I loved Richard Roundtree's Shaft Movies. SHAFT (1971), SHAFT'S BIG SCORE (1972) and SHAFT IN AFRICA (1973). then CBS gets this fantastic idea....let's put this popular ,tough,streetsmart, Bad Mother..(shut Your mouth!) and take away EVERY thing that made the Character who he was. Bedding all the women He came in contact with...gone. His Bad Ass attitude...gone. The Harlem atmosphere....gone. The R-rated John Shaft was fully neutered to a G-rated TV Private Eye. Shaft would work in today's TV world (NYPD Blue, Law And Order, The Shield) but alas... in 1973 TV was not ready for that "Private Dick who was a sex machine with all the chicks" Should you seek out the 13 TV episodes? No. Should You check out the 3 Theatrical Movies? "You damn right".

--Michael C.