No, it's not THE PINK PANTHER, but it sure made me think the writer had that in mind.
In the most off-kilter, confusing episode so far, a former client of Mac's (from when he was a defense attourney) warns Mac there's going to be a robbery... but gets the house wrong, and when the police arrive, the house has been broken into, the safe is open, but nothing appears to be stolen. But due to gossip squeezed out of a reluctant Sally, he finds several people in his social circle are having financial troubles, and begins to suspect the very-expensive necklace in the safe may be a fake... despite the jeweler who made it special insisting it's real ("I know my own work.") All of this revolves around a costume party Mac refuses to get dressed for... until his Chief of Police insists, as part of an undercover stake-out. Sure enough, not only is there a robbery during the party, but also a shooting, followed by a chase on foot, all climaxing in the real culprit openly threatening to murder Sally for knowing too much. OY!
Was there ever a Police Commissioner who did so much actual dangerous policework himself? Was there ever a more obviously-happy married couple on TV? Was there ever an episode with more completely-insane dialogue (outside of a GET SMART)? I'm sure writer Robert Lewin meant it all to be hilarious, but, frankly, the only laugh I got out of this one was the scene where Mac throws Sally over his shoulder and carries her upstairs to the bedroom. Lewin only did two 1st-season M&Ws, but he also did four 1st-season STAR TREK: TNGs, which may explain some things. Let's just say I wish I enjoyed this one a lot more than I did.
For the 2nd story in a row, Mac (the POLICE COMMISSIONER!) is pulled over by his own cops for SPEEDING. Tsk! And, once again, poor Sgt. Enright is repeatedly interrupted by phone calls just as he's about to do something important (like eating). I would hope that Mac would be giving that guy regular raises in salary, for all the determined loyalty above and beyond whatever that he keeps displaying.
The guest cast this time included Cesare Danova (ANIMAL HOUSE), Lorraine Gary (JAWS, 1941), Tyne Daly (THE ENFORCER, though I must admit I didn't recognize her in this), John Abbott (STAR TREK, LOST IN SPACE, THE SAINT IN LONDON) and Monte Landis (THE MONKEES-- in a bizarre bit of type-casting, the guy who once played "Mr. Zero" shows up at the party dressed in a DEVIL costume).
This "mystery" show sure had a LOT more action in it than COLUMBO... sometimes, more than McCLOUD! As usual, my focus is often on Sally (Susan Saint James). After not seeing most of these since they were first-run (more than 50 years ago), I'm reminded of just how adorable I always found her to be, and the fact that if I ever met someone like her in real life, I could fall for her so easily.
In the most off-kilter, confusing episode so far, a former client of Mac's (from when he was a defense attourney) warns Mac there's going to be a robbery... but gets the house wrong, and when the police arrive, the house has been broken into, the safe is open, but nothing appears to be stolen. But due to gossip squeezed out of a reluctant Sally, he finds several people in his social circle are having financial troubles, and begins to suspect the very-expensive necklace in the safe may be a fake... despite the jeweler who made it special insisting it's real ("I know my own work.") All of this revolves around a costume party Mac refuses to get dressed for... until his Chief of Police insists, as part of an undercover stake-out. Sure enough, not only is there a robbery during the party, but also a shooting, followed by a chase on foot, all climaxing in the real culprit openly threatening to murder Sally for knowing too much. OY!
Was there ever a Police Commissioner who did so much actual dangerous policework himself? Was there ever a more obviously-happy married couple on TV? Was there ever an episode with more completely-insane dialogue (outside of a GET SMART)? I'm sure writer Robert Lewin meant it all to be hilarious, but, frankly, the only laugh I got out of this one was the scene where Mac throws Sally over his shoulder and carries her upstairs to the bedroom. Lewin only did two 1st-season M&Ws, but he also did four 1st-season STAR TREK: TNGs, which may explain some things. Let's just say I wish I enjoyed this one a lot more than I did.
For the 2nd story in a row, Mac (the POLICE COMMISSIONER!) is pulled over by his own cops for SPEEDING. Tsk! And, once again, poor Sgt. Enright is repeatedly interrupted by phone calls just as he's about to do something important (like eating). I would hope that Mac would be giving that guy regular raises in salary, for all the determined loyalty above and beyond whatever that he keeps displaying.
The guest cast this time included Cesare Danova (ANIMAL HOUSE), Lorraine Gary (JAWS, 1941), Tyne Daly (THE ENFORCER, though I must admit I didn't recognize her in this), John Abbott (STAR TREK, LOST IN SPACE, THE SAINT IN LONDON) and Monte Landis (THE MONKEES-- in a bizarre bit of type-casting, the guy who once played "Mr. Zero" shows up at the party dressed in a DEVIL costume).
This "mystery" show sure had a LOT more action in it than COLUMBO... sometimes, more than McCLOUD! As usual, my focus is often on Sally (Susan Saint James). After not seeing most of these since they were first-run (more than 50 years ago), I'm reminded of just how adorable I always found her to be, and the fact that if I ever met someone like her in real life, I could fall for her so easily.