Though there is one more "so-called" episode of Adam-12 to go in this 6th season of the show, this is the last to feature Malloy and Reed in depth. (See my review of that next episode to understand why.)
Police Officers Pete Malloy and Jim Reed return to LAX International Airport for their second assignment (and episode) of patrolling the complex... uh... well, complex. Fellow Officer Jerry Woods is there too this time, but he's shoved behind a desk the entire episode.
There's lots of stuff to enjoy in this one as the airport is absolutely jammed full of nasty bad guys. New to the airport are security cameras and monitors in the airport Police Station. This camera system is incredible as it's able to focus (apparently) directly on any automobile in the parking lot that is about to be broken into. Of course this is merely the production taking a short-cut to get this particular segment off and running.
M & R hop on a couple of neat little motorcycles and zip out to the lot where, thanks to some ongoing construction, the Officers know the bad guys will be forced to exit in their car. And what a car it is! It's that awesome Baby-Blue Ford Mustang Convertible (early 70's model) which had just been featured in the previous 2-part Helicopter storyline. There, we only got to see it from way up in the air. Here we get a great look at it when Malloy conducts a quick and thorough investigation of the bad guy driver and - for funny reasons - his non-present sister. A Gold Star for Officer Malloy. He nailed this guy real good!
Malloy doesn't get any actual gold stars, but he does get a total knockout babe-sical in the form of Airlines Ticket Agent, Jody Drake. He and Reed meet her while passing out a Wanted Murderer brochure. She later puts the partners onto a ticket scammer/credit card stealer. There's a quick foot chase in which viewers get to see some off-limits, behind-the-scenes airport locations. Cool.
There's humor to be had in a segment featuring a suitcase full of something very naughty. Later, actor Michael Warren (who will go on to play the part of Officer Bobby Hill on "Hill Street Blues") shows up as a Marine who has a wad of money stolen. Warren had appeared in a previous episode, "Princess and the Pig", as a Rookie Officer riding with Malloy when Reed was off selling drugs. (You had to be there. All legit.) Malloy gets to nail this bad guy as well, again with a hint of humour.
There's even a lady bad-guy, or rather bad-person, in the guise of the Mother of a runaway. She's so bad, the kid ran all the way to Chicago. It's not made any reference to it, but it's obvious that this kid won't be sticking around for very long. The Mother informs the Officers that she'll be sending the boy to Military School. Nothing wrong with Military School, but if this kid can't take being commanded by his Mother...
Then there's another one of those story segments that make a viewer wonder about that "the incidents you have just seen are true" declaration in the end credits. Did some idiot crook really rob an airport parking lot payment toll booth - on foot! - and then go for a run through the airport parking garage? If so, did the idiot really rob the money and then - go back - into the airport? Malloy and Reed do some car-searching and stop for unclear reasons at one particular van. The innocent woman driver makes no signal whatsoever, yet Malloy somehow figures out that the robber is hiding in the back of this lady's van with her as a hostage. Just a little nitpick there. Otherwise, Malloy nails another one!
The episode wraps up with a cute, funny scene in which Malloy takes a phone call from that beautiful Ticket Agent, Jody. Wait a moment... "Takes a call"??? Why didn't the director get this actress back on the set so viewers could get another chance to see her magnificent beauty again?! Anywho... The ordeal with capturing that ticket scammer earlier in the episode has resulted in an invitation from the Credit Card Company involved. They want to treat Jody, Malloy and Reed to a nice Prime Rib dinner. Still on the phone with the girl, Malloy fills Reed in regarding the invitation. He also fills Reed in on the fact that Reed can't join them. "Hint hint." Reed obliges, but informs his partner that this missed dinner is going to cost Malloy big time.
So ends the 6th season of Adam-12, other than the following travesty of an episode. This though is a terrific outing with lots of fun and exciting stuff. Too bad Jody Drake is never seen again.
Police Officers Pete Malloy and Jim Reed return to LAX International Airport for their second assignment (and episode) of patrolling the complex... uh... well, complex. Fellow Officer Jerry Woods is there too this time, but he's shoved behind a desk the entire episode.
There's lots of stuff to enjoy in this one as the airport is absolutely jammed full of nasty bad guys. New to the airport are security cameras and monitors in the airport Police Station. This camera system is incredible as it's able to focus (apparently) directly on any automobile in the parking lot that is about to be broken into. Of course this is merely the production taking a short-cut to get this particular segment off and running.
M & R hop on a couple of neat little motorcycles and zip out to the lot where, thanks to some ongoing construction, the Officers know the bad guys will be forced to exit in their car. And what a car it is! It's that awesome Baby-Blue Ford Mustang Convertible (early 70's model) which had just been featured in the previous 2-part Helicopter storyline. There, we only got to see it from way up in the air. Here we get a great look at it when Malloy conducts a quick and thorough investigation of the bad guy driver and - for funny reasons - his non-present sister. A Gold Star for Officer Malloy. He nailed this guy real good!
Malloy doesn't get any actual gold stars, but he does get a total knockout babe-sical in the form of Airlines Ticket Agent, Jody Drake. He and Reed meet her while passing out a Wanted Murderer brochure. She later puts the partners onto a ticket scammer/credit card stealer. There's a quick foot chase in which viewers get to see some off-limits, behind-the-scenes airport locations. Cool.
There's humor to be had in a segment featuring a suitcase full of something very naughty. Later, actor Michael Warren (who will go on to play the part of Officer Bobby Hill on "Hill Street Blues") shows up as a Marine who has a wad of money stolen. Warren had appeared in a previous episode, "Princess and the Pig", as a Rookie Officer riding with Malloy when Reed was off selling drugs. (You had to be there. All legit.) Malloy gets to nail this bad guy as well, again with a hint of humour.
There's even a lady bad-guy, or rather bad-person, in the guise of the Mother of a runaway. She's so bad, the kid ran all the way to Chicago. It's not made any reference to it, but it's obvious that this kid won't be sticking around for very long. The Mother informs the Officers that she'll be sending the boy to Military School. Nothing wrong with Military School, but if this kid can't take being commanded by his Mother...
Then there's another one of those story segments that make a viewer wonder about that "the incidents you have just seen are true" declaration in the end credits. Did some idiot crook really rob an airport parking lot payment toll booth - on foot! - and then go for a run through the airport parking garage? If so, did the idiot really rob the money and then - go back - into the airport? Malloy and Reed do some car-searching and stop for unclear reasons at one particular van. The innocent woman driver makes no signal whatsoever, yet Malloy somehow figures out that the robber is hiding in the back of this lady's van with her as a hostage. Just a little nitpick there. Otherwise, Malloy nails another one!
The episode wraps up with a cute, funny scene in which Malloy takes a phone call from that beautiful Ticket Agent, Jody. Wait a moment... "Takes a call"??? Why didn't the director get this actress back on the set so viewers could get another chance to see her magnificent beauty again?! Anywho... The ordeal with capturing that ticket scammer earlier in the episode has resulted in an invitation from the Credit Card Company involved. They want to treat Jody, Malloy and Reed to a nice Prime Rib dinner. Still on the phone with the girl, Malloy fills Reed in regarding the invitation. He also fills Reed in on the fact that Reed can't join them. "Hint hint." Reed obliges, but informs his partner that this missed dinner is going to cost Malloy big time.
So ends the 6th season of Adam-12, other than the following travesty of an episode. This though is a terrific outing with lots of fun and exciting stuff. Too bad Jody Drake is never seen again.