FORGOTTEN TELEVISION: PAT MORITA AS OHARA (1987-1988)

OHARA (1987-1988) – In this 1-hour detective show’s case “Ohara” is NOT O’Hara and is instead a Japanese-American cop played by the venerable Pat Morita, who also co-created the program. During its run Ohara went through THREE changes of format, starting out with a very innovative approach before poor ratings prompted desperate network scrambling for tired old approaches.

The first name of Morita’s character was never revealed on the show, and he was basically a “gimmick” character. Ohara was a Los Angeles police detective who initially worked without a partner and preferred meditation and soft-spoken interrogations to the cliched Tough Cop techniques. Our hero often cooked Japanese meals for guests to his home, incorporating Pat Morita’s own culinary enthusiasms into the show.

Ohara walked a fine line between innovation and the old Asian-American Detective cliches found in characters like the Chinese Charlie Chan and the Japanese Mr. Moto. Morita’s Ohara spouted philosophical dialogue which was far above Chan’s Fortune Cookie-level remarks and Moto’s musings but the character still played into certain stereotypes like being a karate expert and a wise old Mr. Miyagi-style mentor. 

Our detective’s gentler, more cerebral approach – which included a refusal to carry a gun since he preferred to defend himself with his karate skills – didn’t last very long. Flagging ratings prompted the Suits to panic and eliminate everything that made Ohara unique in favor of standard cop show elements like a bickering partner, using a gun, car chases, etc.  

Toward the end of the program’s brief run another format change was introduced as Ohara and his partner George Shaver (Robert Clohessy) resigned and became Private Investigators instead. Ratings continued to drop and the series was canceled.

Certain Ohara episodes sometimes show up online, but the Memory Hole that the show fell into is so deep that there is uncertainty over how many episodes were made. Some sources state 30 episodes but others insist it’s really just 28.

The latter sources insist that the second episode Eddie is really the Pilot episode even though a Pilot is referred to separately at some sites. Similarly, arguments are made that the alleged final episode Hot Spell from May 7th, 1988, is really the China Beach episode of that name and that the April 30th episode Seeing Something That Isn’t There is the REAL final episode.

THE EPISODES (Allowing for 30 but referring to the potential of just 28):

PILOT – A January 17th, 1987 date is claimed but no synopsis is ever given and it may really just be the episode Eddie as mentioned above.

EDDIE (Jan 24th, 1987) – Ohara is so convinced of the innocence of a man arrested for a robbery spree and killing a cop that he covertly helps the suspect escape police custody. The detective proves that the wrong man was arrested and the real culprit is brought in.

DARRYL (Jan 31st) – A slippery criminal that Ohara has been trying to bust for years kills a witness who is actually willing to testify against the villain. A woman witnesses THAT murder and Ohara struggles to keep her alive so she can testify in open court and put the criminal away.   

WILL (Feb 7th) – Ohara and a female cop, Cricket Sideris (Catherine Keener), contend with gun-runners, including the son (Scott Burkholder) of a prominent politician. The father keeps interfering with the investigation.

TOSHI (Feb 14th) – Jackie Cooper directed this tale of Ohara arresting a criminal who is then set to be extradicted to Japan. Toshi, a Japanese cop played by Mako, arrives to escort the crook but loses the man. Ohara works with the cocky Toshi to recapture the fugitive. Barbara Crampton guest stars.

TERRY (Feb 21st) – I cannot find the episode or a synopsis, but Vincent Baggetta and Playboy model Tetchie Agbayani guest star.

LOUIE (Feb 25th but some sources say Mar 7th) – Again, I can find neither the episode nor a synopsis. Guest starring Timothy Brown.

LAURA (Mar 7th OR 14th) – God, this show’s online history is screwed up in all kinds of ways. No matter which date is accurate, I cannot find the episode or a synopsis. For you Star Trek fans both Denise Crosby AND Nana Visitor guest star.

JESSE (Mar 14th OR 21st) – Ohara leads the police department’s effort to get two L.A. street gangs to declare a truce. Unfortunately, the former leader of one gang gets released from prison and tries to reignite the bloody gang war.

FRANNIE (Mar 28th) – Guest starring Bridget Hanley and Noelle Parker. I cannot find the episode or a synopsis.

BRIAN (Apr 4th) – I cannot find the episode or a synopsis. Richard Herd is in the guest cast.

NOTE: Ohara was renewed for the Fall 1987 to Spring 1988 season, but the network moved Ohara and his now-partner George Shaver (see above) to a Federal Anti-Crime Task Force led by Teresa Storm (Rachel Ticotin).

YA WANNA LIVE FOREVER? (Oct 3rd) – Ohara and his hot-headed new partner George Shaver clash over methods of taking down the major malefactors they are assigned to bust. The Godfather‘s Gianni Russo guest stars, along with Shannon Tweed and Don Gordon.

ARTFUL DODGERS (Oct 10th) – Miguel Ferrer and Sal Viscuso guest star. I cannot find the episode or a synopsis.

THE SPARROW (Oct 24th) – I cannot find the episode or a synopsis. Guest cast included Lar Park Lincoln and Debra Stipe.

FAGIN ALL OVER AGAIN (Nov 7th) – I cannot find the episode or a synopsis.

TAKE THE MONEY AND RUN (Nov 14th) – Psychotronic legend Sid Haig guest stars. I cannot find the episode or a synopsis.

THE INTRUDERS (Nov 21st) – Ohara and Shaver discover that an employee of a telephone answering service is tipping off a gang of robbers to when certain high-income clients will be away from home.

HOT ROCKS (Dec 5th) – Ohara and Shaver go undercover at a health club to stop a ring stealing watches and jewelry from wealthy customers.

AND A CHILD SHALL LEAD THEM (Dec 12th) – A murder investigation involving a fashion model causes Ohara to reminisce about his late daughter.

SILVER IN THE HILLS (Dec 19th) – I cannot find the episode or a synopsis. Guest starring William Smith and Bill McKinney.

THEY SHOOT WITNESSES, DON’T THEY? (Jan 2nd, 1988) – I cannot find the episode or a synopsis.

YOU BET YOUR LIFE (Jan 16th) – Deborah Wakeham guest stars. I cannot find the episode or a synopsis.

WHAT’S IN A NAME? (Jan 23rd) – THE Brandon Lee guest stars as the evil son of a Yakuza boss (Robert Ito himself) as Ohara and Shaver try to help a friend being leaned on by the criminal organization.

SIGN OF THE TIMES (Jan 30th) – I cannot find the episode or a synopsis. 

THE LIGHT AROUND THE BODY (Feb 6th) – A murder investigation so thoroughly disillusions Ohara and Shaver that they quit the force at the end of the episode, determined to work as Private Detectives from now on.

X (Mar 5th) – Rockne “Black Samson” Tarkington and Kristy Swanson guest star. I cannot find the episode or a synopsis.

LAST YEAR’S MODEL (Mar 12th) – I cannot find the episode or a synopsis. Guest starring Peter Brown.

OPEN SEASON (Mar 26th) – With Paul Koslo. I cannot find the episode or a synopsis.

SEEING SOMETHING THAT ISN’T THERE (Apr 30th) – I cannot find the episode or a synopsis. This may be the actual final episode of the series. (See above.)

HOT SPELL (May 7th) – See above. Per other researchers this may really be an episode of China Beach. I cannot find the Ohara episode or a synopsis.

FOR MORE FORGOTTEN TELEVISION CLICK HERE.