T.H.E. Cat

S01E20: Design for Death

(intro narration) There is a fashion show at some ritzy club. It is being presided over by Claudine Peyser, wearing a divine silver lamé outfit-- she's an attractive woman, but with a stern face (and whose irritating singsong voice sounds like she is doing a bad Phyllis Diller impression), ""LOOK at them, EMPty headed little VIXens. GREGory, reMIND me to send some ROses to that SEAMstress in PARis who got us into SAN SIOUX's showing... you wouldn't beLIEEEVE PARis."" Gregory Tyrole is her weirdo sidekick, wearing glasses indoors; (he's the actor who played the lunatic Cosmo in episode #10). Cat shows up, looking out of place at this showing of Paris fashions, and orders a vodka on the rocks from the bartender (rare for Cat to drink on the job). Cat talks to Valerie Evans, she hires the models for Claudine, at the exorbitant cost of $25 per hour (this is 1967 prices); Valerie makes a date with Cat for later that evening, a quiet dinner for two. Shortly thereafter, in the dressing roo

Overview

T.H.E. Cat is an American action drama that aired during the 1966-1967 television season on NBC, co-sponsored by R.J. Reynolds and Lever Brothers. The series was created by Harry Julian Fink, the creator of Dirty Harry .

Robert Loggia starred as the title character, Thomas Hewitt Edward Cat. T. H. E. Cat is a forerunner of television characters such as The Equalizer, who skirt the edges of the law and bring skills from earlier careers on behalf of those needing more help than the police can offer.

The series preceded the 1968-1970 ABC television series It Takes a Thief, which was also about a cat burglar who used his skills for good.

Episodes

S01E01 To Kill a Priest

September 16, 1966 30 min
Outside a cathedral, which is like a giant fortress, armed police are standing guard. Captain McAllister, chomping on a big cigar, takes Cat inside, and explains, ""They call him the Fisherman's Priest, he blesses them...

S01E02 Sandman

September 23, 1966 30 min
Late at night, an elderly cat burglar, dressed all in black, breaks into a mansion, and cracks a wall safe; he tries to steal an object. The owner, Mr. Cahill, bursts into the room, and...

S01E03 Payment Overdue

September 30, 1966 30 min
In the wee hours of the morning, at the Casa del Gato, the singer this week is the fair Jerrie Loren. She's singing to the audience, ""Night brings soft winds, and I close my eyes...

S01E04 Brotherhood

October 7, 1966 30 min
Cat walks up to a dilapidated apartment building. He goes upstairs and silently unlocks the door, and walks through the front room; then he kicks open the kitchen door. Inside the room, Omar Cantorte is...

S01E05 Little Arnie from Long Ago

October 14, 1966 30 min
Arnie Ludock got sent to prison in 1936; now, after 30 years, he is free. Arnie is accompanied by his old sidekick Drummer. At their place, Captain McAllister confronts Arnie. The Captain is the one...

S01E06 None to Weep, None to Mourn

October 21, 1966 30 min
Late afternoon, in a large castle-like home, filled with relics and paintings and statues, Cat walks down a corridor. Cat asks an old woman, ""Where are the servants?"" The old woman says, ""When death is...

S01E07 Moment of Truth

October 28, 1966 30 min
At the Casa del Gato, Serafina, a pretty flamenco dancer, is doing her number. Cat says, ""Beautiful""; Pepe, looking at the night's receipts, says, ""Beautiful."" Cat observes, ""You are getting old, my friend-- you appreciate...

S01E08 Marked For Death

November 4, 1966 30 min
At midnight, Cat is on the roof of a tall building, and enters through the skylight. He slides down a long rope. He is immediately surrounded by many men in the dark; a spotlight hits...

S01E09 Crossing at Destino Bay

November 18, 1966 30 min
Night, around 1:30 a.m. Cat is at the Destino Bay Ferry building, which appears to be totally deserted-- even the man in the ticket booth is either unconscious or dead. Cat encounters an armed hitman....

S01E10 To Bell T.H.E. Cat

November 25, 1966 30 min
Night. Andrea March is sitting at one of the restaurant's outdoor tables, on the sidewalk. She is sketching Moonface who is sitting at another table; his bald head, thick glasses and stark features make his...

S01E11 Curtains for Miss Winslow

December 2, 1966 30 min
Night. Cat enters a large, deserted theatre. Cat goes downstairs to the huge prop room, and runs into a man who says he is Dario Marzoni, the keeper. Almost his entire face is scarred, and...

S01E12 King of the Limpets

December 9, 1966 30 min
An assassin dressed like a sailor walks up to the El Pescador (fisherman) Cafe, there are hotel rooms upstairs. In a hotel room, Vasco and another man quickly try to smuggle a boy (Victor) to...

S01E13 The System

December 16, 1966 30 min
Cat breaks in to the top floor of a large building. It is a museum-- a dungeon of sorts, with wax figures, suits of armor, medieval weapons and torture devices. Cat unties an elderly gentleman...

S01E14 The Canary Who Lost His Voice

December 23, 1966 30 min
The jazz band is playing at the Casa del Gato. A beautiful woman, Christine Martell, is nervous and wants Cat to protect someone; she gives Cat a blank check. He asks, ""Do I fill it...

S01E15 The Ring of Anasis

December 30, 1966 30 min
Early afternoon, Cat is on a bodyguard assignment. Cat is in yet another one of those strange, fortress-like mansions, and his client is an eccentric millionaire, Tony Webb, who is rather wimpy. Webb has a...

S01E16 Queen of Diamonds, Knave of Hearts

January 6, 1967 30 min
(intro narration) Night, on a millionaire's estate. Cat climbs to the 2nd story of the mansion, and sneaks into a bedroom; immediately a beautiful woman, who was hiding behind the curtains, holds a small gun...

S01E17 A Hot Place to Die

January 13, 1967 30 min
(intro narration) David Benton and the beautiful Crystal Pierson are in the blazing desert, in their convertible. They stop at a filling station. David is nervous; he has a suitcase, and was supposed to meet...

S01E18 A Slight Family Trait

January 20, 1967 30 min
(intro narration) Night. A luxury liner, the Princess Louise, is docked. There is a huge party on board-- but there is also at least one uninvited guest: the Cat. The man in black sneaks into...

S01E19 If Once You Fail

January 27, 1967 30 min
(intro narration) Night. Cat is driving his sportscar, and dropping off the lovely Dr. Kathryn DeVrees at the Country Hospital where she works. They have a long kiss; Cat is in love with her, this...

S01E20 Design for Death

February 3, 1967 30 min
(intro narration) There is a fashion show at some ritzy club. It is being presided over by Claudine Peyser, wearing a divine silver lamé outfit-- she's an attractive woman, but with a stern face (and...

S01E21 Matter Over Mind

February 10, 1967 30 min
(intro narration) Night. The scene opens with yet another of those weird, fortress-like mansions that are so prevalent in this series; inside there are exotic artifacts: ancient statues of samurais and a creature with 4...

S01E22 The Blood-Red Night

February 17, 1967 30 min
(intro narration) Daytime. Cat is called to the mansion of Amelia Ferret, a rich lady in her late 70s. She fears for her life because of a large, rare ruby she wears, the ""sangre de...

S01E23 The Ninety Percent Blues

February 24, 1967 30 min
(intro narration) Gangster Milo Andrade, along with 2 of his thugs, is having a meeting in his penthouse apartment with handsome, young black comedian Timmie Taylor. In front of them is a 10-gallon aquarium filled...

S01E24 The Long Chase

March 10, 1967 30 min
(intro narration) Night. Dozens of policemen are having a big shootout with escaped convict Laurent, who is holed up in a large steel works plant. 2 officers are dead; Lieutenant Lassiter has sent for Cat....

S01E25 Twenty-One and Out

March 24, 1967 30 min
(intro narration) Daytime. Undercover cop Joe is bringing groceries, and a couple of books to read, to lovely Laurie Neal-- she's holed up in a room in 2-story motel, as part of a witness protection...

S01E26 Lisa

March 31, 1967 30 min
(intro narration) Night. A man is running away, he's being chased by 2 goons in a Rolls Royce. In the alley behind the Casa del Gato, the hoods (dressed as cops) get out of the...

Cast

Robert Loggia
Robert Loggia
T. Hewitt Edward Cat
R.G. Armstrong
R.G. Armstrong
Police Capt. McAllister
Robert Carricart
Robert Carricart
Pepe Cordoza

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