TV Guide Presents - Banacek: The First Season

A decade before THE A-TEAM, silver-screen leading man George Peppard made his television debut with the 1970s mystery series BANACEK. Part of the early-'70s wave of clever crime dramas that also included COLUMBO and MCCLOUD, the detective series followed the crimefighting adventures of insurance investigator Thomas Banacek (Peppard), a wealthy Bostonian who tracked down stolen property for a hefty commission. Banacek was aided in his efforts by his wisecracking chauffeur, Jay (Ralph Manza), and his bookstore-owner friend, Felix (Murray Matheson), while making sure to honor his Polish-American heritage with a string of obtuse Polish proverbs. This collection presents the series' debut season, which includes guest appearances by Michael Lerner, Margot Kidder, Brenda Vaccaro, and Mike Farrell.