Sketch o’the Week- Robert Blake!

Dat’s the name of dat tune! We continue our series of classic TV detectives with Robert Blake (and “Fred”). The 1970’s TV cop drama “Baretta” followed the adventures of undercover detective Anthony “Tony” Baretta played Blake. The series was actually a sort of continuation of a 1973-74 TV show called “Toma”, which was based on real-life detective Dave Toma. Toma was a loner and maverick Newark, New Jersey detective who used disguises and often ignored conventional police procedure but gained national fame for his success as a cop. The show was cancelled after one season because the main star left. It was recasted and retooled somewhat with Blake being hired as the new lead, and became “Baretta”. The new show ran four seasons and netted Blake an Emmy for Best Actor in a Drama Series. Blake has had one of the longest careers in Hollywood, starting out as a child actor in 1939 in the MGM “Our Gang/Little Rascals” film shorts and transitioning into adult roles throughout the 60’s and into the 90’s. He was tried and acquitted for the murder of his wife Bonnie Lee Bakley in 2005, but found liable in a civil court. An all around bizarre story. Regardless of all that, “Baretta” was a great show.