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50th Anniversary Viewing (Part 1)
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Hawaii Five-O
"Rest in Peace, Somebody"
Originally aired November 16, 1971
Wiki said:
McGarrett receives calls from a man threatening to kill someone in 51 hours and the only clue as to the identity of the victim is a key.
The episode opens with Steve opening the office, picking up the mail to find an envelope with a key in it. He promptly gets a call about it from someone who addresses him by his first name and has the voice of Norm Alden; the caller says its door belongs to the person he's going to kill, and directs McGarrett to a letter sent to reporter Eddie Sherman (self) at the
Advertiser, which Sherman reads to Steve on the phone. This in turn directs McGarrett to one of his own desk drawers, where he finds an otherwise empty photo album with stenciled messages indicating that photos will be arriving and noting "51 hours". Danno comes in with the first photo, left in his car. Steve plays a recording of the phone threat to kill the key-owner back to Danno for a dramatic cut to the credits...as if we hadn't just heard it without all the hoopla. Kono comes in with a letter left in his fridge; and Chin identifies Danno's photo as being of his own garage...where he and Steve head to cautiously open the door. Chin notices nothing unusual, but Steve sees a message sprayed on the ceiling indicating a false clue, and Chin learns that a threatening letter was left with his wife.
Prints on the album lead Kono to a George Kamani (Thomas Leslie Jr.), who sells the albums. Another call points to Danno's car trunk, where they find dead fish and a taunting message about the smell. Another taunting message is left with Sherman. Danno goes to the kiosk of a Joe Mona (Clarence Aina), who made the key and is blind, but is able to provide useful details. The vendor's surname also matches the name that the caller has been signing his letters with. Steve heads for a conference room where he's supposed to be meeting with a state senate budget appropriations committee, and gets a taunting call...it's all about the taunting. Dr. Kamekona (Danny Kamekona, whose character is billed as Dr. Rosenstadt, though the other name is spoken multiple times) consults Five-O about the psychology of the caller; he feels that the caller is sincere in his threat, and notes his outspoken hostility to Steve and motivation to outfox him. When the office is unoccupied for the night, an shadowy figure leaves a letter on Steve's desk with a trail of red paint leading to it. The trail leads downstairs and outside to another set of stairs up to...the governor's office, which the key fits.
The threatened time fits the governor's participation in the Kamehameha Day parade. (Didn't we already have an episode in which the governor was threatened on Kamehameha Day?) Steve wants him to go home where he can be protected, but Guv plays the "won't bow to threats" card, so Steve sets some rules that the Big G will have to play by to be protected while on the job. Danno reasons that the key to the caller's motivation is his hostility toward Steve, and that failing to save the governor would be the ultimate high-profile humiliation for him. Steve assigns Danno to cover the governor. Another call expresses a lot of hostility about Steve having kept the matter out of the press, and McGarrett gets the caller to go on a rant about how Steve played judge and is a tin idol. This sparks a memory about a uniformed cop (played by Norm Alden) who hurled that name at him in a boardroom.
Five-O heads to the officer's place and find a matching typewriter and stencils. The officer in question is Bill Cameron, whom Steve proceeds to brief a group of HPD officers about so they can guard the governor. McGarrett explains that Cameron was brought before a board that Steve sat on for roughing up defenseless suspects. The parade commences, with the governor getting heavy security, including officers in SWAT gear, bulletproof glass for reviewing the parade, and a bulletproof vest. Right after a radio check-in, one of the officers guarding the palace is taken out by Cameron, who's dressed in the same gear, and takes his place for the next check-in. The governor is brought downstairs and Cameron opens fire, hitting his target and Kono, only to be quickly shot up from multiple angles himself. Cameron tries to gloat with his last words, but Steve informs him of the vest, and Cameron dies wondering why he did all that if the governor's alive (rather than how he could have made such a rookie oversight). As a wounded by conscious Kono is taken away on a stretcher, Steve ribs him about getting Kamehameha Day off.
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Adam-12
"Anniversary"
Originally aired November 17, 1971
Wiki said:
Sgt. MacDonald's anniversary is coming up and the officers have limited funds to spend on a gift, which is a bottle of champagne, but when the officers pick it up, the owner of the liquor store was shot in an attempted robbery. Malloy and Reed later find the robber dead in a park from a gunshot wound inflicted by the owner. Other incidents include a paralyzed ex-wrestler tearing up a bar, a man driving suspiciously turns out to be the proud owner of several traffic tickets in a 24 hour period, a used car dealer trying to take advantage of a Mexican customer who speaks little English, and two camper thieves pushing a truck with a camper that is too small for the truck bed.
Reed is in charge of finding a gift that costs $28, one for each man on the watch. The officers get a call for a 415 at a bar, where they find a burly man wrecking the joint from a sitting position, who turns out to be in a wheelchair (H.B. Haggerty). He's eager to take on Reed and Malloy with a broken pool cue, but Malloy talks him down with some Fridayesque tough love. The man unloads about how he was a wrestler named Devil Dobish who was crippled by polio. The proprietor (Allen Jenkins) decides not to press charges.
Reed hits upon the idea of getting champagne, so they head to a liquor store where the proprietor, Bernie Goodman (Stubby Kaye), has known Mac since he was a rookie and tries to give the officers a discount on a more expensive bottle, but they won't have it. Goodman congratulates Malloy on his promotion (which was also referenced last week, IIRC).
Back on patrol, the officers find that they're being tailed, so Malloy pulls over and lets the car pass, then follows it and, after determining that there are no wants or warrants on the owner, pulls him over. The driver, Philip Heyes (Jack Sheldon), says he was just staying behind them to avoid making any mistakes, after having his car impounded and getting two tickets since the night before. They explain to him why suspiciously tailing a squad car isn't a good idea.
Next the officers respond to a business dispute at a used car lot. They find Rudolfo Diaz (Pedro Gonzales-Gonzales) trying to get his money back from the proprietor, George Moore (Robert Emhardt), who charged Diaz over $650 for a 15-year-old car, while Diaz thought he was only signing for a security deposit. The officers learn that Moore's secretary, Mina (Inez Pedroza), was the one who called the police, as she didn't want to see Diaz get cheated. Moore agrees to give the deposit back, but fires her. Malloy refers Mina to a bunco detective.
The officers respond to an all-units 211 in their vicinity at the liquor store, where they find that Bernie was shot even though he cooperated...though the attendant of an adjacent gas station, Jim Blackman (Alfred Shelly), thinks that he wounded the suspect. Things don't look good for Bernie as he's wheeled out to the ambulance.
On patrol again, the officers stop for two men trying to push a camper-equipped pickup. Malloy fingers them as thieves because the camper doesn't fit the truck. Mac arrives on the scene to inform them that Bernie's going to make it, and the officers give him his gift.
Finally the officers respond to a call about the body of the liquor store robber having been found in a park. The robber, identified as an 18-year-old, died for $54.
Malloy: That's three dollars for every year of his life.
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The Brady Bunch
"Her Sister's Shadow"
Originally aired November 19, 1971
The most oft-quoted moment of the show has arrived.
Wiki said:
Jan is tired of her teachers constantly comparing her to the popular and successful Marcia. She dumps Marcia's awards in the closet and complains that all she hears is "Marcia this, Marcia that...Marcia, Marcia, Marcia." Jan is thrilled to establish her own successful identity by winning an Honor award for an essay she wrote. When she realizes there is a scoring error and she actually came second, Jan grapples with her conscience and considers keeping secret her discovery. At assembly with her parents in attendance and minutes before the presentation, Jan reveals her discovery to her teacher. The teacher announces the rightful winner, but then praises Jan for being mature and doing the right and honorable thing.
It starts with Jan's teacher Mrs. Watson (Gwen Van Dam) talking about how Marcia was the best student she ever had. Jan goes home with an attitude, clears Marcia's school awards off a bedroom shelf (bet that wasn't there last week), and tosses them on the closet floor. Marcia accuses the boys of pulling a prank, but Cindy finds the awards, and Jan admits to having done it but doesn't want to discuss why. The parents hear her argument with Marcia and take Jan into the den, where she delivers The Line. With lousy timing, Marcia bursts in to tell everyone that she's been made editor of the school newspaper. The folks proceed to encourage Jan to find what she does best and establish her own identity. Jan's first option is to try out as a pom-pom girl...something that Marcia's never been.
Alice tries to make pom-poms from cut-up strips of newspaper, but ends up settling for giving Jan a couple of mop heads to practice with. Marcia is enthusiastic for Jan, but Mike has to reign in her impulse to try to help, though in private Marcia does give Jan some encouraging words, which Jan genuinely appreciates. Marcia watches in the wings as Jan tries out...but Jan doesn't make the squad. When Jan gets home, though, she's excited to break the news that her school essay won the award. Examining her score tally, she realizes that the addition is in error, and she got a 93 rather than a 98. Jan's inner voice tries to tell her to keep her mouth shut...and convinces her to do so on the basis that learning she didn't win would crush the family. At the presentation, Mrs. Watson is taking the mic when Jan runs up and confesses off-mic. The presentation is put off so the winner's parents can be present, and Mrs. Watson praises Jan's honesty on-mic.
Back at home, Cindy complains about now being in her immediately older sister's shadow..."Jan, Jan, Jan."
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The Partridge Family
"The Forty-Year Itch"
Originally aired November 19, 1971
Wiki said:
Shirley's mom and dad are about to split up over his new hip lifestyle, so the family devises a plan to get them back together.
Ray Bolger and Rosemary DeCamp return as Fred and Amanda Renfrew. The teaser's missing, so we commence with Shirley's folks already at the Partridge home in the middle of a spat, which involves Fred wearing a scouting outfit. It's not made clear what's going on or how it connects to Fred attending a party with the older kids in hip clothes, then trying out Danny's scooter. The kids complain to Shirley about how both grandparents are driving them crazy, then come up with the idea of maneuvering them into a reconciliation. In a discussion with Shirley, we learn that Amanda wants Fred to act his age, while he wants to camp out at Big Sur.
Realizing that Grandpa's stalling on actually leaving Grandma, the kids decide to push him into going so he'll have to face the facts, so they throw him a little party to give him going-away gifts. Shirley confronts her father more directly, but he then ends up actually leaving. A montage ensues of Fred hitchhiking to the Love Generation's "Together (Havin' a Ball)". The family happens to be heading in the same direction for a gig, find Fred sleeping on the side of the road, and give him a lift. There's a bit of tension on the bus as Amanda's also along. At the dinner club gig, Shirley performs an old song that she dedicates to her parents, "My Best Girl". Fred and Amanda end up dancing in a spotlight during the song, which Fred finishes singing.
Backstage, Fred and Amanda are united in accusing Shirley of manipulating them, then get into a brief argument, which ends with Amanda agreeing to try going to Big Sur with Fred.
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The Odd Couple
"The Odd Couple Meet Their Host"
Originally aired November 19, 1971
Wiki said:
After Oscar tells funny stories about Felix on The Tonight Show, Felix demands equal airtime to reply.
Felix has David Steinberg (himself) in his studio, making reference to how he subs for regular talk show hosts. David takes a call about getting a discus champion on the show that he's doing and decides that he also wants to get the guy who wrote an article about her--Oscar Madison. Felix promises to get him, but Oscar doesn't want to do it because of stage fright. Felix tries to convince Oscar that he's a funny guy whom the audience will find entertaining. The name of the show isn't mentioned, and the set doesn't look like Johnny's, even back in the day...there's no desk, and David's in a chair between his guests. Oscar freezes up on camera, mumbling rehearsed answers that Felix wrote for him. Trying to save the show, David gets Oscar off on a tangent about Felix, which loosens Oscar up and comes off as a comedy routine...but Felix isn't amused, feeling that he's been humiliated in front of the entire world.
David convinces Felix to come on the show the next night to set things straight, and sends a writer named Harvey Skolnik (Frank Corsentino) to the apartment to get material about Oscar. Oscar sends him out, but David calls Oscar to get him on the show, too. On the show, Felix awkwardly attempts to do rehearsed material about Oscar that doesn't take into account that Oscar is sitting right there. When Felix freezes up entirely, Oscar tries to cover for him by changing the subject...then Felix starts breaking into the
Little Orphan Annie radio show song (set up earlier in the episode as a recurring bit of business between him and David)...which ends up turning into a full-blown performance, loosening Felix up. The guys have David over after the show and all is good between the three of them.
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Perhaps that scathing criticism of a period that the magazine held in high esteem at the time; coupled with the reference to moss growing fat on a rolling stone...
Did he say it was scathing?
Should he need to? For decades, he didn't want to explain the song. Looking it up, apparently he did confirm many of the commonly understood cast in recent years...though interestingly, he says that the reference to the quartet practicing in the park is not about the Beatles. Also, I got a kick out of this bit...
Wiki said:
In 2017, Bob Dylan was asked about how he was referenced in the song. "A jester? Sure, the jester writes songs like 'Masters of War', 'A Hard Rain's a-Gonna Fall', 'It's Alright, Ma' – some jester. I have to think he's talking about somebody else. Ask him."
Translation: "Go away, kid, ya bother me."
RJDiogenes said:
I never really took it that way. Certainly melancholy and perhaps a bit despairing, but he's singing about the response to the trouble, not the trouble itself.
What response? What trouble? His aim seem focused strictly on the artists of the era...with a special level of disdain reserved for Mick.
In any case, he's entitled to his viewpoint and it's an amazing work of art-- I'm not Christian, but I can appreciate The Last Supper.
And I did say that I consider it an epic uber-classic despite its evident intent.
But hey, it gives him a chance to get away from the smoke...not that he ever tries. I think maybe he's addicted to the stuff....