Ohara is an American police procedural television series that first aired on the ABC television network from January 17, 1987, until May 7, 1988, starring Pat Morita in the title role of Lt. Ohara. Morita also co-created the series along with Michael Braveman and John A. Kuri. Kevin Conroy, Jon Polito, Rachel Ticotin, and Robert Clohessy also starred in supporting roles. The series was notable for being one of the first television series to have a Japanese-American actor in the leading role.

Ohara
Pat Morita as Ohara
GenrePolice procedural
Created by
Developed byRonald M. Cohen
Starring
ComposerBill Conti
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons2
No. of episodes30
Production
Executive producers
  • Brian Grazer
  • Hal Sitowitz
  • Tony Wharmby
  • Roderick Taylor
Producers
  • Skip Ward
  • Ralph Riskin
Running time60 minutes
Production companies
Original release
NetworkABC
ReleaseJanuary 17, 1987 (1987-01-17) –
May 7, 1988 (1988-05-07)

Premise

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The series focuses on an unconventional Los Angeles-based Japanese-American police lieutenant named Ohara (Pat Morita) who uses spirituality methods such as meditation in his home shrine to solve crimes without the use of a gun or a partner, although he would use martial arts if necessary. He often talked in the form of epigrams. He was later paired with a partner named Lt. George Shaver (Robert Clohessy) who was a more conventional cop.

Main cast

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Season 1

Season 2

Notable guest stars

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Episodes list

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Season 1 (1987)

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No.
overall
No. in
season
Title Directed by Written by Original air date
11"Pilot"E.W. SwackhamerRichard Christian DanusJanuary 17, 1987 (1987-01-17)
22"Eddie"E.W. SwackhamerRichard DanusJanuary 24, 1987 (1987-01-24)
33"Darryl"E.W. SwackhamerBill D'Arvay (story); Bill D'Arvay and Daniel Freudenberger (teleplay)January 31, 1987 (1987-01-31)
44"Will"E.W. SwackhamerPaul F. Edwards and Howard Friedland & Ken Peragine (story); Paul F. Edwards (teleplay)February 7, 1987 (1987-02-07)
55"Toshi"Jackie CooperLen Mlodinow & Scott Rubenstein & John WellsFebruary 14, 1987 (1987-02-14)
66"Terry"Jerry JamesonRichard Danus & Daniel Freudberger & Hal SitowitzFebruary 21, 1987 (1987-02-21)
77"Louie"Jerry JamesonHal SitowitzMarch 7, 1987 (1987-03-07)
88"Laura"E.W. SwackhamerBill BleichMarch 14, 1987 (1987-03-14)
99"Jesse"Jerry JamesonMichael MarksMarch 21, 1987 (1987-03-21)
1010"Frannie"E.W. SwackhammerPaul F. EdwardsMarch 28, 1987 (1987-03-28)
1111"Brian"Jerry JamesonJohnathan GlasnerApril 4, 1987 (1987-04-04)

Season 2 (1987–88)

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No.
overall
No. in
season
Title Directed by Written by Original air date
121"'Y' Wanna Live Forever?"Tony WharmbyRonald M. CohenOctober 3, 1987 (1987-10-03)
132"Artful Dodgers"Tony WharmbyRobert McCulloughOctober 10, 1987 (1987-10-10)
143"The Sparrow"Bruce KesslerLinda ElstadOctober 24, 1987 (1987-10-24)
154"Fagin All Over Again"Robert SweeneyRama BlumNovember 7, 1987 (1987-11-07)
165"Take the Money and Run"Bruce KesslerRobert McCullough & Joseph GunnNovember 14, 1987 (1987-11-14)
176"The Intruders"Colin BuckseyJoseph GunnNovember 21, 1987 (1987-11-21)
187"Hot Rocks"Tony WharmbyRobert McCullough & Joseph GunnDecember 5, 1987 (1987-12-05)
198"And a Child Shall Lead Them"Bruce KesslerJoseph Gunn & Robert McCulloughDecember 12, 1987 (1987-12-12)
209"Silver in the Hills"Michael CaffeyJoseph Gunn & Robert McCulloughDecember 19, 1987 (1987-12-19)
2110"They Shoot Witnesses, Don't They?"Don ChaffeyRama BlumJanuary 2, 1988 (1988-01-02)
2211"You Bet Your Life"Dale WhiteDavid BraffJanuary 16, 1988 (1988-01-16)
2312"What's in a Name?"Tony WharmbyJerome LewJanuary 23, 1988 (1988-01-23)
Brandon Lee appears in this episode.
2413"Sign of the Times"Dale WhiteDavid Braff & Joseph Gunn & Robert McCulloughJanuary 30, 1988 (1988-01-30)
2514"The Light Around the Body"Tony WharmbyRoderick Taylor & Bruce A. Taylor & Jeff MandelFebruary 6, 1988 (1988-02-06)
Last episode to feature Rachel Ticotin and Meagen Fay. Ohara and Shaver quit the force to become private eyes at the end of the episode.
2615"X"Richard C. SarafianStory by : Roderick Taylor & William Mickelberry
Teleplay by : William Mickelberry
March 5, 1988 (1988-03-05)
2716"Last Year's Model"Bradford MayStory by : Roderick Taylor & Bruce A. Taylor & Jeff Mandel
Teleplay by : Jeff Mandel & Bruce A. Taylor
March 12, 1988 (1988-03-12)
2817"Open Season"Richard C. SarafianStory by : Roderick Taylor & Bruce A. Taylor & Jeff Mandel
Teleplay by : Bruce A. Taylor & Jeff Mandel
March 26, 1988 (1988-03-26)
2918"Seeing Something That Isn't There"Bradford MayStory by : Roderick Taylor & Bruce A. Taylor & Jeff Mandel
Teleplay by : Jeff Mandel & Bruce A. Taylor
April 30, 1988 (1988-04-30)
3019"Hot Spell"UnknownUnknownMay 7, 1988 (1988-05-07)

Format changes and cancellation

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Following its premiere, the show was not attracting the audience ABC had hoped for. They put it through several format changes to increase the ratings. The first major change was to change title character Ohara from a lieutenant to a federal police officer; he was also paired with a partner. Later on in the season Ohara became a more conventional cop using a gun to assist him in his investigations. The second season had a final format change in which Ohara and his partner were turned into private investigators. These changes failed to improve the show's declining ratings and the show was cancelled after the second season.

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