Customer Reviews

S.W.A.T. - The Complete First Season

5 star:		(58)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Ah, those unforgettable words...especially poignant since they were said to me by Steve Forrest (Hondo)a number of times. Yep, I played T.J. McCabe in the original series, the guy with the bolt action scope rifle who'd climb up on high places (technically the sniper was called the "high man"), yank my cap around and try to emulate Steve McQueen's smooth moves with guns. So it's a real gas to see the original 13 come out on DVD...especially because I never had good copies of the originals!

SWAT was a great experience, with a bunch of great guys. We were surprised when they cancelled the show...it had been doing great, #1 all summer...then ABC switched it to try to win another night...good old network TV wisdom...and we lost our audience.

The scuttlebutt around the 20th Fox lot was that Aaron Spelling hated the show...it wasn't what he felt his name should be associated with...you may remember he went on to do Family and Dallas after that...so he allegedly swapped us out for Starsky and Hutch, which was a more character-driven show. Can't say I blame him...the writing got pretty stale pretty quick, because at least one of the line producers would take good scripts and turn them around to focus on Hondo and also dumb 'em up in favor of action, whereas we kept hoping they'd give us more of a shot at a Rookies-style, character-strong program.

We did have a lot of fun in that short 35 episodes...and I was particularly happy to find out that Rod Perry (Deke), whom I believed, thanks to a story Mark Shera (Luca)told me in the mid-80s, had died of a heart attack way back then, is in fact still very much alive!

But still sad that my old pal Bob Urich (Jim Street in SWAT, Dan Tana in Vegas, Spencer in Spencer for Hire)is gone for real. He was a good and good hearted man.

The only bummer about the new movie is that at least a couple of the guys from the old show did brief cameos in the flick, but since I live in NY, and the casting agent told me there was no real effort to include all of us anyway as in a reunion scene, I got left out of the movie. That was a little disappointing, I would have loved to do a bit in it, especially since they reprised our original character names (and made my character into a bad guy!) Well, that's Hollywood for you.

Best news is I'm happy to hear our old fans are still out there and rooting for good over evil on the streets of L.A. Thanks for still digging the show, everybody!

your ever-lovin', crime-fightin' T.J.

James Coleman

Well, I played Dominic Luca in the original series, and what Jim has told you (above) about the devolution of the writing and focus of the show is true. Aaron Spelling was embarrassed about the series' violence--mild compared to today's fare. And with more than a little public pressure, the networks conceived and implemented what came to be known as the "Family Hour." No guns, no death, no violence. And soon after, no SWAT. But I'm afraid his recollection of a rumor about Rod Perry's demise is a little fuzzy. Not only is Jim's mention of Rod's heart attack news to me, but no such story of Rod's death was relayed to Jim by your's truly. And yes sadly, Bob Urich's passing was a terrible shock and sadness to us all. He left a great legacy, though. And he lives on in this wonderful compilation of shows. Great fun to view episodes that I've not seen in decades!

BTW: I didn't get a chance to be in the film because...well... no one asked. LOL!!!

Best,
MS in LA

This is one of the 1970s action dramas about S.W.A.T team in action. Many of us who enjoyed this show were saddened that this show did not reappear in re-runs and thanks to the producers and the studio for 13 glorious episodes (three DVDs). Now we have the opportunity to view, entertain and enjoy this show. This is one of the few shows about a team of cops in action. There were several single cop shows such as Beretta; two-cop shows such as Starsky and Hutch, but S.W.A.T is the only one about a team. The show stars well known actor Steve Forrest and this show also paved way for the success of Robert Urich (Vegas) and Mark Shera (Barnaby Jones). I hope the success of this DVD set will convince Columbia TriStar to produce second set of DVD covering the second season.

It has been a long time since season 1 came out. Season 2 is way past due. Whats going on? Where is season 2? Are they even gonna put it out?

Season One of S.W.A.T.is not enough. It's time for you to give us Season Two already.

I recently picked up Season One of "S.W.A.T." and I was really amazed at the overall quality of this release. What a treat it is to finally have the first 13 episodes complete with digitally remastered audio and video. In my opinion the picture and sound are truly amazing and they have never looked and sounded better. Not only do I get to own Season One on DVD but I get to relive some of my childhood memories all over again with this wonderful set.

This show made quite an impression on me as a 10 year old; In fact some of the other neighborhood kid's and me formed our own S.W.A.T. club. We outfitted ourselves with black t-shirts, caps and pants. We carried authentic police band Walkie Talkies and plastic guns and Daisy air rifles. I of course was T.J and many times I could be found on the roof of our house waiting to take down the bad guy's, unless my Dad was coming up the ladder to take me down!

Anyway enough of that, If your a fan of S.W.A.T. you definitely can't go wrong buying this set from Amazon. Thanks to the magic of DVD and this amazing Season one set I get to revisit a little slice of my childhood when ever I want. In my opinion this 3 single sided disc set complete with great artwork and packaging is well done. Sadly the pilot episode that started it all has not been included in this release and that's disappointing! I hope that the remaining episodes from season two are on the way and some bonus material or the (original pilot) will be included this time around.

From the moment the theme music starts and the S.W.A.T. van doors burst open you're hooked. Join Lt "Hondo" Harrelson, Officers Deacon, Street, Luca and T.J. for a sharp shooting good time!

DVD Features:
-Digitally remastered audio and video
-Episode selections
-Interactive menus
-Trailers

DVD Episodes:
-The Killing Ground
-Coven of Killers
-Death Carrier
-Pressure Cooker
-Hit Men
-Jungle War
-Death Score
-Time Bomb
-The Bravo Enigma
-The Steel-Plated Security Blanket
-Omega One
-Blind Man's Bluff
-Sole Survivor

Wow! What a stroll down memory lane! I remember playing SWAT with my friends and even had a plastic replica gun from the show. Every summer when I went down to my grandparents in Southern California I wouldn't miss an episode on Channel 5. Since there were no VCR's or DVD's back then, I used to set my cassette recorder in front of the TV and record the sounds so I could still re-live each episode after I went back home to Northern California. I am so glad to see the release of this show on DVD. I didn't have to read reviews to know that I wanted this set. I got it for my birthday and I have watched all 13 episodes many times, so HEY SONY.... WHERE'S THE REST OF THEM???????? It is definitely a "must have" set.

It's been nearly two years since the release of Season One. It's borderline criminal not to release the final series after so long a time.

Hi my name is Joey I am thirteen so I never saw SWAT. I hadn't even heard about it 'till the movie came out. I then bought the DVD when it came out and saw that SWAT 1st season was out on DVD and saw some clips so within that week I bought it. It was such a great show. It was cancelled before its time and unike some of my other favorite shos like 24 it barely shows blood and its not like one of those corny family hour shows like the Brady Bunch. I think they should revive the series for todays audiences it would be great and I can't wait till they release the second season. My only beef with it was there were no special features and not even a scene selection. I disagree that some of my friends said it was stupid it was great go and buy it.

It has been five years! since I purchased the first season. Thoroughly enjoying every episode. I have been waiting patiently, as many other fans have, for season two to appear. The same is true for many other shows...Charlie's Angels, The Partridge Family, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Hart To Hart, T.J.Hooker.....