Sarge (TV series)
Encyclopedia
Sarge was a Universal Television / Harbour Productions
television series starring George Kennedy
as Samuel Patrick Cavanaugh, a San Diego police detective sergeant who decides to retire and enter the priest
hood after his wife is murdered. Sarge had initially studied for the priesthood prior to his police career, but his seminary studies were interrupted by military service during World War II.
The series, which ran in 1971
, was preceded by a pilot
titled Sarge: The Badge or the Cross, which set the premise for the subsequent series. One week before the show's fall premiere, Cavanaugh travelled to San Francisco because of the death of a friend and fellow priest. His investigation caused him to cross paths with the characters from Ironside
in a two-hour special that consolidated the two series' consecutive time slots. This has been subsequently seen as a TV-movie, The Priest Killer.
The series was set in San Diego and the pilot movie was filmed primarily on location. However, when the series went into production, episodes were filmed in Los Angeles
. The parish church used was St. Peter's Italian Catholic Church on North Broadway in Chinatown
.
George Kennedy's character was originally Sarge Swanson in the pilot movie. Starting with the Ironside
crossover episode, and for the rest of the series, his last name was changed from Swanson to Cavanaugh. Supporting actor Ramon Bieri
played Sarge's police contact. In the pilot, his name was Chief Dewey, but was changed to Lt. Barney Verick, chief of detectives, for the series. Sallie Shockley and Harold Sakata
reprised their roles from the pilot movie for the series. Dana Elcar
also appeared in the pilot, as well as the series, as Father Frank Dinsmore.
Sarge was well received but ultimately failed by being pitted against CBS' Hawaii Five-O
and The ABC Tuesday Movie of the Week
.
Episodes currently are syndicated under The Bold Ones
umbrella title, and can be seen on the RTV network.
Father Frank Dowling-priest character created by Ralph McInerny
who solves crimes in several novels written by McInerny and in the subsequent TV show
Harbour Productions Unlimited
Harbour Productions Unlimited was an American television production company formed by Canadian actor Raymond Burr. It was responsible for the series Ironside and The Bold Ones: The New Doctors , which briefly combined in the crossover episode Five Days in the Death of Sgt. Brown, Pt...
television series starring George Kennedy
George Kennedy
George Harris Kennedy, Jr. is an American actor who has appeared in over 200 film and television productions. He is perhaps most familiar as the convict Dragline in Cool Hand Luke , airline troubleshooter Joe Patroni in the Airport series of disaster movies from the 1970s and...
as Samuel Patrick Cavanaugh, a San Diego police detective sergeant who decides to retire and enter the priest
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
hood after his wife is murdered. Sarge had initially studied for the priesthood prior to his police career, but his seminary studies were interrupted by military service during World War II.
The series, which ran in 1971
1971 in television
The year 1971 in television involved some significant events.Below is a list of television-related events in 1971.For the American TV schedule, see: 1971-72 American network television schedule.-Events:...
, was preceded by a pilot
Television pilot
A "television pilot" is a standalone episode of a television series that is used to sell the show to a television network. At the time of its inception, the pilot is meant to be the "testing ground" to see if a series will be possibly desired and successful and therefore a test episode of an...
titled Sarge: The Badge or the Cross, which set the premise for the subsequent series. One week before the show's fall premiere, Cavanaugh travelled to San Francisco because of the death of a friend and fellow priest. His investigation caused him to cross paths with the characters from Ironside
Ironside (TV series)
Ironside is a Universal television series which ran on NBC from September 14, 1967 to January 16, 1975. The show starred Raymond Burr as the wheelchair-using Chief of Detectives, Robert T. Ironside. The character's debut was in a TV-movie on March 28, 1967. The original title of the show in the...
in a two-hour special that consolidated the two series' consecutive time slots. This has been subsequently seen as a TV-movie, The Priest Killer.
The series was set in San Diego and the pilot movie was filmed primarily on location. However, when the series went into production, episodes were filmed in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
. The parish church used was St. Peter's Italian Catholic Church on North Broadway in Chinatown
Chinatown, Los Angeles
Chinatown in Los Angeles, California is located in the city's downtown area. Built in 1938, it is the second Chinatown to be constructed in Los Angeles. The original historic Chinatown was founded in the late 19th century, but was demolished to make room for Union Station, the city's major rail...
.
George Kennedy's character was originally Sarge Swanson in the pilot movie. Starting with the Ironside
Ironside
-Entertainment and literature:*Ironside , an American television series starring Raymond Burr*Ironside: A Modern Faery's Tale, an urban fantasy novel by Holly Black-People:...
crossover episode, and for the rest of the series, his last name was changed from Swanson to Cavanaugh. Supporting actor Ramon Bieri
Ramon Bieri
Ramon Arens Bieri was an American actor who has starred in many films and many TV shows.-Biography:He co-starred on the short-lived 1981 TV series Bret Maverick with James Garner. Bieri appeared in many TV movies as well...
played Sarge's police contact. In the pilot, his name was Chief Dewey, but was changed to Lt. Barney Verick, chief of detectives, for the series. Sallie Shockley and Harold Sakata
Harold Sakata
Toshiyuki "Harold" Sakata was a Japanese American professional wrestler and film actor most famous for his role as the villain "Oddjob" in the James Bond film Goldfinger.-Career:...
reprised their roles from the pilot movie for the series. Dana Elcar
Dana Elcar
Dana Elcar was an American television and movie character actor. Although he appeared in about 40 films, his most memorable role was on the 1980s and 1990s television series MacGyver as Peter Thornton, an administrator working for the Phoenix Foundation...
also appeared in the pilot, as well as the series, as Father Frank Dinsmore.
Sarge was well received but ultimately failed by being pitted against CBS' Hawaii Five-O
Hawaii Five-O
Hawaii Five-O is an American police procedural drama series produced by CBS Productions and Leonard Freeman. Set in Hawaii, the show originally aired for twelve seasons from 1968 to 1980, and continues in reruns. The show featured a fictional state police unit run by Detective Steve McGarrett,...
and The ABC Tuesday Movie of the Week
ABC Movie of the Week
The ABC Movie of the Week is a weekly television anthology series, featuring made-for-TV movies, that aired on the ABC network in various permutations from 1969 to 1975.-History:...
.
Episodes currently are syndicated under The Bold Ones
The Bold Ones
The Bold Ones is the umbrella title for several television series. It was produced by Universal Television and broadcast on NBC from 1969 to 1973...
umbrella title, and can be seen on the RTV network.
See also
Father John Blackwood "Blackie" Ryan-a similar priest character who solves crimes in novels written by Andrew GreeleyAndrew Greeley
Father Andrew M. Greeley is an Irish-American Roman Catholic priest, sociologist, journalist and fiction writer....
Father Frank Dowling-priest character created by Ralph McInerny
Ralph McInerny
Ralph Matthew McInerny was a Roman Catholic, American, philosopher, University professor, and prolific author, including fiction of which some appeared under the pseudonyms of Harry Austin, Matthew FitzRalph, Ernan Mackey, Edward Mackin, and Monica Quill, and mysteries of which his best known is...
who solves crimes in several novels written by McInerny and in the subsequent TV show
Father Dowling Mysteries
Father Dowling Mysteries is an American television mystery series that appeared between November 30, 1987 and May 2, 1991. For its first season, the show was on NBC; it moved to ABC network for its last two seasons...