Banacek
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- Not to be confused with Banachek.
Banacek (one of the rotating NBC Mystery Movie series) was a short lived light hearted detective TV series on NBC from 1972 to 1974. George Peppard played Thomas Banacek, a Boston-based freelance investigator who worked mostly for finder's fees offered by insurance companies by solving seemingly impossible theft cases. The show had a mixture of humor combined with rather intricate plots that never generated the ratings needed to keep it on the air. Despite the mediocre ratings, however, the show was well received by critics, and had been picked up for a third season. Alas, before the third season could start production, Peppard quit the show in order to prevent his ex-wife Elizabeth Ashley from receiving a larger percentage of his earnings as part of their divorce settlement.
Banacek's catch-phrase was, "There's an old Polish proverb that says ...".
Also featured were Ralph Manza as Banacek's chauffeur Jay Drury, Murray Matheson as rare-bookstore owner Felix Mulholland, and Christine Belford as Carlie Kirkland.
A customized 1969 American Motors AMX was built for the second regular season episode. The car became known as the AMX-400 and it is now owned by an automobile collector. Other continuing cars in the series were a 1941 Packard 180 with a Victoria body by Howard "Dutch" Darrin (license plate number 178344) and a 1973 Cadillac Fleetwood limousine (mobile telephone number KL 17811).
Banacek alternated in its timeslot with several other shows, but it was the only one to last beyond its first season. It was later rebroadcast on A&E Network.
[edit] Episodes
Pilot
1. Banacek: Detour to Nowhere
Season One
2. Let's Hear It For A Living Legend
3. Project Phoenix
4. No Sign of the Cross
5. A Million the Hard Way
6. To Steal A King
7. Ten Thousand Dollars A Page
8. The Greatest Collection of Them All
9. The Two Million Clams of Cap'n Jack
Season Two
10. No Stone Unturned
11. If Max Is So Smart, Why Doesn't He Tell Us Where He Is?
12. The Three Million Dollar Piracy
13. The Vanishing Chalice
14. Horse of A Slightly Different Color
15. Rocket to Oblivion
16. Fly Me- If You Can Find Me
17. Now You See Me, Now You Don't
