I'm not sure I ever saw the Starsky and Hutch pilot when it premiered in 1975, but I was a huge fan of the show in 1976 and 1977; my diary is filled with references to my favorite episodes. So, I tried to watch the pilot with fresh eyes and to be conscious of what would grab your attention in 1975, before you knew these characters at all. First, the banter between Starksy and Hutch keeps things moving and keeps them connected as the story moves along. I think they were channeling M*A*S*H a bit here, as it's the only show I can remember that does something similar with dialog. It's a serious job and trouble is always around the corner, but they can counter some that with a bit of humor and irony that only they are in on. Next, we have a team, partner cops. Most cop shows at the time were single player - Columbo. Kojak. Rockford, even Gunsmoke. The Starsky and Hutch pilot establishes them right away as a team, patrolling that beat together for at least three years. They don't always play by the rules, but they get the job done, even if it is a crazy, thankless job. And the only way they know how to do the job is together, depending on each other for everything, because no one else is a completely trusted commodity. You watch them puzzle out the situation; Hutch figures out "who", Starsky figures out "why". In the climatic scene, they run the stairs to catch the bad guys, separately but together, Starsky inside, Hutch outside, and in constant communication because when they work together, no one can beat them. And you, as a viewer, are (almost) included in their safe little circle of two. It's them (and you) against the world, and I think we've got this.The pilot has held up quite well after forty years. Except for the pay phones, walkie-talkies and clothes, it still looks real and goes together great. It's my goal to review every episode. I was pretty obsessed with the show as a love-sick teen, but now I can appreciate the subtleties, the really fine acting and the quality of the dialog. Onward and forward.

If only the subsequent episodes had been as good as the pilot. OK, the first season showed promise, but after that the series degenerated into a parody of itself. But the pilot for Starsky and Hutch was, at its time, the grittiest cop show that had been on TV (the pilot premiered as one of those ABC made-for-TV "Movies of the Week" during the 70s). This Starsky and Hutch is dark and violent, but not without a sense of humor. The dialog is above average, the story is actually pretty good, and Soul and Glaser both do a fine job as two tough plainclothes cops of the "cowboy" type that some big city departments have (as opposed to the standard suit-and-tie detectives). They're also believable as friends, and it's that chemistry that kept the show going even after the writers had long since run out of ideas. This pilot took it's cues from uber-violent 70s cop movies like Dirty Harry. To give you an idea, in the opening sequence you witness two hit men blow away two kids in a car..at point blank range. Even though it was the days before showing gore and blood splattering on TV was commonplace, that scene is disturbing. As things turn out, it looks like Starsky and Hutch were the actual targets. The two wade through the seedy streets (and the various shady characters and street stoolies) of the unnamed Southern California metropolis where they work, looking for answers as to who is trying to kill them and why.

As previously mentioned, this is a surprisingly gritty, dark and violent pilot for what would become one of the most popular TV shows of the '70s. While the series itself eventually evolved into (or degenerated into, depending on your point of view) a somewhat corny buddy-buddy show, you sure couldn't tell by this pilot. A couple is shot down on the streets of L.A. in a seemingly random killing, but the two detectives investigating the shooting discover that the couple was murdered by mistake--the actual targets were the detectives themselves. The pair then have to use all their wiles, skills and contacts in the city's seedy criminal underground to find out who is trying to kill them, and why. Soul and Glaser work extremely well together and play off each other as though they'd been doing it all their lives, the supporting cast is first-rate, the writing is sharp and clever, and it's very tightly directed by Barry Shear. It has exciting car chases, taut action scenes, some welcome humor, and the great chemistry between Soul and Glazer. A worthy effort from producer Aaron Spelling.

this is the pilot for the t.v series Starsky and Hutch. it has a great story as the detectives search for the two hit men hired to kill them. best line in movie has Starsky asking Hutch "who are we suposed to trust?" Hutch replies "me and thee".these two guys really care about each other,which is what made the following series so great.