Cheyenne-Bodie Reviews

C.B. Strike: Troubled Blood: Part 1 (2022) Season 4, Episode 1

Beautifully done.

[9/10 · 4 March 2023]

The novel of "Troubled Blood" was over 900 pages and I loved all of it. The novels have kept getting better from book to book. The TV adaptations are never quite as good as the novels, but they are clearly made with great care in all departments.

Acting, writing, and directing were first rate, as they have been for all the episodes. The lead characters continue to be very compelling. Leads Tom Burke and Holliday Grainger are really good company.

Robin is getting to be quite a dare devil in addition to being a brilliant detective. I think she should take fewer risks.

Strike and Robin make a great team, but I think Strike is right to be cautious in starting a romantic relationship with Robin. Strike is a great guy in almost all ways. He somehow manages not to indulge in self pity.

And he isn't threatened by Robin's amazing competence, which is probably due to his own deep self confidence.

But I don't think Strike's a good bet as a husband. He is right to worry about losing a business partner and friend after a romantic relationship with Robin blows up. Usually you can't have everything.

I wonder how Strike would take it if Robin eventually outshines him as a detective.

It was fun to see Anna Calder-Marshall act with her son Tom Burke in this season's episodes.

I would put "Strike" in the same league as the wonderful "Foyle's War".

Hawaiian Eye: Services Rendered (1960) Season 2, Episode 15

Meet Greg MacKenzie

[10/10 · 25 September 2022]

Greg MacKenzie was a San Francisco private detective. He had a swank apartment with an impressive night time view of the city. He also had a sexy girl friend named Bonnie. As a twelve year old boy, it looked to me like Greg had a terrific life. I loved his apartment.

Tom Lopaka and Tracy Steele ask Greg to come to Hawaii to work undercover on a case. Of course, Tom and Tracy could have asked Stu Bailey or Jeff Spencer of "77 Sunset Strip". But Greg had an engineering background that made him good fit for the assignment.

Michael Pate made a charming villain and Leslie Parrish was on board two years before her memorable role in "The Manchurian Candidate."

Episode director Robert B. Sinclair had directed Joseph Cotten, Van Heflin, and Katharine Hepburn in the original Broadway production of "The Philadelphia Story" 21 years prior. Quite a credit. Maybe Sinclair's touch is why the romantic Bonnie-Greg scene plays so nicely.

Episode writer/producer Stanley Niss later wrote and produced the interesting George Peppard-Richard Kiley thriller "Pendulum".

At the end of this 12/21/60 episode Tom and Tracy ask Greg to join the firm. Greg agrees, but he sighs when he realizes no more Bonnie and no more San Francisco. But Bonnie did make a return appearance in the next episode, probably to dump Greg for taking off.

Twenty-nine year old Grant Williams was excellent as Greg MacKenzie. He became my favorite of the three dynamic heroes.

Four years earlier Williams had been perfect as "The Incredible Shrinking Man". That wonderful science fiction classic was written by the great Richard Matheson (the William Shatner on a plane episode of "Twilight Zone" and the screen play of "The Night Stalker" Movie of the Week with Darren McGavin).

Williams also had at least one impressive scene in the Douglas Kirk classic "Written on the Wind" (1956).

Grant Williams was a method actor who had studied at the Actor's Studio with Lee Strasberg. On "Here's Hollywood" Williams explained to interviewer Jack Linkletter how he had painstakingly developed his role of a psychotic serial killer in "The Couch", a 1962 Warner Brothers film with wonderful Shirley Knight. Williams seemed very proud of that work. Linkletter asked if he used the same approach in developing the character of Greg MacKenzie, but Williams said MacKenzie wasn't complex enough for him to use the method approach.

Williams stayed with "Hawaiian Eye' until it ended at the end of the 1962-63 season. He was in 50 episodes.

In 1965 Williams starred in a good episode of "The Outer Limits" called "The Brain of Colonel Barham".

Williams' old "Hawaiian Eye" partner Anthony Eisley played Colonel Barham.

The director of "The Brain of Colonel Barham" was Harvard graduate Charles F. Haas. Haas had directed Williams nine years earlier in "Showdown at Abilene" with Jock Mahoney ("Yancy Derringer") and David Janssen. Haas had also previously directed Williams in a "Bonanza" and a "Surfside Six".

Your First Impression (1961–1964)

An early 1960's game show giving celebrities a psychological evaluation

[27 March 2022]

The three panelists had to guess who the mystery celebrity was from their answers to fill in the blank statements or free associations to a word. The panelists were encouraged to play psychologist. The panelists were given a choice of five people, one of whom was the mystery guest.

Dennis James was always a panelist. The other two panelists were rotating regulars. Panelists I remember include Inger Stevens, Julie Adams, Richard Long, Paul Winchell, Gisele Mackenzie, and TV writer George Kirgo. I think Dr. Joyce Brothers also played. Dennis called Richard Long Richard Wrong for his bad guesses.

Dennis James didn't pull any punches. He had no respect for Troy Donahue as a man or as an actor. Once Suzy Parker was the mystery guest. To "I really am a good judge of" she answered "men." One of the five choices of who the mystery guest was was Suzanne Pleshette. Dennis said it couldn't be Pleshette because she married Troy Donahue, so she definitely couldn't call herself a good judge of men.

When Troy Donahue was the mystery guest he tried to be funny by making all his answers about women and sex. Dennis was lacerating in his psychological analysis of the mystery guest's character when he correctly guessed Troy. Dennis thought Troy was pretty superficial. Troy rolled with the punches and laughed it off.

When John Kerr was the guest, other choices for the answer included David Janssen and Martin Milner. Dennis correctly guessed Kerr saying Kerr wasn't as "dynamic" as Janssen or Milner but saying Kerr had an appealing boyish quality that had made him a big star.

Jeffrey Hunter was mystery guest when he was doing publicity for his series "Temple Houston". When asked to describe himself he said he was "tall, tan, and tender".

When Richard Long was mystery guest, he was asked to free associate to "blondes". Long said "bottles". He later explained it was because so many blonde's hair color came from a bottle.

Ray Danton completed the sentence "When I'm alone ..." with "I brood".

Richard Nixon finished the sentence "I wish that I" with "had been a PT-boat captain."

Other mystery guests I remember were Barbara Eden, George Peppard (who said Alan Ladd has never been better than he is in "The Carpetbaggers"), Darren McGavin (who was doing a revival of "The King and I" at Lincoln Center with opera star Rise Stevens), Eileen Heckart (who had just finished a two-part episode of "The Fugitive"), James Franciscus (who said he wasn't talking to his brother), Dane Clark (who talked about playing the Jason Robards role in the national tour of "A Thousand Clowns"), Gerald Mohr, Steve Forrest (doing publicity for a "Kraft Suspense Theater" he was in with John Gavin), Jack Kelly (who Dennis complimented for a terrific recent "Kraft Suspense Theater" about a Las Vegas gambler), Lloyd Nolan ( who Dennis complimented for giving quick and egoless answers), Paul Richards, Lloyd Bridges, Roger Smith (who Dennis joked shouldn't be doing flying as a hobby because of his bad luck with accidents), Macdonald Carey ( who had just done a "Checkmate" and lamented that fine show being cancelled), Thomas Gomez (who said "Trapeze" was his favorite movie because he loved living in Paris while making the film), Imogene Coca (who wished she were prettier), Don Adams (who talked about his new show "Get Smart"), Michael Ansara, Dan Tobin, and Frank Gorshin (panelist Julie Adams gave a very flattering analysis of the mystery guest's egoless personality based on his answers but then guessed that David Janssen was the mystery guest rather than Gorshin).

I seem to remember Robert Montgomery stressing the importance of the work of Radio Free Europe and the US Information Agency. Montgomery was media advisor to Ike during his presidency. Maybe Montgomery helped get Nixon his gig on "Your First Impression". Montgomery had himself been a PT-boat captain and starred in John Ford's lovely "They Were Expendable".

Steve Donovan, Western Marshal (1955– )

Doug Kennedy, Major - OSS

[8/10 · 26 December 2020]

Series star Douglas Kennedy was a graduate of Amherst College.

Kennedy served as a Major during WWII in the signal corps and OSS.

The strapping 6'4" Kennedy lived from 1915-1973. He would have been 27 in 1942 when he apparently joined the army. Wikipedia says he was in the army from 1940-45, but he has film credits in 1940-42.

Kennedy was a reliable contract player at Paramount and Warner Brothers.

The movie role I remember him best for was as the suspicious detective in "Dark Passage" who almost captures innocent fugitive Vincent Parry (Humphrey Bogart) even though Parry has had plastic surgery.

The 39 episodes of "Steve Donovan, Western Marshall" were on in 1955-56, when Kennedy would have been 40 and I would have been in single digits. But I have never forgotten the opening of Kennedy throwing his guns in the air and catching them in the opposite hand, so precisely described by reviewer sataft-2.

The producer of the series was Jack Chertok, who was already producing "The Lone Ranger". Chertok's other series include "Sky King", "Private Secretary" with Ann Southern, "The Lawless Years" with James Gregory, "Johnny Midnight" with Edmond O'Brien, "My Favorite Martian" with Ray Walston and Bill Bixby, and "My Living Doll" with Julie Newmar, Bob Cummings, and Jack Mullaney. Douglas Kennedy appeared in six episodes of "The Lone Ranger" and Chertok must have liked what he saw.

Kennedy was on TV a lot and I always enjoyed seeing my former hero.

Kennedy was particularly good in four episodes of "Perry Mason". He was also fine in four episodes of "Gunsmoke".

Kennedy had the recurring role of the Sheriff on "The Big Valley" (1965-69), although the potential romantic subtext between Stanwyck and him was never explored, as far as I remember. Kennedy had co-starred with Stanwyck in the film "East Side, West side" (1949).

Kennedy's last three guest roles were all on "Hawaii 5-0" in 1973. Kennedy died in Honolulu of cancer at age 57 in 1973.

Twenty Plus Two (1961)

Why the film is called "Twenty Plus Two"

[12 May 2020]

Frank Gruber wrote and produced "Twenty Plus Two", which was released in 1961.

Gruber also wrote a novel version of the film that was published the same year.

The novel was set in 1960.

The central mystery of the novel involved the disappearance of 16-year old Doris Delaney in 1938.

Wealthy young Doris vanished without a trace "twenty plus two" years ago.

If Doris is still alive she would be 38 years old in 1960.

Forty-one year old Tom Alder is an investigator who follows the case as sort of a hobby. Or is it an obsession?

Alder was an infantry captain who was severely wounded in World War II.

While Alder was recuperating from his injuries in Honolulu in 1944, he meets a prostitute who may be key to unraveling the Doris Delaney mystery.

David Janssen ("Richard Diamond") was cast as investigator Tom Alder.

Janssen was born in March 1931.

He would have been 29 in 1960. He wasn't old enough to have served in World War II.

Gruber changed the movie so that Alder was a veteran of Korea rather than WW II.

In the film Alder recuperated in Tokyo rather than Honolulu.

Doris now disappeared in 1947, not 1938. That would make Doris 29 in 1960, if she is alive.

The changes weren't really necessary.

Janssen was a mature looking guy who could have passed for older. In 1962 he convincingly played a troubled World War II veteran in an episode of "Route 66".

Jeanne Crain, Dina Merrill, Agnes Moorehead, and Brad Dexter were all close to the 1960 ages of their characters in the novel.

Frank Gruber was a veteran pulp fiction writer who wrote hundreds of western and detective stories. He even wrote for "Black Mask". At one time he was writing four novels a year. He is credited with 60 novels. Gruber was a creator of "Tales of Wells Fargo" with Dale Robertson, "Shotgun Slade" with Scott Brady, and "The Texan" with Rory Calhoun.

Maybe Dale Robertson would have made a better Tom Alder than Janssen. Robertson was 38 in 1960 and he was an officer during World War II who was wounded in action. Scott Brady or Rory Calhoun could have been intriguing as movie star Leroy Dane.

The last scene should have shown Alder reuniting Doris with her mother after 22 years. That would have given the film an ending with a real emotional punch. And you would have had to wonder whether Tom and the already married Doris stayed together.

The Californians (1957–1959)

26 year old David Janssen was offered the lead in "The Californians"

[1 October 2018]

According to the reliable "David Janssen Archives", Janssen was offered the lead in three series in 1957: "The Californians", "Pony Express", and "Richard Diamond".

Janssen would have apparently played the Adam Kennedy role of crusading Irish newspaper editor Dion Patrick on "The Californians". When the format of the show was revised, Kennedy was replaced by Richard Coogan as San Francisco's top cop. Art Fleming (the original "Jeopardy") co-starred in the Coogan episodes.

Adam Kennedy later got one of the starring roles on the entertaining daytime soap opera "The Doctors" in 1965. Kennedy played dynamic inventor-entrepreneur Brock Hayden. Hayden was eventually killed off on screen, perhaps because he wasn't a doctor and was difficult to fit into the stories. I remember I was shocked when Brock died on the operating table after being shot. Kennedy played opposite Ellen Burstyn on "The Doctors".

Kennedy had studied acting at the Neighborhood Playhouse in New York with Sanford Meisner.

Adam Kennedy later wrote 20 novels. One of the novels was made into a movie by Stanley Kramer: "The Domino Principle" starring Gene Hackman, Candice Bergen, and Richard Widmark. Kennedy wrote the screenplay for that film as well as a couple of other films.

Kennedy was also an oil painter. Quite a guy.

James Best got the lead in "Pony Express" after Janssen turned that down, but it didn't sell in 1957. In 1959 it sold in syndication with Grant Sullivan in the lead.

Janssen wisely chose to become Richard Diamond. It was his first starring role and it made him a star. Janssen was recommended for Richard Diamond by the great film director William "Wild Bill" Wellman. Wellman had just finished directing Janssen (and Clint Eastwood) a few months before in "Lafayette Escadrille".

Double Indemnity (1973 TV Movie)

Maybe different actors and a different director would have helped

[3 May 2018]

Some alternative casts: 1) Alan Alda, Tuesday Weld, and Telly Savalas 2) Sam Elliott, Shirley Knight, and Jack Cassidy 3) Darren McGavin, Elizabeth Montgomery, and Herschel Bernardi 4) Bradford Dillman, Jean Simmons, and Edward Asner (Phyllis didn't need to be blonde) 5) David Janssen, Rosemary Forsyth, and Dean Jagger.

Other candidates for Phyllis could be Elizabeth Ashley and Diana Hyland.

John Badham was doing some stylish TV movies at the time including "Isn't it Shocking?" with Alan Alda and "Reflections on Murder" with Tuesday Weld. He might have been able to inject more energy. Badham is still a working director doing series episodes.

Or John Llewelyn Moxey who did such a beautiful job directing "The Night Stalker" with McGavin might have been good.

The Dick Powell Theatre: Epilogue (1963) Season 2, Episode 27

Quien es mas macho? Lee Marvin o Ricardo Montalban?

[20 November 2017]

During World War II Montalban headed an elite Marine unit. Montalban trained his men to be lethal killing machines. Marvin was one of his "boys".

Eighteen years later Montalban is a principled lawyer defending a big time gangster. Montalban has largely tried to forget the war. But Marvin hasn't stopped killing just because the war is over. He is a serial murderer who takes out people the law doesn't adequately punish. Montalban is going to be Marvin's next target.

A great game of cat and mouse follows with two superb extended fight scenes between the leads. It was clear the actors were doing most of their own stunts. Both actors are in top form as they go after each other - mentally and physically. Montalban in particular looks like he is in awesome shape.

Marvin was 38 and Montalban was 42. Both men were in their prime. Montalban's beautiful wife was played by 32-year old Patricia Breslin (so charming as Mandy Peoples on "The People's Choice"). The cop on the case was played by Claude Akins, 36. Sondra Blake (wife of Robert Blake) pulled out all the stops playing one of Marvin's victims.

This fine thriller fires on all cylinders: acting, writing, and directing. The story might have been suggested by "Cape Fear" (1962). The episode could have conceivably been a pilot for a series with Montalban, Breslin, and Akins.

Bruce Geller wrote the script and Bernard Kowalski directed. Geller and Kowalski also produced the episode. Kowalski had previously directed Marvin in four "M Squads" and an "Untouchables".

Geller was 32 and Kowalski was 33. Both were young, ambitious, and very talented.

Geller and Kowalski had first worked together on a strong episode of "The Rebel", in which Claude Akins gave a fine guest star performance.

Geller and Kowalski were hired to produce the seventh season of "Rawhide" in 1964. They did a fine job -but were fired after 21 episodes. Maybe Marvin and Eastwood compared notes on Bruce and Bernie when they did "Paint Your Wagon".

Three years later Geller created and produced "Mission: Impossible". Kowalski directed the pilot and was a part owner of the show.

Geller also produced "Mannix". Two of the best "Mannix" episodes involved a member of Mannix's squad during Korea deciding to kill the other members of the squad. Steve Ihnat and Darren McGavin were the killers in the two episodes. McGavin was almost as impressive a villain as Marvin. Both "Mannix" episodes were directed by John Llewelyn Moxey ("The Night Stalker" TV movie with McGavin as Carl Kolchak).

Bruce Geller died at 48 when a private plane he was flying crashed.

Bernard Kowalkski produced "Baretta". His son-in- law was producer Brian Grazer ("24", "Ranson").

This was one of the last "Dick Powell Shows". Powell had already died at 58. Pat Boone was the guest host for the original airing on 4/2/63 at 9:30 pm eastern. The show aired on a Tuesday night.

The always astute poster searchanddestroy-1 is right when he calls "Epilogue" a "must see tale".

Stump the Stars (1947– )

I remember "Stump the Stars" too - a fast-paced game of charades

[6 August 2017]

This game show was originally called "Pantomime Quiz".

But I watched the version that ran from September 1962 thru September 1963 - when it was called "Stump the Stars".

It was on CBS Monday nights at 10:30 eastern time.

There were two teams of four players each that played against each other. Regulars or semi-regulars (according to the best of my memory) were Vera Miles ("The Wrong Man"), Richard Long ("Bourbon Street Beat"), Beverly Garland ("Decoy"), Stubby Kaye ("Guys and Dolls"), Ruta Lee ("Witness for the Prosecution"), Sebastian Cabot ("Checkmate"), Hans Conried ("Make Room for Daddy"), and Ross Martin ("Mr. Lucky"). Each team had three of the regulars and one of the night's two guest stars.

Beverly Garland was a vivacious woman who screamed a lot. Vera Miles was elegant. Ruta Lee was pert and sexy. Ross Martin was smart - an excellent player. All the regulars had plenty of charm and energy. Dress was formal, with the men wearing tuxedos.

One puzzle had some kind of a take-off on the name Efrem Zimbalist, Jr. No one got it. Host Mike Stokey told Richard Long he should have got it since he had played one of Zimbalist's employees on "77 Sunset Strip". Long was actually one of Zimbalist's partners, but kept his mouth shut.

Stokey once introduced Vera Miles as an actress equally capable of playing spinsters or sex pots. Miles didn't seem to appreciate the introduction.

On one special, four cast members of the movie "PT 109" played against four of the regulars. The "PT 109" cast members were Robert Culp, Ty Hardin, Grant Williams, and James Gregory. The regulars won.

Guest stars I remember included Clint Walker and Roger Smith. Joseph Cotten and his wife Patricia Medina were guests for one show. Sebastian Cabot gave Patricia a big kiss and hug. Apparently they were old friends. Also either Don Murray or Don Taylor was a guest star.

Mike Stokey called the show "the fastest half-hour on television". Each team had two minutes to solve a puzzle. There were eight puzzles per show. The show did go by quickly.

Screaming Eagles (1956)

7 cast members became TV stars

[23 May 2017]

Tom Tryon ("Texas John Slaughter")

Jan Merlin ("The Rough Riders")

Martin Milner ("Route 66", "Adam-12")

Jacqueline Beer ("77 Sunset Strip")

Paul Burke ("Naked City", "12 O'Clock High")

Pat Conway ("Tombstone Territory")

Robert Blake ("The Richard Boone Show", "Baretta")

The director was Harvard educated Charles F. Haas. Haas' best film was "Platinum High School" with Mickey Rooney, Terry Moore, Dan Duryea, Yvette Mimieux, Richard Jaeckel, and Elisha Cook, Jr. The film was a reworking of "Bad Day at Black Rock". Haas also directed "Showdown at Abilene" with future TV stars Jock Mahoney ("Yancy Derringer"), Grant Williams ("Hawaiian Eye"), and David Janssen ("Richard Diamond"). And Haas directed 4 films highlighting the talents of Mamie Van Doren.

Haas later directed episodes of "Route 66", "77 Sunset Strip", "Alfred Hitchcock Hour", and "The Outer Limits". Haas used Richard Jaeckel again in his "Alfred Hitchcock Hour" and Grant Williams in one of his "Outer Limits". Inger Stevens starred in Haas' "Route 66" and "Alfred Hitchcock Hour."

Haas died in 2011 at the age of 97.

Co-screenwriter David Lang went on to write episodes of "Maverick", "Cheyenne", "Have Gun - Will Travel", "Wanted: Dead or Alive", "The Rebel", and "Tombstone Territory".

Robert Presnell, Jr., the other screenwriter, wrote episodes of "Twilight Zone", "The Eleventh Hour", "Mr. Novak", and "Banacek". He was married for 40 years to Marsha Hunt ("Raw Deal").

The story for "Screaming Eagles" was by two-time Oscar nominee Virginia Kellogg ("White Heat", "Caged").

Perry Mason: The Case of the Roving River (1961) Season 5, Episode 15

David Gideon (Karl Held) later married Judy Bryant (guest star Sarah Marshall)

[6 July 2016]

Karl Held and Sarah Marshall had appeared on Broadway in "The World of Suzy Wong" with William Shatner, France Nuyen, and Ron Randell. Karl understudied Shatner. That was back in 1958-1959, a couple of years before this 1961 episode. Karl and Sarah got married in 1964.

Karl was a Korean War veteran and graduated from Penn State phi beta kappa. He studied at the Neighborhood Playhouse with Sanford Meisner.

Karl said he was "lousy" in the role of David Gideon and the role was "unnecessary", but he must have improved as an actor. He later spent a year with the Royal Shakespeare Company of London.

Sarah was a popular guest star appearing on "The Alfred Hitchcock Hour", "Twilight Zone", and "Star Trek", among many other shows. The "Little Girl Lost" episode of "Twilight Zone" is a classic with Sarah and Robert Sampson's young daughter lost in another dimension. Charles Aidman is a scientist who tries to help them get their daughter back.

Sarah's parents were Herbert Marshall (Hitchcock's "Foreign Correspondent") and Edna Best (Hitchcock's first version of "The Man Who Knew Too Much").

Before marrying Karl, Susan was married to Mel Bourne, an Oscar nominated art director ("Annie Hall", "The Natural"). That marriage lasted for five years during the 1950's.

Sarah and her father appeared in an episode of "Hong Kong" with Rod Taylor. Sarah appeared on the stage with her mother.

Karl and Sarah appeared together several times including on episodes of "Medical Center" and "The Strange Report" with Anthony Quayle.

Karl starred in two pilots. One was called "Ready for the People" (1964) directed by Buzz Kulick ("Brian's Song", "The Defenders"). Karl played a dynamic young assistant DA. In 1965 William Shatner starred as a dynamic young assistant DA in a series called "For the People", produced by Herbert Brodkin ("The Defenders").

Karl's other pilot was "The 13th Gate" (1965), a science fiction series. Karl played a government investigator looking into strange occurrences. Karl's partner was played by Alex Cord. They drove around in a cool sports car. David Opatoshu was their boss.

One of Karl's best guest performances was in the classic 1963 "Outer Limits" episode "The Man Who Was Never Born" with Martin Landau, Shirley Knight, and John Considine. Karl also appeared in a "Star Trek" working with Shatner again. But Karl never appeared in an "Ironside" or a Perry Mason movie.

Years later Karl was a regular on "Falcon Crest".

Karl and Sarah's last appearance together was in a 2012 horror film with Piper Laurie called "Bad Blood...the Hunger".

Sarah died in 2014 after 50 years of marriage to Karl.

Nightside (1973 TV Movie)

John Cassavetes in an unsold pilot

[27 January 2013]

Brilliant Herbert B. Leonard ("Naked City", "Route 66") produced this interesting 1973 pilot.

Forty-three year old John Cassavetes ("Johnny Staccato") played press agent Carmine Kelly.

The show was filmed entirely on location in New York City.

The first part of the show was filmed entirely at night.

Director Richard Donner gave the episode a great, atmospheric look. Very original. It didn't look like a television show. It reminded me a little of Peter Hyams' TV movie "Goodnight, My Lady" with Richard Boone and Michael Dunn as private detectives. I don't know if producer Bert Leonard could have afforded to keep up this cool look for a series.

The cinematographer was Bennie Hirschenson, who specialized in commercials. This is his only cinematography credit. Nice work.

The writer/creator was 38-year old Pete Hamill, a hard-drinking journalist who specializes in stories about New York. Hamill was a reporter and later columnist for The New York Post. His books include "The Invisible City: Short Stories", "A Drinking Life: A Memoir", and "Why Sinatra Matters".

Hamill was a friend of Robert Kennedy, who helped subdue Sirhan Sirhan after the assassination.

Maybe Cassavetes and Hamill become drinking buddies. Six years after "Nightside" Cassavetes was in a TV movie called "Flesh & Blood", based on a novel by Hamill.

The other "Nightside" regulars would have been elegant Alexis Smith as a night club owner named "Smitty" and Mike Kellin as a private detective who sometimes did jobs for Cassavetes.

Seymour Cassel ("Faces", "Minnie and Moscowitz") was one of the guest stars. Others in the strong cast included Richard Jordan, June Havoc, Joe Santos, Fredd Wayne, and Dick Cavett.

The title "Nightside" seemed a little bland. Maybe Leonard could have gotten the rights to the title "Night and the City". Or just "Night Life". Or "I Love New York at Night".

Cassavetes did this role the year after his superb "Columbo" guest star role, which might have reminded producers of how good a series lead he could be. Cassavetes might also have been impressed with the money his pal Falk was making.

This show aired on "The ABC Sunday Night Movie" on April 15, 1973. "Nightside" was on after another hour-long pilot called "Rx for the Defense". That pilot was from another great producer of the 1960's – Herbert Brodkin ("The Defenders"). Talented Tim O'Connor played a doctor turned lawyer.

Shows about press agents had been tried before. David Janssen ("Richard Diamond") played a New York press agent in a 1960 pilot called "The Insiders". This was an uncredited attempt to make "The Sweet Smell of Success" into a series with Janssen in the Tony Curtis role and Carroll O'Connor in the Burt Lancaster role. Beautiful Joan Staley played Janssen's quasi-assistant, but they would have been smarter to hire the superb Barbara Nichols. The writer/producer was Richard Alan Simmons ("The Price of Tomatoes", "Trials of O'Brien") and the executive producer was William Sackheim ("The Law").

Craig Stevens ("Peter Gunn") played a smooth press agent named Mike Bell in "Mr. Broadway", a 1964 series. Bell's assistant was a sexy Japanese woman. Horace McMahon ("Naked City") played an ex-cop friend of Bell. The creator was Garson Kanin ("Born Yesterday"). The show was filmed on location in New York. The producer was the great David Susskind ("East Side West Side", "NYPD"). Alexis Smith of "Nightside" was married to Craig Stevens.

I also seem to remember Gig Young as a Hollywood press agent/detective in an early 60's pilot. Young drove a cool sports car and had a house in the Hollywood Hills with a magnificent view of the city. But I can't find any evidence of this show except in my memory.

Edit: I recently discovered the reason I can't find any evidence of that Gig Young pilot. The 1960 pilot was called "Hollywood Angel" and starred Robert Webber, not Gig Young. Webber played a variation of the advertising executive he played to perfection in the 1957 film "12 Angry Men". The producer of "Hollywood Angel" was ambitious Dick Berg ("Johnny Staccato", "Checkmate", "The Bob Hope Chrysler Theater").

The Bold Ones: The New Doctors (1969–1973)

The last season was superb with David Levinson ("The Senator") producing

[23 October 2011]

E.G. Marshall (so fine in "The Defenders" and "12 Angry Men") is David Craig, a brilliant neurosurgeon. Craig is head of the Craig Institue, a cutting edge medical research hospital. Joseph Cotten was originally considered for the role of Dr. Craig.

John Saxon is Ted Stuart, chief of surgery. Saxon was my favorite of the three heroes. I was disappointed when Saxon was fired after the third season. If it had been up to me, I might have had the great David Craig die and Saxon become head of the Craig Institute.

Saxon was an interesting looking guy and a very good actor. He had a great body and seemed very agile and athletic. Saxon brought a real sense of commitment to his performances. I wish he had done another series after leaving "The Bold Ones". Saxon did make a pilot movie for Gene Roddenberry called "Planet Earth" two years later. I think Steven Bochco considered Saxon for the role of Frank Furillo on "Hill Street Blues". Quentin Tarentino considered Saxon for the Robert Forster role in "Jackie Brown". Tarentino later directed Saxon in a "CSI" episode. Saxon is still a working actor.

David Hartman is Paul Hunter, chief of internal medicine. Hartman was a graduate of Duke and was a former Air Force officer. Hartman was probably smart enough to really have been a doctor. Hartman didn't look like everyone else on television, which was a plus.

Joel Rogosin was the primary producer of the series for its first two seasons. Rogosin left to produce "Longstreet", with James Franciscus as a blind detective.

Herbert Hirschman was brought in as "executive producer" for the third season although no one was given the title of "producer". Hirschman was a talented guy who produced episodes of "Playhouse 90", "Hong Kong" with Rod Taylor, "Perry Mason", "Dr. Kildare", "Twilight Zone" and the Herbert Brodkin series "Espionage".

Brilliant young David Levinson was brought in to produce the fourth season. Levinson had done a magnificent job of producing "The Senator" with Hal Holbrook. Most recently Levinson had produced "Sarge" with George Kennedy as a priest/detective. The next season Levinson would produce "A Case of Rape", an excellent TV movie with Elizabeth Montgomery.

Levinson made a good series near great.

To replace John Saxon, Levinson brought in Robert Walden as young Dr. Marty Cohen. Cohen still has a lot to learn. I can't remember any other drama series hero with a Jewish name. A quietly ground-breaking move. You have to guess Universal would have preferred a Jan-Michael Vincent type to Walden.

David Hartman became the primary focus of the series for the fourth season even though E.G. Marshall still got top billing. Robert Walden got "also starring" billing. Hartman was nominated for a Golden Globe for the fourth season. The other nominees: Peter Falk (winner), Robert Young, Chad Everett, William Conrad, and Mike Connors.

Hartman insisted Robert Walden's picture be taken down in the Universal commissary because Walden wasn't a "star" of the series. Hartman later let into Joan Lunden on "Good Morning America" when in the closing of a show she said goodbye after Hartman. Hartman insisted he say the last goodbye. Apparently Hartman was protective of his hard-won prerogatives. Or perhaps he was a little insecure despite his big education and big brain.

David Levinson's favorite directors were John Badham, Richard Donner, and Daryl Duke. In the fourth season Badham and Donner each directed three episodes and Duke did two.

In one episode you hear the hospital public address system "paging Dr. Sackheim". This was a shout-out to the great writer-producer William Sackheim ("The Law"), who was a mentor to both John Badham and David Levinson.

Some of Levinson's compelling fourth season episodes:

Donna Mills is a nurse at the hospital who is a friend of Marty Cohen. Mills is in a lesbian relationship with a woman who is a clinical psychologist. Cohen is disturbed at the relationship and believes Mills is basically heterosexual. Cohen convinces Mills to have sex with him. The sex is not that good for Mills. Cohen tells Mills that the earth doesn't always move. Mills finally leaves the hospital and also leaves both Cohen and the clinical psychologist. Written by Peggy O'Shea and directed by Jeremy Kagan.

Ross Martin is a high school teacher who is suffering psychotic episodes. Milton Berle plays a psychiatrist at the Craig Institute who is treating Martin. Berle is a close friend of David Craig, but the two doctors strongly disagree on the most effective treatment. Berle wants to focus on talk therapy while Craig insists on surgery and pharmaceuticals. Craig prevails and Martin becomes more docile and perhaps better. Berle quits in protest. Berle says Craig will cry just like he did when Ted Stuart left, but he will get over it. Written by story editor Lionel E. Siegel. Directed by Marvin Chomsky.

Susan Clark is a young woman paralyzed from the neck down in a boating accident. She wants to end her life. Robert Foxworth is her husband. Dr. Craig wants the woman to continue living. She asks why. Craig says she can see the events of her time unfold. Craig is devastated when the woman chooses to die. Written by Robert Van Scoyck and Gustave Field. Directed by Walter Doniger.

Sheila Larken ("Storefront Lawyers") is carrying a baby in her womb that was conceived by her sister Stephanie Powers and Stephanie's husband Carl Betz.

Frank Converse is in fine form as a young man in his prime who is suffering from sexual impotence. Shirley Knight is his wife.

Richard Basehart is a doctor suspected of doing unnecessary operations. Dorothy Malone is his wife.

Carl Reiner is excellent as a maverick doctor back from China who is an unpopular advocate of acupuncture. Written by Robert Collins. Directed by John Badham.

Delvecchio (1976–1977)

A follow-up to "The Law" and a precursor to "Hill Street Blues"

[9/10 · 1 August 2010]

Thirty-nine year old Judd Hirsch was a total unknown (except for stage work) before he starred in the fine TV movie "The Law" (1974). Hirsch sent in a commercial he had done as an audition tape for "The Law" so NBC executives could see what he looked like. The network would have preferred George Segal for the apparently Jewish hero, but producer William Sackheim held out for Hirsch. It must have been a hard sell. When have you ever seen an unknown star in a TV movie, before or since? The entire cast of "The Law" were unknowns at the time, including Gary Busey, Bonnie Franklin, and John Hillerman.

"The Law" was an incredible break for Judd Hirsch, but he was still a little irritated that John Beck received more money for playing a prosecutor.

"The Law" was a major critical success. Director Johm Badham and writer Joel Oliansky received Emmy nominations. The two and a half hour movie won the Emmy as outstanding special of the year. John Badham, Joel Oliansky, and William Sackheim had previously worked together on "The Senator" (1970) with Hal Holbrook, which was also remarkable.

Hirsch played public defender Murray Stone in "The Law". The movie was a Fredrick Wiseman like view of the legal system. A three episode trial run series followed the movie. Murray Stone now worked for a fancy law firm. The hour long series didn't catch on. Hirsch said that if Murray had remained a public defender representing life's losers the show would have run forever.

"Delvecchio" (1976) was an attempt by producer Sackheim to redo "The Law" but to have a hit. Dominick Delvecchio was a young detective sergeant who had gone to law school at night. But he has flunked the bar exam - several times. But he keeps taking the exam. Maybe "Delvecchio" would have eventually become a lawyer show.

Back in 1954 Sackheim had written and produced a movie called "The Human Jungle". Gary Merrill was excellent as a police captain who has passed the bar exam and plans to quit the force and start a law practice. But his boss talks him into to taking command of a brutally lawless precinct instead. Sackheim had also written a "Playhouse 90" called "Before I Die" where the hero's name was Dr. Del Vecchio. These previous projects might have provided a little of the inspiration for "Delvecchio" (and perhaps also for "Hill Street Blues").

Fifty-six year old Sackheim was the executive producer of "Delvecchio" and thirty-two year old Steven Bochco was one of the producers. Bochco was a contract writer at Universal. It's hard to see any trace of greatness in Bochco's work before "Delvecchio". In Bochco's own opinion, he was a studio hack doing whatever he was asked to do. When Bochco saw the early scripts coming in for "Delvecchio", he thought they were pretty good. Sackheim said they were junk and had to be rewritten. Bochco says his year on "Delvecchio" was key in his writing life. Bochco's work after "Delvecchio" is of a different order.

Michael Kozoll was story editor of "Delvecchio" and wrote six episodes. Kozoll was later executive producer of "Hill Street Blues" along with Bochco. Kozoll wrote an episode of "Kojak" the next season where Kojak is offered a high paying job as chief investigator for a big law firm by managing partner Charles Aidman. Aidman turns out to be dirty and is trying to compromise Kojak. I always thought this was a planned second season episode of "Delvecchio" that was recycled when "Delvecchio" didn't come back.

William Sackheim was a tough curmudgeon who seemed to get the best out of talented young writers. David Chase ("The Sopranos") did a series early in his career with Sackheim called "Almost Grown" with Tim Daly.

The most charismatic performance in "Delvecchio" was given by Michael Conrad as Lieutenant Macavan, the boss of the precinct squad room. Charles Haid played detective sergeant Shonski, Delvecchio's overweight but tough partner. Shonski was one of the few TV cops to wear glasses. Sackheim wasn't interested in pretty boy cops.

"Delvecchio" wasn't as stylishly filmed as "The Senator", "The Law", or "Hill Street Blues". The writing also wasn't as breath taking. Judd Hirsh was later a little dismissive of "Delvecchio". He thought the only distinctive part of the show were the character interactions in the squad room.

But "Delvecchio" was a fine, very entertaining effort. It was one of the few cop shows I have ever watched regularly. I loved the opening credits with Billy Goldenberg's theme music. I wish "Delvecchio" had lasted longer than one season.

It would have been cool if Steven Bochco had brought back Dominick Delvecchio as an attorney on "L.A. Law" (1986). Delvecchio definitely would have been a loose cannon at Mackenzie, Brackman.

Diagnosis: Unknown (1960– )

Patrick O'Neal was a detective/doctor way before "Quincy" and "Diagnosis: Murder".

[30 May 2010]

Charming Patrick O'Neal played Dr. Daniel Coffee, the head of pathology at a New York City hospital. O'Neal was 32 years old.

Chester Morris (the great Boston Blackie) played detective Captain Max Ritter, a colleague and close friend of Dr. Coffee.

Sexy and funny Phyllis Newman was lab technician Doris Hudson, who works for Dr. Coffee and seems to have an unrequited crush on him. I remember she scolded Dr. Coffee for messiness when she visited his plush bachelor apartment. I think Doris thought Dr. Coffee needed a wife. Phyllis Newman was also a delightful regular panelist at this time on "To Tell the Truth".

Cal Belini played Dr. Motilal Mookerji, a brilliant young assistant of Coffee from India.

Dr. Daniel Webster Coffee was perhaps television's first medical detective.

These characters all appeared in a novella and series of short stories by Lawrence G. Blochman. Blochman was a graduate of the University of California at Berkely who had a journalism background. He had a certificate in Forensic Pathology. Blochman continued to write Dr. Coffee stories after the series ended. Blochman was an early president of the Mystery Writers of America. He lived from 1900-1975.

One of Blochman's short stories, "Diagnosis: Homicide", had been made into a "Lux Video Theatre" production in 1957. Character actor Frank Albertson played Dr. Coffee, Shirley Mitchell was Doris Hudson, and Arthur Hanson was Max Ritter.

"Diagnosis: Unknown" was a summer replacement series for "The Garry Moore Show" in 1960. It was on Tuesday nights at 10:00 pm eastern time. Nine episodes were made. The producer was Bob Banner ("Warning Shot"), who was also producer of "The Garry Moore Show".

"Diagnois: Unknown" was done on tape rather than film and was made in New York. Guest stars included Zachary Scott, Gretchen Wyler, Beatrice Straight, Michael Tolan, Jeanne Bal, Telly Savalas, Barbara Baxley, Tom Bosley, and Larry Hagman.

Cynthia O'Neal, who was the wife of Patrick O'Neal, was in an episode. Cynthia O'Neal is credited in four Mike Nichols films. I remember seeing Patrick and Cynthia on the game show "He Said, She Said" in 1970. Cynthia was married to Patrick from 1956 until his death in 1994.

"Diagnosis: Unknown" used first rate writers including Ernest Kinoy, Theodore Apstein, and Bill S. Ballinger. Blacklisted writer Arnold Manoff wrote an episode under the pseudonym Joel Carpenter. Three episodes are credited to "Elliot Norman", a writer who has no other listed credits. Perhaps Norman was another blacklisted writer using a pseudonym, or maybe it was Manoff again using another false name. Manoff was married to Lee Grant.

The great Fielder Cook ("Patterns") directed the first episode. The show had a nice light touch. I remember a grinning Dr. Coffee couldn't help checking out seductive Patricia Barry's cleavage even though her evil husband Alexander Scourby was in the same room.

I would be willing to bet Glen Larson was familiar with the Lawrence Blochman characters and perhaps "Diagnosis: Unknown" when he created "Quincy, M.E.".

Patrick O'Neal had a big success on Broadway a year after "Diagnosis: Unknown". He played the defrocked priest in Tennessee Williams "The Night of the Iguana", opposite Bette Davis and Margaret Leighton.

Patrick O'Neal could have been a great series lead with the right role. He might have been a TV Cary Grant. He had great style and humor. Maybe O'Neal could have played "Mr. Lucky". Or he might have been a good Napoleon Solo or Colonel Hogan.

Paris 7000 (1970)

George Hamilton as a Bogart hero

[8/10 · 27 March 2010]

George Hamilton came to television in "The Survivors", a sort of precursor to "Dynasty". The series was created by trash novelist Harold Robbins ("The Carpetbagers").

"The Survivors" was an ambitious soap opera with a lot of top talent in front of and behind the cameras.

Other fine actors besides Hamilton in "The Survivors" included Lana Turner, Kevin McCarthy, Ralph Bellamy, Diana Muldaur, Clu Gulager, Louise Sorel, and Rossano Brazzi. Many of the writers and producers of "The Survivors" had previously worked on the fine "Peyton Place".

But a big problem with "The Survivors" was that it didn't have a strong, appealing hero at the center. There was really no one to root for. Hamilton's character seemed to be a weak jet-setting playboy who was as superficial as everyone else in the series.

"The Survivors" was a major critical and ratings disaster. It was canceled after 15 episodes.

ABC had guaranteed Hamilton a full season run, so "Paris 7000" was quickly put together to finish the 1969-70 season.

The producer of "Paris 7000" was talented John Wilder, who had been an associate producer of "The Survivors". This was Wilder's first chance to originate production of a series. He would later produce "The Streets of San Francisco", "Centennial", and 'Spencer: For Hire".

George Hamilton played Jack Brennan, who worked out of the United States Consulate in Paris. Brennan tried to help out Americans in trouble. Hamilton told Johnny Carson it was a Humphrey Bogart type role, and this might become his new image. Hamilton made a very good series hero. He was much more appealing than he had been in "The Survivors".

Jacques Aubuchon was Hamilton's friend on the Paris police force.

Guest stars on the Universal series included Diane Baker, Joseph Campanella, Anne Baxter, E. G. Marshall, Jack Albertson, Martha Scott, Paul Henreid, and William Shatner.

But the best guest star was Barbara Anderson, moonlighting from "Ironside". Barbara Anderson was a cool blonde beauty in the Grace Kelly mold, and she never looked sexier than opposite the darkly handsome Hamilton. They made an intriguing couple. Barbara was asked back for a sequel to her episode.

Directors included Lewis Allen ("The Uninvited"), Philip Leacock ("The War Lover"), Jeannot Szwarc ("Somewhere in Time"), and Robert Day (the "Banyon" pilot movie with Robert Forster, Darren McGavin, and Jose Ferrer).

Writers included Norman Katkov ("Ben Casey"), Paul Playdon ("Kolchak: The Night Stalker"), Michael Gleason ("Remington Steele"), and Gene L. Coon ("Star Trek").

George Hamilton made an effective Bogart hero. Maybe Universal should have gone the whole way and let George play Philip Marlowe in a series, rather than putting him in "Paris 7000". Raymond Chandler's choice to play Marlowe in the 40's was Cary Grant, so he might well have approved of Hamilton.

The Tab Hunter Show (1960–1961)

Tab Hunter in fine form with two excellent supporting actors

[3 January 2010]

Twenty-nine year old Tab Hunter was quite engaging in his only series role. He played a cartoonist who wrote a comic strip called "Bachelor at Large". The comic strip drew from the cartoonist's own romantic exploits. Tab's character lived in and worked out of a very cool beach house in Malibu.

Tab's suave boss was Jerome Cowan ("The Maltese Falcon"). His best friend was wealthy playboy Richard Erdman ("Cry Danger", "The Men", "Stalag 17"). Tab Hunter, Jerome Cowan, and Richard Erdman were real pros who had fun with this light material. They seemed to be having a good time together and it was infectious.

There were always beautiful woman around to keep Tab on his toes. Some of the beauties Tab encountered were Gena Rowlands, Elizabeth Montgomery, Tuesday Weld, Suzanne Pleshette, Mary Tyler Moore, Joanna Barnes, Patricia Crowley, Diana Millay, Linda Cristal, Mary Murphy, Joan Staley, and Lori Nelson.

Alex Gotlieb, who wrote the terrific "Susan Slept Here", is credited as one of the writers of the pilot. I wonder if he was one of the producers.

"The Tab Hunter Show" (1960-61) was on NBC on Sunday nights at 8:30 eastern time. It was on opposite "Lawman" and the second half of "The Ed Sullivan Show".

Director Arthur Penn ("Bonnie and Clyde") used to tell a great Tab Hunter story. Hunter was starring in a live "Playhouse 90" directed by Penn. Hunter played a psychotic serial murderer. In one scene Hunter had to run to escape the police. Hunter ran into a table and tipped it over. All the table contents fell to the floor. Penn thought his live play was dead. But Hunter, staying in character, picked up the fallen items and prissily put them back on the table. Talk about thinking on your feet!

Jerome Cowan and Richard Erdman had been under contract to Warner Brothers in the 1940's. They both appeared in the movie "Mr. Skeffington" (1944). Erdman and Cowan also worked together in a 1959 episode of "Perry Mason".

I recently saw the terrific Erdman in a bit on a new comedy show called "Community". That's what brought "The Tab Hunter Show" to mind. Erdman was 35 when he did the Hunter show and he's now 84 and still working. Very encouraging.

The Dick Powell Theatre (1961–1963)

Peter Falk won an Emmy for "The Price of Tomatoes" with Inger Stevens

[7 November 2009]

"The "Dick Powell Show" (1961-63) was a very entertaining anthology series.

Many of the episodes served as pilots.

James Coburn and and Glynis Johns were perfectly cast as the leads in an "African Queen" pilot.

Robert Vaughn played a private detective called "The Boston Terrier". Vaughn's character was a Harvard graduate with a phi beta kappa key. The creator was Blake Edwards ("Peter Gunn", "Richard Diamond", "Mr. Lucky").

David McLean, so fine as gunfighter "Tate", played an investigator for the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare. Lovely Julie Adams also would have appeared in the series. The pilot was written by Allan Sloane ("Teacher, Teacher", "East Side, West Side") and directed by the great Samuel Fuller. When the pilot didn't sell, there was talk of redoing it with Robert Taylor and George Segal. The unknown young Segal raised eye brows by insisting on top billing over Taylor.

In "Charlie's Duet" Anthony Franciosa played a version of Willie Dante, the gambler turned restaurant owner who had previously been played by Dick Powell and Howard Duff.

Rory Calhoun played the captain of a "Luxury Liner". Aaron Spelling ("The Love Boat") produced this episode.

In an attempt to bring back Sam Peckinpah's "The Westerner" as an hour show, Lee Marvin and Keenan Wynn now played the roles Brian Keith and John Dehner played in the series.

Dick Powell and Rhonda Fleming starred in "John J. Diggs". Powell was an adventurer/trouble shooter who also worked as a bartender in Fleming's restaurant-hotel. There was a lot of sexual tension between those two. This episode was essentially remade twice but with different leads. In the first remake the leads were Dennis O'Keefe and Dorothy Malone and in the second John Payne and Hazel Court starred. That's a series I would have watched - with any of those terrific casts. They don't make dames like Rhonda, Dorothy or Hazel any more.

Robert Cummings was an inept private detective surrounded by gorgeous women including Linda Christian, Jeanne Crain, and Janis Paige. Cummings' office was in the same building as Richard Diamond and Michael Shayne, two other Four Star private eyes.

Dick Powell played the tough commander of an air corps "Squadron" during World War ll. Pat Conway and Joanna Moore also starred.

Dick Powell played the lead in the "Burke's Law" pilot where his young assistant (Dean Jones) turned out to be the killer. Ronald Reagan was one of the suspects. The pilot was excellent but the resulting series concentrated so much on comedy that nothing seemed to be at stake. Who cared who the killer was since the murder itself was treated as a joke? Dick Powell made a much better Amos Burke than Gene Barry. Jackie Cooper was originally going to be the star of "Burke's Law", and I think he might have given the role (and the series) more gravitas.

Not all the episodes were pilots. Many of the shows were ambitious dramas.

Dana Andrews played a macho novelist who is dying. Robert Redford played his son who has just gotten his Ph.D. in mathematics. Redford hates his father for how he treated his mother. Andrews is in love with the much younger Inger Stevens. Redford makes a play for Stevens just to hurt his father. Hershel Bernardi and Norman Fell were also in the drama. Richard Alan Simmons was the writer. Inger Stevens once said Robert Redford was one of her few co-stars she didn't sleep with, even though they were good friends from back in their New York days. Inger said they had more a brother-sister relationship.

Richard Alan Simmons was also the writer of "The Price of Tomatoes", the series most celebrated episode. Peter Falk is an independent trucker who needs to get his tomatoes to market quickly to keep his business alive. Inger Stevens is a pregnant illegal alien who is determined to have her child born in the United States. The married Falk has to choose between saving his business or helping Stevens. Falk won a well deserved Emmy and Stevens was nominated. There were several other nominations including one for Simmons. Simmons later reteamed with Falk for the brilliant "Trials of O'Brien" (1965-66). Simmons also produced the later seasons of "Columbo".

Jackie Cooper played a Korean War P.O.W. who was held by the communists for nine years after the war ended. Cooper returns to his home town with a big chip on his shoulder. Everyone thought Cooper was dead. No one wants Cooper back since he had always been a trouble maker. The only person happy to see him is his old pal David Janssen, who is now the mayor. But then Janssen apparently kills himself. Cooper suspects foul play and starts to investigate. Dewey Martin is the sheriff, Susan Oliver is Janssen's secretary, and Ellen Corby is Janssen's house keeper. Gary Crosby is a young tough who gets into a climactic fight with the martial arts trained Cooper. Jackie Coogan had a bit part in the drama.

Dick Powell's last performance before his death at 58 was in "The Court-Martial of Captain Wycliff". Harry Julian Fink was the writer and Buzz Kulik directed. Robert Webber plays Wycliff, a college professor who had been a war hero. Wycliff is accused of murdering a brilliant atomic scientist with key secrets who was defecting to the communists. Since Wycliff is a Captain in the reserves, he is court-martialed for the murder. Dick Powell is excellent as the determined but compassionate army prosecutor. Dina Merrill is Powell's sister, who is in love with Wycliff. James MacArthur is a young student of Wycliff. Ed Begley is the defense counsel. When Wycliff takes the stand, Powell asks him if he murdered the scientist. Wycliff says no. But Powell sees something in Wycliff's eyes. Finally, Powell gets Wycliff to admit he "executed" the scientist for treason and for the net betterment of the world.

Breaking Point (1963–1964)

Paul Richards was fourth choice to play the lead in "The Breaking Point"

[28 September 2009]

Bing Crosby Productions executive Meta Rosenberg (later executive producer of "The Rockford Files") first offered the role of Dr. Ben Casey to Cliff Robertson and Jack Lord before finally settling on Vince Edwards. Edwards gave one of the 60's great series performances as Ben Casey and the series made him a big star. "Ben Casey" was also very well produced with literate, provocative scripts, beautiful black and white photography, and fine guest stars. Meta Rosenberg had gotten Bing Crosby Productions off to a fine start.

Next up was this series about a psychiatrist colleague of Dr. Casey. Meta Rosenberg offered the lead in "The Breaking Point" to Cliff Robertson, but he turned her down again. She then offered the role to Peter Falk, who wasn't interested either. Meta then found the perfect candidate: twenty-six year old Robert Redford.

Redford might have made the same kind of dazzling impression that Vince Edwards had. But he wasn't interested.

Paul Richards finally got the role of the hero psychiatrist, and he was superb. Richards gave one of that seasons most compelling new series performances, along with George C. Scott in "East Side, West Side" and David Janssen in "The Fugitive".

"The Breaking Point" was almost as well done as "Ben Casey", and that is high praise.

Cliff Robertson guest starred as a young executive compulsively making love to one beautiful woman after another in "So Many Pretty Girls, So Little Time". The script was by Robert Towne ("Chinatown").

Robert Redford was excellent in another episode as an arrogant member of a group therapy session. Marisa Pavan and Jack Weston were also in the group.

Rip Torn played a man like "The Great Imposter" who goes from job to job fooling people into thinking he is an attorney or a minister or what have you. Torn tells Paul Richards his next impersonation may be as a psychiatrist. Rip Torn is another actor who could have been fascinating as the hero of "The Breaking Point".

Lou Antonio played a sensitive young man whose masculinity is made fun of by his stereotypically hyper masculine brother (Ralph Meeker). Mariette Hartley is a lovely young woman who Antonio is tentatively drawn to. And Meeker may be overcompensating to hide doubts about his own sexuality. Written by Ernest Kinoy.

Robert Ryan played a Hemingway - like writer who is deeply troubled by losing his powers as he ages. Ryan questions if Paul Richards has the intellectual and spiritual resources to go toe to toe with a great man like himself. Bettye Ackerman ("Ben Casey") played Ryan's wife. Written by Shimon Wincelberg ("Naked City", "Have Gun Will Travel") and Morton Fine ("The Pawnbroker", "I Spy").

James Daly played a man with a pathological hatred of Japanese people in a dark, chilling episode. Daly had been a pilot who dropped atomic bonds on Japan. I've never seen Daly so intense or unlikable.

Other fine guest stars included Edmond O'Brien, Telly Savalas, Eleanor Parker, John Cassavetes, Joey Heatherton, Bradford Dillman, Kathy Nolan, Anthony Franciosa, Gena Rowlands, and James Caan.

"The Breaking Point" was on during the 1963-64 season, the same year as "The Richard Boone Show" and "East Side, West Side". A fine year for TV series drama. TV Guide critic Cleveland Amory said the most letters he got that year complaining about fine shows being canceled was for "The Breaking Point".

Meta Rosenberg also helped develop the marvelous "Slattery's People", where Richard Crenna gave a career changing dramatic performance as a hard nosed but idealistic politician. Bing Crosby Productions was one of the best, classiest production companies of its time. It produced three great drama series as well as "Hogan's Heroes".

Meta Rosenberg led an extraordinary life. There is a delightful interview with her on YouTube.

The Beachcomber (1962)

Cameron Mitchell's first series

[12 September 2009]

Forty-four year old Cameron Mitchell played John Lackland. Lackland was an efficiency expert in San Francisco who apparently got fed up obsessing about worker productivity. Lackland now spent his days on a South Sea island being as unproductive as humanly possible.

This 1962 syndicated show was produced by ITC ("The Saint"). "The Beachcomber" may have been inspired by the much more dramatically ambitious "Adventures in Paradise" (1959-1962). Mitchell was almost certainly a better actor than Gardner McKay, but somehow in this show he wasn't as much fun to watch.

It might have been more interesting to follow John Lackland back in his efficiency expert days in San Franciso. I bet he lived in a great penthouse apartment, drove a cool sports car, dated glamorous woman, and solved fascinating problems for his employers. He was probably a much more dynamic hero in his working days than after he "retired" to the life of a lazy beachcomber.

The executive producer of "The Beachcomber" was Robert Stambler, who went on to be a producer of "Hawaii 5-0". The producer was Nat Perrin, who was later writer/producer of "The Adams Family". Elmer Bernstein ("The Magnificent Seven") is credited with the theme music.

The creator of "The Beachcomber" was Walter Brown Newman, who was nominated for an Oscar three times. Newman's films included "Ace in the Hole" (1951), "The Man With the Golden Arm" (1955), "Crime and Punishment, USA" (1959), "The Interns" (1962), and "Cat Ballou" (1966). He is said to have worked on the script for "The Magnificent Seven". He also received an Emmy nomination for an episode of "The Richard Boone Show" (1963). A very interesting talent. I'd like to know more about him.

"The Beachcomber" ran for 39 episodes. Each episode of the adventure series was 30 minutes.

What the series needed was a strong co-star for Cameron Mitchell to play off of. In episode 18, forty year old Don Megowan joined the cast as Captain Huckabee. (Huckabee had been played in an earlier episode by Adam West.) Near the end of the run, Megowan was starring in episodes alone. Apparently Mitchell got tired of the series. Megowan was 6 feet 6 inches tall and ruggedly handsome. Megowan looked a lot like Rod Cameron, whose brother he played in "The Man Who Died Twice" (1958). "The Beachcomber" was one of Megowan's rare leading man performances, and he was very good.

Cameron Mitchell had been a bombardier during World War ll. In 1948 (at age 30) he was in the original Broadway production of "Death of a Salesman" with Lee J. Cobb, Mildred Dunnock, and Arthur Kennedy. He was a fine contract player at 20th Centuury Fox during the 1950's. One of his best films there was in Martin Ritt's "No Down Payment", where he played Troy Boone, Joanne Woodward's disturbed husband.

Perhaps Mitchell's greatest performance was in "Monkey on My Back" (1957). Mitchell played boxer Barney Ross who develops a drug habit during World War II. Andre De Toth directed the film based on Ross' book.

In the early 1970's I saw Mitchell on "The Merv Griffin Show" where he claimed he had turned down the lead in "The French Connection" because he didn't like the script. But it is hard to believe Cameron turned down much work. Unlike beachcomber John Lackland, Cameron Mitchell never stopped working.

The Bold Ones: The Senator (1970–1971)

Hal Holbrook in peak form

[10/10 · 31 August 2009]

Forty-five year old Hal Holbrook played Senator Hays Stowe with great style, grace, and intelligence. It was a stunning series performance. Holbrook reminded me of Henry Fonda in "Twelve Angry Men" and Gregory Peck in "To Kill a Mockingbird". All three men projected quiet decency and great humanity. All three gave hints of what an American man could be at his best. Hal Holbrook became my favorite actor.

"The Senator" didn't quite look or sound like any other show on television. There was no background music which was fascinating. The show was visually interesting and skillfully edited. There wasn't the usual over-lighting. And they seemed to avoid the tired old Universal sets or at least made them look a little less like sets.

The producer of the series was David Levinson. Levinson's ambition was amazing. "The Senator" was head and shoulders above any other drama series on television. The series was tops in all departments: acting, writing, directing, editing and art direction. Somehow this great show came out of nowhere. It was far above the usual Universal product. The unofficial executive producer was William Sackheim, who was the godfather of many fine writers and many interesting projects at Universal.

John Badham was the associate producer. He became a director for the first time on this series. Badham's two episodes were brilliantly directed and he got an Emmy nomination for his second episode. Other fine directors included Jerrold Freedman, Daryl Duke, and Robert Day.

But what really made "The Senator" stand out was the superb writing. The brilliant writers included Joel Oliansky (Clint Eastwood's "Bird"), Ernest Kinoy ( "Roots", "Skokie", the "Blacklist" episode of "The Defenders"), David Rintels ( the play "Clarence Darrow" which originally starred Henry Fonda, the mini-series "Day One" about the creation of the A-Bomb with Brian Dennehy and David Strathairn), Leon Tokatyan ("Lou Grant"), and Jerrold Freedman (director of "A Cold, Night's Death").

Michael Tolan matched Holbrook scene for scene as Jordan Boyle, Stowe's hard-nosed adviser. Tolan should have received an Emmy nomination as best supporting actor. He should have won. Joseph Campanella played Jordan Boyle in the pilot movie for "The Senator". Tolan and Campanella were excellent on Herbert Brodkin's "The Doctors and the Nurses" in 1964-65.

Sharon Acker was a warm, engaging presence as the senator's beautiful wife.

Strong guest star performances were given by James Wainwright, Gerald S. O'Loughlin, Frank Campanella, Will Geer, Ann Doran, Burgess Meredith, Anna Lee, Murray Hamilton, Dana Elcar, James Griffith, David Sheiner, Lincoln Kilpatrick, and Logan Ramsey.

Holbrook had beautifully played a beleaguered university president in the Universal TV movie "The Whole World is Watching". He got an Emmy nomination for best supporting actor. That must have given Universal the idea to put him in a series.

Holbrook won the Emmy for Best Actor in a Drama Series for "The Senator". The series won as Best Drama Series. Daryl Duke won for directing and Joel Oliansky won for writing. Michael Economou won for film editing. There were several other nominations.

The series had already been canceled. But after the many Emmy wins, NBC wanted Universal to make a couple of World Premiere movies of "The Senator". However, Hal Holbrook (who was always terrified of type casting) turned the offer down. Very disappointing. It might have been fun to watch Hays Stowe run for president.

Director John Badham, writer Joel Oliansky, and producer William Sackheim later reteamed for the fine TV movie "The Law". All three received Emmy nominations for "The Law" and the movie itself won the Emmy as outstanding special in 1975.

The only other drama series in the same class as "The Senator" that season (1970-71) was "The Psychiatrist" with Roy Thinnes. "The Psychiatrist" was produced by Jerrold Freedman. Freedman also made big contributions to "The Senator" as the director of one episode and the writer of another.

The Reporter (1964)

Harry Guardino's shot at stardom

[9 September 2008]

"The Reporter" was a very ambitious 1964 show that seemed to have the potential for greatness. Thirty-nine year old Harry Guardino played idealistic young columnist Danny Taylor and Forty-nine year old Gary Merrill was city editor Lou Sheldon. Guardino and Merrill had been terrific in an "Outer Limits" episode the previous season called "The Human Factor", where the two actors alternated playing the good guy and the bad guy, sort of like "Face/Off".

I always found Gary Merrill an interesting looking guy and a good actor. I thought he might have been good as Lt. Gerard on "The Fugitive" or as General Savage's commanding officer on "12 O'Clock High".

In addition to having two interesting (and rather expensive) series leads, "The Reporter" was filmed on location in New York City, always a promising sign for a drama series.

Jerome Weidman ("I Can Get it For You Wholesale", "Fiorello") was the creator. "The Reporter" basically had the same premise as the 1962 "Saints and Sinners" with Nick Adams and John Larkin.

Directors included Tom Gries ("Will Penny"), Stuart Rosenberg, Mark Rydell, and Paul Stanley. Writers included Weidman, Gries, Hal Lee, and George Bellak.

"The Reporter" splurged on big name and interesting guest stars: Claude Rains, Mildred Dunnock, Efrem Zimbalist, Jr., Franchot Tone, Richard Conte, Arthur Hill, Jack Lord, Nick Adams, Robert Ryan, Eddie Albert and William Shatner.

Young actors on the way up who appeared on the show included Edward Asner, Michael Conrad, Warren Oates, James Farentino, Dyan Cannon, Jessica Walter and Zohra Lampert. Brenda Vacarro had a terrific cameo as a sexy secretary who finds Guardino resistible. They should have made Vacarro a regular. Roy Thinnes was to have had a recurring role as a police detective friend of Guardino, but he was only in one or two episodes.

In the first episode, Rip Torn played an ordinary man who comes to the aid of a person being attacked, only to be seriously knifed himself. Torn had read a column of Guardino deploring a Kitty Genovese type incident. Torn calls Guardino, who spends the hour episode trying to locate him. Shirley Knight was a receptionist at the newspaper who becomes emotionally connected to Torn over the phone line. Torn and Knight were superb. I saw them several decades later in a Broadway production of a play by Horton Foote. They were still superb.

In another episode Jack Lord played a star baseball player for a NY team, whose son is kidnapped. Lord is too afraid to deliver the ransom. Guardino delivers the ransom since he looks superficially like Lord. Frank Gifford was also in the episode. The plot shows how the writers were having trouble getting their reporter hero in the center of the action. Guardino later guest starred on four "Hawaii 5-0's".

Even though I expected to like Harry Guardino's performance in this series, I didn't find it very charismatic. Other actors who started series roles in 1964 that I expected to like were Robert Lansing, Richard Crenna, and Robert Vaughn. None of those three actors disappointed me. Part of the problem was that Danny Taylor as written was young, idealistic, and inexperienced (sort of like Dr. Kildare). This wasn't a good fit for Guardino's persona. Maybe Guardino's character should have been more like Jimmy Breslin.

"The Reporter" was on CBS on Friday nights from 10 to 11 eastern time. Its competition was "12 O'Clock High" and "The Jack Paar Show." "The Reporter" was replaced in mid-season by the excellent "Slattery's People" with Richard Crenna, which moved from Monday nights.

"The Reporter" was produced by actor Keefe Brasselle's production company. There was a bit of a scandal at the time that Brasselle, who sold two other shows to CBS that year, might have gotten a sweetheart deal from president Jim Aubrey. But "The Reporter" had plenty going for it, and didn't need any shenanigans to get sold. The producers obviously were trying hard to make a good show, and almost certainly lost a ton of money on this business venture.

Harry Guardino had another series in 1971 when he was 46. He played government agent "Monty Nash". It was a syndicated 30 minute show produced by Everett Chambers ("Johnny Staccato", "Peyton Place"). The show had a good premise and some good on location photography, but a minuscule budget sank the effort. "Monty Nash" wasn't half as compelling as Chambers' "Johnny Staccato".

Guardino also played Hamilton Burger to Monte Markham's Perry Mason, in a failed 1973 effort to revive that marvelous lawyer series.

Harry Guardino starred in a 1969 CBS TV movie that was a pilot for a promising series. The movie was called "The Lonely Profession". Guardino played San Francisco private eye Lee Gordon. The writer/director of the movie was talented Douglas Heyes ("Kitten With a Whip", "Aspen", "Captains and Kings"). Douglas Heyes had himself played a private eye on radio. Heyes based the movie on his own novel. Heyes named the lead character after his friend actor Leo Gordon. As long as the show was going to be about a San Francisco private eye, Heyes should have named his hero Sam Spade; it might have made the pilot more commercial. Maybe they could even have brought back Miles Archer, Spade's old partner, from the grave. Jack Cassidy would have been a terrific Miles Archer, and Guardino and Cassidy could have made an intriguing team. Maybe the show could have been called "Spade and Archer". The executive producer of the pilot movie was the great Roy Huggins ("77 Sunset Strip", "The Outsider", "The Rockford Files"), so a resulting series might have been interesting.

The year before starring in "The Reporter" Guardino starred on Broadway in a Stephen Sondheim musical called "Anyone Can Whistle". Guardino must have been very hot at the time. His co-stars were Lee Remick and Angela Lansbury. Lee and Harry didn't get along that well according to Dorothy Kilgallen. Harry's last TV guest star role was in a "Murder, She Wrote" when he was 69, shortly before his death.

Incident in San Francisco (1971 TV Movie)

A first draft of ''The Streets of San Francisco"

[8 March 2008]

Twenty-nine year old Christopher Connelly ("Peyton Place") played an idealistic young reporter in this 1971 Quinn Martin pilot. The "also starring" roles in the resulting series would have been filled by Tim O'Connor (also a "Peyton Place" veteran) as Connelly's editor and Dean Jagger as the paper's publisher. The pilot was on the ABC Sunday Night Movie.

Connelly was good, but he was overshadowed by Richard Kiley's performance as a "good Samaritan" in big trouble. Kiley (I think without toupee) made a very appealing everyman. Leslie Nielsen also gave a forceful performance as a smart police lieutenant. This was Nielsen's first role after "Bracken's World" was canceled in mid-season.

The script by Robert Dozier ("The Young Stranger") was intelligent. Dozier was later a producer of "Harry O". Dozier is married to the marvelous Diana Muldaur.

Director Don Medford ("The Organization") made fine use of the San Francisco location.

Two previous series had followed the adventures of an idealistic young reporter. One was "Saints and Sinners" (1962) with Nick Adams and the other was "The Reporter" (1964) with Harry Guardino. Both of those shows had strong writing and dazzling guest stars along with fine lead actors. But neither show could figure out how to plausibly get their reporter hero in the center of the action. "Lou Grant" finally showed how to make a great newspaper drama in 1977.

Quinn Martin revamped the premise of "Incident in San Francisco" a year later with "The Streets of San Francisco" pilot. His protagonists were now cops instead of a reporter. Leslie Nielsen and Christopher Connelly might have been interesting as the two cops on that show. Or maybe Richard Kiley could have played the older cop. Quinn Martin, of course, went instead with the great Karl Malden and Michael Douglas.

Christopher Connelly starred with Jodie Foster in a series version of "Paper Moon" in 1974. The series was based on the Ryan O'Neal-Tatum O'Neal movie directed by Peter Bogdanovich. Connelly had played Ryan O'Neal's younger brother on "Peyton Place".

Christopher Connelly died from cancer in 1988 at the age of 47.

Quinn Martin made two other pilot movies in 1971 in addition to "Incident in San Francisco". Both were for CBS. One was "Travis Logan, DA" with Vic Morrow and the other was "Cannon" with William Conrad.

Dan Raven (1960–1961)

Night life on the Sunset Strip circa 1960

[14 February 2008]

Thirty-year old Skip Homeier played Lieutenant Dan Raven, who worked out of the Hollywood sheriff's office. Raven worked the night beat, as suited his name. Raven never ran into "77 Sunset Strip" private eyes Stu Bailey or Jeff Spencer, who must have been working cases near by.

"Dan Raven" was an hour-long detective drama series. It was on NBC Friday nights at 7:30 eastern during the first half of the 1960-61 season. "Dan Raven" was produced by Screen Gems, the TV arm of Columbia.

The executive producer was William Sackheim ("The Law", "Delvecchio").

The producer was Anthony Wilson. The next season Anthony Wilson produced "Follow the Sun" (where he hired Homeier as a guest star.) Wilson was later executive producer of "The Immortal" (1970) with Christopher George. Anthony Wilson also created "Banacek". William Sackheim was known for bringing along talented young writers.

Guest stars included entertainers such as Julie London, Paul Anka, Mel Torme, Gogi Grant, Buddy Hackett, Bobby Darin and Paul Winchell. Sometimes the guest stars played themselves and sometimes a character who was an entertainer. Other non-entertainer guest stars included Kent Smith, Paul Richards and John Larch.

The creators of the Dan Raven character were Donald L. Gold ("Diagnosis Murder") and Jonas Seinfeld.

Skippy Homeier made his film debut at 14 as a Nazi youth in "Tomorrow, the World!". He must have made an indelible impression. My father commented on the performance whenever he saw the adult Homeier. In his twenties Homeier excelled at playing virile but violent young men with strongly neurotic tendencies ( e.g., "Halls of Montezuma"). Dan Raven was one of his few straight leading man roles, and there still seemed to be a hint of the neurotic about him.

Skip Homeier got a supporting series role ten years after "Dan Raven" on "The Interns", although now he was billed as G.V. Homeier. Homeier made a fine authority figure as senior doctor Hugh Jacoby. Homeier was also impressive a couple of years later as the judge in the TV movie "Helter Skelter".

I watched an episode of "Dan Raven" on DVD last night. The writing, directing and acting still hold up a half century later. Not a great show but a nice try. The show had a viable premise and a lead actor who could have become a star.

Six years after Dan Raven, Burt Reynolds played another detective lieutenant who worked the night beat, but this time the show was set in and filmed in Manhattan. That detective also had a bird's name-Hawk.

Destry (1964)

John Gavin gambles on his first television series

[27 December 2007]

Likable lawman Harrison Destry was framed for a crime he didn't commit and was sent to prison. When Destry gets out of prison, he becomes a drifter with a goal. Destry hopes to clear his reputation by finding the men really guilty of the crime he was convicted of.

"Destry" borrowed the concept of an unjustly convicted man from "The Fugitive", which had started a few months earlier. But instead of going for the intense noir mood of "The Fugitive", "Destry" was more a remake of "Maverick". Destry never seemed to get very worked up about anything. He always tried to avoid trouble, but he wasn't a coward. He could handle anything thrown his way.

Howard Christie ("Wagon Train") was the executive producer.

Marion Hargrove ("See Here Private Hargrove") was one of the writers. Hargrove wrote the "Gunshy" episode of "Maverick", which was a delightful send up of "Gunsmoke" and Marshall Mort Dooley.

The "Destry" pilot was directed by Don Siegel ("Invasion of the Body Snatchers", "Dirty Harry").

Guest stars included Tammy Grimes, Broderick Crawford, Patricia Barry, Fess Parker, Susan Oliver, Janet Blair, Katherine Crawford, John Astin, Marie Windsor, Una Merkel, Claude Akins and Ron Hayes.

Thirty-three year old John Gavin ("Psycho", "Spartucus") seemed to have all the tools to be a fine series lead. But the execution of "Destry" was uninspired. The great Roy Huggins ("Maverick", "The Fugitive") might have been a better choice for producer.

The premise of the classic 1939 James Stewart-Marlene Dietrich movie "Destry Rides Again" could have made a fine series. When the sheriff of a town is murdered, a drunk is made sheriff by the corrupt town boss. The drunk asks for help from young Thomas Jefferson Destry, the son of a famous lawman who has been murdered. Young Destry turns out to be a tenderfoot, but he is not without resources.

I would have cast Broderick Crawford as the town drunk who decides to stop drinking when he becomes sheriff. And Tammy Grimes would have been fun in the Dietrich role of the strong, wicked woman who runs the dance hall and most of the town. Ray Danton could have been dandy as the evil town boss who was Destry's alter ego. And maybe it turns out Desty's father is not really dead.

Gavin could have been a fine western hero, but even Matt Dillon needed strong characters to play off of. "Destry" could have been a TV version of the entertaining "Rio Bravo", if the regular characters had the right chemistry.

Another poster was dead right when he said the catchy theme song was the most memorable thing about this show.

"Destry" was a mid-season replacement during the 1963-64 season. It was on Friday nights at 7:30 pm eastern time. "Destry" replaced the canceled "77 Sunset Strip".

Universal found another series for Gavin shortly after "Destry" ended its thirteen week run. "Convoy" was a WWII series co-starring John Larch and Linden Chiles. It was described as a sea-going Wagon Train. The pilot was again directed by Don Siegel.

John Gavin had won a Golden Globe in 1959 as most promising new male personality, along with Efrem Zimbalist, Jr. and Bradford Dillman.

John Gavin was apparently a very smart guy. He was a Stanford graduate and a former naval officer. But he should have been more choosy in looking for a series to star in. It was a big decision that was loaded with risk.