When you read a synopsis of what this episode entails, it might seem like viewers are in for a bit of a snoozefest. Adam-12, the Squad Car itself, only makes a quick cameo appearance. The storyline here sticks Officers Malloy and Reed behind the front desk up in reception. The episode features the partners dealing with citizens coming in off the street for whatever reasons. M & R also handle phone calls and Malloy would probably like to handle the pretty, young female probationary rookie Officer who has been assigned to learn front desk duties.
The new Officer is Doris Mills. She's just the same as Reed, excited to be there and wanting to learn. Incidentally, Mills asks M & R how long they've been with the force. Malloy mutters "couple years", though as time is running for the world in this series, he's actually nearing his 8th year. Meanwhile, Reed answers that he's been with the Department for 8 months. That's interesting being that with this episode, Adam-12 is nearing the completion of it's second year on the air.
No, this episode is not a snoozefest. It does quite well in demonstrating for viewers the sorts of things Police have to deal with, just at the Station alone. There's a "found" elderly woman who won't tell anyone her name or where she lives. She does however share with the Police that she has a love for warm milk and Detroit, Michigan.
The episode's Writer and it's Director have done a very good job with this script. There's a father who comes in to bail out his Straight-As, honor-roll student, shoplifting son. (The actor playing the son is recognizable from a stand-out guest spot on "The Andy Griffith Show". If you're familiar with "Dopey Opie", then you'll know who this is.) Viewers learn in this segment that a "lucky rabbit's foot" isn't really going to bring you any luck.
Reed has a terrific time at the front desk. He gets to help a citizen whose car door has been stolen. The moment he finishes helping the guy, he gets to help him all over again. Then, when he finishes the second time, he gets to help the guy all over again a third time. Such is the duty of a Police Officer who doesn't know which correct Complaint Form to use. Reed smiles through it (as does the man) but you just know he's itching to get back in the squad car and out onto the rough, tough streets of the city.
Reed gets his chance to hit the road when trouble breaks out at a student rally being held that night at L. A.'s Grant Park. Viewers might feel a bit excited as Reed is actually partnering up with Sergeant McDonald in his L-20 Station Wagon Patrol Vehicle. Unfortunately, all we get is talk about the uprising via the Police Radio behind the front desk. Concern arises though when talk on the radio brings the news that two Officers have sustained injuries at the trouble spot. But Reed couldn't possibly be one of those injured Officers, right? The script would never harm one of our heroes. Right??
There actually is some action at the front desk. And it's not Malloy hitting on the pretty, young Officer Mills. A very "hinky" acting dude comes in asking about a "friend" who had been arrested earlier. We see those cogs and wheels inside Malloy's head start spinning. Something's not right with this guy. Plus, Malloy knows that the earlier Arrestee had two known associates who had escaped capture. So besides the Arrestee and Mr. Hinky, where's the Third Man?
This episode was obviously done on a very small budget. There's only a few "sets" featured. The number of guest actors is probably about the same as usual. Unlike the cheaply made episode, "A Rare Occassion" from a few weeks back, this episode doesn't suffer from the low budget. All the storylines and segments here considered, this is actually a pretty good Adam-12-less episode of Adam-12. Oh, and Malloy, who wears a cast on his arm due to a work-related tumble over two garbage cans (thus why he's on front desk duty) gets in a very funny crack aimed at Reed. Reed returns in the concluding moments of the episode, "unfresh" from getting roughed up at the Grant Park rally. Surprising that Reed was indeed one of the two Officers who had sustained injuries at the uprising. Though it still would have been interesting (and fun) to have seen all that "spoken of" action at the park.
The new Officer is Doris Mills. She's just the same as Reed, excited to be there and wanting to learn. Incidentally, Mills asks M & R how long they've been with the force. Malloy mutters "couple years", though as time is running for the world in this series, he's actually nearing his 8th year. Meanwhile, Reed answers that he's been with the Department for 8 months. That's interesting being that with this episode, Adam-12 is nearing the completion of it's second year on the air.
No, this episode is not a snoozefest. It does quite well in demonstrating for viewers the sorts of things Police have to deal with, just at the Station alone. There's a "found" elderly woman who won't tell anyone her name or where she lives. She does however share with the Police that she has a love for warm milk and Detroit, Michigan.
The episode's Writer and it's Director have done a very good job with this script. There's a father who comes in to bail out his Straight-As, honor-roll student, shoplifting son. (The actor playing the son is recognizable from a stand-out guest spot on "The Andy Griffith Show". If you're familiar with "Dopey Opie", then you'll know who this is.) Viewers learn in this segment that a "lucky rabbit's foot" isn't really going to bring you any luck.
Reed has a terrific time at the front desk. He gets to help a citizen whose car door has been stolen. The moment he finishes helping the guy, he gets to help him all over again. Then, when he finishes the second time, he gets to help the guy all over again a third time. Such is the duty of a Police Officer who doesn't know which correct Complaint Form to use. Reed smiles through it (as does the man) but you just know he's itching to get back in the squad car and out onto the rough, tough streets of the city.
Reed gets his chance to hit the road when trouble breaks out at a student rally being held that night at L. A.'s Grant Park. Viewers might feel a bit excited as Reed is actually partnering up with Sergeant McDonald in his L-20 Station Wagon Patrol Vehicle. Unfortunately, all we get is talk about the uprising via the Police Radio behind the front desk. Concern arises though when talk on the radio brings the news that two Officers have sustained injuries at the trouble spot. But Reed couldn't possibly be one of those injured Officers, right? The script would never harm one of our heroes. Right??
There actually is some action at the front desk. And it's not Malloy hitting on the pretty, young Officer Mills. A very "hinky" acting dude comes in asking about a "friend" who had been arrested earlier. We see those cogs and wheels inside Malloy's head start spinning. Something's not right with this guy. Plus, Malloy knows that the earlier Arrestee had two known associates who had escaped capture. So besides the Arrestee and Mr. Hinky, where's the Third Man?
This episode was obviously done on a very small budget. There's only a few "sets" featured. The number of guest actors is probably about the same as usual. Unlike the cheaply made episode, "A Rare Occassion" from a few weeks back, this episode doesn't suffer from the low budget. All the storylines and segments here considered, this is actually a pretty good Adam-12-less episode of Adam-12. Oh, and Malloy, who wears a cast on his arm due to a work-related tumble over two garbage cans (thus why he's on front desk duty) gets in a very funny crack aimed at Reed. Reed returns in the concluding moments of the episode, "unfresh" from getting roughed up at the Grant Park rally. Surprising that Reed was indeed one of the two Officers who had sustained injuries at the uprising. Though it still would have been interesting (and fun) to have seen all that "spoken of" action at the park.
