therealjohnhood Reviews

The Rockford Files: The Kirkoff Case (1974) Season 1, Episode 1

Solid as Oak

[10/10 · 15 June 2023]

The Rockford Files proved, again and again, that even the shadiest among us are often solid as oak. This episode was exceptionally no exception.

Of course, sometimes a shade tree is just shady, and this episode delivers that as well. In fact, I'd say the balance of good shady and bad shady is just about even.

With James Woods and Abe Vigoda adding weight to the proceedings, and Julie Sommars going charm for charm with Rockford, this episode has all the depth and character that made this series so enjoyable.

Then again when you've got Roy Huggins and Stephen J Cannell crafting the story, depth and character is going to course through every minute.

Boy, what a show!

Starsky and Hutch: Tap Dancing Her Way Right Back into Your Hearts (1976) Season 2, Episode 9

Another Charming Slice of the '70s!

[10/10 · 10 June 2023]

Featuring future Hill Street Blues star Veronica Hamel (really) and directed by Fernando Lamas (double really), this episode has a certain built-in '70s charm. Audrey Christie's appearance however roots that charm to a whole 'nother Hollywood heyday.

To go from Splendor in the Grass to Starsky & Hutch is the ultimate in impressive It also shows sublime versatility, as well as a keen sense of humor. Mostly though, Christie's bridging proves this show was always as whip smart as it was charming good fun!

As for the story, well, you'll have to tune in for yourself, because the deception and duplicity really needs to be seen firsthand in order to be dis/believed. Besides, who'd want to spoil all the wily surprises?

Starsky and Hutch: Omaha Tiger (1976) Season 1, Episode 18

The Ultimate Tag Team!

[10/10 · 6 June 2023]

Starsky and Hutch get ti show what made them such a dynamite tag team - they also both get to show more than a few good moves. Infused with the kind of grit Darren Aronofsky tapped into for The Wrestler and set around a singular stage, this episode really illustrates just how far the, er, art of wrestling has come. In fact, when comparing the gritty then to the wow that is now, it's almost unrecognizable.

As usual, S&H get to play off a colorful cast of supporting characters, including Dennis Burkley, David Thayer, James Luisi and. Richard Kiel, plus a surprise turn from Mary Jo Catlett as the flirty Terrible Tessie.

Charming good fun!

Starsky and Hutch: The Deadly Imposter (1975) Season 1, Episode 13

Assassins & Charm

[10/10 · 4 June 2023]

Few shows can get away with employing sheer charm to bookend a series of killings; then again, few shows had as much killer charm as Starsky & Hutch. Sure, a lot of the procedural stuff doesn't fly anymore. Neither frankly do many of the so-called social mores. Yet, the show's innate charm mitigates any and all reason to criticize. Best just to sit back and enjoy the ride.

And Starsky's tomato red striped Torino is indeed quite the ride. Pair the American muscle car rev with Lalo Schifrin's roarful theme music, and you've got 0-60 in three seconds flat. Throw in tire squeals, punch grunts and explosions, and, well, it's off to the races and then some. All that remains is a waving checkered flag.

And the checkered flag that waves this episode to a close is as vivid as a win - and as wide as the widest of smiles!

Starsky and Hutch: Shootout (1975) Season 1, Episode 14

It's Going to Take a Lot of Rain

[10/10 · 3 June 2023]

Everyone wins when Norman Fell is on scene. And in this episode, Norman Fell is on scene throughout. His heart-broken, never-was stand-up comic routine though is a real heartbreak. Then again Fell always did know how to play great character.

We won't spoil the sportingness of it all, but this Starsky & Hutch is pure tension from get to got. And well worth the price of admission.

When bad guys were redeemingly bad and good guys were redeemingly good and innocent bystanders really were innocent... With a grandstand play emceed by Huggy Bear, and an uncommitted vow to never ever quit their day jobs, this is one ace S&H!

Starsky and Hutch: Death Notice (1975) Season 1, Episode 6

Putt Putt Golf & Go Go Girls

[10/10 · 2 June 2023]

When a sicko psycho seems to be threatening to kill the pretty ladies at the Panama Club, Starsky & Hutch are called in to help. Unfortunately, the sicko psycho is even wilier than they knew.

A gaggle of the most wholesome strippers who ever took off their clothes and a strip club owner with a veritable heart of gold add a rather warm heart to the proceedings. Meat hooks and deep freezers provide for some chill. But it's the Black Bean Soup group sing-along that really strikes a hearty note.

Wait for the end - then smile. And remember this show was themed by the late, great Lalo Shifrin, whose Mission Impossible Theme continues to reverberate well over half a century after it debuted.

Starsky and Hutch: Lady Blue (1975) Season 1, Episode 10

Institute of Oral Love!

[10/10 · 1 June 2023]

Hard to find a more interesting set up then having the Lady Blue in question go-go dance at the Mellow Yellow, especially since in real life it was known as the Institute of Oral Love. (Really.)

Throw in the incomparable Elisha Cook Jr as Polly the Snitch and put the pen in the hand of Michael Mann and, well, you've got some ace entertainment!

Funnily enough Hutchinson's being irked by all the numbers in their lives (including Zebra 3) leads to a loud dressing down over a calculator.

It's the waveform energy driven psycho that drives this episode though, and S & H's hunt to track down the beast at all costs.

Grade A, baby!

Starsky and Hutch: Snowstorm (1975) Season 1, Episode 4

Another Great Dose of Character!

[10/10 · 31 May 2023]

'70s stalwarts George Dzundza, Paul Benjamin and Gilbert Green play it bad, worse and more worse, in the process creating one sticky wicket of mud, blood and powder.

In this case it's cocaine. Hence the Snowstorm of the title. And a whole lot of that marching powder too. In fact, three or four million dollars worth.

Some of that snow has gone missing though, and some folks seem to think Starsky and Hutch are the culprits.

Could it be? Would it be? Should it be? Tune in and find out for yourself!

Best line:

"Did you know that guy had 17 kinds of pomade and a dozen jars of Smell Well?"

No Hutch, we didn't. But thanks!

Starsky and Hutch: Texas Longhorn (1975) Season 1, Episode 2

Giving Heroin Addicts a Bad Name!

[10/10 · 30 May 2023]

Talk about character! The ever easy-going Med Flory as the titular Texas Longhorn, the ever-smarmy Michael Lerner as Fat Rolly and an angel-voiced Ann Weldon as - what else?- Angel, this episode reaps great character. Throw in the very bad bad guys (including evil-doing stalwart George Loros) and a couple ace turns from both Starsky and Hutch and you've got one kicking episode.

No wonder Michael Mann still raves about this series - it proved to be an excellent source of consistently keen entertainment.

Now if only we could still revisit Pike's Amusement Park to revise some of our favorite LA TV memories...

Starsky and Hutch: Murder on Stage 17 (1977) Season 2, Episode 24

Hollywood History - + Jeff Goldblum!

[10/10 · 29 May 2023]

Allusions to Fatty Arbuckle and the Rat Pack, plus a young Jeff Goldblum playing what Hutch calls "the next Bergman"? TV doesn't get much better than that!

This Starsky and Hutch episode seems to have it all... Hollywood with all its insiders and cronyism, ever forgetful history, as well as Hollywood History itself, which cruelly lasts and doesn't last forever.

Is it tragedy? Sure. That's why we tune in. It's also why people tune out. Or get tuned out. And wind up completely losing their minds.

Anyway, the only thing really missing from this episode is having a gun-toting Huggy Bear walk on set playing the black cowboy!

Perry Mason: The Case of the Fan Dancer's Horse (1957) Season 1, Episode 15

When Short Shorts Were Risque

[10/10 · 14 May 2022]

Oh for the days when fan dancers were the pinnacle of titulation! It really makes for some rather charming exchanges! It also allows one woman to wield short shorts like a weapon!

Perry Mason: The Case of the Baited Hook (1957) Season 1, Episode 14

Sass Appeal

[10/10 · 13 May 2022]

SPOILER ALERT Here's a Perry where the killer is as lovable as she is winning! She's also the star of this show! (One of six guest star roles.) Well played Geraldine Wall, very well played. And just as very well directed Christian Nyby!

Perry Mason: The Case of the Blind Man's Bluff (1961) Season 4, Episode 19

Another Perfectly Ensembled Episode!

[10/10 · 7 May 2022]

We all know how perfect Mason's main cast fits together, but the show also had a very fit ensemble of perfectly played guest stars. Same with the writers and directors, most who frequently flew with Perry. In this case it was director Arthur Marks, whose dynamic life gets duly praised in this episode's comprehensibly enjoyable IMDb bio. What great fun! Keen too! Whoever wrote it - Thank You!

The Big Combo (1955)

Gritty Keen Noir

[9/10 · 23 March 2022]

This gritty keen noir is as brusque as it is rough -- in script, in setting and in character. It's also a brutally honest picture of a lean, mean urban America. Watch and watch again.

Perry Mason: The Case of the Married Moonlighter (1958) Season 2, Episode 7

Poignant AND Delightful

[10/10 · 31 January 2022]

Another delightful episode from one of TV's greatest ensembles -- Tragg, Burger, Street & Drake play perfectly off and with Perry, as always. It was keen to quote Luke Hickey's (Jessie White) confession on the IMDb page too. Up till that point he was just a lughead; then we witness a truly caring and decent -- and now broken -- man. White was spot on!

Perry Mason: The Case of the Malicious Mariner (1961) Season 5, Episode 4

Crate 'em Up!

[10/10 · 31 March 2021]

The stack of crates seen dockside when Perry gets the ticket are marked Claver Collection Rio de Janeiro, which is the name and coordinates of the art collection that was reportedly torched in The Case of the Torrid Tapestry (Season 4 Episode 23).