Dateline: 7.14.2011
Sometimes the “car as the star” just isn’t enough.

The NBC series “Stingray” only ran for two seasons and stared Nick Mancuso in the lead roll of “Ray.” No last name, just “Ray.” He’s kind of a Robin Hood, gritty urban “Pay it Forward” mystery man. Ray drives an awesome-looking black ‘65 Corvette Sting Ray Coupe with knockoff wheels, is an expert driver, martial arts master, a speed reader with a photographic memory, master computer hacker with very fast fingers, Vietnam Vet, possibly CIA, AND doesn’t charge for his problem solving services. Just a loose IOU, collectible by Ray… some time… some day in the future… maybe.

Who DOESN’T want to be this guy?

In the ‘80s TV producer and writer, Steven J. Cannell was on a roll with hugely successful programs including “The Rockford Files,” “The Greatest American Hero,” “The A-Team,” “Wiseguy,” “21 Jump Street,” “Silk Stalkings,” “The Commish” and others. Before producing his own series, Cannell write for “Columbo,” “Ironside,” “It Takes A Thief” and other prime-time TV cop and drama shows.

Cannell died on September 30, 2010 at the age of 69.

Miami Vice blasted into homes beginning in ‘84 with their trendy, quisi-disco cloths, set in lush Miami, Florida. Costarring with Don Johnson and Phillip Michael Thomas was a black ‘72 Ferrari Daytona Spyder 365 GTS/4. (Actually, the car was an ‘80 Corvette with a Daytona kit car body. Made sense for the production of a TV show, but still deserves a BOOOOO.)

 Here are a few stills from “Stingray”…

I saw the program a few times, but honestly, I seem to recall that it was “interesting,” but a little slow. Besides, my daughter was just a toddler and I had PLENTY on my plate. Watching TV wasn’t on my to-do list. But Stingray lives on in the eternal world of DVD box sets. I’ll wait until the series is available on Netflix Watch Instantly.

Scott

Here’s the closing theme song for the Stingray series…

And some trailer material…