"The Equalizer" (1985) TV series 1985-1989

Creators:

Michael Sloan
Richard Lindheim
(more)

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4

Release Date:

18 September 1985 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Crime | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

Plot:

A retired intelligence agent turned private detective helps various threatened clients to equalize the odds.

Plot Keywords:

Detective | Spy | New York City | Manhattan New York City | Neo Noir

Awards:

Won Golden Globe. Another 1 win & 11 nominations

Cast

Edward Woodward	...	Robert McCall (88 episodes, 1985-1989)
Keith Szarabajka	...	Mickey Kostmayer (56 episodes, 1985-1989)

Series Directed by
Alan Metzger		(19 episodes, 1985-1989)
Richard Compton		(14 episodes, 1985-1988)
Russ Mayberry		(12 episodes, 1985-1989)
Bradford May		(6 episodes, 1988-1989)
Donald Petrie		(5 episodes, 1985-1988)
Marc Laub		(5 episodes, 1987-1989)
Aaron Lipstadt		(3 episodes, 1986-1987)
James A. Contner		(3 episodes, 1988)
Rod Holcomb		(2 episodes, 1985)
Michael O'Herlihy		(2 episodes, 1987-1988)
Tony Wharmby		(2 episodes, 1987)
Paul Krasny		(2 episodes, 1988-1989)
Mark Sobel		(2 episodes, 1988)

Series Writing credits
Richard Lindheim		(88 episodes, 1985-1989)
Michael Sloan		(88 episodes, 1985-1989)
Coleman Luck		(19 episodes, 1985-1989)
Scott Shepherd		(13 episodes, 1986-1988)
Maurice Hurley		(9 episodes, 1985-1986)
Joel Surnow		(9 episodes, 1985-1986)
Robert Eisele		(9 episodes, 1987-1989)
Carleton Eastlake		(7 episodes, 1986-1987)
Jim Trombetta		(3 episodes, 1985-1987)
Heywood Gould		(3 episodes, 1985)
Jack V. Fogarty		(3 episodes, 1986-1987)
Ed Waters		(3 episodes, 1987)
Peter McCabe		(3 episodes, 1988)
Gail Morgan Hickman		(3 episodes, 1989)
Donna Powers		(3 episodes, 1989)
Wayne Powers		(3 episodes, 1989)
Tom Towler		(3 episodes, 1989)
Charles Grant Craig		(2 episodes, 1985-1986)
Mark Frost		(2 episodes, 1986)
Dennis Manuel		(2 episodes, 1987)
Robert Crais		(2 episodes, 1988)
Kevin Droney		(2 episodes, 1988)
Jacqueline Zambrano		(2 episodes, 1989)
Victor Hsu		(1 episode, 1985)

Series Produced by
James Duff McAdams	....	executive producer (87 episodes, 1985-1989)
Coleman Luck	....	co-producer / co-executive producer / ... (76 episodes, 1985-1989)
Peter A. Runfolo	....	coordinating producer / co-producer: New York (75 episodes, 1986-1989)
Dan Lieberstein	....	co-producer: New York / associate producer / ... (55 episodes, 1985-1988)
Ed Waters	....	co-executive producer / supervising producer (44 episodes, 1986-1988)
Robert Eisele	....	co-producer / co-supervising producer (44 episodes, 1987-1989)
Marc Laub	....	producer (44 episodes, 1987-1989)
Stuart Cohen	....	supervising producer / supervising producer: New York / ... (40 episodes, 1985-1989)
Scott Shepherd	....	co-producer / supervising producer (27 episodes, 1986-1987)
Gail Morgan Hickman	....	co-producer (22 episodes, 1988-1989)
JoAnn M. Laub	....	associate producer (22 episodes, 1988-1989)
Maurice Hurley	....	supervising producer / co-producer (21 episodes, 1985-1986)
Joel Surnow	....	co-executive producer / supervising producer (21 episodes, 1985-1986)
Alan Barnette	....	producer (20 episodes, 1986-1987)
Stuart Lieberman	....	associate producer (12 episodes, 1987-1988)
Mark Sobel	....	producer (9 episodes, 1988)
Edward Adler	....	producer (5 episodes, 1985)
Heywood Gould	....	co-executive producer (5 episodes, 1985)
Alan Metzger	....	producer (3 episodes, 1989)

Series Original Music by
Stewart Copeland		(51 episodes, 1985-1987)
Cameron Allan		(22 episodes, 1988-1989)
Joseph Conlan		(6 episodes, 1988)
John Cacavas		(5 episodes, 1988)
Bob Christianson		(3 episodes, 1986)

Series Cinematography by
Geoffrey Erb		(73 episodes, 1985-1989)
Alan Metzger		(8 episodes, 1985)
Richard C. Kratina		(2 episodes, 1985)
David Greene		(2 episodes, 1988)
Constantine Makris		(unknown episodes)

Series Film Editing by
Robert Q. Lovett		(27 episodes, 1985-1989)
Marc Laub		(14 episodes, 1985-1987)
Gary Karr		(13 episodes, 1987-1989)
Norman Gay		(12 episodes, 1985-1989)
Scott Vickrey		(12 episodes, 1986-1988)
Stanley Warnow		(11 episodes, 1985-1987)
Michael R. Miller		(9 episodes, 1985-1986)
Jeffrey Wolf		(8 episodes, 1985-1986)
Norman Hollyn		(7 episodes, 1985-1986)
Richard P. Cirincione		(4 episodes, 1987-1988)
Robert M. Reitano		(4 episodes, 1989)
Bill Pankow		(3 episodes, 1985-1986)
Lawrence Silk		(3 episodes, 1987-1988)
Arline Garson		(2 episodes, 1986)
Thomas S. Drescher		(2 episodes, 1987)

Series Casting by
Lois Planco		(87 episodes, 1985-1989)

Series Production Design by
Richard Bianchi		(76 episodes, 1985-1989)
Jeffrey Beecroft		(10 episodes, 1985-1986)

Series Art Direction by
Wing Lee		(47 episodes, 1985-1988)
Rick Butler		(22 episodes, 1988-1989)
Jeffrey Beecroft		(3 episodes, 1985)

Series Set Decoration by
Thomas C. Tonery		(39 episodes, 1987-1989)
Caryl Heller		(5 episodes, 1987)

Series Costume Design by
Linda Wayne		(65 episodes, 1985-1988)
John Boxer		(22 episodes, 1988-1989)

Series Makeup Department
Joe Cuervo	....	makeup artist (86 episodes, 1985-1989)
Joseph Coscia	....	hair stylist (36 episodes, 1987-1989)
Jerry Masarone	....	hair stylist (34 episodes, 1985-1987)
Werner Sherer	....	hair stylist (10 episodes, 1987)
William A. Farley	....	hair stylist (6 episodes, 1988)

Series Production Management
Diane Foti	....	unit production manager (80 episodes, 1985-1989)
Peter A. Runfolo	....	unit production manager (12 episodes, 1985)
Judith Stevens	....	unit production manager (7 episodes, 1989)

Series Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Robert E. Warren	....	first assistant director (36 episodes, 1985-1989)
Ellen H. Schwartz	....	second assistant director / first assistant director (26 episodes, 1985-1988)
Nelson Cabrera	....	second second assistant director (22 episodes, 1985-1986)
Amy Sayres	....	second assistant director / first assistant director (12 episodes, 1985-1988)
Alex Kramarchuk	....	second assistant director (12 episodes, 1986-1989)
Vebe Borge	....	second assistant director (9 episodes, 1986-1987)
Ken Ornstein	....	first assistant director / second assistant director (8 episodes, 1985-1988)
Dana J. Kuznetzkoff	....	second assistant director (8 episodes, 1987-1989)
Drew Ann Rosenberg	....	second assistant director (8 episodes, 1987-1989)
Matt Fenton	....	apprentice assistant director (8 episodes, 1988-1989)
Joseph P. Reidy	....	first assistant director (7 episodes, 1985)
Ellen Rauch	....	first assistant director (7 episodes, 1986-1987)
Michael Ingber	....	second assistant director (7 episodes, 1988-1989)
Aaron Barsky	....	first assistant director (5 episodes, 1986-1987)
Peter A. Runfolo	....	first assistant director (5 episodes, 1989)
Henry Bronchtein	....	first assistant director (3 episodes, 1985)
Mark McGann	....	second assistant director / first assistant director (3 episodes, 1986-1988)
Ian Woolf	....	second assistant director (3 episodes, 1988)
Kyle McCarthy	....	second assistant director (2 episodes, 1986-1989)
Richard Patrick	....	second assistant director / second second assistant director (2 episodes, 1986-1987)
Bruce Nalepinski	....	first assistant director (2 episodes, 1987)
Charles Zalben	....	second assistant director (2 episodes, 1987)
David Dreyfuss	....	first assistant director (2 episodes, 1989)
Carla Zackson	....	dga trainee (unknown episodes, 1987)
Timothy J. Lonsdale	....	first assistant director: second unit (unknown episodes)
Jane Paul	....	second assistant director (unknown episodes)

Series Art Department
Linda Skipper	....	scenic artist (81 episodes, 1985-1989)
Kevin McCarthy	....	set dresser (44 episodes, 1987-1989)
Philip Saccio	....	property master (22 episodes, 1988-1989)
Eric Stepper	....	property master (17 episodes, 1987-1988)
John McDonnell	....	property master (5 episodes, 1987)
Warren Jorgensen	....	scenic artist (2 episodes, 1986)
Eric Weiler	....	set dresser (unknown episodes)

Series Sound Department
Steve Scanlon	....	sound mixer (75 episodes, 1985-1989)
Fred Rosenberg	....	supervising sound editor (44 episodes, 1986-1988)
James Perdue	....	boom operator (40 episodes, 1985-1989)
Lisa J. Levine	....	adr editor (13 episodes, 1989)
Mike Marcucci	....	apprentice sound editor (11 episodes, 1987-1988)
Kevin Meehan	....	sound recordist (3 episodes, 1987-1988)
Randall Coleman	....	assistant sound editor (2 episodes, 1987)
Marko A. Costanzo	....	foley artist (unknown episodes)
Richard Friedlander	....	assistant sound editor (unknown episodes)
Kevin Lee	....	sound editor (unknown episodes)
Gary Parker	....	sound recordist (unknown episodes)
Harry Peck Bolles	....	sound editor (unknown episodes)
Philip Stockton	....	sound editor (unknown episodes)
Lionel Strutt	....	adr mixer (unknown episodes)

Series Special Effects by
Edward Drohan	....	special effects (44 episodes, 1987-1989)

Series Visual Effects by
Mitch Wilson	....	optical effects (88 episodes, 1985-1989)

Series Stunts
Harry Madsen	....	stunt coordinator (44 episodes, 1985-1987)
Frank Ferrara	....	stunt coordinator (40 episodes, 1987-1989)
Gene Harrison	....	stunts / stunt double (12 episodes, 1985-1988)
John Cenatiempo	....	stunts (2 episodes, 1987-1989)
Richard Epper	....	stunt double / stunts (2 episodes, 1987-1988)
Jim Lovelett	....	stunt coordinator (2 episodes, 1989)
Rick Shaw	....	stunt driver (2 episodes, 1989)
Rick Avery	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Victor Magnotta	....	stunt coordinator (unknown episodes)
Edgard Mourino	....	stunt coordinator (unknown episodes)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Gene Engels	....	gaffer (44 episodes, 1987-1989)
Bob Brennan	....	key grip (42 episodes, 1987-1989)
Alec Hirschfeld	....	camera operator (28 episodes, 1988-1989)
Robert Bauer	....	key grip (2 episodes, 1989)
Richard Guinness Jr.	....	key grip (2 episodes, 1989)
John Smith	....	gaffer (2 episodes, 1989)
Jack Coffen	....	electrician (unknown episodes)
John Dolan	....	grip (unknown episodes)
James W. Finnerty	....	dolly grip (unknown episodes)
Raymond Fortune	....	electrician (unknown episodes)
Chris Hammond	....	electrician (unknown episodes)
Tom Kerwick	....	key grip: second unit (unknown episodes)
Sal Lanza	....	dolly grip (unknown episodes)

Series Casting Department
Sylvia Fay	....	extras casting (88 episodes, 1985-1989)
Cal Saint John	....	casting assistant (9 episodes, 1985)

Series Costume and Wardrobe Department
Benjamin Wilson	....	wardrobe supervisor / costume supervisor (40 episodes, 1985-1989)
Guy Tanno	....	wardrobe supervisor (22 episodes, 1988-1989)
Rose Trimarco	....	wardrobe supervisor (22 episodes, 1988-1989)
Robert Dean Jackson	....	wardrobe supervisor (17 episodes, 1987-1988)
Robin L. Ruth	....	wardrobe supervisor (17 episodes, 1987-1988)
Jan Finnell	....	costume shopper (5 episodes, 1986)

Series Editorial Department
Valerie Schwartz	....	editorial coordinator / assistant film editor / ... (35 episodes, 1985-1987)
JoAnn M. Laub	....	post-production coordinator / assistant film editor / ... (23 episodes, 1986-1988)
Stuart Lieberman	....	post-production coordinator (22 episodes, 1986-1987)
Lisa Delgrosso	....	assistant film editor / editorial coordinator (20 episodes, 1985-1988)
Beriau Picard	....	assistant film editor (15 episodes, 1985-1987)
Tara Timpone	....	assistant film editor (14 episodes, 1986-1989)
Donnamarie Hock	....	assistant film editor (14 episodes, 1987-1989)
Anne Sawyer	....	assistant film editor (12 episodes, 1987-1989)
William Karpe	....	assistant film editor (9 episodes, 1985-1986)
Judith Blume	....	editorial coordinator (8 episodes, 1985)
Suzanne Pillsbury	....	assistant film editor (6 episodes, 1985-1986)
Tony Grocki	....	assistant film editor (6 episodes, 1988-1989)
K.F. Ligammari	....	apprentice editor (5 episodes, 1988-1989)
Mark Juergens	....	apprentice editor (4 episodes, 1986)
Joseph Gutowski	....	assistant film editor (4 episodes, 1987-1988)
Pam Di Fede	....	assistant film editor (4 episodes, 1989)
Nick Smith	....	apprentice editor (3 episodes, 1989)
Elizabeth Ackerman	....	assistant film editor (2 episodes, 1985)
Maryann Brandon	....	assistant film editor (2 episodes, 1985)
Nicholas Holmes	....	assistant film editor (2 episodes, 1987)
Barbara Minor	....	assistant film editor (2 episodes, 1987)
William Kruzykowski	....	assistant film editor (2 episodes, 1988)
Peter B. Ellis	....	assistant editor (unknown episodes)
Tom San Martin	....	negative matcher (unknown episodes)
Arnold Shuster	....	negative matcher (unknown episodes)

Series Music Department
Thomas S. Drescher	....	music editor (47 episodes, 1985-1987)
Stewart Copeland	....	theme by (37 episodes, 1986-1989)
Tom Bruno	....	music coordinator (37 episodes, 1987-1989)
Jeff Seitz	....	music performer (28 episodes, 1986-1987)
Elizabeth Ackerman	....	music editor (27 episodes, 1988-1989)
Mike Gormley	....	music coordinator: OSS (18 episodes, 1985-1986)
Derek Power	....	music coordinator: OSS (18 episodes, 1985-1986)
Seth Kaplan	....	music coordinator: OSS (9 episodes, 1986)
Todd Kasow	....	music editor (7 episodes, 1987-1988)
Patrick Mullins	....	music editor (5 episodes, 1988)
John Miller	....	composer: additional music / composer: jazz music (2 episodes, 1987-1988)

Series Transportation Department
Edward Iacobelli	....	transportation captain (29 episodes, 1988-1989)

Series Other crew
Wendy Chesebrough Lowe	....	assistant to executive producer (53 episodes, 1987-1989)
Soomi Marano	....	production office coordinator (46 episodes, 1985-1987)
Kim Nielsen	....	assistant to executive producer / executive assistant (42 episodes, 1985-1987)
Ira Hurvitz	....	script supervisor (29 episodes, 1986-1989)
Sheila Paige	....	script supervisor (26 episodes, 1985-1989)
Barbara Stoia	....	script supervisor (22 episodes, 1985-1989)
Donna Powers	....	story editor (22 episodes, 1988-1989)
Wayne Powers	....	story editor (22 episodes, 1988-1989)
Tom Towler	....	executive story consultant (22 episodes, 1988-1989)
Jody Milano Vanderputten	....	production office coordinator (22 episodes, 1988-1989)
Chris Schutsky	....	set location assistant / location assistant (19 episodes, 1985-1989)
Carleton Eastlake	....	story editor (18 episodes, 1986-1987)
Debra Tanklow	....	production office coordinator (17 episodes, 1987-1988)
Deborah Lee	....	location manager (14 episodes, 1988-1989)
Scott Shepherd	....	executive story consultant (12 episodes, 1985-1986)
Stan Mendoza	....	location manager (11 episodes, 1988-1989)
Steve Johnson	....	story editor (9 episodes, 1987-1988)
Jan DeVries	....	technical advisor (8 episodes, 1985)
Joanne Small	....	script supervisor (8 episodes, 1988-1989)
Peter McCabe	....	story editor (8 episodes, 1988)
Esther Gordon	....	production assistant (7 episodes, 1985)
John Romeo	....	production assistant (7 episodes, 1986)
Diane Foti	....	production associate (7 episodes, 1989)
Rick Ashman	....	production assistant (6 episodes, 1986)
Judith Stevens	....	production associate (5 episodes, 1989)
Theodore Gershuny	....	story editor (4 episodes, 1985)
Mike Marcucci	....	production assistant (4 episodes, 1986-1987)
Don Carlos Dunaway	....	creative consultant (4 episodes, 1986)
Abdul Malik Abbott	....	production assistant (4 episodes, 1987)
Bettiann Fishman	....	location manager (4 episodes, 1988)
Quincy Z. Gunderson	....	location assistant (4 episodes, 1989)
Dan Frye	....	production assistant (3 episodes, 1986)
David Tripet	....	production assistant (unknown episodes, 1986)
Tim Tyler	....	location assistant (unknown episodes, 1988-1989)
Brett Botula	....	location scout (unknown episodes)
Salvatore Carino	....	production estimator (unknown episodes)
Adam Cohen	....	production assistant (unknown episodes)
Kati Johnston	....	assistant location manager (unknown episodes)
Gene Kraft	....	title designer (unknown episodes)
Adam Lichtenstein	....	production assistant (unknown episodes)
Barbara Lucey	....	production accountant (unknown episodes)
Kate McCallum	....	assistant to writer (unknown episodes)
Peter Pastorelli	....	location manager (unknown episodes)
M. Ross-Michaels	....	assistant accountant (unknown episodes)
Aaron Sadovsky	....	production assistant (unknown episodes)
Michael Sloan	....	conceived by (unknown episodes)
Matthew T. Weiner	....	location assistant (unknown episodes)
Nadine F. Wilson	....	post-production accountant (unknown episodes)
Steven Wren	....	location assistant (unknown episodes)

Series Thanks
Gene Engels	....	the producers wish to thank (1 episode, 1986)
Caryl Heller	....	the producers wish to thank (1 episode, 1986)
Edward Iacobelli	....	the producers wish to thank (1 episode, 1986)
Debra Katz Weber	....	the producers wish to thank (1 episode, 1986)
Michael T. Miller	....	the producers wish to thank (1 episode, 1986)
Peter Pastorelli	....	the producers wish to thank (1 episode, 1986)
Steve Scanlon	....	the producers wish to thank (1 episode, 1986)
Janet Shaw	....	the producers wish to thank (1 episode, 1986)
Kenneth Vogt	....	the producers wish to thank (1 episode, 1986)
Benjamin Wilson	....	the producers wish to thank (1 episode, 1986)
Ernie Palinkas	....	this episode is dedicated to the memory of (1 episode, 1987)

Production Companies

• Universal TV

Distributors

• Elephant Films (2014) (France) (video)
• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1985-1989) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• Fabulous Films (2012) (UK) (DVD)
• Home Video Hellas (HVH) (1988) (Greece) (VHS)
• Independent Television (ITV)
• Studios USA Television
• Umbrella Entertainment (2011) (Australia) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Hastings Sound Editorial  sound editing
• Mayor's Office of Film, Theatre & Broadcasting, The  filmed with the cooperation of
• New York Police Department Motion Picture Unit  filmed with the cooperation of (as New York City Police Department Movie/TV Unit)
• Optical House, The  opticals (as The Optical House, N.Y.)
• Sylvia Fay/Lee Genick & Associates Casting  extras casting

Also Known As:

Runtime:

60 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:M

Filming Locations:

New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Universal TV

Trivia:

McCall drives a black Jaguar, NY license 5809 AUJ.

Quotes:

Robert McCall:Don't do something you won't live to regret.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Saturday Night Live: Jerry Seinfeld/David Bowie (#25.1)" (1999)

A View to a Cold War Relic

I have seen all the episodes at least 3 times; first on CBS, then USA, and then on A&E. Now it is on Hallmark.

Like other reviewers, I found the show refreshing and unique. I thought the choice of Edward Woodward was curious (a Brit for a Yank?)But I was willing to let it slide through.

Robert Lansing's portrayal as a District or Station Chief was well cast. Like most American TV series, it takes a season or two to become really good. The show had good writing, good actors and actresses, and good cinematography. I think that it was one of the best series produced.

The Robert McCall character had the potential of becoming a cardboard character. Woodward's acting skills prevented that, thank God. I found the premise of a disillusioned CIA Case Officer to be believable. The look-and-feel of McCall reminded me of the legendary William King Harvey of Indianapolis. It is uncanny.

I found the story line of internal CIA `political' struggles to be realistic. Remember, this was just after the infamous Senator Frank Church Commission which effectively gutted the CIA. We built the CIA to prevent any more Pearl Harbors. Then through internal political dissention (and ideology sympathy) we made it a Hollow, blind Man. Many veteran Case Officers were `forced out' at that time.

In the Army I made the acquaintance of some Mickey Kostmayer types. I liked the acting of Keith Szarabajka. His naturalness made the character believable according to the real people that I met.

After Woodward's heart attack, I thought that the inclusion of Richard Jordan was well cast. I was sorry to see his character fade out. He was just starting to come into his own.

The technical aspects were, at the time, quite startling. The `Trade Craft' was superb. I never did learn if the writers had access to old Case Officers or not. There is one scene where McCall tracks down someone using recorded voices from the telephone system. The NSA must have had fits over that one.

I have several favorite episodes, but one of two that stands out in my mind is where McCall is trying to teach street punks about what death is all about. He takes them to a morgue to see a stiff. While there, he introduces them to an old colleague who tells them about Hell. It was quite chilling, but very accurate.

The other episode is where he is trapped in a wedding reception as a hostage. The techniques and tactics that McCall used were very real. It should be required viewing for future operatives. Like other reviewers, I was sorry to see it cancelled. I felt that it had a few more seasons left.

One of the other reviewers mentions that the Equalizer replacement was Wiseguy. Interesting that, like the Equalizer, Wiseguy was modeled after a real person (Donnie Brasko) and a real situation. Yes, very interesting.