Shark Bytes

Route 66 was an absolutely brillant
adaptation of the Jack Kerouac novel
On the Road originally published in
1957. Sterling Stilliphant was a
writer of outstanding talent who
made the episodes so compelling.
The series was one of the very first
TV shows to deal with drug addiction
and still stands head and shoulders
over much of television then and now.

I don't think the show ever jumped. I'm one of the few that seemed to like Glenn Corbett's character. While he didnt have Maharis' charsisma, he also didn't have Maharis' corniness. I found Buz Murdock too much over the top at times. I think the show was fantastic all the way thru, except the episodes when Martin Milner was alone, he just couldn't carry the show by himself

This show is one of the finest offerings in the history of Television. In terms of social relevance, only The Fugitive rivals or eclipses it outright. Martin Milner was the perfect chauffeur for George Maharis smouldering character. The two had excellent chemistry together. Milner wasn't the dominating actor, nor did he have to be. However, Milner did shine in specific episodes, such as Most Vanquished, Most Victorious, The Thin White Line, and Mon Petit Chou. These shows required credible rage and pugilistic skill on the part of Milner. Milner's problem was that he couldn't carry the show alone. This fact was painfully evident during Maharis' bout with hepatitis.
Maharis never returned and the show NEVER recovered. Corbett, who would've been perfect on Adam 12, was wooden and never seemed to fit in. He was selected out of panic. Two great choices for the role of Buz would've been Burt Reynolds or Michael Parks. Parks would've been available and he would've excelled.

This show was clearly Maharis vehicle. He was deliberately put through unfair physical changes due to his sexual preference. George loved that show and it is evident in his performances.
I still can't get into the Corbett episodes, though some of them weren't bad at all.

All in all, the Silliphant poetry waxed overwrought at times. But even in the most extreme conditions, the show was one of the great discoveries on the TV prairie...

After having watching the first 15 episodes contained on the recently released DVD set, I have to admit the show has its charms which were not readily apparent after viewing only the first couple of shows. One thing that's readily apparent is how much it is George Maharis show and I can understand that once he left, the show jumped. I'm surprised he didn't enjoy more of a film/TV career afterwards. Martin Milner is mostly there as the straight man and the guest stars keep getting better, I assume, as the show gained a popular following. Looking forward to future DVD releases of this show.

Having recently purchased the DVD set of Season 1 (well 15 episodes worth), I am encouraged by all the postings unanimously praising Route 66. However, upon watching the first episode, I was astounded at how bad it was on all fronts: acting, writing, premise. Everything. Maybe it will get better, but the first episode "Black November" was everything that was bad about the Golden Age of TV - stilted overacting, arch dialog where characters talk in speeches and everything is a f#@! metaphor. The small southern town where nobody dares enter or leave! The wolf tree that covers everything in darkness, even truth and justice! The evil patriarch, his cowardly son and fearful townfolk. These people need a couple of wild and crazy guys in a Corvette to save them! Bad ass Buz doesn't back down from anyone, even when he has a shotgun pointed at him. Somehow, he's able to subdue his foes with the strength of 10! Todd, the very uncharismatic Martin Milner, makes white bread interesting by comparison. Even the tough guy is dressed like a preppy. I hope the rest of the episodes prove previous posters correct and that the show is indeed a classic. But not so far.

Never Jumped! I have to agree that George Maharis episodes were my favorite but that doesn't stop me from watching the later episodes. I agree with all the earlier posts that the theme song was absolutely the coolest! The great news is that the first 15 episodes will be released on DVD on October 23, 2007 with more being released about every 6 months until all 116 episodes are released. I remember the final episode (a two-parter) where Barbara Eden (I Dream of Jeanie) marries Martin Milner and and Glenn Corbett's final line was something to the effect of "it's only a two-seater" when they realize that Milner's marriage means that they must part ways.

This series was a part of my childhood. The theme music was, and still is, THE coolest jazz theme (with apologies to Mike Post) ever arranged (Nelson Riddle, we MISS you.) The plots were always riveting, and, yes, I miss George Maharis' face in the later episodes. Nevertheless, Martin Milner was always good, and the 1961 drop-top Corvette was evey young man's dream! This series never "jumped the shark" even after George Maharis jumped ship!

Scott

Not to sound repetitious to all the other posters but here goes. My favorite show growing up. I was in high school when the show started. I stopped watching after George Maharis left the series. In the very early days of "Nick at Nite" they started showing some episodes, then pulled the show. They filmed one of the episodes in my hometown (San Pedro, CA). I remember going down to watch them film.We saw the corvette and Martha Hyer which was very exciting at the time. Never got to see GM or MM. Let's hope that there is enough interest so that the rest of the seasons get released to video.

It is sad that this show is not shown on cable. Great insight into early 60's America with a terrific theme song. Great actors too- though George Maharis and Martin Milner were the best pairing. Such terrific writing and script ideas!

Maybe the best drama series in TV history. For sure the best theme song! Maharis was great and I don't understand why his later career was not better. Milner was a good compliment to Maharis. Corbett did his best, but he always appeared stiff. It's too bad because the writing on the show was consistently good throughout the series. Some of the better writing was during the Corbett time. I think Michael Park would have been great as a replacement for Maharis. That was evident during the episode he played the washed-up boxer. He also showed he could handle it during the "Then Came Bronson" series. The show never appears dated today and is so appealing with its outside settings. I'm sure today it would be too expensive to pull that off. Too bad.

This was a terrific idea for a TV show back in the early 1960s. Two young guys touring the open roads, feeling their oats in a gorgeous 'Vette convertible! Straitlaced Marty Milner had a hard time convincing us with that crooked "Elvis" smile, but George Maharis provided the headstrong bravado that made this series a real winner. The jazzy theme song and the amazing imagery at the show's opening was one of the most effective hooks ever for an American-made TV series. Dramatized, but the concept would've worked well as a reality show. I often wonder why the networks never tried another such anthology series, because it was clear this series has remained fixed in the minds of all those who ever saw, or heard of it. For example a series featuring two women on the road, or a man and woman? Man and his dog? Horse?

When George Maharis left the show. There is a reason that he was the only actor of the two leads that received an Emmy nomination. He apparently blasted the entire "Route 66" group when he felt mistreated during the time that he was out with hepatitis. CBS/Screen Gems should have tried to keep him.

A truly different and underrated show which should have lasted far longer than just four seasons. Like so many posters I think the show JTS when George Maharis (a longtime favorite of mine) left. Sexy and smoldering, yet talented and likeable, Maharis was the linchpin of the show, in my opinion-- Martin Milner was just along for the ride (pun intended). I have never been a Milner fan, and wish that Glenn Corbett could have been Maharias' partner all along. Buz would have brought out the passion in Linc! (Of course since Maharis is gay THAT line has a whole other meaning.) Anyway, the episodes highlighting Maharis were by far the better. I remember the great one where Buz went temporarily blind--I'm betting this is the episode that Maharis submitted when he was Emmy-nominated in 1962. I never felt a chemistry between Milner and Maharis, and am not surprised to hear of difficulties between the two off screen. Too bad the dull one stayed on the show. At least the kickass theme music stayed the same.

I loved everything about this show when I was a kid. The theme song, the car, the actors, the storylines, EVERYTHING. I know it jumped by the exit-stage left rule but I say NO WAY. I do agree with an above poster that another actor such as Michael Parks could have been a better replacement. However, ROUTE 66 was a unique look at a world that has not been seen since. It was a one-of a kind show. The great theme song was a perfect match- that music makes you feel like you're driving a fast car.

Jeremy Slate gave a strong performance in "Ever Ride The Waves in Oklahoma?". Slate was Hobbs, a skillful, bold, arrogant surfer. Buz Murdock accepts Slate's challenge to a surfing duel. The episode benefited from beautiful black and white photography of the beach and incisive performances from Maharis and Slate. It was probably the physical demands of episodes like this one that caused Maharis to get sick and have to leave the show. (That water looked cold!) The point of the episode was that if Slate lived in Oklahoma he would be showing off in pool halls rather than at the beach. In either place, he was nothing more than a bum. A little moralistic for my taste, but interesting and one of the great episode titles. Slate nicely played off his good guy, beach bum/skin diver role two seasons prior on "The Aquanauts"/"Malibu Run" (1960-61).