Switch (TV series)

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Switch was an American action-adventure and detective series that was broadcast on the CBS network for three seasons between September 9, 1975 and August 20, 1978. It was inspired by the 1973 movie The Sting. The tongue-in-cheek series starred Robert Wagner (formerly of It Takes a Thief) and Eddie Albert (formerly of Green Acres). It was created by Glen A. Larson. Donald P. Bellisario was one of the writers.

The series features a former con man, Det. Pete Ryan (played by Wagner) who was once sent to jail by a former police officer, Frank MacBride (played by Albert). After Ryan's release, the two open up their own detective agency in Los Angeles that specializes in "out-conning the cons" by using the same sorts of double-crosses and deceptions used by con men in order to capture criminals. Assisting them is another former con man, restaurant owner Malcolm Argos (Charlie Callas), and Maggie Philbin (Sharon Gless), Pete and Frank's receptionist.

During the show's run the series became more serious in tone and more of a traditional crime drama.^{[citation needed]} William Bryant joined the cast as Lt. Shilton. In the final seasons, Pete moves into an apartment above Malcolm's bar and Mindi Miller and James Hong joined the cast.

Numerous familiar and unfamiliar actors who guest-starred on the show went on to become successful actors: Richard Masur, Jaclyn Smith, Cheryl Ladd, John Forsythe, Joan Collins, Morgan Fairchild, Margot Kidder, Julie Sommars, Richard Mulligan, Howard Hesseman, Gordon Jump, Lorenzo Lamas, Penny Peyser, Eric Braeden, Linda Gray, Jess Walton, among many others. Veteran radio disc jockey Casey Kasem made a guest appearance, and Natalie Wood, who's Wagner's real-life second wife also made a cameo appearance.

The modestly successful show was put on hiatus in early 1978, being replaced by The Incredible Hulk; it came back during the summer to air its final 10 episodes before ultimately being cancelled that August. The following year, Robert Wagner starred in another successful crime drama show, Hart to Hart, and he also co-starred once again with Eddie Albert in the movie, The Concorde: Airport '79.

[edit] Main cast

Robert Wagner - Det. Pete T. Ryan - Frank's ex-con man
Eddie Albert - Frank MacBride - A retired police officer
Charlie Callas - Malcolm Argos - Frank's ex-con man who worked at the restaurant recruited by Pete & Frank
Sharon Gless - Maggie Philbin - Pete's & Frank's classy receptionist
William Bryant - Lt. Shilton - Pete's & Frank's partner (seasons 2-3)
James Hong - Wang - Malcolm's cook (season 3)
Mindi Miller - Revel - Waitress who work at Malcolm's restaurant (season 3)
Anne Archer - Laurie - played one of the semi-regular cast of grifters who helped Frank and Pete with their sting operations. Although only seen in a handful of Season One episodes, she and her bikini stayed in the title sequences for all of Season One and at least part of Season Two.