Adam-12 (TV Series) Log 135: Arson (1970) User Reviews

One great subplot.

[tsn-48730 · 7/10 · 5 October 2023]

There was much that clinked about this episode, not the least of which was they didn't catch the arsonist. Though it does happen from time to time that they don't always get all of the criminals and they do get some kudos on the show by demonstrating that sometimes one arsonist can give others the idea of using an ongoing arson spree to try to attempt insurance fraud. Unfortunately it also sometimes brings out the crazier firebug imitators who cause even more damage and even death.

I really liked the one subplot of Malloy and Reed answering the call of the escaped mental patient who managed to get home and was holding his wife hostage with a knife to her throat. It was very tense and looked like it could go either way, until the stern, no nonsense Psychiatric Nurse walks in and demands he hands it over and he does! My late wife was a Psych RN for 35 years and when I was an EMT I worked with her in Psychiatric ER in Phoenix for two years. The truth is sometimes (if she'd dealt with them before) no matter how big and dangerous they really were (& many really, really were) that was just exactly how she handled them. All five foot two inches of her! It could be an amazing thing to see and used to scare the heck out of me until I realized she knew exactly what she was doing. Nurses in general, but Psych RN's in particular, are incredible people! 😎👍

The Director Needed To Light A Fire Under His Guest Cast

[chashans · 6/10 · 21 April 2023]

This episode is directed by Christian Nyby who had directed the exceptional Adam-12 ep, "Elegy..." just two outings earlier. In that episode, Nyby successfully excised wonderful performances from his cast, even though none spoke a single word. All communication was via action and facial expressions. In this "Arson" episode, with the power of speech readily available, Nyby can't get a decent piece of acting out of practically the entire guest cast.

Quite bad acting comes in the form of a married couple, the husband of which has invited a potentially competitive female admirer to their otherwise blissful home. He and "she" merely want to watch a College Football game on TV. The man's wife is not thrilled with her husband's choice of guest. Mary Grace Canfield, formerly rotten carpenter Ralph Monroe on the brilliant series, "Green Acres", plays "the other woman". She's the best of the three guest performers in the scene, but she comes across as anxious to get the scene over and done so she can get out to the catering truck.

Worst of all is the actor who plays the role of the owner of a company which almost goes up in flames. This, supposedly at the hands of a serial arsonist. Reed feels sorry for the guy and prods partner Malloy into running patrol past the guy's business a second night, just in case the arsonist strikes again in the same place - for the first time. Upon encountering the business owner again, the actor playing the part demonstrates an acute inability to actually act. Perhaps it was the Director this time who was anxious to get to the catering truck. He didn't seem to take any effort in even attempting to get a decent performance out of the guy.

Milner and McCord are both their usual professional, terrific selves. Martin Milner is always a stand-out with his range of 'ticked-off contempt' to "Ain't crime a kick in the head?" - and everything inbetween - mentality.

A bit of fun is had with the description of the arsonist given by several different witnesses. Several witnesses? Several completely different descriptions! Such is reality for a police officer who is just trying to get a bit of information.

Perhaps most odd of all concerning this episode, is that neither Malloy & Reed, nor any other Officer of the Law, ever captures the arsonist! At the episode's conclusion, he or she remains free to burn again.

Fire, Fire Everywhere

[StrictlyConfidential · 4/10 · 10 December 2020]

(*Officer Reed quote*) - "Think it's that firebug again?"

There's an arsonist active in Adam-12's territory who's regularly setting cars on fire.

In between dealing with the firebug, Officers Reed and Malloy also deal with a pretty demented family dispute, as well as a jumper who's afraid of heights.

Lackluster firebug episode

[jbacks3 · 3/10 · 2 December 2009]

This is a particularly bland Adam-12 episode, despite the collective talent involved (ummh, let's see, there's the guy-- playing Hal Rosten-- that voiced "Thumper" in _Bambi (1942)_(qv), Buck Holland--- Johnny Depp's buddy & driver playing a fireman, a kid witness who'd become a '80's Z-movie stuntman, Mary Jane Canfield--- one of the lousy carpenters--- Sid Melton's sister--- from Green Acres, Mantan Moreland, Charlie Chan's stereotypical bug-eyed chauffeur in all those ever-worsening 1940's Monogram programmers, and a longtime soap actor playing a knife-wielding psycho). I have to say that Kent McCord continues to display the acting range of 3/8" plywood (yes, I realize he was a capable ex-SAG president and has a brain)... despite this being the 3rd season of the series. Also note how domestic violence laws have radically changed since 1970 (although here the real crime is bad acting). Also dig that radio chatter... "All units in the vicinity and One-Adam-12..." That's the kind of priority calls you get when your 1970 Dodge Coronet is the star of a Jack Webb TV series. Friday's trusty '67 Ford Fairlane never got fed lines like that.