Mannix

[Little Garwood]

Seeing as I've really fallen hard for this show, I've thought about doing a season-by-season, episode-by-episode review of Mannix. Several other programs like Five-O and MPI (duh!) have dedicated sites that go over every scrap of info and backstory they can glean from those shows. I'd like to do the same for Mannix. Much of the fan support from the early days of the internet has seemingly vanished, which is odd since Mannix is now on DVD. Given my up-and-down nature, any kind of Mannix project would be a long time in the making, but it's something I'd like to try.

James, I know you've expressed some interest in Mannix before, but have you gotten around to watching it yet?

_________________
"Popularity is the pocket change of history."

~Tom Selleck

[J.J. Walters]

Unfortunately, no! But now that I've finally quit smoking maybe I'll have enough spare change to buy the DVDs!

Hopefully all the smoking in Mannix won't make me smoke again!

_________________
Higgins: It's not a scratch! It's a bloody gouge!

[Little Garwood]

[Little Garwood]

Mannix star Mike Connors to sue CBS/Paramount:

'Mannix' Actor Wants to See the Books
By NESTOR F. SEBASTIAN
(CN) - Mike Connors, who starred in the 1960s drama series "Mannix," is suing Paramount Pictures and CBS Telelvision Studios, saying he is owed a piece of the show's profits as well as royalties for the contemporary use his likeness and name.

Connors, born Krekor Ohanian, claims he originally signed a contract for the series in 1966 that covered his first four seasons on the Desilu-produced show. It specifically granted the actor 10 percent of net profits and 10 percent in gross proceeds to use his image, subject to a 50 percent fee, according to the complaint in Los Angeles Superior Court.

An amendment to this contract in 1971 pushed Connors' share of the show's net profits up to 20 percent for the fifth through eighth seasons, he says.

Because Paramount Pictures and CBS Television Studios charged excessive and improper costs, however, and did not timely apply gross receipts, interest grew uncontrollably, Connors claims. Ultimately the studios only reported 20 percent of the gross receipts of DVD sales, according to the complaint.

Connors also says the studios sent him accounting statements that showed their increasing losses to justify not paying him and eventually stopped providing him with said statements until his accountant stepped in to request delivery.

After promising to submit their paperwork to Connors' accountant on a semiannual basis, the studios lapsed in their responsibilities, yet again, the 85-year-old Los Angelino says.

Though the cumulative net loss for the show following its final season in 1975 was $5.1 million, that figure stretches to more than $9 million today, even though it has brought in "significant revenue from syndication and other revenue-generating sources," the complaint also states.

Cumulative interest charged by the studios has ballooned to over $14 million from $2 million in 1975, according to the suit.

Connors says he does not know the precise amount he is owed because those monies can only be determined by an accounting of Paramount's books and records.

"Notwithstanding all of the hard work, time and effort put into the series, Mr. Connors has never received any profits on 'Mannix' in the ordinary course of participation accounting," according to the complaint. "Indeed, even as the series continues to generate revenue to this day from exploitation and DVD sales, it sinks deeper and deeper into debt."

The show, for which Connors received a Golden Globe Award in 1970 along with four Emmy nominations, starred Connors as private detective Joe Mannix and has been syndicated worldwide. The studios plan to release its fifth season on DVD in July and the remaining seasons thereafter.

Connors sued Paramount and CBS, seeking restitution, disgorgement and punitive damages, alleging fraud, breach of contract and unfair business practices. He is represented by Neville Johnson with Johnson & Johnson of Beverly Hills.

http://www.courthousenews.com/2011/05/20/36717.htm

_________________
"Popularity is the pocket change of history."

~Tom Selleck

[bransonch]

I'm surprised no one has mentioned that Tom Selleck has a role on Mannix - 1975's season 8 (according to IMDB)....that gives me even more to look forward to when it is released!

[Little Garwood]

[Little Garwood]

Guess who showed up in the sixth season of Mannix?




John Hillerman as not-so-nice-guy Larry Lawton in Light and Shadow, which aired December 17, 1972. He has a relatively small part, but he does get to verbally abuse Joe Mannix.

Hillerman has two more appearances on Mannix, seasons seven and eight. I have seven on the way and eight is due to be released in December.

_________________
"Popularity is the pocket change of history."

~Tom Selleck

[Little Garwood]

John Hillerman--sans mustache-- returned to Mannix the very next season, playing the villainous J.H. Morrell in Silent Target, which originally aired on October 28, 1973. The future Higgy Baby uses his Texas drawl to good effect as he terrorizes Thomas Magnum's spiritual father, the dependable, beat-upable, and un-insurable Joe Mannix. The cast also includes Frank Langella and Barbara Luna.

_________________
"Popularity is the pocket change of history."

~Tom Selleck

[Little Garwood]

Guess who ELSE shows up in the seventh season of Mannix?



That's right, Larry Manetti in a small role--he has two lines of dialogue--as a resistance fighter in Race Against Time, Part II, which is sort of a Mannix-Meets-Mission: Impossible adventure. Magnum, P.I. guest star Ina Balin (S2's Dead Man's Channel) also appears in this episode.

So of the four main actors in MPI, only Roger E. Mosley does not have Mannix credentials. I await the grand Mannix-Magnum finale, the eighth-season episode, Design for Dying which guest starred Tom Selleck. It is a glorious things indeed to think that Selleck rubbed elbows wth BOTH Joe Mannix and Jim Rockford before becoming a private investigator legend himself.

_________________
"Popularity is the pocket change of history."

~Tom Selleck

[Little Garwood]

Today is the release date for Mannix, season eight! Tom Selleck is a guest star in Design for Dying. I'll post screen caps once my DVDs arrive, not that anyone has commented on the other MPI guest star pics here.

_________________
"Popularity is the pocket change of history."

~Tom Selleck