I tend to write POSITIVE reviews but, while Mannix and cannon were great shows, especially the former, Barnaby Jones was just a God awful mess of a show. I've nothing against the late actor Buddy Epson, but to put a man born around the turn of the century (around 1900) in an "Crime-Action, P. I. role (running even in 1980) like MANNIX or Magnum (IOW, such roles are more appropriate for one...in their 30s-40s or even in their 50s (provided their still fit/good shape) makes sense. Buddy was damn near his 80s (hell, he was already old in the Beverly hillbillies years, years before the show) and it's EXCRUCIATINGLY PAINFUL & even COMICAL at times to see him "fighting" or "man-handling" guys HALF HIS AGE!?!? I half expected to see him chasing really physically fit crooks (anywhere b/t 25-49) on a Scooter 🛵 or a Walker!!" "U come back here U Young Whipper Snappers!!" I Suspect he had to say at some point! LOL!
Look, I'm NOT trying to offend ANYONE, I PROMISE (heck, I'm in my mid 40s, myself; born a couple-ish years B4 1980 so...) I am in no way making fun of elderly people. My point is, there are certain roles, namely action crime shows like Mannix or Magnum where, in order for it to be believable, the private eye/detective physically needs to have the capability to chase crooks and not with a walker!! It just COMPLETELY TRIVIALIZED this show; so much so that @ times (namely "action scenes" - of the few episodes I've ever seen), the end-result was that it seemed to make light/actually make fun of Buddy Epson!! I mean, come on, how many 30 year old crooks are actually going even listen to a skinny, elderly, almost 80 year old man much less be "subdued by him!?! LOL!!!!
Again, I thought Buddy Ebsen was great in the Beverly hillbillies as the role suited him perfectly. This role was just tragically SAD! And while Lee Meriwether was and is a great actress even in this horrible tv series. I will say that Mark Shera was an absolutely horrible actor (@ the moment, I honestly cannot think of a worst actor Ive EVER seen in my life!!! To that end, when he was added to the show it was the last, proverbial "nail" needed to close this Casket!
Even CANNON was great! And despite his large weight which the producers routinely made use of it (it did not bother William Cannon considering the incredibly large amount of money he was making for CANNON; an admission by his own words and a interview I saw). POINT IS: despite his girth, William Conrad, I believe, was around 48 or 49 when he began CANNON. While not "young-young," 49is STILL PLENTY YOUNG ENOUGH to "believe in his physical ability - ESP his "prowess"/size to intimidate and subdue the bad guys.
U can easily consider people like the legend Tom Brady physically playing pro-football in his mid-40s (45 to be exact this summer 2022) or even actor Tom Cruise who, incredibly has "pulled off" Action Roles despite being 59. Even so, w/ him soon turning 60, ANY Action Roles - as "Time Marches On," Will become less and less believable as he's basically in his 60s now. I know he's made great efforts to try and turn back the clock but this next decade will prove more difficult as it would for anybody in this world. So, to see Buddy Ebsen running around if you can call it that that nearly 80 years old chasing young crooks is both comical and sad and the show's "Lead" was completely miscast!!! RIP Buddy Epson (U had some great credits to ur name; Barnaby Jones, though, was not among them).
Note: YES, i'm very aware of the show won a couple of awards but I suspect they were given more out of pity than actual believability. Again, and I'm only making this point so you'll see where I'm coming from...imagine a skinny, stiff (corpse-like, seriously!), 80 year old man chasing young criminals around and ALWAYS succeeding!?! Seriously People?!?!? 😂🤣
Look, I'm NOT trying to offend ANYONE, I PROMISE (heck, I'm in my mid 40s, myself; born a couple-ish years B4 1980 so...) I am in no way making fun of elderly people. My point is, there are certain roles, namely action crime shows like Mannix or Magnum where, in order for it to be believable, the private eye/detective physically needs to have the capability to chase crooks and not with a walker!! It just COMPLETELY TRIVIALIZED this show; so much so that @ times (namely "action scenes" - of the few episodes I've ever seen), the end-result was that it seemed to make light/actually make fun of Buddy Epson!! I mean, come on, how many 30 year old crooks are actually going even listen to a skinny, elderly, almost 80 year old man much less be "subdued by him!?! LOL!!!!
Again, I thought Buddy Ebsen was great in the Beverly hillbillies as the role suited him perfectly. This role was just tragically SAD! And while Lee Meriwether was and is a great actress even in this horrible tv series. I will say that Mark Shera was an absolutely horrible actor (@ the moment, I honestly cannot think of a worst actor Ive EVER seen in my life!!! To that end, when he was added to the show it was the last, proverbial "nail" needed to close this Casket!
Even CANNON was great! And despite his large weight which the producers routinely made use of it (it did not bother William Cannon considering the incredibly large amount of money he was making for CANNON; an admission by his own words and a interview I saw). POINT IS: despite his girth, William Conrad, I believe, was around 48 or 49 when he began CANNON. While not "young-young," 49is STILL PLENTY YOUNG ENOUGH to "believe in his physical ability - ESP his "prowess"/size to intimidate and subdue the bad guys.
U can easily consider people like the legend Tom Brady physically playing pro-football in his mid-40s (45 to be exact this summer 2022) or even actor Tom Cruise who, incredibly has "pulled off" Action Roles despite being 59. Even so, w/ him soon turning 60, ANY Action Roles - as "Time Marches On," Will become less and less believable as he's basically in his 60s now. I know he's made great efforts to try and turn back the clock but this next decade will prove more difficult as it would for anybody in this world. So, to see Buddy Ebsen running around if you can call it that that nearly 80 years old chasing young crooks is both comical and sad and the show's "Lead" was completely miscast!!! RIP Buddy Epson (U had some great credits to ur name; Barnaby Jones, though, was not among them).
Note: YES, i'm very aware of the show won a couple of awards but I suspect they were given more out of pity than actual believability. Again, and I'm only making this point so you'll see where I'm coming from...imagine a skinny, stiff (corpse-like, seriously!), 80 year old man chasing young criminals around and ALWAYS succeeding!?! Seriously People?!?!? 😂🤣