LaRue (Kiel Martin in splendidly sleazy form) gets himself in trouble when he takes meddlesome TV reporter Cynthia Chase (nicely played by the lovely Andrea Marcovicci) on a liquor store stakeout. Renko (Charles Haid at his furious best) and Hill (Michael Warren) continue to have problems with each other. Belker (Bruce Weitz) takes Debbie Kaplan (the gorgeous Gela Jacobson) on a fake stakeout as a date. This episode delivers a few very funny and inspired comic moments: Goldblume (Joe Spano) accuses the racist and overzealous Hunter (a delightfully deadpan James B. Sikking) of being a latent homosexual and Renko takes two hookers out to a posh restaurant. Moreover, we also see the beginnings of LaRue's alcoholism and find out that Belker is basically a decent and moral guy underneath his gruff mad dog exterior(Belker refuses to have sex with an aggressively turned-on Debbie because he doesn't know her well enough yet). Director Arnold Laven stages an exciting shoot-out in a liquor store with real skill and aplomb. This episode further benefits from sturdy guest turns by Jeff Seymour as conflicted rookie cop Santini, Panchito Gomez as surly juvenile offender Hector Ruiz, and Rob Berger as twitchy junkie Eddie.
3 Reviews
Reality TV
Hitchcoc7 July 2021
One of the things I appreciated about this show, even as I viewed the first time in the 80's, is that things are never sorted out and finished after one hour. Sometimes innocent people go to jail, sometimes the best laid plans fail, and some people have feet of clay. Even today, however, I don't know how J. D. Larue kept his job. Even after his narrow escape earlier, he doesn't learn squat. How can Washington stand to be around him. I got a kick out of Henry's rant about Howard. No basis whatsoever for his conclusions. Just designed to get his goat. Or is some of it right? I thought the last scene with the boy was the way it had to be. Furillo did everything he could think of but who you know doesn't always get you there. The merchants' vigilante group finally pays a price when the gangs move in on them. I'll be interested to see if this is continued.
"She wants me so bad, it's eating her up inside."
Hey_Sweden4 September 2020
Warning: Spoilers
Frank continues to try to help out troubled teenager Hector (Panchito Gomez), ultimately issuing the youngster an ultimatum. Renko begins acting bizarrely (including taking hookers to eat at a high-class establishment), to the consternation of Hill. LaRue makes the bonehead move of inviting reporter Cynthia Chase (Andrea Marcovicci) along on the stakeout of a liquor store. And Officer Santini (Jeff Seymour) has himself been troubled since the death of his partner, coming to the conclusion that his heart never really was in police work, despite his family's dedication to law enforcement as a career.
This talented ensemble cast is once again a true joy to watch, with especially praise-worthy turns by Seymour, Michael Warren (Hill) and Charles Haid (Renko). Bruce Weitz as Belker again shows a softer side when he is taken aback by what his girlfriend considers a turn-on. There is much humour to enjoy in this episode - for one thing, the irrepressible LaRue who so clearly is lusting after Ms. Chase. Goldblume gives Esterhaus the title book to read, leading to some rather amusing dialogue as Esterhaus offers his opinion. Hunter, of course, is a classic comedy relief character, obnoxious and completely politically incorrect. And yet, the story also has poignancy: Renko is visibly touched when Frank plays a tape that finally allows Renko and Hill some closure. The liquor store stakeout delivers some effective (but not gory) violence when the place unsurprisingly gets held up.
49 minutes of excellent entertainment.
Eight out of 10.
This talented ensemble cast is once again a true joy to watch, with especially praise-worthy turns by Seymour, Michael Warren (Hill) and Charles Haid (Renko). Bruce Weitz as Belker again shows a softer side when he is taken aback by what his girlfriend considers a turn-on. There is much humour to enjoy in this episode - for one thing, the irrepressible LaRue who so clearly is lusting after Ms. Chase. Goldblume gives Esterhaus the title book to read, leading to some rather amusing dialogue as Esterhaus offers his opinion. Hunter, of course, is a classic comedy relief character, obnoxious and completely politically incorrect. And yet, the story also has poignancy: Renko is visibly touched when Frank plays a tape that finally allows Renko and Hill some closure. The liquor store stakeout delivers some effective (but not gory) violence when the place unsurprisingly gets held up.
49 minutes of excellent entertainment.
Eight out of 10.
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