50th Anniversary Viewing (Part 1)
The Six Million Dollar Man
"The Bionic Badge"
Originally aired February 22, 1976
Wiki said:
Steve poses as a policeman to find who is pilfering atomic weapon components.
The episode opens with radioactive material being stolen from a warehouse, the latest of several such robberies for various components that add up to building an atomic bomb. Oscar suspects Officer Greg Banner (Noah Beery) of being involved, as the burglaries always happened on his beat and he failed to act in each case. The remaining component needed is a transducer, so Oscar assigns Steve to put Banner under close surveillance by suiting up and going undercover as Steve Amory, rookie patrol cop--sans any superficial effort to prevent anyone from recognizing him as the famous astronaut. Cue
X-Ray 50 theme:
Steve learns that Banner's an easygoing widower who's close to retirement. Nobody has to bring up a Code Seven for the unit to be assigned to a daylight burglary at a junkyard. Splitting up to surveil, Steve spots the burglars, bionic jumps in, and reluctantly draws his weapon. One of the burglars sees him and uses a crane to swing an engine block at him, which is like a Kenner toy to Steve, who takes out his assailant by pulling a tarp out from under him as he tries to split on foot. With Steve now unarmed, one of the other three comes at him with a makeshift weapon and is tossed onto the hood of a car, to the sound effect of tweeting birds (which was also used in another recent episode). The remaining two try to get away in their van, which Steve bionic-grabs from behind. Banner claims to have been calling for backup, which Steve verifies didn't happen. At HQ, Banner's tells Steve about his days as a rookie in 1946 and introduces him to attractive RTO Cindy Walker (Susan G. Powell), who's apologetic that she missed Greg's call for backup. (RTO apparently stands for something like Radio Traffic Officer here, though I'm not finding a match online; she's got Shaaron Claridge's job.) Elsewhere, at the bad guys' secret industrial lair, Gerry Martin (Thomas Bellin) is already at work assembling the device, for which Mister Burman (
Alan Bergmann) has a buyer lined up. Burman is called about how Banner's new partner foiled the transducer theft, following which he makes some ominous act-break noise.
Back on patrol, X-50 responds to a 415 juvenile, malicious mischief. Banner wanting to assess before calling for backup, they find a couple of young men assaulting an occupied car with 2x4s, who split and run when the unit arrives. One tries to whack Steve in the leg with his board, which Steve shrugs off to cuff him. When Banner catches up with the other one, he stops himself from drawing his weapon as the young thug pulls a switchblade. Steve watches as Banner calmly and, yes, disarmingly talks him into surrendering. Tells Steve afterward that his honed instinct told him the thug wasn't going to hurt him. Off-duty, Steve tails Greg as he visits a home, and jumps into a tree to see him meeting somebody in a second-story room, but the curtains are quickly closed. While calling in the address to Oscar, Steve expresses doubt that Banner's crooked. Banner's unusually quiet the next day as they drive by the secret lair. Under pressure from his buyer, when Burman hears X-Ray 50 being called to a 211 at a liquor store, he sees an opportunity to have Banner's pesky partner offed. Seeing the robbers getting away at the backlot location, Steve and Banner move in, pursuing them into an alley. Burman makes the scene, armed in a van, but decides he's not needed when Banner takes a shot with his shotgun that barely misses Steve. When Steve confronts Banner, the elder offer seems disoriented and collapses. Steve proceeds to intercept the robbers, pushing a dumpster into them to more cartoon-style chirping. In the aftermath, Banner claims vision trouble.
Steve becomes doubtful of Banner's complicity again when the meeting address turns out to be that of a prominent neurosurgeon. At HQ, Steve questions Cindy, who says she has no knowledge of a medical condition, but acknowledges Banner's reputation for being on the take because of his recent performance. Back on patrol, X-Ray 50 is called to a 211 at a factory. While they're pursuing the getaway van, Greg starts blacking out with his foot pressed down on the accelerator. Steve talks him into letting the wheel go and takes over from the passenger seat, bringing them to a stop. After Banner calls in a Code Six, Cindy listens in via the inadvertently hot mic as Greg admits to having had blackouts during the previous calls, which he tried to cover up because it could ruin his retirement. When Steve learns that Cindy's been complicit in covering up the blackouts, he voices his suspicion of her...upon which she sends out an all-units call claiming that Banner's been attacked by Steve Amory. As Steve's trying to call in via phone, he's cornered by Officer Randolph (Stack Pierce) and his partner, whom he fends off by kicking open a hydrant. As Walker's radio updates continue, Officer Clint's (Mike Santiago) unit, X-Ray 21, closes in on Steve's location.
Steve evades pursuit on foot. Clint thinks he has Steve cornered only to learn that he's now been spotted over a mile away. (This part is one of my vague memories from original broadcast viewing.) Steve unconvincingly disguises his voice while using a callbox to vaguely pose as one of Cindy's accomplices to lure her out of HQ. She calls for relief and Steve tails her in a taxi as she heads to the lair. X-Ray 21 spots Steve following her into the facility, where he bionic-chops through a warehouse wall. While being treated by an ambulance, Banner sets Steve's record straight with Randolph. Steve spies on Walker meeting with Burman as his men carry out the device. When the units converge in on the facility and call for surrender, Steve tears up an internal chain-link fence and wraps it around the bad guys. Banner takes charge of the assembled units, ordering tear gas fired in. Burman activates Chekhov's Detonator, which he established in a previous scene had enough explosive in it to take out the whole building. Steve puts it in a brick forge to contain the blast. Banner comes in wearing a mask to help Steve out of the gas.
In the coda, Greg visits Cindy in custody. She apologetically explains that she did it for money, while he offers to do what he can for her. Steve encourages Greg to stay in the force until retirement as a training officer, having already set up a position for him.
IMDb indicates that three models were used for different shots of the squad car, including the one used on
Adam-12.
Photos:
All in the Family
"Joey's Baptism"
Originally aired February 23, 1976
Frndly said:
After repeated arguments with Mike over Joey being baptized, Archie decides to take matters into his own hands.
Edith comes home from church late because a baby was baptized. Archie suggests that they take Joey to get baptized while they're watching him later that day. By his fuzzy math, the Bunkers have the majority of Joey's blood--three halves to Mike's one half. When Gloria comes over with Joey, Archie takes her aside and tries to claim that Edith wants Joey baptized. Gloria sees through it and counters that Archie doesn't even go to church. He then directly confronts Mike about needing to have Joey's sins cleaned.
Mike: What's he been doing, gurgling four-letter words?
Edith tries to mediate that the rain could be God's way of baptizing.
Archie: [Makes sarcastic noise.] Listen to Billie Jean Graham over here.
The religious argument between Mike and Archie continues, the latter's side being as comically ill-informed as usual.
Mike: Look, Arch, I'll believe in heaven when I get there.
Archie: The day I see you there, I'll worry about where I am.
After the Stivics leave, Archie wants to make his move, insisting he knows what God wants just in time for the window to come down on his head. Physical comedy ensues as Edith snatches Archie's coat and hat and locks them in the closet, refusing to give him the key. After Edith tries to change the subject by going into a rambling description of a movie she wants to watch, Archie attempts to contrive an excuse for an outing that would get him his coat back. While Edith's talking on the phone with a truck driver who's supposed to be picking up clothes that Edith's been collecting for a charity drive, Archie grabs a Yale sweater and baseball cap adorned with the letter B from one of the boxes and slips out the back. Edith subsequently finds Joey's crib gone from the porch (which wasn't any more of a great place to leave a baby unattended then than it is now).
Archie arrives at the church to be surprised by Felcher's assistant, Rev. Chong (Clyde Kusatsu), who's initially happy to help him.
Archie: We need a regular American ceremony. We can't use any dragons or firecrackers.
Chong: [...] I can guarantee you that the certificate won't be in a fortune cookie.
Archie crosses his fingers at church to lie about how the parents want the baptism, but they don't have the time. Chong figures out what's going on and refuses, handing back an attempt at a church donation bribe. Archie sneaks Joey out into the main chamber and addresses God about why he's attempting to perform the ceremony himself.
Archie: Now don't worry, Joey, cuz this ain't gonna make you holler, see, like that other thing they done to ya. [Addressing God] This is Joseph Michael Stivic here, a Christian. Joseph Michael Stivic, I baptize thee in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost.
I hope that took, Lord, cuz...they're gonna kill me when I get home.
Happy Days
"A Sight for Sore Eyes"
Originally aired February 24, 1976
IMDb said:
Fonzie fears that his famous cool will be compromised if he wears the reading glasses prescribed to cure his headaches.
Fonzie is suffering from headaches that occur when he's reading, so he agrees to see Ralph's father, optometrist Mickey Malph (former rural county clerk Jack Dodson)...from whom Ralph gets his style of humor, including Rudy-worthy jokes.
Dr. Malph: Sorry to keep you folks waiting, I accidentally fell into my lens grinder and made a spectacle of myself.
The doctor determines that one of Fonzie's eyes is weaker than the other, and the imbalance is causing the headaches. He prescribes eyedrops until a pair of glasses can be made, which Fonzie will have to wear for a few months. Fonzie is not onboard with this, making the obligatory Clark Kent reference and expressing his fear that people will call him "Four-Eyes Fonzarelli".
After Fonzie's vision causes him to drive his motorcycle into Lake Michigan, he agrees to wear his glasses, but only if he stays in his apartment. Fonzie uses his glasses to drive to an April Fool's dance at Arnold's, but enters not wearing them. In Fonzie's office, Richie--who's been in Chicago at Northwestern--encourages him to face up to the situation and let people accept that he's wearing glasses. When Fonzie takes the stage to announce the winner of the King Fool crown (Potsie for the second year in a row), he engages in a little setup for the audience before donning his glasses, which he declares to be cool, encouraging others who secretly have glasses to do the same (with which Arnold immediately complies).
In the coda, Richie seeks Fonzie's advice about having agreed to take all his vacations with a girl from Texas whom he met in Chicago; but caves to her when she gets him on the phone.
M*A*S*H
"The Interview"
Originally aired February 24, 1976
Season finale
Edited Wiki said:
A news correspondent visits the 4077th to get their feelings about the war.
Notes:
- This episode was filmed in black and white and was the final episode for series developer Larry Gelbart.
- In 1997, TV Guide ranked this episode #80 on its list of the 100 Greatest Episodes.
The episode actually begins with an announcement that "the following is in black and white". The interviewer (Clete Roberts) begins by addressing his audience directly about the subject of his film, citing the 4077th's 97% success rate in saving their patients.
IMDb said:
A questionnaire was given to the cast members and they wrote their own answers for the interviews. Some of the cast's answers were improvised as some of Clete Roberts's questions were not scripted.
An aspect that repeatedly takes me out of the episode is the interviewer's two-camera setup, which keeps cutting to shots of the interviewer during the conversations. It doesn't seem authentic to the type of film that they're trying to emulate.
Hawkeye is portrayed as sensitive (of course) and deeply disturbed by the war. He likens himself to Milton Berle in being a performance artist who provokes disbelief in people as a way of keeping things sane.
Frank, while in more subtle mode than usual, is made to look like an ass even as he tries to make himself look good. He delivers a famous Bunkerism about marriage being the "headstone of American society".
B.J.: When I first came here, I couldn't walk down a corridor of wounded people without being sickened by it, and now I can walk down without even noticing 'em!
Mulcahy describes doctors warming themselves with the steam from patients' opened bodies...something that's told effectively, but that they never would have shown.
We get insight into Potter's command style as he describes how you can't treat conscripted civilian doctors like career military; and attributes the unit's level of performance to this looser disciplinary standard.
Radar expresses empathy for the welfare of the local population and frustration about the unit's limited resources.
Klinger is portrayed as a relatively normal guy for a change, not being seen in drag. And he twice indicates that he has a wife--Is this something we knew at this point? Given the character's usual behavior, it seems like an odd thing to just now be coming up.
Loretta Swit's absence is really noticeable in a segment that has all of the regular male characters, officers and enlisted, praising the nurses. It begs the question of why the interviewer isn't talking to any of the nurses themselves, which would've been a good opportunity to give a recurring actor like Kellye Nakahara more of a spotlight. (IMDb indicates that Swit was doing a Broadway show called
Same Time, Next Year.)
Truman is referenced as the current president (which many previous episodes had already gotten past), but Potter slips solidly into past tense while likening him to Lincoln, in a way that sounds very much like 1970s hindsight. IMDb contributors note some sloppy continuity about the makeup of Potter's immediate family, specifically about whether his married child is a son or a daughter.
Hawkeye: I'd like to take six to seven months and become unconscious, just sleep. Not do anything, not go anyplace, not have anything asked of me. And then I'd like to go to Europe, and sleep there for a year.
The episode ends with a montage of lines from the interviews played over b&w footage of the 4077th at work.
The Bionic Woman
"Claws"
Originally aired February 25, 1976
Peacock said:
Jaime tries valiantly to save the life of a friend's pet lion stalked by irate ranchers.
Jaime invites Katie (Alicia Fleer) to bring in her friend Neil for show and tell--a tamed lion (himself, who's also credited to have appeared on
Emergency!), who responds to Katie's commands. Jaime then brings in the lion's owner and trainer, Susan Victor (Tippi Hedren), who uses a technique called affection training, and whom Katie has been assisting. While Neil rests calmly, the students--including Andrew and Mark in credited speaking roles--are allowed to pet him. Elsewhere, a pair of ranchers, Charlie Keys and Bill Elgin (Jack Kelly and William Schallert), find big cat prints near where a steer has been killed, and Keys is quick to declare that the local lion must be the culprit.
Jaime visits Susan's ranch, where she rides an elephant while Katie feeds a bear. Susan describes how she's struggling to make a living with her expensive hobby, which the local ranchers have issues with, such as blaming Neil's roars for drying up their cows. Jaime doesn't notice the elephant stepping on her foot until Susan freaks out, and then blows it off. When Susan gets a call from New York about appearing on a show, Jaime volunteers to watch the animals with Katie's help while Susan flies out to follow up on it. Something later makes Neil restless, which in turn spooks the elephant, which Jaime has to rein in via its chain, re-staking it into the ground. Then Keys arrives with Elgin (Jim's brother) to accuse Neil of killing the steer. Keys is freaked out to be in the lion's presence, training his rifle on the animal and insisting that it be caged, as Jaime tries to talk him down due to the lion having a history of being triggered by gunfire. Jaime lets Neil stay inside for the night, where she initially has trouble sleeping because of the racket made by a parrot and chimp. After Jaime's out with a pillow over her head, Neil adroitly paws open the door and heads outside. Shots of local cattle freeze on the sound of a growl.
Neil's returns before Jaime wakes up (apparently also knowing how to close the door), and Keys arrives in the morning with the sheriff (Mills Watson) because another steer has been killed. Jaime reluctantly agrees to keep Neil locked in a cage to prove that he isn't the attacker. But when Neil becomes restless again at something that he hears, Katie lets him loose and he escapes into the night. Jaime runs after him, finding him in a wooded area fixated with a burrow. She leads him home and sends Katie back to her family. Later, when Neil gets restless in the barn again, Jaime sees a cougar outside the fence stalking a couple of llamas and scares it off. The next day, Keys doesn't believe her, so Jaime saddles up and rides out to find the wild beast.
Uncle Bill rides out to accompany Jaime, while Keys and another rancher (George D. Wallace), after leaving to get a court order, doubling back to finish the lion off themselves. To make it all seemingly legal, they release Neil so they can shoot him when he gets to Keys's land; though Keys has to fire his gun to get the lion to leave the cage. They tail partway before Keys lets the other rancher out to pursue on foot. Neil has a confrontation with the cougar, and Jaime hears its hissing. She arranges to split from Uncle Bill and bionic hops over rough terrain to take a more direct route. Bill ends up face-to-face with the cougar, which pounces on him and scratches him up. Chekhov scores when a bit of exposition in an earlier scene about a literal gun hanging over the mantle pays off as Jaime bionic-hurls one of Susan's tranq darts into the cougar. The Unknown Rancher catches up, is confronted with the unconscious cougar, and confesses to Keys's plan. Jaime runs out to stop Keys.
Keys catches up with Neil and fires shots, which alert Jaime. As Neil flees into the wilderness, Keys starts to form a posse of available ranchers to go after the lion. A wounded Neil retreats to a barn and is cornered by converging ranchers, whom Katie tries to call off before Jaime arrives. Keys still won't believe Jaime about the cougar until Bill and Rancher X arrive to back her up. Keys is forced to admit being wrong about the cougar, but he and the others still think they should finish off the wounded lion. Bill, who privately hints that he's vaguely aware of Jaime's special abilities, fends them off with his rifle to let Jaime go in and try to calm Neil. Things go pretty rough, with an initially defensive Neil wounding her human arm, while Jaime keeps him at bay with her bionics. Eventually Jaime's courageous efforts pay off as Neil approaches her while she's down and lies beside her. The sheriff arrives and insists on opening the barn, and the ranchers take in the sight of an injured Jaime cuddling with the lion.
Bill: There's your killer.
In the coda, Susan returns, having secured an appearance on the show with Neil, and asks Jaime about her bandaged arm.
The episode would have been a bit more satisfying if Keys had gotten the bionic bitch-slap that he'd more than earned. Yeah, yeah, I know, set an example for us '70s kids...
50th Anniversary Midnight Special
March 5, 1976
Hosted by Helen Reddy
Featured guest: Electric Light Orchestra
"Evil Woman"
"Nightrider"
"Strange Magic"
