Of Mouse and Man (11 Feb. 1982)

A public defender is brutally murdered. Hill is elected as VP of the Black Officers' Coalition. LaRue and Washington nab a cocaine dealer who has knowledge of a large PCP lab.

Director:

Thomas Carter

Writers:

Michael Kozoll (story), Steven Bochco (story),

Stars:

Daniel J. Travanti, Michael Conrad, Michael Warren

Cast

Episode cast overview, first billed only:
Daniel J. Travanti	...	Capt. Frank Furillo
Michael Conrad	...	Sgt. Phil Esterhaus
Michael Warren	...	Officer Robert 'Bobby' Hill
Bruce Weitz	...	Sgt. Mick Belker
James Sikking	...	Lt. Howard Hunter (as James B. Sikking)
Joe Spano	...	Det. Henry Goldblume
Barbara Bosson	...	Fay Furillo
Taurean Blacque	...	Det. Neal Washington
Kiel Martin	...	Officer John 'J.D.' LaRue
René Enríquez	...	Lt. Ray Calletano
Betty Thomas	...	Officer Lucy Bates
Ed Marinaro	...	Officer Joe Coffey
Charles Haid	...	Officer Andrew Renko
Veronica Hamel	...	Joyce Davenport
Edward James Olmos	...	Joe Bustamonte

Storyline

A public defender is brutally murdered. Hill is elected as VP of the Black Officers' Coalition. LaRue and Washington nab a cocaine dealer who has knowledge of a large PCP lab.

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

11 February 1982 (USA)

Filming Locations:

CBS Studio Center - 4024 Radford Avenue, Studio City, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

MTM Enterprises

Technical Specs

Runtime:

60 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

J. D. references the "Duncan Royal Yo-Yo man". Duncan was a company that made yo-yos and had a character "Mr. Yo-Yo". There was a rival yo-yo company called Royal Tops.

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Connections

References Of Mice and Men (1939)

User Reviews

Solid episode

Furillo (Daniel J. Travanti, splendid as usual) is determined to catch the killer of a young public defender. Hill (a fine Michael Warren) gets elected vice president of the Black Officer's Coalition. LaRue (Kiel Martin in inspired and supremely sleazy form) and Washington (neatly essayed with engaging cool by Taurean Blacque) bust a coke dealer with knowledge on a large PCP lab. Veronica Hamel has several moving and powerful scenes as the shaken Davenport, who expresses profound dismay and disillusionment over the brutal murder of her colleague. Moreover, it's a hoot to watch LaRue work undercover as a slick big time garment manufacturer with a massively Afro-wigged Washington as his fey gay partner. Belker (Bruce Weitz) also has a cute and funny scene with a pet mouse who meets an abrupt untimely end (Belker holds an impromptu funeral service for the rodent in the men's bathroom at the police station!). Popping up in nifty guest appearances are Edward James Olmos as crusading law student Joe Bustamonte, Jeffrey Tambor as slippery slimeball lawyer Alan Wachtel, Jonathan Frakes as smooth drug pusher Eddie Simms, and Al Ruscio as browbeating slum lord Mr. Sosa. And this episode offers some spot-on insights on how compromises and plea bargains are essential yucky means to the right end pertaining to enforcing the law and nabbing top criminals.