He put it off as long as possible but Lee Marvin eventually starred in his own TV series, M Squad, which premiered September 20, 1957 on NBC. He eventually became a producer of the hit three-year series but it was not anything he particularly liked working on. Why? One reason was things like this….

Another reason was having to do p.r. for the show. For a straight forward and straight talking man like Lee Marvin, the result was often profiles, such as the lead written for a TV Guide profile below….

Along with the crass commercialism, requiste p.r and rushed schedule of TV, there was also the need for picure posing….

But, still in all, he did what was required and each week viewers tuned in to hear him intone: “My name is Lt. Frank Ballinger of M Squad, a special detail of the Chicago Police Department…”

The effect the show had on his personal relationships, marriage and career almost brought all three to an end until the show itself finally came to an end in 1960. How did that finally come about and how did he deal with it? All are answered in the pages of Lee Marvin Point Blank.

“Yeah, looks like we’re gonna be on the air for a while so send up a couple of extra large with pepperoni…”