The Execution of John Saringo is very adult for US episodic television for the late 1980s. It probably did not do much for the viewing figures for Midnight Caller.
Guest actor Joe Spano won an Emmy for his role. He plays John Saringo who has been on death row for some years. He robbed a store, killed three teenagers and just took a few bucks from the till.
There does not seem to be much evidence linking him to the crime. Saringo has a birthmark on his face that stands out.
Saringo has requested Jack Killian to interview him before his execution. The staff at the radio station are anti capital punishment but Jack has to reassess his views when the mother of one of the teens killed rings up his show.
There is a possible plotline that Saringo might be innocent of his crime. He was born on the wrong side of the tracks, a born loser with a long criminal record. He has no idea where he was at the night of the murders as he was drunk.
There seems to be some indication that someone else killed the teenagers. However at the end, it was about the state taking someone else's life as punishment while a crowd is gathered outside wanting Saringo to fry.
The episode does not flinch with the electric chair. Saringo's body goes up in smoke and it takes a while for him to cease to live. Whether he was innocent or guilty is not delved much further but left in the air.
Guest actor Joe Spano won an Emmy for his role. He plays John Saringo who has been on death row for some years. He robbed a store, killed three teenagers and just took a few bucks from the till.
There does not seem to be much evidence linking him to the crime. Saringo has a birthmark on his face that stands out.
Saringo has requested Jack Killian to interview him before his execution. The staff at the radio station are anti capital punishment but Jack has to reassess his views when the mother of one of the teens killed rings up his show.
There is a possible plotline that Saringo might be innocent of his crime. He was born on the wrong side of the tracks, a born loser with a long criminal record. He has no idea where he was at the night of the murders as he was drunk.
There seems to be some indication that someone else killed the teenagers. However at the end, it was about the state taking someone else's life as punishment while a crowd is gathered outside wanting Saringo to fry.
The episode does not flinch with the electric chair. Saringo's body goes up in smoke and it takes a while for him to cease to live. Whether he was innocent or guilty is not delved much further but left in the air.