Do You Remember John Shaft the TV Series ? "No, you remember the movies"

 After Comic

Folks, Richard Roundtree had the kind of screen presence you couldn’t manufacture. He could walk into a room, give somebody that look, and you knew John Shaft meant business.

In The Enforcers, Shaft faces people who believe their standing in the community gives them the right to decide who lives and who dies. That makes for a dangerous case—and a story that still gives you something to think about.

Television toned down some of the movie character’s rough edges, but Roundtree still brought the confidence and cool. The CBS series lasted only seven episodes. Personally, I would have liked to see it get more time to develop. This episode is fire, and I think it makes a good argument for giving television’s Shaft another look.

Here are five things you might not know:

• This episode has two names. You may find it listed as The Enforcers or The Executioners. They refer to the same opening episode, first broadcast on October 9, 1973. That explains why searching for it can get confusing!

• Shaft didn’t get a new adventure every week. CBS rotated the show with Hawkins, starring Jimmy Stewart, and other television movies. Viewers couldn’t simply tune in every Tuesday expecting another Shaft case.

• That familiar face is Robert Culp. The actor who played Kelly Robinson on I Spy appears here as Cunningham. Watching a performer you remember from another favorite show is part of the pleasure of revisiting these old episodes.

• A future Little House star appears here. Melissa Sue Anderson plays Cathy. Before audiences knew her as Mary Ingalls on Little House on the Prairie, she was making guest appearances on shows including Shaft. Keep an eye out for her!

• Roundtree’s television paycheck was substantial. According to Shaft historian Steve Aldous, he received $30,000 per episode—in 1970s dollars. His name and presence were central to bringing the movie character to television.

Now settle in for Bootleg Comic Theater below. I’ll give you a short introduction, then The Enforcers starts from the beginning. The free Internet Archive copy could be removed or become unavailable, so enjoy it while it’s available—and see whether you agree with me that this show deserved a longer run.

BOOTLEG COMIC THEATER / SHAFT — THE ENFORCERS

Tap the picture for BJ’s introduction, followed by the episode.