Barnaby Jones (TV Series) The Stalking Horse (1976) User Reviews

ALL THEY WANT TO DO IS KILL YOU.

[tcchelsey · 10/10 · 25 January 2024]

I agree with the last reviewer, there was a bit of comedy at work here, albeit dark comedy, as Barnaby has no choice but to protect a businessman (played by Denver Pyle), pretending to be his brother. Buddy Ebsen had to resort to acting 101 and then some, and is fun to watch.

Pyle plays Stayley Kircher, coming very close to getting killed, and while he's in the hospital, Barnaby plays the good brother who will oversee his business operations. Does this now make Barnaby a target?

Series writer Robert W. Lenski drew up some terrific characters, and with no surprise, having also mastered numerous episodes for CANNON and MANNIX. Great direction from Alf Kjellin, also working on HAWAII FIVE O at the time. The accident scene involving Stayley has a Five O feel right off the bat.

Denver Pyle is always memorable and makes a solid team with Buddy Ebsen. Pyle was a regular on GUNSMOKE, best known as Uncle Jesse on the DUKES OF HAZZARD. Two excellent actresses are also featured; Nina Foch as Myra, making another series apprearance and Madge Redmond, very popular on tv commercials for years.

An original episode for sure, and just who is behind all the traps? It's fun guessing. SEASON 4 EPISODE 24 remastered CBS dvd box set.

Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha!!!!

[planktonrules · 5/10 · 22 July 2021]

"The Stalking Horse" is one of the funniest episodes I've seen of "Barnaby Jones"....and I think Buddy Ebsen must have had fun in this one.

When the episode begins, Stayley (Denver Pyle) is nearly killed because someone sabotaged the gas pedal to stick on his car. Only a few days before, a load nearly fell on him...and now Stayley realizes someone is trying to kill him. Now here is where it gets weird. To get to see Stayley in the hospital, Barnaby pretends to be Stayley's brother, as they won't allow non-family to visit. And, for some bizarro reason, he maintains this facade throughout the episode...posing as Harry...the brother who is going to run Stayley's business during his absence.

Listening to Ebsen talk and act like Denver Pyle was very funny. Hearing him talking like a combination of a bear from the Country Bear Jamboree and a member of the cast of "Hee-Haw" was very funny. I laughed and laughed. Though I also must admit that it was really, really stupid....which is mostly why I laughed. It is still watchable but very dumb, which is why it merits a 5.