Mannix: Fifth Season

Another Great Season for Mannix!
Mannix was always one of my favorite shows back in the day and I'm glad to see that Season 5 will be coming out shortly on DVD. If memory serves correct, it moved from its original Saturday night perch to Wednesday nights and finally broke into the Top 10 in Nielsen ratings for the season. They changed up the music a little, making it more pronounced and upbeat, if that was possible. There were a lot of great episodes, so the writing, directing, acting and action remained high. I think we saw more of Lt. Malcolm that season compared to the other police types that Mannix dealt with. Here's hoping that we get another quick turn to Seasons 6, 7 and 8 (seasons 4 and 5 were six months apart) after this release. Most of season 7 and none of season 8 were part of the syndication package in the U.S. for Mannix, so those episodes haven't been seen for more than 35 years. Let's get them out of the vault and into the hands of Mannix fans! Thanks, CBS/Paramount.

Mannix Hits His Stride
This fifth season run of episodes is simply superb.

What went on before in previous series was already pretty good most of the time, but this season really sees the show hitting its stride.

The plots are intelligent and sometimes interwoven so that there is more than one story involved in an episode, the characters even more developed and the action evenly laid on.

Mike Connors seems to be more at ease reprising the lead role, his secretary, Peggy (played by Gail Fisher) is given more screen time (and this does not always mean getting kidnapped as some other reviewers may allude), while the action is laid on impeccably with smarter than average criminals often giving Mannix a run for the money, pitting their wits against his intellectually as well as through the inevitable fisticuffs.

Setting all this off is the best rendition of the memorable theme by Lalo Schrifin and support music that would do credit to some big screen movies...

Great show
Mannix was always one of the most interesting shows to watch on T.V. Unlike the wannabe private eyes, Jim Rockford, Barnaby Jones, etc., Mannix had a big heart and also guts. Willing to take a risk to right a wrong, Mike Connors breathed life into one of the most formidable characters ever to grace the T.V. screen. Much like Steve McGarrett, Mannix was like a pitbull with justice, and once he sank his teeth into it, would not let go until he finished. Peggy, always managed to keep him walking a straight line, most of the time, and the character development between the two of them, was as great as the story being told that evening.

In season 5 we are treated to a freshened opening, updated vehicles, Peggy loses the Simca finally, and much more thankfully of Ward Wood, Lt. Art Malcom. Having to piggy back on Cannon or Barnaby Jones for most of the season, cudos to the team at Mannix for putting the show in the top ten this season. Proves when an actor like Mike Connors, who...

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