Banacek

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Banacek ranks 4,176 out of the 18,228 shows on TV.com.

The 48 users who count themselves as Banacek fans have written a total of 5 reviews.

Status

Premiered

Ended

Genre

Theme

Banacek, a suave, debonair, freelance insurance investigator, only takes on the impossible cases and at twice the normal recovery fee. Insurance companies are loath to call on his services for the recovery of lost or stolen insured items because of these fees. Nevertheless, they call on him when they get... more »

Banacek, a suave, debonair, freelance insurance investigator, only takes on the impossible cases and at twice the normal recovery fee. Insurance companies are loath to call on his services for the recovery of lost or stolen insured items because of these fees. Nevertheless, they call on him when they get stuck, as no one else can solve these impossible cases.

A self-made millionaire, and living in Boston's posh Beacon Hill area, Thomas Banacek (played by actor George Peppard) has a taste for only the finest things. Being of Polish decent, he also loves to recite enigmatic Polish proverbs.

Although there always seemed to be a career insurance agent looking to beat Banacek to the prize, thus saving the insurance company Banacek's hefty fee, the most strong willed of them was Carlie Kirkland (played by actress Christine Belford). Her plan was simple, get close to Banacek, learn what he finds out and recover the item just before Banacek can.

Banacek is aided in his efforts by his limo chauffer and gofer, Jay (played by actor Ralph Manza). Jay usually has his own ideas on how the items were taken, and also has dreams of recovering the items himself first and get the reward.

Banacek also relies heavily on his close friend and bibliophile/bookstore owner Felix Mulholland (played by actor Murray Matheson) to help in background research.less «

• DVD release

  Season one of Banacek is being released May 15th on DVD!

  Season one of Banacek is being released May 15th on DVD! less «

  angelachase Last online 3 days ago
  2 comments, last one Oct 22, 2007 + Add Comment

• Favorite and ...if any....least favorite episode

  A few years back Banacek was on A&E and I made sure to tape them whenever it was on...so my favorite episode is Ten ThousandDollars a Page. I was either in 6th and 7th grade when this series was on and I can recall a few epsiodes including the one listed.8)

  A few years back Banacek was on A&E and I made sure to tape them whenever it was on...so my favorite episode is Ten ThousandDollars a Page. I was either in 6th and 7th grade when this series was on and I can recall a few epsiodes including the one listed.8)less «

  pounder19r Last online 16 hrs, 16 mins ago
  1 comments, last one Jul 2, 2007 + Add Comment

•  

  6 Fair

  Very much of it's time (i.e. sexist) - otherwise pretty good. hide « show »

  A debonair millionaire detective (sort of a James Bond/Thomas Crown Affair mix) solves crimes in the early '70's.
  
  It's a little hard to watch since it's very much of it's time.
  But if you can ignore the sexism, the plots are still pretty interesting. I've only seen two episodes, but so far the mysteries have been pretty interesting.
  
  The "polish pride" thing going on and the Polish aphorims he quotes (are those real by the way??) are in interesting character quirk. This show aired before I was even born, but I'd be curious to know if Boston was as 'anti-pole' as it's portrayed (I don't recall that being an especially despised ethnicity - yes, I've heard of Pole jokes, but still...).

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  kyravon Added Mar 10, 2008 All my reviews
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  7 Good

  One of the few prime-time mystery shows to almost exclusively focus on "locked-room mysteries." hide « show »

  Aside from its Polish and proverb-spouting sleuth, "Banacek" set itself apart from the rest of the 1970s detective shows by the type of crimes it featured. While other TV gumshoes were tackling murders, "Banacek" looked at thefts, disappearances, and almost always solved what are known as "locked-room mysteries." On "Banacek," it's sometimes just as important to figure out how the crime was committed as it is to identify the guilty culprit. It's more intellectual than the average show ("McMillan & Wife," etc.) and shares more of a pedigree with "Columbo" than it does a lot of other shows.
  
  Case in point - "Let's Hear It for a Living Legend," in which a football player vanishes from under a tackle in the middle of a game. Not only must Banacek find the missing man, but he's got to discover how a man can vanish into thin air before a full stadium and TV cameras.
  
  The caliber of acting among the guest stars is pretty typical for the 1970s, but George Peppard doesn't measure up to fellow sleuths Peter Falk and James Garner, in my opinion. That could be because the writing is not supporting him, but I think it is his characterization. Banacek isn't an easy guy to like; even when Rockford is conning his way through a case, you love the guy. Peppard wore out his welcome for me.
  
  Still, an entertaining mystery series that offers some cases and crimes to crack that are unlike other shows of the era. I'd definitely recommend "Banacek" to mystery fans, but it's not in the same class as "Columbo."

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  jamoon2006 Added Oct 29, 2007 All my reviews
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  9 Superb

  A classic but...a little ahead of its time.... hide « show »

  Banacek was a very under-rated show that NBC should have done more with. Banacek/ George Peppard was a very classy guy who liked fine things and beautiful women. I was in 6th-8th grade when Banacek ran on NBC so I don't remember every episode or the reasons NBC pulled this show. However, NBC should have put Banacek on Sunday nights with McCloud, McMillian & Wife and Columbo. NBC had a Hit!! with the Sunday Mystery Movies and then went and tried the formula for other nights (Friday and Wednesday). Banacek was on Wednesday Nights with Cool Million (5 episodes) and Madigan (6 episodes), not really a lot of help to any series. What NBC should have done is give Columbo its very own time slot and put Banacek in its place. Banacek was set in Boston and he drove fancy cars, had a quick wit (with suspects, women and police etc) and had lots of pretty girlfriends....one every episode and thats where I think its a little ahead of its time. While the 70's shows weren't like 50's shows like Leave it to Beaver....a married couple having sperate beds. For Instance Columbo was married but you never saw his wife, McMillian & Wife...hint "wife" and Susan Saint James and Rock Hudson were seen in bed but nothing more than a kiss on the check or a little peck on the mouth....not to much passion there LOL....and McCloud had a steady girl (Diana Muldaur). While Banacek met up with a beautiful girl every episode. This show ran from 1972-74 and that might have been too early for viewers and/or advertisers. Banacek would have been a huge hit in the late 70's, 80's and also in the 2000's with good stories, good writing and lots of guest stars. After watching season 1 on DVD...Banacek for the present day....another George as in George Clooney as Banacek and you've got a huge hit

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  pounder19r Added Jul 4, 2007 All my reviews
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  2.4 Terrible

  not that good hide « show »

  this show was not that good even by the standards of 1973. i remember seeing it in re runs. it was just another action crime drama. i never liked george peppard even in the a team. which was a crap show too in my opinion. it was sad that he died before his time though.

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  CAPNDEL Added Jul 11, 2006 All my reviews
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  7.1 Good

  George Peppard plays a Polish detective in Boston. hide « show »

  Most of the episodes were pretty much the same. Something of great value dissapeared, usually in front of several witnesses, and only Banacek could figure out how and recover the item. There wasn't too much violence. I don't recall Banacek carrying a gun. Of course, Banacek got the girls too.

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  reneeisxena Added Jun 24, 2005 All my reviews