Season Five
(Guest-stars who later played roles in or directed Starsky & Hutch are bolded and linked.)
Here are a few reactions I had after watching each episode. I hope to write more thoughtful reviews in the future.
The fifth season begins with the theme song, instead of the lead-in drama scene. They drive a gold Dodge Charger with red racing stripe on sides and on hood, and a station wagon.
The Connection The trio go undercover to take down an international drug ring.
Directed by George McCowan
Guest stars: Edward Asner, Bradford Dillman, Cleavon Little, Barbara McNair, Claudia McNeil, Stephanie Powers, Richard Pryor, Robert Reed, Cesar Romero, Gene Washington, Ron Stokes, Bill Quinn, Eric Server, John Rayner, Ricky Powell, Barbara Rhoades, Vince Howard, Jason Wingreen, Jon Shank, Mia Bendixsen
Rated: five out of five stars
"This is Michael Cole. Each year thousands of heroin babies are born in this country. If you are pregnant and a drug user, please seek prenatal care immediately through your family doctor or your county medical service. Don't let the next heroin baby be yours."
My Take: Barbara Rhoades played Robin Morton in the Starsky & Hutch episode, "Shootout." This had a feature film quality. I could picture it on a theatrical screen, yet it didn't deviate from the working TV formula. I think that's why I liked it so much as an adult. I don't think I understood it as a youngster, but I sure enjoyed the viewing in 2014. It ran in two parts. It has an extended opening credit feature. You can tell they upped the budget because of nice cinematography, a full guest cast, and a rather involved plot. The dialogue was sharper, too. This was where we learned Linc ran numbers with Richard Pryor when younger. Linc used the acronym "TCB"…No red racing stripe on their gold car yet. Just a stripe on the hood. Interesting directing shots. High production.
Highlights: Silver pantsuit. Motorized ramp. Fox lot. Hollywood Bowl. Linc's superior long range vision. Long fleshed out scenes. Stephanie Powers as a pregnant heroine addict. Pete thrown from a ferry boat. An infamous Linc swan dive. Fantastic chase scenes. Pete gets shot. Ed Asner performance.
Lowlights: The captain gets karate chopped in the back and is hospitalized with a severe head injury. His head never hit the ground. The doctor treating the pregnant heroine addict looked like an elf to me.
Knock-outs and Injuries: Captain Greer was knocked-out (hospitalized) Pete was knocked out and thrown overboard. Linc was thrown into some barrels from car (stunned). Pete was shot.
Locations: Amherst Hotel - Ambassador Hotel, 3400 Wilshire Blvd., L.A.
Hollywood Bowl - 2301 N. Highland Ave., Hollywood, CA
Anthony Wilson's Hotel - Dewey Hotel - 725 S Main St., L.A.
Francie Drango's 2nd Apartment - 3719 E. 1st St., Long Beach, CA
Where Captain Greer was attacked: Belmont Olympic Pool - 4000 E. Olympic Plaza, Long Beach, CA (demolished 2014)
Undercover cabby and a confusing head wound...
Hospital visiting hours. An unusual number of people were hospitalized or killed in this episode.
The Thundermakers A youth joins a motorcycle gang that plans to pull off a robbery of his father's company.
Directed by: Jerry Jameson
Guest stars: Bobby Sherman, John Lasell, John McLiam, Paul Carr, Frank Ramirez
Rated: two-and-a-half stars out of five
"How do we find a gang of fun kids with black motorcycles?" ~Captain Greer
My Take: Pete was challenged to prove motorcycle gang worthy. He also had the last chase scene with a hell-of-a-stunt scene at the end. I can't give this episode three stars, because Bobby played this weenie character trying to get back at his businessman father, and it just felt miscast. The Mod Squad didn't have much to do, since Pete and Linc were generally sitting around poking at their motorbikes, while Julie merely posed as a waitress.
Highlights: Nice motorcycle footage in a very dry area. Captain Greer fishing for a waterhole. A relationship plot twist.
Lowlights: Chico's mom jeans.
Locations: The Old Place - 29983 Mulholland Highway, Cornell, CA (bikers gather here - still standing)
Pete expresses himself through his fingers.
Biker or construction man?
Yesterday's Ashes The trio believes that plastic surgery may be the best way to rehabilitate a disfigured girl caught shoplifting.
Guest Stars: Jo Ann Harris, Robert Pine, Ivor Francis, Nino Candido, Grace Lenard, Rudy Challenger, Toni Moss, Pitt Herbert, Rusty Lane
Rated: three stars out of five
"I think plastic surgery is wonderful. I'm also in favor of magic mirrors and yellow brick roads." ~Captain Greer
My Take: Ivor Francis played Anton Rusz in "Death Notice"… There's a running theme of women in Mod Squad…needy and/or scheming. What's a man to do? While things haven't completely changed today, at least there's an opposing side. We learn Julie lives off of Pico. Pete had a pretty long hospital stay, considering TV healing time. Pete doesn't realize that quality time and romantic picnics are going to intrigue an impressionable young girl.
Highlights: Actress' eyes were pretty. Pete does a back extension roll crash landing, but is wearing only a sleeveless sweater vest under his jacket...that's a look.
Lowlights: After the truck incident, Linc sends Julie to check on the girl. How did he know she didn't have a gun? The surgery was a little too miraculous. I mean, you'd think there would be some sign of plastic surgery, six weeks or not.
Knock-outs: Pete during the opening….hospitalized.
A Gift For Jenny A fur coat is the only lead the trio has in a case involving kidnapping and murder that has them baffled.
Directed by: Don McDougall
Guest stars: Paul Richards, Bo Svenson, Gwenn Mitchell, Del Monroe, Charlene Polite, Booker Bradshaw, Ralph James, Victoria George, Norman Bartold, Joyce Skiar
Rated: two and a half stars out of five
Jenny: Early training. I always was part tomboy.
Pete: Not like any tomboy I ever knew.
My Take: So I figured things out a lot faster than the squad did. I guess it's not politically correct to steal furs anymore…though I never considered thieves as politically correct. It was funny watching the thieves have to take each coat off the hanger and fold them before smushing them into sacks. Jenny was a rambunctious one, but out-numbered. Linc didn't have much of a role, even though it was his friend that was in trouble. Not a whole lot to say, which is why I'm giving it a lower rating, though I especially noticed Linc's straight-arm walk, and Pete's pinky finger.
Highlights: There were some interesting stunts one can pull off with a garbage truck. Pete's driving test. Pete in overalls.
Lowlights: Clueless. I figured out the case much sooner than the squad. Jenny's polka dot and plaid outfit. Not much dialogue before the music swelled and the ending freeze frame.
Locations: Mercantile Exchange Robbery - Breakers Hotel - 210 E. Ocean Blvd., Long Beach, CA
Sneaky Pinky Fingers…and Sexy Garbage Truck Driver:
Taps, Play It Louder The trio searches for a Vietnam veteran who missed his stop when he took the bus home.
Directed by: E. W. Swackhamer
Guest stars: Peter Hooten, Michele Nichols, Robert F. Simon, Ann Doran, Timothy Blake, Patricia McAneny, Bruce Kirby, Aldine King, Dabbs Greer, Bill Zuckert, Richard Yniguez
Rated: three and a half out of five stars
"We have three choices. A vacation, a leave of absence, or we quit." ~Pete
My Take: Timothy Blake played Cindy in "Lady Blue", a Starsky & Hutch episode. This had an interesting plot, in that it had me trying to figure out what was going on. Though it seemed obvious once I found out, I was just as lost as the squad, so they did a good job of just letting me know what the squad knew. Squad wanted to figure this out, whether it meant quitting their jobs. Interesting in that when one had a lead, they didn't necessarily share much with each other. ....which is why they usually ended up in a dark alley fighting bad guys by themselves. Very different in Starsky & Hutch where they basically telegraphed everything to each other.
Highlights: Linc's rope stunt. The truth.
Lowlights: Pete coming right out and telling parents that their son said they were dead. It was pretty blunt.
Locations: Jim's General Store - The Rock Store - 30354 Mulholland Highway, Cornell, CA
Pete looking for soldier at Chart House Motel, 8525 Sepulveda Blvd., L.A.
Guest stars: Peter Hooten, Michele Nichols, Robert F. Simon, Ann Doran, Timothy Blake, Patricia McAneny, Bruce Kirby, Aldine King, Dabbs Greer, Bill Zuckert, Richard Yniguez
Rated: three and a half out of five stars
"We have three choices. A vacation, a leave of absence, or we quit." ~Pete
My Take: Timothy Blake played Cindy in "Lady Blue", a Starsky & Hutch episode. This had an interesting plot, in that it had me trying to figure out what was going on. Though it seemed obvious once I found out, I was just as lost as the squad, so they did a good job of just letting me know what the squad knew. Squad wanted to figure this out, whether it meant quitting their jobs. Interesting in that when one had a lead, they didn't necessarily share much with each other. ....which is why they usually ended up in a dark alley fighting bad guys by themselves. Very different in Starsky & Hutch where they basically telegraphed everything to each other.
Highlights: Linc's rope stunt. The truth.
Lowlights: Pete coming right out and telling parents that their son said they were dead. It was pretty blunt.
Locations: Jim's General Store - The Rock Store - 30354 Mulholland Highway, Cornell, CA
Pete looking for soldier at Chart House Motel, 8525 Sepulveda Blvd., L.A.
On the set candids...
Eyes Of The Beholder A killer stalks Pete as he helps a formerly blind girl.
Directed by: Richard Newton
Co-stars: Janet Margolin, Beverly Garland, Richard Rust, Herbie Faye, Michael Fox, Joe Hooker, Guy Remsen, Glenn R. Wilder
Rated: three out of five stars
"Well, she's holding up pretty good... for someone who's never seen hate before." ~Julie
My Take: Janet Margolin played Dr. Judith Kaufman in "The Plague." Sadly, she died of ovarian cancer at age fifty. I so remember this episode. Before I watched it, I remembered when she was able to see and how happy everyone was. I also remembered the tragic ending. I don't know why this particular episode has stayed with me through the years. I don't know how plausible the medical plot is, but the beginning was fairytale-like.
Highlights: The Chopin music throughout was a nice touch. I didn't realize she had given him the ring he's worn since season one. Linc pulling Pete off of the guy who was trying to kill him...
Lowlights: She didn't even look at her sister. She was so excited to see Pete, she barely even acknowledged her sister! Also, it's too bad they couldn't mix in some earlier footage of Pete, since he wears the ring in season one, the flashback didn't look historic enough.
Locations: Ellie & Cathy's Beach House - 28124 Pacific Coast Hwy., Malibu, CA
Los Angeles Zoo & Botanical Gardens, Griffith Park - 5333 Zoo Dr., L.A.
Good Times Are Just Memories A dirty cop frames Pete for the murder of a confederate in crime.
Directed by Ivan Dixon
Guest stars: Leif Erickson, Tyne Daly, Sam Elliott, Clifford David, Anthony Geary, Frederick Herrick, Mike Stoke, A.B Mingleton, Lousis Di Fonzo
Rated: three out of five stars
"Do you want to push or do you want to pull?" ~Linc to Pete
My Take: Ivan Dixon directed a Starsky & Hutch episode, "The Bait"…My first question…what is a confederate in crime? Pete is arrested when a friend (looking for immunity) is killed in the park. He agonizes about "not getting there sooner" like he often does. Sam Elliot is hardly recognizable without his trademark mustache. We got a nice look at Pete's home when he was set up by the crooked cop. Pete ran from the police through some weird international market. At Tyne Daly's house there were wind chimes just like my childhood friend Holly had at her house…memories. She also sat in the Starsky wicker chair. Strange eye art on Anthony Geary's wall. There was actually an overnight stakeout in cars by the squad. Ended oddly with Captain Greer in freeze frame after punching a door.
Okay plot, but episode was missing something. Pete wore the same clothes throughout the three-day episode. He only took off his sweater vest, and added a blue jacket. Oh, and confederate in crime in this case means belonging to a larger league of criminals.
Highlights: Wind chimes! Police science that helps clear Pete mid-show, so he can participate in the episode more. Fun guest stars. Grown men crying.
Lowlights: Weird quote: Sam Elliott's character tells Captain Greer regarding Pete, "He's a good cop, Adam." And Captain Greer responds, "Yeah. I remember when he was more than that." Huh? Giving up so soon, Captain?
Locations: Place where the squad looks for a woman involved in a robbery - La Paz Imports (now Encino Self Storage) 18019 Ventrua Blvd., L.A.
Robbers place signage on motorcycle sidecar - 18101 Tarzana St., L.A.
Posing Pete
Corbey A policeman attempts to nab a pusher who's able to get off on technicalities.
Directed by: Richard Newton
Guest stars: Nehemiah Persoff, Simon scott, Mitchell Silberman, Eddie Ryder, Nicholas Georgiade, Lee Stanley, Jean Byron, Russell Arms, John Dennis, Barbara Dodd
Rated: three stars out of five
Captain, I'll be straight with you. I don't know what we could have done. But we couldn't just sit around and let this guy spread garbage all over you. ~ Pete
My Take: First a Starsky & Hutch connection. Nehemiah Persoff played Paul Michael Glaser's Greek father in a Streets of San Francisco episode. It's a pusher rivalry, and one of them smeared Greer. The captain was suspended over it. The squad got involved because as Pete states, "We just couldn't sit around and let this guy spread garbage all over you." It's a captain centered episode, and he crossed many lines to clear himself. And to top it off, his young nephew, Corbey, was bullied when it hit the news. Plot twist at the end ties everything together.. so after a slow start, it earned three stars.
Highlights: Reminiscent birthday parties. Pete wears greens and yellows for a change. Greer's flashback.
Lowlights: Limited scenes with the squad.
Locations: Warren Bicycle Shop - Alamitos Bay Landing, Long Beach, CA
Johnson's house - 5303 Adele Ave., Whittier, CA:
A candid, off screen shot: Nehemiah Persoff (center) and I think the bad guy on the left looks a lot like Charles Napier, but is not credited.
Another candid, because on screen, Pete is wearing a sweater vest.
Starsky tango'ed where the squad pow-wowed. I want to know where this park is.
Pete goes green, while Julie repeats camel tank.
Can You Hear Me Out There? A rash of car thefts appear to be connected to a particular radio station and a puzzling code. Pete becomes friends with the car thief while Julie and Linc check out the station.
Directed by: Seymour Robbie
Guest stars: Louis Gossett Jr., Cal Bellini, Kim Hamilton, Larry D. Mann, Ed Call, Tina Andrews, Ty Henderson
Rated: three stars out of five
"Don't worry about Pete. He can handle himself." ~Captain Greer
My Take: Nice side-family story with Lou Gossett Jr. Interesting how the captain wasn't worried about Pete, even though he had not checked in for a long time. I noticed that Linc runs on his toes when he runs a distance to save Pete. Noticed it before, but especially noticeable in this episode.
Highlights: Cal Bellini. Very high strung and mean, but Pete figured him out..but wasn't careful enough. Linc's genius friend. Girl's intuition.
Lowlights: Bad film at the very beginning and end on my DVD, only on this particular episode.
Knockouts: Pete. Almost got flatso.
Another Final Game Pete and Julie pose as a newlywed couple to outsmart a master con artist.
Directed by: Jerry Jameson
Guest stars: Clu Gulager, Beverlee McKinsey, Woodrow Parfrey, Jeseph R. Sicari, Zara Cully, Richard Hervey, Paul Micale, George Brenlin
Rated: two and a half stars
Pete: Why don't you just pick him up?
Captain Greer: And charge him with what? Getting robbed?
My Take: Pete and Julie pose as a couple, but they're pegged. Linc saves the day, but it was an anti-climatic way of catching a very big bunko artist. This episode played and depended on the crime artist's ego. A bit of a slow episode. I know the wife wanted to go straight, but could of, would of, should of.
Highlights: Recognized Santa Monica and they used the Miramar Hotel. Jogging suit and Pete acting rich.
Lowlights: Why feel for the wife? She was very much a part of the crimes and there were eight years of crime. She even left him, and came right back. It didn't make sense that this big time crime artist let Linc spy on him.
Knock-outs: Pete gets knocked out while robbed...
Locations: Fairmont Miramar Hotel, Santa Monica, 101 Wilshire Blvd., Santa Monica, CA
I'm too sexy for my shirt:
Posing for menswear in the Sears catalogue...
Crime Club Students with high IQs commit crimes just for kicks.
Directed by: Don McDougall
Guest stars: Robert Lipton (Peggy Lipton's brother), Pamela Susan Shoop, Hilly Hicks, Mark Slade, Joe Renteria, Nancy Stephens, Geoffrey Binney, Gordon Rigsby, Peter Hobbs, Sarah Fankboner
Rated: two out of five stars
"An intellectual, an athlete, a painter...There's nothing beyond my capabilities." ~Pete
My Take: It was too weird with one of the characters being the actress' real brother. It wasn't supposed to be a love interest, but this bond was too uncomfortable. Pete was a very good gymnast. Kind of a cerebral episode unless you like watching motorbikes racing around a track. I'm pretty sure they used parts of the Pepperdine campus.
Highlights: Superman was a sissy. Rare times I saw Pete aim a gun at someone. Setting up Linc to kill Julie. Pete's omelette talents.
Lowlights: Club members lack of morals when they crossed the line.
The Twain A Korean girl finds trouble in her search for her American father.
Directed by: Georg Olden
Guest stars: Friz Weaver, Victoria Racimo, Edward Bell, Vic Tayback, Allan Arbus, Rudy Challenger, Johnny Haymer, Charles Seel, Frances Fong
Rated: three out of five stars
"We're dealing with a human life. This girl, any girl, has the right to find out who her father is, illegitimate or otherwise." ~Pete
My Take: Allan Arbus was in "Birds of a Feather," a Starsky & Hutch episode. First off, there was no way the actress was half Korean. Julie took a vacation-- went to care for her sick mother, and was hiding out until near the end of the episode. Pete hit another girl with his car. It's a wonder he drives anymore. Interesting little theme and a feel good find. I was onto the bad guy in that when I found out his profession, I too, questioned that his lifestyle did not fit his profession. Turns out that was a key to the case. Every time Pete and Linc would leave the victim, I'd want them to stay.
Highlights: This was basically a Pete-centered episode, though Linc did a lot of the ground work toward the happy ending. It was Pete who was connected to the witness and was determined to help her.
Lowlights: Casting of Nan?
Knock-outs: Pete was more stunned than knocked out. I'm not sure if I should be able to count to three to consider it a clean knock-out.
Locations: Lander's beach house - 29066 Cliffside Dr., Malibu, CA
St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church - 2727 W. Pico Blvd., L.A.
Belinda, End Of Little Miss Bubble Gum The squad must determine if a former child star is a klutz or a target for murder.
Guest stars: Catherine Burns, Bob Balaban, Anthony James, Ruth Roman, Dane Clark, John Karlen, Vernon Weddle, Len Lesser, Art Aragon
Rated: three and a half stars out of five
"You can be grateful for a gift but you don't have to necessarily have to love the one who gave it to you." ~Julie
My Take: Dane Clark played Vic Rankin in "Losing Streak." Wow, I did not recognize a very young John Karlen (of Cagney and Lacey fame). But I did recognize Anthony James. He played Luke in "Bloodbath." I was trying to figure out where I had seen the actress who played Belinda. She had such a distinct look to her. And then I realized I recognized her from Mod Squad so many years ago. Especially when we saw Tony's bedroom. That weird stuff was seared into my brain. Or at least watching this episode woke up that part of the brain. It was very weird seeing this episode again. But this time around, I couldn't stand the mother. Wow. What a user. Back in the day, I probably went to get a snack out of the snack drawer during her dramatics. Nice car action at the end. I'm giving this episode a higher rating because it stirred memories.
Highlights: Belinda's colorful apartment. The music. The guest stars I was trying to place.
Lowlights: Belinda's family. The pitiful gym that required a $200.00 membership fee.
Knock-outs: Julie was shoved and knocked out.
Kristie A little girl's father gets in trouble with thieves just before Christmas
Directed by: Richard Newton
Guest Stars: Debbie Lytton, Jed Allan, William Bassett, Jean Hale, Robert Patten, Buddy Lester, Bert Holland
Rated: three and a half stars
"Every Christmas we try to make it work. I try. My parents try. Nobody touches." ~ Pete
"Honey, the only time I see 6:30 is when I'm coming in from the night before." ~ Pete
My Take: They remade this episode into a Starsky & Hutch episode, though Mod Squad's was much better. The little girl was a very sweet chatter box, whereas in Starsky & Hutch the girl was played by a sassy-street-wise tomboy played by Kristy McNichol. There was a lot of Christmas in this episode, too. Plot had to be explained a lot to make it fit in the timeline...and to have it make sense at all.
Highlights: We saw nearly every corner of Pete's place. Pete trying mentioning his bachelor life to the curious child.
Lowlights: Life has changed. You can no longer leave a youngster in a station wagon by herself. Heck, a youngster would not be left alone with a male adult who wasn't related. Linc wore sunglasses inside on Christmas morning.
Knock-out and Injuries: None to squad.
(click individual pictures to enlarge)
Sanctuary Julie is put in the hospital when she's targeted by syndicate undercover agents.
Directed by: Jerry Jameson
Guests stars: Glenn Corbett, Hal England, Victor Buono, S. John Launer, Judith McConnell, G.J. Mitchell, Jeanne Bates, Joseph Breen, John Davey
Rated: three out of five stars
"Even my hair hurts." ~Julie
My Take: I was a little frustrated with the boys. With such a sneaky syndicate, you'd think they'd split up more. Whenever they both left Julie, I'd get nervous. There shouldn't of trusted one one, especially one with needles.
Highlights: Glenn Corbett's blue eyes. Pete and Linc in various uniforms. Their carefully planned caper at the beginning. I love it when they're this smooth.
Lowlights: The Captain, Linc, and Pete were too clueless for my patience. It's hard when you're on the other side and know who the bad guy is and suspect nearly everyone else. I think they could have kept her safer, making it harder for someone who was on the wrong side.
Knock-outs and Injuries: Pete almost got sauna-d to death.
Run, Lincoln, Run Linc tries to save his cabby friend from loan sharks.
Directed by: Leonard Horn
Guest stars: James A.Watson Jr., Elliott Street, Stefan Gierasch, Emily Yancy, June Dayton, Taylor Lacher, Justin Smith, Nicholas Lewis, Grant Owens
Rated: three and a half stars out of five
Captain: What do you know about electronics?
Pete: It's not what I know now. It's what I know when I walk into Glendon's office.
My Take: Stefan Gierasch played the creepy Artie Solkin in the episode "Vendetta" from Starsky & Hutch. Surprisingly fun episode. The plot takes off toward the end. Not an especially smart set of loan sharks which made it fun…though they were deadly. I think Clarence really does hurt his hand, since it is casted in the next episode. Finally! Continuity!
Highlights: Pete in blues and Captains reaction. Priceless. The Animal Cracker Brothers. Linc was very intimidating with his trademark stare. Lots of action.
Lowlights: Animal Cracker Brothers went after Linc with a tire iron, and then they started firing guns all over after he wrestled them down. It was a free-for-all. Very definitely, not professionals. But in a way this made it a highlight….the bungling was fun.
Knock-outs: Surprisingly none, but there was plenty of action.
Don't Kill My Child A father is suspected of beating his own son.
Directed by: Harry Falk
Guest stars: Marlyn Mason, Murray MacLeod, Nina Foch, Lillian Lehman, Joan Tompkins, Tyrone Wilson, Kirk Mee, John Zaremba, Jack Marin, Beverly Powers, Rosanna DeSoto
Rated: Two and a half stars
"Yeah, I'm a hero. It itches. Boy does it itch." ~Linc in reference to his (real?) arm cast.
My Take: I held off on watching this episode, because I'm suspecting it's the old early 70's TV twist-- oh no! It's the mother whose hurting her son! I learned on Medical Center long ago, it's always the one no one suspects…. But this episode was different in that she admitted to it pretty early in the episode, making it more of a character study. Linc had a cast on his arm. In one way it was consistent with the last episode where he cut his arm. But it might have been a real injury in that it was wrapped with a cast. I remembered certain parts of this episode from my childhood, like when she took him to the foster home and her time with her son at the hotel room.
Highlights: The ending save had an artful location with windows and interesting shots. The mother in crisis was a good actress and they casted a mother who looked like her. Cute how Pete ran around the car to help Linc out as they updated audience on his arm injury.
Lowlights: Because it was more of a character study, it moved slower with little action, except for Pete's high flying tackling of the rather meek husband. And of course there were foster child statistics, which makes it feel lecture-y.
Death In High Places The trio's investigation of a cover-up in a construction-site murder leads them to a pair of bad heavies.
Directed by: Don McDougall
Guest stars: Fernando Lamas, Jim Backus (Mr. Howell), Priscilla Garcia, Joe Renteria, Ahna Capri, Carmen Zapata, Bing Russell, Rodolfo Hoyos Jr., Frank Whiteman, William Boyett
Rated: two stars out of five
"His idea of exercise is lifting a can of beer." ~Linc
My Take: Fernando Lamas directed three Starsky & Hutch episodes; my favorite, "Shootout" and two other episodes…"The Specialist" and "Tap Dancing." This episode had Linc working on a high rise. Wonder where the action sequence would occur? Pete knew Spanish. I didn't really care what happened to anybody in this episode. Even the "innocent" guy was covering for his brother's murder.
Highlights: Coats! Fox lot. Mr. Howell groping his younger woman friend. (What would Mrs. Howell think?) And knowing Mr. Howell's partner in crime, Mr. Lamas, directed one of the most beautiful episodes of Starsky & Hutch ever. Linc's "Goodbye!!!!" Mr. Howell even thinking of taking on Lincoln Hayes in a fight.
Lowlights: Non-sensible plot. Fernando Lamas walks right through the front door of where Mr. Howell is staying multiple times in this episode. Why would a photo that has to be professionally enlarged to see them together be that incriminating? The wither and die Indian curse sub-plot. Anti-climatic ending.
Dingle Dolly Staircase
Fernando Lamas and "Linc"
What a view!
What risk?
Put Out The Welcome Mat For Death The trio investigates a euthanasia that may turn out to be murder.
Directed by: Reza Badiyi
Guest stars: Marthat Scott, Howard Duff, Michael Burns, Kristina Holland, Doreen Lang, James Siking, John Mark Robinson, Lenore Kasdorf, Leigh Hamilton, Ed Bach, John Howard
Rated: three and a half stars out of five
"That's right, I was there. I saw Mrs. Fuller give her the shots! But I don't know how much she gave her." ~Pete
My Take: Reza Badiyi directed two episodes of Starsky & Hutch; "Strange Justice" and "Moonshine." Lenore Kasdorf played Kathi in "Death Notice," James Sikking played Ted McDermott in "The Action," and Leigh Hamilton played Vivian in "Dandruff"...a slew of players from Starsky & Hutch. I remember this Mod Squad episode so clearly. The subject matter was so hard to watch with the terminal patient in pain. That's what made the villain so much worse...she caused so much needless suffering, and her son was an awful person. Julie was a candy striper again-- a perfect job for welcomed conversation to get leads. It was raining in this episode. At first I thought the rain was fake...I mean Pete wore a trench coat! But by episode's end, I could see the stormy skies.
Highlights: Well-casted. I loved the rose a day. It was a heartfelt episode with a very serious, and timely theme. There was a pleasant eeriness remembering so much of this one. Took me back. I noticed the Look and Life magazines in the nurse's home. Julie's compassion was actually comforting in this episode.
Lowlights: The subject matter. It hit too close to home. Shouldn't have watched this one before bed. My mother died of lung cancer from second-hand smoke in the workplace. She was 66. Her death still traumatizes me. At one point, Pete was playing devil's advocate, but he changed sides very quickly. Julie's hair needed conditioning.
Knock-outs: Pete gets knocked out at the beginning.
Scion of Death The parents of a kidnapped child give the trio a hard time with their silence.
Directed by: Daniel Haller
Guest stars: Don Porter, Julie Adams, Ross Elliott, Larry Golden, Mitzi Hoag, Richard Rowley, Bill Vint, Lewis Charles, Dan Spelling, Dennis Dugan
Rated: three out of five stars
"Frightened people don't always tell the truth." ~Captain Greer
My Take: I remember this one in a weird way. I used to replay this episode in my mind in a different direction. So it was strange to see the original (real) version. Julie was basically the interviewer. Nice way for her to get the family background story. It was very windy in one scene...with the mountains it could have been Malibu.
Highlights: Plan worked. Heroes. Happy ending. Bad guy's sidekick's expressions. Julie's hair and dark turtleneck. Pete's plan A worked and then Linc had a winning wrap-up plan.
The Night Holds Terror Julie is trapped in a strange house with an escaped lunatic.
Directed by: Richard Newton
Guest Stars: Richard Dreyfuss, Brooke Bundy, Ben Piazza
Rated: three out of five stars
"They couldn't make heads or tails out of me." ~Cal (deranged ex-husband)
My Take: I had remembered the rain and the dark house, but forgot about the insane dude being Richard Dreyfuss. As an adult I appreciate his craziness. He plays crazy and scared like no other. Julie has such crazy luck. First she's in a car accident (bad). Then a doctor and nurse happen to be passing by (good). They don't pass on an address where they were taking her (bad). She's treated and can call the squad from a home (good). But then an escaped lunatic keeps her captive (bad). See how this episode bounces? Dreyfuss had on Starsky-like clothes.
Highlights: Richard Dreyfuss. Interesting tie-in with her dealing with an issue from a past episode (flashbacks). Handles Dreyfuss well.
Lowlights: Not much Linc.
Knockouts and Injuries: Julie is knocked out in a car accident.
Cry Uncle A Greek Painter's visit may have something to do with a series of art thefts.
Directed by: Phil Bondelli
Guest Stars: Theodore Bikel, Gino Conforti, Geoffrey Lewis, Dena Dietrich, Mills Watson, Kathleen Freeman, Richard Newton, Bryn Morgan, Bob Bralver, Suhaila Farhat
Rated: two and a half stars
"A true artist has his own style. It is unique. It is the sum total of a man." ~ Uncle Max
My Take: Humorous villains, and two of the villains were from "The Fix"...Captain Greer had pink paper towels in his apartment. I thought he lived in a house in earlier episodes.
Highlights: Theodore Bikel. The tag! Ha! Greek dancing. Captain's apartment.
Lowlights: Pete looked tired. Something was off. Even Julie's eyes looked different. She could hardly keep them open in one scene.
Knock-outs and Injuries: None to the squad.
And Once For My Baby An imaginative thief plots a spectacular heist.
Directed by: Richard Newton
Guest stars: Ed Nelson, Linda Marsh, Rex Holman, Robert Phillips, John Kerr, Cal Bartlett, Frances Lee McCain, John Goddard, Maggie Malooly, David Roy
Rated: two stars out of five
Captain: Look at you. You're running yourself into the ground.
Julie: It's my time and my legs.
Captain: And your funeral if you don't watch out.
My Take: A rather slow episode, considering it was the last. Julie is obsessed about finding a woman who doesn't know she might have cancer. So she's separated by the guys in much of this episode. The guys keep bringing in suspects, but the trail gets cold. So they hook up with Julie, and bam, her footwork is rewarded. A lot of sexism in this one with the remark of it being the wife's job to have babies. That remark comes back to haunt him when she won't step in and be a part of the heist.
Highlights: The big apology. Julie's jean pantsuit in the tag.
Lowlights: I didn't feel too badly for the woman's predicament. Not the cancer part, but that she was pregnant by an ex-con who was at it again. Why would she go along for the ride again?
Knockouts: Linc gets knocked out at the beginning of this episode.
The last episode...