User Reviews

I don't really have a review except I really wanted to do an amalgamation of all these individual elements. So let me craft a review now:

Reed needs to grow a pair and tell his wife "No more PB/B sandwiches please, I can't stomach one more." The truth is, she forgot the most important: a drizzle of honey on top! That's how I used to eat mine 20+ years ago, but open faced because I can't eat all that bread!

The old man was really cute! Well, the actor playing him played him cute. It was so sad and then I was so happy when he found himself an age-appropriate girlfriend, that was too sweet! Like an open-faced PB/banana and honey sandwich.

The Memaid guy? Honestly, they should have spelled it "Mermed" to make it more believable that that was his name. The 70's should have been the perfect era to have a mermaid TV show. How come they didn't!?

The tank guy was nothing remarkable and then I liked the old guy at the end with the suit and the accent and then they pull away and they're on a dead end street, in the middle of a nowhere void. Wow. I wish they'd have shown the old guy and his new lady friend having PB and honey and bananas sandwich. I would go for one myself, except I just ate and there's 3 B's I don't eat: bread, bananas and butter than comes from peanuts. Because you shouldn't steal, in reverse order, squirrel food, monkey food or horse food. (Who eats bread? Horses yeah?)

So I guess I am removing a star for the lack of end romance scene between the cute old folks. Maybe they made it on the Love Boat? Cross-continuation-over of sorts? That would have been tops. Now excuse me, the 2nd Adam-12 is on. (How come they only 23 min long??) The end.

This one of the late Stephen Cannell's earliest TV credits, and the first he wrote for A-12 - and its a beaut! This HAD to have been the script which got him the story editor job for A-12's fourth, and best season.

It's classic Cannell, with humor that is never forced - a rarity in Mark IV productions - tight plotting, and great characterizations, even for the 'walk ons'. Plus that little touch of - what else to call it - goofiness that will show up in almost all of Cannell's future work; i.e., the guy who drives a tank around L.A. as his vehicle. Another plus is that Universal and/or Mark IV seems to have picked up on this, and gave director Nyby a couple of extra shooting dollars, as there are no obvious back lot scenes, and Nyby gets a couple of really nice shots in - especially the shot at the end pulling back from the unfinished ramp.

It would have been interesting to see what Cannell could have done with DRAGNET 6X....

Buddy Sorrell (from "The Dick Van Dyke Show") chooses a lousy time to move to Los Angeles. An even lousier time to own a Printing Press. And an even lousierest time to become a Mermaid. "Mermaid" is actually this character's last name. But now hold on a moment. We all know that the end credits of every episode of "Adam-12" informs viewers that the story we have just seen is true. But also that the names have been changed to protect the innocent. So what was the real name of the real guy who had his printing press stolen? Possibly something even more bizarre than "Mermaid"?

There's fun to be had concerning Peanut Butter and Banana sandwiches which Reed's wife keeps packing him for lunch. He literally can't stomach them anymore. Reed begs Malloy to swap lunches with him. Too bad he didn't just think to use the sandwiches to whip at bad guys during a potential footchase.

Then too, maybe Reed could use the PB&B sandwiches to whip at army tanks rolling down the streets of L. A. That'll stop 'em! The scene with the street-safe tank is amusing. Especially when you consider - True Story.

In a future 6th season episode of the series, Officer Pete Malloy will go on a tirade, shouting at a "Smarter-Than-Though" Rookie Police Officer. That rookie, during a supposed bank heist, will take one look at the "harmless old man" bank robber, and look at Malloy like Malloy is nuts for screaming at the rookie, gun drawn, to "TAKE HIM!" The moral here being, as a cop, never trust anyone in a police-involved situation like this. That harmless old man may have a gun hidden with which he'll put a bullet through the head of an unsuspecting rookie cop.

I write all of the above because here in this episode, seasoned-Officer Malloy happens upon what he deems to be a harmless old man who Malloy knows has weapons. Malloy then proceeds to turn his back on the old man - several times. Luckily, no bullets are put through the head of an unsuspecting, seasoned cop. Maybe Reed reported Malloy's hapless disregard of police procedure to Sergeant MacDonald - later, off screen. Therefore Malloy learns his lesson and knows to yell at that Rookie several seasons of the show later.

There is some cuteness to the storyline with this old man. Malloy and Reed (and the episode itself) take considerable time helping the old guy. This includes preventing him getting killed by a building wrecking ball. They also find him not only a new place to live, but a gorgeous elderly babe with whom to spend the supposed rest of his life.

The episode concludes with what might be the best filmed car chase of the entire series. There's some incredible cinematography here which includes an under-construction (not yet open) freeway. It's actually a Squad Car vs. Old Cargo Van chase, which brings back the stolen printing press storyline from the top of the episode. This is some absolutely beautiful stuff here. Lots of fun. The concluding shot is quite simply, amazing. And on a TV series budget!