"Honey West" (ABC; 1965-1966)

Honey West was heralded as "the leading female fictional character in the world" according to the Encyclopedia Britannica.  The feisty female detective was the heroine of several novels written in the 1950s and 1960s by G.G. Fickling (the pen name of husband and wife team Forrest and Gloria Fickling).  Producer Aaron Spelling ("The Love Boat", "Beverly Hills 90210") brought the character to TV.

Honey (Anne Francis) shared a home with her Aunt Meg (Irene Hervey) and a pet ocelot named Bruce.  Her partner was Sam Bolt (John Erickson), a guy who backed her up, worried about her, and admonished her whenever he thought she took too many chances.  Honey had taken over the detective agency that her late father had run.  Each episode featured her getting into some dire situation and Sam coming to her rescue -- but not before she had gotten in a few licks on the bad guys and girls herself.  Honey was first seen on an episode of "Burke's Law" (1963-1966).

The series only lasted a year.  Low ratings probably had something to do with it, but I'd like to think American audiences weren't ready for a show with a female detective as the lead.  Fortunately, it did not stop the ones who came after Honey West, including the women of "Charlie's Angels" -- another show that Aaron Spelling would bring to TV in the following decade.