User Reviews

This is JR's episode all the way... and he TOO is saddled friends with lots of problems...

Andrew Parks, in an excellent role, plays another bad twentysomething, this time a thief. He breaks into his ex-girlfriends house, trying to steal a coin collection, and kills her. Basically, a robbery gone way wrong. In the meantime, the other guy she was dating is accused of the murder. Here's the catch --both young men are friends of JR. That is the stunning part, and a story that will definitely keep your attention.

Lots of well known actors here, such as soap opera star Bernard Barrow (as Gordon). Barrow appeared on RYANS HOPE and LOVING. John Karlin plays Easy Eddie (and you have to love that name). Karlin was a hero to all of us kids, playing Willie on DARK SHADOWS for years. Not such a great guy here, though. This may also be one of the best roles for Andrew Parks, son of famous actor Larry Parks. Parks is spot on as the killer. He also has a drug problem, while JR's other pal has a drinking problem?

I agree with the last reviewer, there should have been a bit more attention paid to the addictions of JR's friends. Nevertheless, fine direction from series regular Walter Grauman who did an excellent job with this cast. Great ending between Parks and his father.

JR's classic Mustang is a must see and Karlin's 1930s vintage car.

Partly filmed at beautiful Echo Park, not too far from Dodger Stadium. SEASON 6 EPISODE 15 remastered color. First episode of 1978.

Through the course of "Barnaby Jones", one of the most common plots involves a friend of Betty's being killed, committing a murder or just being in some sort of peril. It's used so often, that I am really surprised Betty had any friends left! Well, in "The Scapegoat", the friend angle is used but it's one of Jedediah's...not Betty's.

When the story begins, Dewey has been on a date and has, once again, drunk too much and has made a fool of himself. She is tired of this and tells him to go home and, after a brief struggle he goes. However, in the home ALREADY is another man...a drug addict who has broken in to steal a valuable coin collection. And, when he's caught, he kills the woman.

Soon after this, you learn that the killer is the son of a famous defense attorney. And the attorney soon realizes what his son has done. But, instead of turning him in to the police, he decides to help his son cover up his part in the killing and instead they work to frame Dewey! And, when Jedediah notices that this lawyer has volunteers to represent Dewey BUT keeps giving him bad advice, his budding lawyer instincts start to tingle.

While I generally liked this episode, I was disappointed how the show seemed to minimize alcoholism and domestic violence. Dewey is clearly a problem drinker...probably an alcoholic...though it's never really addressed. Also, when he's drunk, he is abusive...and this, also, seems to be minimized. Not a completely effective episode as a result.