While I was away on a hiking trip for my birthday, I hunkered down in front of the fire to do some work after dinner. As I absentmindedly flicked through the television stations, I stopped at a channel that featured old sitcoms. “Barney Miller” was on, and as I drooled over this all-male cast, it occurred to me that this show was where I formed my earliest childhood definition of masculine hotness.

I mean cops, hello?

Hal Linden. Max Gail. Ron Glass. Abe Vigoda. Ron Carey. The quiet and unassuming but side-splittingly funny Steve Landesberg, who had a movie-stealing cameo as Jason Segel’s pediatrician in “Forgetting Sarah Marshall.” Strong masculine men from the 70’s just hit different, didn’t they? Here are some of my favorite hot 70’s t.v. men:

“Rockford Files.” James Garner as Jim Rockford. What is it about James Garner? Twinkly eyes, lopsided thousand-watt smile, self-deprecating sense of humor. Big strong gorgeous man.

“Kojak.” Theo Kojak. Not my physical type per se, but Telly Savalas had that X-Factor, baby.

“Little House on the Prairie.” Michael Landon. I mean, what young girl didn’t dream of having Charles Ingalls for her father? (Sorry, dad, no offense). Talk about great smiles. Although he was a little too “goody-goody” for me, he was built like an oak tree and had great hair.

“Columbo.” Peter Falk. That gravelly voice and trench coat, he was the epitome of cool, especially when he played dumb.

“The Waltons.” Ralph Waite as John Walton Sr. I drooled over this man, and when he showed up as Kevin Costner’s father in “The Bodyguard,” Kevin was quickly forgotten.

“Mash.” I mean, the whole cast. Alan Alda, Harry Morgan, Wayne Rogers, McLean Stevenson. I loved these men.

“The Odd Couple.” I had a thing for Jack Klugman. He was a newspaper man, and I loved when he ranted and raved.

“Coach.” Craig T. Nelson. Just such a funny gorgeous specimen of a man who had a great cameo as Ryan Reynold’s dad in “The Proposal.”

“The White Shadow.” Ken Howard. I loved watching him walk.

Dabney Coleman in “That Girl,” “Tootsie,” “War Games,” and “You’ve Got Mail.”

Sydney Pollack, just handsome and rich and powerful in “Tootsie,” and also director of “Out of Africa” and “Sabrina.”

Garry Marshall, who directed some of my favorite movies, like “Frankie and Johnny,” “Runaway Bride,” and “Beaches. He also appeared in “League of Their Own,” just stole the whole movie.

I miss these men.