Kojak back on the beat
Lollipop-sucking New York police detective Kojak will make a long-awaited return to US television tomorrow night.
But the classic character, famed for his catchline “Who loves ya, baby?” will not be quite the man he was in the 1970s.
Played by Pulp Fiction star Ving Rhames, Theo Kojak returns as a policeman who plays by his own rules, twisting the law so a criminal can be reunited with his family.
Rhames, also an executive producer of the series, has big shoes to fill after Telly Savalas made the iconic role his own.
While the lollipop and trademark hat remain, he could not look more different to the late, bald Greek actor.
Rhames has made light of the situation and said: “Telly’s Greek, I’m African-American. If we take that away, we’re really the same.”
The actor says all he wants is for people to be honest with him.
“I think a lot of that part of my personality will come out in this Kojak,” he said.
“He is a man who cares about the death of hookers, the death of anyone. But he’s also a guy who does something that one has to question: Does the ends justify the means? He’s very imperfect.”
The series premieres with a special two hour episode on USA Network.
