The Forgotten Room

It seems Theo Kojak knows every Greek in New York City, talk about a tight knit community. There's a homicide of a prostitute in a Greek neighborhood and an alert but not well liked security guard played by Oscar Beregi fingers this young Greek immigrant George Pan Andreas.

You can't find anyone to say an unkind word about him which causes Kojak some doubts. If he has to arrest him, he'd better have the evidence.

A couple of good guest star performances are in this episode. Oscar Homolka as the Greek Orothodox priest and Rhoda Gemignani who Andreas has been giving some kanoodling to ever since her husband died. She's a strong alibi witness for him.

Beware of Greeks bearing gifts.

"The Forgotten Room" starts very poorly...as for some inexplicable reason you hear Telly Savalas himself singing. Trust me...it's not particularly good. As the music blares, you see some man carrying a dead prostitute and dumping her along a stairwell. A security guard sees the body and soon sees a man nearby and he holds him for the police in case he was the assailant. However, the Greek immigrant swears he's innocent and Kojak thinks a local pimp and dirty movie producer might have done the murder. Who really did it and why?

A standout in the episode is Rhoda Gemignani, whose performance was pretty broad and awful. On the positive side, some excellent old time performers are also in small roles such as Alan Napier (of "Batman" fame) and Oscar Homolka (as a priest)...though Rhoda's acting dominates the show.

Otherwise is the episode any good? Well...it's decent but otherwise undistinguished. Worth seeing...even with the bad acting and Telly's singing! A weak episode, certainly.

By the way, it's a MINOR thing, but the priest crosses himself like a Catholic not an Orthodox priest (they do it the opposite direction)...a minor misake but certainly not an important one. I'm actually surprised Telly Savalas (a practicing Greek Orthodox member) didn't notice this.

The Mid-1970's Cop dramas were some of the most memorable to this day..! Especially 'Kojak' which surpassed anything that had been on our tv screens before.. Seeing the mean streets of New York in 'Kojak' were really authentic, and actually believable..! Having been to New York as a child many times with my papa around the same time, and also in the 60's; I New it was as you see it in the series.

Telly Savales personified realism, and a style completely one of his own unique kind. (Loveable comes to mind) No-one but Telly could have pulled it off playing 'Kojak' Having recently watched re-runs on itv4, I have become hooked once again 'The beginning song played at the start of the episode 'The Forgotten Room' series 3 episode 16 was sung by Telly Savales himself. I thought the song was really emotional, touching and a classic. I searched for the song on YouTube and I found it...I have also purchased dvds of 'Kojak' that way, I can watch the series all over again. Such memories from my youth, one calls "The good Ol' days" The 70's & 80's bring nostalgia in abundance.. Where have all those real men disappeared to??? Those actors like 'Telly Savales' etc were the real deal. Movies today don't seem to have a genuine sense of realism. Watching 'Kojak' I can see my childhood memories as if they were all straight in-front of me.. My own Papa was big as life, just like Telly Savales (I miss him so-much) I thank itv4 for bringing back this wicked drama series..!!! Please repeat the series all again..!

R. I. P. Tell Savales. You are dearly missed.