The Outsider

1968

Seasons & Episodes

  • 1

7.9| 0h30m| en
Synopsis

The Outsider was the story of David Ross, a go-it-alone private investigator who's always where the action is. Darren McGavin played Ross, a man living in an off-beat, always-dangerous world. The series aired for one season on NBC and was a precursor of sorts to The Rockford Files in that it featured a loner private detective who had previously done time in prison for a crime he didn't commit and who never quite fit into a rapidly changing environment.

Director

Producted By

Universal Television

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Reviews

Listonixio Fresh and Exciting
Pacionsbo Absolutely Fantastic
ThrillMessage There are better movies of two hours length. I loved the actress'performance.
Invaderbank The film creates a perfect balance between action and depth of basic needs, in the midst of an infertile atmosphere.
ronzom Roy Huggins, creator of "77 Sunset Strip, Maverick, and The Fugitive" made this series in 1968 but had no takers. It totals one pilot movie and 26 episodes. It was a very different detective show for the time. Huggins later recycled aspects of this series in creating "The Rockford Files". Matt Ross, like Jim Rockford, was a private detective who had spent time in prison. Neither used a gun when they could help it. Neither was trusted by the police. Rockford kept hid gun in a cereal box. Ross kept his gun in the refrigerator. Rockford's office was in a trailer. Ross's was in a run down building. Both men had the persona of a wistful loser. Darren McGavin, the lead was excellent in the role. Probably the difference in success for the two series was that Matt Ross was a loner with no family or close friends. Rockford's family and friends added a layer of warmth to the series.
jim_altman Roy Huggins, Darren McGavin, and "The Summer of Love" combined to give us a classic, though short-lived, everyman hero of truth, justice, and the American way. David Ross didn't get the girl or the reward or fame or wealth. He got beat up regularly and his clunker Plymouth usually received another undeserved dent, but he had ethics and he knew sh** from shinola. When he was reincarnated a few years later as Jim Rockford, the endings got happier (and more contrived) but for David Ross the calvary didn't come over the rise in the nick of time and the villain didn't always get his just desserts. That's the way real life is. I'm only sorry that the world didn't have David Ross to kick around for a few more seasons.
Richard Swol While the plot lines and stories escape me...I was pretty young then...I remember the show.My dad used to love this series. I remember him being pretty amused by the credits where Darren opens his fridge and slugs down some milk only to discover it had gone over.The show and actor were soon, and forever, nicknamed "Sour milk" in our house.Later I caught the premiere of the "Night Stalker" movie. I was hooked.Darren presented himself in most of his characters, in such a way that you wish that you could have known him personally. He was the irascible uncle with the heart of gold.Darren passed away this last weekend. The world is poorer for his passing.
gmr-4 Flash in the pan in spite of a strong star.It was O.K., but frankly fell into the species (genus?) of L.A. P.I., not the most original idea. In a way, however, THE OUTSIDER may have anticipated the wildly successful ROCKFORD FILES, with its small-time and financially struggling sole proprietor, but the latter was far more lively, stocked with interesting characters, and had a whimsical touch. The T.V. movie which preceded THE OUTSIDER, if I recall it accurately after more than thirty years, promised more than the series subsequently delivered. Too bad, because Darren's good.