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■Mannix is TV producer’s dreamBy DICK KLEINERHOLLYWOOD -(NEA) - One of the favorite conversational subjects at Hollywood parties is the behavior of stars. With great relish, the folks love to exchange the latest stories about theitemperamental antics of this one or the scandalous escapades of that one.And then, invariably, somebody will say how lucky Ivan Goff and Ben Roberts are. And, if Goff or Roberta are present, they will roll their eyes heavan -ward and agree.Goff and Roberta produce CBS* Mannix and they are deemed fortunate because their star is Mike Connors. And Connors is that rarity — a star who seems totally devoid of any trace of annoying temperament and completely without the need to get involved in scandal.There has never been an unkind word said about him by anybody' he works With. There have been attempts, since Mannix began, to . trump up a feud between him and his on - screen secretary, played by Gail Fisher, but they haven't worked.About the only problem around seems to be what will happen when that inevitable day comes and Mannix goes.iNow that Raymond Burr’s Ironside series has been axed, Mannix has become vulnerable^ It’s been around eight years, which is ancient by current TV standards.Connors admits he’s*thinking ahead. He says that if and when Mannix is cancelled, he’ll probably take a year off “to recharge my batteries; to get a fresh outlook on my carrer.” But he will undoubtedly then do another series. He’s too valuable a property for the TV moguls to let sit on the beach, even though he could probably afford to retire. And he admits that another series is highly probable. The only question seems tobe what kind of aseries, what sort of a character would he like to play? 1“I don’t want to be either a doctor or a lawyer,” Connors says, “and certainly not another private eye. What’s left? Teachers and politicians don’t work on TV. Maybe anewspaperman — if it’s done well, that might work.”A newspaper series never has been done well on TV but he’s right — it might work. And Connors is handsome enough to be a newspaperman, perhaps.The problem for creators of TV series isMIKE CONNORSjust that — what profession to give the leading character. Connors put his. finger on the sore spot.“You know,” he says, “if you take out law -and order shows and situation comedies, there’s not enough left on TV to fill three nights.”Eight years of Mannix — eight years of anything — is enough to make most actors bored with the character they are playing. Mike Connors says he’s still not bored with playing Joe Mannix and he says it is the chance to work with new and different people each week, that enables him to stay fresh and unbored.“Everybody,” he says, “reacts differently when confronted by different people. Having new people on the show week after week allows me the luxury of a new and fresh reaction. As a human being, I get to meet new personalities and new problems. And that keeps me fresh.”Most of TV’s current crop of shows allows the star to share the burden with others — often as many as three or four other characters are regulars, thus spreading the work load. But Mannix is alone (except for Miss Fisher) and, thus, the work load is almost entirely on Connors’ shoulders.He gets up every mor-ning, when he’s shooting, at 5:30 and it’s a rare day when he’s home before eight in the evening. He admits that he is physically tired.Besides the acting, he does most of his own stunts. He estimated that between 80 and 85 per.cent of what we see on the screen he doeshimself.
Newspaper Details
Lethbridge Herald
Lethbridge, Alberta, CA
Tue, Jan 28, 1975
Page 6
Full Page
Clipped by
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PA, USA 19 Mar 2023
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