits
5 Aug
Summary
- The '60s series 'T.H.E. Cat' influenced '80s shows like 'The A-Team'.
- Robert Loggia starred as a former cat burglar turned bodyguard.
- The show aired 26 episodes on NBC and was not renewed.
Premiering in September 1966, the NBC action series "T.H.E. Cat" served as an early precursor to the popular lone-wolf vigilante and mercenary-do-gooders television formula. This stylistic drama, created by Harry Julian Fink, featured a future Oscar nominee, Robert Loggia, in the lead role.
Loggia portrayed Thomas Hewitt Edward Cat, a former acrobat and accomplished cat burglar who transitioned into a career as a freelance bodyguard. Operating from his San Francisco nightclub, Casa del Gato, Cat specialized in protecting clients targeted by death when conventional law enforcement proved insufficient.
Despite its compelling premise, "T.H.E. Cat" did not achieve significant ratings success during its initial broadcast. Positioned in a competitive Friday night time slot, the series averaged a modest 15.5 Nielsen rating, ranking 69th overall. Consequently, NBC opted to cancel the show after its first season, which comprised 26 episodes.
Currently, "T.H.E. Cat" remains unavailable on major streaming services and has not received a formal home video release. Interested viewers can, however, find a selection of fan-uploaded episodes of varying quality on YouTube.
