The Man and the City

The Man and the City is a dramatic television series which was aired on the ABC television network as part of its Fall 1971 lineup from September 15, 1971 to January 5, 1972. The Man and the City stars the well-known Hollywood actor Anthony Quinn as Thomas Jefferson Alcala, the long-term Hispanic mayor of a major but unidentified city in the Southwestern United States. Quinn's WASP deputy, Andy Hays, was portrayed by Mike Farrell. Hays' main role was to make sure that the well-meaning Mayor Alcala did not become so engrossed in aiding individual constituents with their problems that he failed to address the issues facing the city as a whole. Despite the vast talents of Quinn and the earnest Farrell, The Man and the City was a Nielsen ratings failure, finishing third in its Wednesday night time slot against the hit private eye show Mannix and the Rod Serling anthology series Night Gallery, and was cancelled at midseason.

Directed by Howard Rodman, The Man and the City leans on a strong ensemble — Anthony Quinn, Mike Farrell — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The series landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about screen titles of 1971.