Baretta: Robert Blake’s Iconic 1970s Undercover Cop & the Legend of Fred the Cockatoo

Dive into the gritty, unforgettable world of Baretta, the classic 1970s ABC police drama that turned Robert Blake into a television icon. From 1975 to 1978, Blake starred as Detective Tony Baretta—the street-smart, rule-bending plainclothes cop who lived by his own code, shared a rundown hotel apartment with his cockatoo Fred, and delivered one of TV’s most memorable catchphrases: “Don’t do the crime if you can’t do the time.” Created by Stephen J. Cannell as a reimagined version of the earlier series Toma, Baretta ran for four seasons and 82 episodes. It featured Blake’s Emmy-winning performance, the unforgettable theme song “Keep Your Eye on the Sparrow” (sung by Sammy Davis Jr.), and a colorful supporting cast including Tom Ewell as Billy Truman and Michael D. Roberts as the informant Rooster. In this episode of The Tom Gulley Show, we explore the rise of this groundbreaking crime drama, Blake’s intense creative involvement, the show’s cultural impact, its awards, and why Baretta remains a standout of 1970s television. Perfect for fans of classic TV, retro police procedurals, and behind-the-scenes Hollywood stories. If you love deep dives into classic television history, hit like, subscribe, and ring the bell for more. What are your favorite Baretta moments or memories of Robert Blake? Drop them in the comments below! 0:00 Cold Open 5:55 Baretta & Robert Blake 7:27 No Toma, No Baretta 8:50 "Keep Your Eye On The Sparrow" 10:40 Baretta Characteristics 13:07 Superlative Supporting Cast 16:23 Behind The Scenes Baretta 21:00 Syndication Before Scandal 22:58 References To Baretta 24:10 Wrapping Up Baretta 30:35 Chatting With Chatters & Ending #Baretta #RobertBlake #ClassicTV #1970sTV #PoliceDrama #TonyBaretta #FredTheCockatoo #StephenJCannell #RetroTV #TVHistory thetomgulleyshow.com