'Choice Cut' is a good, engaging episode that manages to milk sufficient tension from its main premise, as well as constantly keeping up a stream of disarming humour.
Frank has his hands full, as he so often does. He tries to defuse a hostage situation in which troubled Latino teen Hector (Panchito Gomez) and a cohort hole up inside a supermarket meat locker with the butcher and his assistant. This is the main through-line of the episode, although time is made for tensions back at the station house. Fay makes another of her shrill appearances, this time unfortunately in possession of a gun that she thinks Frank gave to their son. The majority of the laughs are derived from the progress made by a side of beef.
Providing the "meat" for this story is the escalating confrontation between Frank and Hector. Lee David Zlotoff (director of the 1996 picture "The Spitfire Grill") wrote the entertaining script, and in the directors' chair is Arnold Laven, a veteran of TV and a couple of features such as "The Monster That Challenged the World". Providing the standout performances are a typically very funny James Sikking as the macho SWAT team captain Howard Hunter, who almost gets his way after he and Frank argue over methodology. Guest star Andrea Marcovicci reprises her role of reporter Cynthia Chase, who tries to politicize the whole incident with Hector.
Once again, it's fun to see Pickpocket (Nick Savage) turn up for another of his routines with the gruff Sgt. Belker.
After all is said and done, you realize what a good man Frank is - not perfect, of course - but a well-meaning and principled lawman who will do his best to stick to his word.
Eight out of 10.
Frank has his hands full, as he so often does. He tries to defuse a hostage situation in which troubled Latino teen Hector (Panchito Gomez) and a cohort hole up inside a supermarket meat locker with the butcher and his assistant. This is the main through-line of the episode, although time is made for tensions back at the station house. Fay makes another of her shrill appearances, this time unfortunately in possession of a gun that she thinks Frank gave to their son. The majority of the laughs are derived from the progress made by a side of beef.
Providing the "meat" for this story is the escalating confrontation between Frank and Hector. Lee David Zlotoff (director of the 1996 picture "The Spitfire Grill") wrote the entertaining script, and in the directors' chair is Arnold Laven, a veteran of TV and a couple of features such as "The Monster That Challenged the World". Providing the standout performances are a typically very funny James Sikking as the macho SWAT team captain Howard Hunter, who almost gets his way after he and Frank argue over methodology. Guest star Andrea Marcovicci reprises her role of reporter Cynthia Chase, who tries to politicize the whole incident with Hector.
Once again, it's fun to see Pickpocket (Nick Savage) turn up for another of his routines with the gruff Sgt. Belker.
After all is said and done, you realize what a good man Frank is - not perfect, of course - but a well-meaning and principled lawman who will do his best to stick to his word.
Eight out of 10.
