Storyline

The Outsider was the story of David Ross, a go-it-alone private investigator who's always where the action is. Darren McGavin played Ross, a man living in an off-beat, always-dangerous world. The series aired for one season on NBC and was a precursor of sorts to The Rockford Files in that it featured a loner private detective who had previously done time in prison for a crime he didn't commit and who never quite fit into a rapidly changing environment.

First Aired

1968-09-18
Last Aired

1969-04-16
Creator

Roy Huggins
Genre

Drama
Seasons

1
Episodes

26
Status

Ended
Language

English
Network

NBC

Keywords:

private investigator los angeles, california ex-con

Stream and watch The Outsider

Season 1

1. For Members Only

Ross is hired to go undercover in an exclusive club to ferret out a cardsharp who has been fleecing so...More

Ross is hired to go undercover in an exclusive club to ferret out a cardsharp who has been fleecing some of its members.Less

60mins 1968-09-18

2. What Flowers Daisies Are

Ross is hired to find a missing model. At first the case seems routine but then he stumbles into a mi...More

Ross is hired to find a missing model. At first the case seems routine but then he stumbles into a million dollar con game and murder.Less

60mins 1968-09-25

3. Along Came a Spider

Ross is hired by a woman who lent her fiancee $6,000. Then the poor fellow got himself killed and now ...More

Ross is hired by a woman who lent her fiancee $6,000. Then the poor fellow got himself killed and now his erstwhile intended wants her money back.Less

60mins 1968-10-02

4. A Wide Place in the Road

Ross travels to a small town in search of a car thief and bail jumper who was once an athletic hero in...More

Ross travels to a small town in search of a car thief and bail jumper who was once an athletic hero in the town.Less

60mins 1968-10-09

5. Cold as Ashes

Ross is hired to carry the ashes of a recently deceased man from Los Angeles to San Francisco but soon...More

Ross is hired to carry the ashes of a recently deceased man from Los Angeles to San Francisco but soon discovers that others are following him with mayhem in their hearts. He then tries to figure out why.Less

60mins 1968-10-16

6. A Time to Run

A defense attorney hires Ross to find a missing witness in a murder case. Ross finds him but then thi...More

A defense attorney hires Ross to find a missing witness in a murder case. Ross finds him but then things go from bad to worse.Less

60mins 1968-10-30

7. Love Is Under "L"

A millionaire hires Ross to find his missing galpal. Ross finds her and soon discovers that she is in...More

A millionaire hires Ross to find his missing galpal. Ross finds her and soon discovers that she is in hiding for good reason.Less

60mins 1968-11-06

8. The Twenty-Thousand Dollar Carrot

Ross must try to return a man who supposedly died from his hiding place in Mexico back to the United S...More

Ross must try to return a man who supposedly died from his hiding place in Mexico back to the United States along with the insurance money he got after faking his death.Less

60mins 1968-11-13

9. One Long Stemmed American Beauty

Ross begins to wonder if the suicide of a renowned stage and dancing legend was murder.

Ross begins to wonder if the suicide of a renowned stage and dancing legend was murder.Less

60mins 1968-11-20

10. I Can't Hear You Scream

Ross is running down leads to save a convict from the gas chamber but he doesn't have much time remain...More

Ross is running down leads to save a convict from the gas chamber but he doesn't have much time remaining.Less

60mins 1968-11-27

11. Tell It Like It Was--and You're Dead

A former burlesque queen hires Ross to find out who's been making death threats against her personage.

A former burlesque queen hires Ross to find out who's been making death threats against her personage.Less

60mins 1968-12-04

12. The Land of the Fox

On a case, Ross falls for a woman involved in the case and with some rough characters.

On a case, Ross falls for a woman involved in the case and with some rough characters.Less

60mins 1968-12-18

13. There Was a Little Girl

Ross is hired when a woman shows up on a millionaire's doorstep claiming that the girl she has raised ...More

Ross is hired when a woman shows up on a millionaire's doorstep claiming that the girl she has raised is his. It all has to do with a twelve year old kidnapping case for which a ransom was paid yet the victim never seen again.Less

60mins 1968-12-25

14. The Girl from Missouri

A naive midwestern gal hires Ross to locate her missing brother. He soon learns that the sibling is i...More

A naive midwestern gal hires Ross to locate her missing brother. He soon learns that the sibling is involved with some very unsavory types.Less

60mins 1969-01-08

15. The Secret of Mareno Bay

Ross searches for a missing novelist in a town where most of the residents are glad that the man is go...More

Ross searches for a missing novelist in a town where most of the residents are glad that the man is gone.Less

60mins 1969-01-15

16. The Old School Tie

Ross's old prison buddy, who once saved his life, insists that the gumshoe join him in an extortion pl...More

Ross's old prison buddy, who once saved his life, insists that the gumshoe join him in an extortion plot and he won't take no for an answer.Less

60mins 1969-01-22

17. A Bowl of Cherries

When Ross offers to help out the son of an old friend he soon finds himself tangled up in a homicide.

When Ross offers to help out the son of an old friend he soon finds himself tangled up in a homicide.Less

60mins 1969-01-29

18. Behind God's Back

Ross goes to Acapulco to find a millionaire's runaway daughter. He locates her among the jet set ther...More

Ross goes to Acapulco to find a millionaire's runaway daughter. He locates her among the jet set there then tries to convince her that some of her playmates are up to no good.Less

60mins 1969-02-05

19. Take the Key and Lock Him Up

Investigating a shooting in a rural town, Ross is arrested on charges of selling marijuana.

Investigating a shooting in a rural town, Ross is arrested on charges of selling marijuana.Less

60mins 1969-02-12

20. The Flip Side

A homely looking woman hires Ross to find her missing glamorous model twin sister. He finds her and d...More

A homely looking woman hires Ross to find her missing glamorous model twin sister. He finds her and discovers that she's mixed up in extortion and a narcotics trafficking ring.Less

60mins 1969-02-26

21. Handle with Care

Hired by an insurance company to investigate a series of truck hijackings, Ross poses as a drifter nam...More

Hired by an insurance company to investigate a series of truck hijackings, Ross poses as a drifter named Leo Martin and joins the hijacking ring.Less

60mins 1969-03-05

22. All the Social Graces

A crude and rough hewn millionaire hires Ross but he's killed before our protagonist can discover why ...More

A crude and rough hewn millionaire hires Ross but he's killed before our protagonist can discover why he's been hired. Ross's investigation leads to an elegant tennis club which considered the deceased too uncouth for membership.Less

60mins 1969-03-12

23. A Lot of Muscle

Ross is hired by a hard as nails, unbending cop who's facing an indictment on a bribery charge. Suspe...More

Ross is hired by a hard as nails, unbending cop who's facing an indictment on a bribery charge. Suspecting a possible frame-up, he begins checking out the cop's enemies and the man has a whole bunch.Less

60mins 1969-03-26

24. Periwinkle Blue

A woman has already buried two previous husbands and her third hires Ross to make sure she's not plann...More

A woman has already buried two previous husbands and her third hires Ross to make sure she's not planning on being a widow for the third time.Less

60mins 1969-04-02

25. Service for One

Ross is hired to tail a recently paroled convict who is supposedly the only person who knows the exact...More

Ross is hired to tail a recently paroled convict who is supposedly the only person who knows the exact location of missing money in the amount of $250,000. But, as could be expected, he's not the only one searching for the missing loot.Less

60mins 1969-04-09

26. Through a Stained Glass Window

Ross is hired to serve a subpoena on a Howard Hughes like millionaire who has never been photographed ...More

Ross is hired to serve a subpoena on a Howard Hughes like millionaire who has never been photographed and uncovers a curious love affair along with a murder plot.Less