T.H.E. Cat - Artist und Detektiv

I've thought about this show so often, and no one ever knows what I'm talking about when I mention it. I was 10 years old when this was on, and was so impressed with how cool it was. It Takes a Thief was a sad substitute. Would LOVE to see this on some classic television station some time. What I'm having trouble reconciling is the Robert Loggia I now see with the cool (dare I say, sexy) guy I remember being in this show! How funny. I'm afraid the brief run of the series - only 1 season - makes it commercially unattractive, both for reruns on television and for a DVD - not enough potential for profit. Too bad. So many of the shows from that era were really "white bread," and this was different and edgy, as I remember it.

The main review hit it on head. I was a 9 or 10 kid in Portville California watching the cool Cat Loggia. He was more gutsy ( cat-gutsy?) than anything on TV. I stole my mom's black leotards and god-awful hot black sweater then rush out into the mid day heat to scale our walnut tree as if it was a high rise condo. I always imagined rescuing Annette Funicallo from her penthouse under siege from international thievies, some guys I did time with but those dorks turned on me. Yup, it was perfect fodder for a growing pre-teen tired of the unacrobatic honey thief Winnie the Pooh.

Whenever I see post-Cat Loggia performances, I remember his earlier invincible feline incarnation, expecting him to leap tall buildings with a single grappling hook, and I wonder if he longs for his old powers, too. I had power to rally a dark macho persona in me, ready to stalk the alleys of injustice to right the woeful wrongs, accompanied Lao jazz themes,...but alas, my bedtime in 1966 was 10 pm on THE nights.

Thanks Robert. Now I'm a mystery writer in SW Florida, created equally dark yet hopeful characters who defend the undefensible and get the girl eventually. It was great to see this IMDb listing to provide reference for my cherished times watching T.H.E. at the Gato Cafe.

Best regards, Will Lloyd willmation@comcast.net

In 1966 on Friday nights I had two brand new series to look forward to as a 13 year old.The Green Hornet & T.H.E.Cat were unique among the standard TV offerings of cop shows,lawyer shows,doctor shows & sitcoms.Cat was a former circus acrobat & jewel thief who did his prison time & now was on the side of law.But instead of the standard cliché of his becoming a p.i.,he sold his services as a bodyguard & security expert.This propelled him into many exciting adventures.He generally was clad in black pants & a turtleneck.His weapons were his "Cat's Claws" knives that were hidden up each shirt sleeve.He was athletic & fast and could easily scale over high fences,up the side of any building,& over rooftops with a lithe skill.The Lalo Schifrin musical score is superb,the writing excellent as were the actors,and the show had a dark & gritty look to it.It remains a favorite of mine today even though it only lasted one season.Like The Green Hornet it deserved a long run,but both series managed to become cult classics for many fans even with their short runs.

I can't add much, but I want to echo the comments of the person below. I thought this was the coolest show ever when I was 12, and was disappointed when it was canceled. There was a drum rhythm that was played during each tense scene that I still play in my mind nearly 40 years later. And like the person below, I can't find anybody who remembers it! I liked the way the star answered when anybody asked his name: "Cat, T. Hewitt Edward Cat." That's all I can remember, other than how cool he was with his black turtleneck sliding down wires from one building to the next. How come I never see this on late night cable? I'm getting sick of the Munsters and Leave it to Beaver.

Allow me to add my voice to those who consider this T.H.E. COOLEST TV show ever. It's amazing, judging by the comments here, how many 9- and 10-year-olds took to this show, which was supposed to be for grown-ups. It is still my dream, at age 50, to open a small night club with a flashing neon sign, and call it "Casa Del Gato." Beaded curtains, waitresses dressed 60's go-go style, live jazz seven nights a week...and I would be in the corner booth wearing a black turtleneck, talking to some guy with an eye-patch, or missing a hand. Oh, yes, it would be a nominally private club, so that smoking would be allowed (yup, I'm in one of THOSE states).