p.s. I'm certain The Untouchables (one of my favorites) was a Desilu production. I heard Robert Stack mention it more than once.
You are entirely correct. The Untouchables initially aired in April of '59, as a two-part episode of the
Desilu Playhouse series. (This is where episodes of the Lucy/Desi Comedy Hour aired which featured
the hour long shows of Lucy, Ricky, Fred & Ethel.) The Untouchables was such a huge ratings hit that
a series was immediately brought into production. The original two-part episode was re-cut as a movie
and was shown in movie theaters in the U.S. and abroad to gain publicity for the upcoming series that
fall. It was also syndicated to stations across the country after that for years. The first season dvd of
The Untouchables includes the two parter in the "film version," but adds the introductions and original
credits of the Desilu Playhouse version as an added extra.
In 1966, I believe it was, three years after it was off the air, The Lucy Show did an episode
reuniting three of The Untouchables characters, including Robert Stack. Although they didn't
use their character names, they were playing their Untouchables characters, including Robert
Stack, and it was quite amusing. That episode is on one of the dvd's as a bonus extra, too.
SNL in it's second season did a parody of The Untouchables with Dan Aykroyd playing Ness.
I had always heard how violent this show was and at the time it was considered extreme.
Watching them now you may harken back to a "simpler" time and wonder what audiences
would think of today's television programs.
I've always been a fan. I also enjoyed the film. I could never get into the syndicated series
done in the early 90's, though. Did anyone know that a musical was done called "Eliot Ness
in Cleveland?" True!
I attended a Paley Festival event celebrating this series back in the early 90's. Robert Stack
was there as well as some other cast members. They showed an episode and had a panel
discussion. Was great!
