In Praise of Pip

Small time bookie Jack Klugman has little to show for his life, but a son played by Bobby Diamond, late of the Fury series, who is now serving as one of our first combat troops in Vietnam. Diamond is wounded and on the operating table fighting for his life.

Halfway around the world Jack Klugman who is an reflective mood returns money that some poor young schnook bet and lost with him which doesn't please his bosses. That leaves in a crisis of his own after he's wounded by those selfsame bosses.

This episode though the title character is that of Diamond belongs to Jack Klugman who gives an impassioned performance as Max Phillips the bookmaker who makes one last bet with the forces of the universe. And those forces collect. Also note young Billy Mumy who even with black and white photography disguising his red hair and freckles doesn't quite look like a kid who would grow up to be Bobby Diamond.

Klugman really shines in this episode, especially in his scenes with Mumy who comes to him while he's wounded as his son when he was a child whom he never was a proper dad for.

Jack Klugman's fans should not miss this one.