[SEE SECOND UPDATE BELOW]
[UPDATED BELOW WITH CURRENT TV LISTINGS]
Robert Culp might well be the poster boy for not knowing what we've got till it's gone. His blend of relaxed amiability, authority, smarts and relaxed wit have rarely been matched on TV. He could be an admirable hero, playing a '60s secret agent on I Spy, or a devious villain, matching wits with Peter Falk's sly sleuth in several memorable Columbo movies. He could be seriously funny, more recently, as the more urbanely fussy father-in-law on Everybody Loves Raymond.
And Culp could be culturally important, too. He was intended to be the single-lead star of NBC's I Spy, until his rapport with sidekick Bill Cosby proved so warm that he suggested they be co-leads of what now stands as a landmark series. Cosby became the first prominent black lead of a network drama, and was thus able to win three lead actor Emmys that otherwise might well have been Culp's.
(Culp died Wednesday at age 79 after a fall near his Hollywood home. Details here.)
I Spy hasn't been seen widely in years (how many homes have had access to FamilyNet or RTV Retro Television?), and that's too bad. Its deliberate rhythms can seem slow to modern viewers, but its casual buddy banter and genuine portrayal of deep friendship remain both fun and moving. Culp's cover as an international tennis player and Cosby's as his trainer/coach allow them access to social situations around the world, among all sorts of people, powerful, famous, ordinary. Unlike the '60s spy era's other spoofy or action-packed shows, this one carries a gravity that makes it resonate both culturally and emotionally.
Good thing you can see I Spy on DVD -- all three seasons out from Image, with informative commentary from Culp on several episodes. You can also watch Culp online -- not the ideal venue, but a superbly accessible resource. Hulu.com has all 82 episodes of I Spy, and another 42 from his supporting stint on the '80s spoof The Greatest American Hero; DVDs here. (Culp also starred in the 1957-59 Texas Ranger western half-hour Trackdown, not on DVD.)
Look, too, for his memorable guest shots on The Outer Limits, Zane Grey Theater, Lois & Clark, and those Columbo mysteries (shows in Seasons 1, 2, 3, and a 1990 TV movie).
Not to mention his critically lauded turn in the 1969 feature film Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice. And, of course, the 2004 holiday horror comedy Santa's Slay.
Here's a clip of Culp discussing I Spy in another of the priceless oral history interviews from our friends at the Archive of American Television.
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[UPDATED MARCH 26]
Here's where to watch Culp on TV this week (all times ET):
Hickey & Boggs (On Demand) -- Culp also directed this 1972 private eye feature reuniting him with I Spy costar Cosby.
Hannie Caulder (On Demand) -- Bounty hunter Culp teaches revenge-bent Raquel Welch how to shoot in this 1972 western.
Everybody Loves Raymond (Sunday, March 28 at 7 p.m., WWOR) -- Culp and Katherine Helmond as Debra's parents uncork a Thanksgiving surprise.
Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice (Thursday, April 1 at 10:50 a.m., TMC Xtra) -- Paul Mazursky's trendy 1969 wife-swapping comedy also stars Natalie Wood, Elliott Gould and Dyan Cannon.
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[SECOND UPDATE, MARCH 30]
More Raymond episodes are added to Culp TV listings in coming days (all times ET):
Hickey & Boggs (On Demand) -- Culp also directed this 1972 private eye feature reuniting him with I Spy costar Cosby.
Hannie Caulder (On Demand) -- Bounty hunter Culp teaches revenge-bent Raquel Welch how to shoot in this 1972 western.
Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice (Thursday, April 1 at 10:50 a.m., TMC Xtra) -- Paul Mazursky's trendy 1969 wife-swapping comedy also stars Natalie Wood, Elliott Gould and Dyan Cannon. Also airs Wednesday morning, April 7, at 3:30 a.m.
Everybody Loves Raymond (Wednesday, April 7 at 6:30 p.m., WWOR) -- Culp and Katherine Helmond make their first appearance as Debra's more moneyed parents.
Everybody Loves Raymond (Thursday, April 8 at 10:30 p.m., TV Land) -- Culp and Helmond join a Christmas celebration made memorable by Ray's gift to his parents: an inscribed toaster.
Everybody Loves Raymond (Friday, April 9 at 6 p.m., WWOR) -- Culp and Helmond are back as Debra's parents for a disastrous Thanksgiving dinner.