Widely considered one of the more quality television shows of its decade, Harry O certainly earned every bit of praise it received. Centered around the story of a former police officer who opens up a private investigation business, the premise of the series isn't necessarily new. However, series lead David Janssen was able to keep audiences enthralled for two seasons before the show ended in 1976.

Producers, writers, and directors alike who worked on Harry O were all united under a shared goal: to create a series with character and integrity.

It was a shared endeavor. David Janssen spoke about his series during an interview. Specifically, Janssen spoke of the meticulous care in the series, a byproduct of his efforts to ensure that the show would not devolve into another "shoot-em-up."

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"I'll scream bloody murder if it evolves into that sort of show," said Janssen to the New York Times. Luckily, Janssen had a team of writers and directors at his back that shared this vision.

"I'm not expecting problems, though, because everyone involved with the project agrees the series should concentrate on character development more than on simple solutions to crimes," he said. This character-centric focus led to more of an attachment to the character of Harry Orwell. A crime-centric show is all well and good enough to entertain an audience for an episode, but it was truly the characters in the series that kept fans returning every week. "You get to know Harry O and care about him just as you did in the TV movie pilot of the story," said Janssen.