Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, February 20, 1993 TAG: 9302200346
SECTION: SPECTATOR PAGE: S-22 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Los Angeles Times
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
SAVALAS DABBLES IN DRAMA, BUT HIS HEART'S IN COMEDY
Telly Savalas is coming clean."To tell you the truth, I don't remember sucking lollipops," Savalas says.
Quite a confession from the Emmy-winning actor who became a household name as the lollipop-loving New York detective Lt. Theo Kojak on the 1973-78 CBS series "Kojak." Savalas first introduced the character of Kojak on the acclaimed 1973 CBS movie "The Marcus Nelson Murders."
So what's the real scoop on the lollipops?
"[Kojak] had an occasional lollipop," Savalas says. "I conceived the idea. Look, [in the series] this chick, a meter maid, wants me to stop smoking. She hands me a lollipop, so I suck a lollipop. So, it just caught on didn't it? Like a jerk, I sucked a lollipop."
Over the years, Savalas has resurrected Kojak for a series of TV movies but has shied away from doing episodic television. After a two-year absence, Savalas is back on the small screen, guest-starring in a trilogy of episodes on ABC's detective series "The Commish."
Savalas is playing Tommy Colette, a well-known mobster who moves to the small town of Eastbridge, N.Y., to retire. However, Commissioner Tony Scali (Michael Chiklis) is skeptical about Colette's retirement. The first installment aired Dec. 19; the second last week and the conclusion will air today (Saturday).
So what lured Savalas back to television?
"Well, the first reward is that I have got my grandchildren up here," says Savalas on the phone from Vancouver where "The Commish" is filmed.
"My son-in-law is the producer, so I didn't do him any harm by doing the shows. The show is delightful, and it has been so long since I have worked on episodic television I was surprised. It is not leisurely, but the pacing is a little bit different than if you are a lead of the show. As a guest star, you can sit back for the most part and have fun with it."
His character Colette, Savalas says, treats the Commish like a "really small-time commissioner. I have been up against the [Thomas] Deweys and the Kennedys and a little guy from a small town is not going to bother me too much. I turn out to be wrong."
Although Savalas enjoys doing the occasional "Kojak" movie, he doesn't think he'd want another series "unless I could do a comedy. I am a funny guy. I don't want to play bad guys any more. Though I welcome this part to break away from my good-guy image."
Savalas, who received a best supporting actor nomination for 1962's "The Birdman of Alcatraz," has tried his hand at comedy, starring in 1963's "The Man From the Diner's Club" and "Love Is a Ball" and 1969's "Buona Sera, Mrs. Campbell" ("that is one of my favorite pictures").
"[Tell producers] to give me a girl, not a gun," Savalas says, laughing.
"The Commish" airs Saturday nights on ABC (at 10 p.m. on WSET-Channel 13); repeats of "Kojak" air Sunday nights on cable's WGN.