Mannix is Coming! (All things Mannix w/spoilers) (1 Viewer)

[Blimpoy06]

Glad you're enjoying Mannix, Ben. I'm nearing the end of the series with my viewing. I only have five episodes left. Bill Bixby starts to direct at the end of the run. He even appears in "The Empty Tower". A story with several similarities to Die Hard. I'll say this much about the show as a whole since I'm almost done, it's one of the most consistent shows I've every seen that ran for 8 seasons. The years 2 thru 8 are only distinguishable by Connors' sideburns and the car he drives. I like the Camero in Season 8. Kind of a Rockford vibe.

 

[benbess]

Glad you're enjoying Mannix, Ben. I'm nearing the end of the series with my viewing. I only have five episodes left. Bill Bixby starts to direct at the end of the run. He even appears in "The Empty Tower". A story with several similarities to Die Hard. I'll say this much about the show as a whole since I'm almost done, it's one of the most consistent shows I've every seen that ran for 8 seasons. The years 2 thru 8 are only distinguishable by Connors' sideburns and the car he drives. I like the Camero in Season 8. Kind of a Rockford vibe.

Glad to hear it keeps up the quality! I skipped the first season, even though I hear there were good episodes, because I just didn't like the premise. But that means I still have 4 full seasons and c. 100 episodes to go.

Anyway, my latest two episodes were both a lot of fun.

4.22, "The Color of Murder," has as the guest star the one and only Diane Keaton. I've been a fan of hers since 1977, and she's great and quite charismatic in this one. Keaton moves all the way from ditzy to dramatic in this one. The plot is maybe a bit tangled, but it has all the classic Mannix ingredients.

4.23, "Shadow Play," has as the the guest star Julie Gregg, who was also in "The Godfather." Another winner imho.

 

[Blimpoy06]

I skipped the first season, even though I hear there were good episodes, because I just didn't like the premise.

I've said this on here before, and I'll say it again. You are really missing out on some great TV by skipping the first season of Mannix. And here is a little secret about the Intertect premise: The writers didn't like it or know how to use computers to solve crime either. For the most part they are put down or ignored entirely. Once Joe Mannix leaves his boss, Lew, and the office it's just like a season two or later show. Maybe even better because the time spent on each show under Desilu was more than Paramount would allow once they took over. "The Name is Mannix" pilot has some of the best stunt and chase camera work ever put on film for TV is the 60's. Give it a chance and you may be surprised at how many of the Mannix traits you enjoy were there on day one.

 

[benbess]

I've said this on here before, and I'll say it again. You are really missing out on some great TV by skipping the first season of Mannix. And here is a little secret about the Intertect premise: The writers didn't like it or know how to use computers to solve crime either. For the most part they are put down or ignored entirely. Once Joe Mannix leaves his boss, Lew, and the office it's just like a season two or later show. Maybe even better because the time spent on each show under Desilu was more than Paramount would allow once they took over. "The Name is Mannix" pilot has some of the best stunt and chase camera work ever put on film for TV is the 60's. Give it a chance and you may be surprised at how many of the Mannix traits you enjoy were there on day one.

Well, with that recommendation I'll try to go back to the first season at some point. Thanks.

 

[Harry-N]

Why did they not bring up Mike Connors?! After all, he was the linchpin of one of CBS' great series of the past (that being Mannix), and as such, he deserved to be brought up, just as Barbara Hale and MTM were brought up.

Upon further investigation, it appears that the forbidden subject of politics may have been involved. That's all I'll say on the matter.

 

[benbess]

"Overkill" (4.24) was another good episode—and one with a special and surprising appeal for me. The final shootout in Overkill takes place in a very small amusement park that once existed in the LA area (Buena Park, which is a bit North of Santa Ana) called the "Japanese Village and Deer Park." Japanese Village opened in 1967, and a couple of years later, when I was 4 years old, I was there with my family—and I got lost. I was petting a deer or something, and lost track of my family. I wandered around for several minutes, until finally a nice man took me to the lost and found. There I was looked after by the Japanese Geisha women of the park, who were very kind and gave me some crackers and apple juice, and made a fuss over me. It was very pleasant! My family meanwhile was wandering around the park getting worried, until they finally came to the front of the park and found me there in a back room. Anyway, this tiny park closed in 1975, and was long ago forgotten by almost everyone, but it's preserved and presented in this Mannix episode. Talk about a trip down memory lane....

 

[benbess]

Cold Trail (5.02) was almost like a mini James Bond episode. It was one of my favorites of the show so far. I've only been skiing a few times in my life, but had fun, and it was great seeing Mannix having fun while skiing quite well in this episode. The stunt driving on his episode was really impressive—or scary and maybe even a little bit reckless, depending on your pov. One skid out in particular near a cliff had me rather worried, even if it was c. 47 years too late. Anyway, they were working hard in front of and behind the cameras to give us some good entertainment back in 1971 when this one was made, and it still works imho.

 

[Doug Wallen]

S. 3 Ep. 21 - Fly Little One

A respected doctor at a school for emotionally disturbed children is murdered during the theft of $150,000 in bearer bonds that were to be a donation to the school. Joe Mannix is hired by an insurance company to try to recover the bonds. In the process, he meets one of the doctor's former patients, a nine-year old girl named Dana who lives partly in a fantasy world involving Peter Pan and Wendy.

Pamelyn Ferdin (A Boy Named Charlie Brown, The Beguiled), Lawrence Dane, Woodrow Parfrey (Joesy Wales), Julie Gregg (Banyon), Ward Wood

An emotionally disturded girl who knows more than she appears and who only will speak with Mannix over health care personnel made for an interesting story. With the exception of Mannix being "skilled" with this, a pretty decent effort. Guest cast is uniformly excellent.

 

[Doug Wallen]

S. 3 Ep. 22 - The Seach for Darrell Andrews

Wes Tully, a private detective who is a friend of Joe Mannix, is killed by two men who carefully stage his death to look like an accidental drowning. But Tully had confided in Mannix that he might be killed because of a case he was working on, and that his death would be made to look like an accident. Believing that his friend was murdered, Mannix retrieves some important evidence from the case Tully was working on -- but that only prompts the men who killed Tully to threaten Peggy and Toby in order to get that evidence back.

Dana Elcar (MacGuyver), Harry Townes (multiple episodes of The Fugitive), Robert Pine (CHiPs), Van Williams (The Green Hornet)

Nice episode using an attack on Mannix from two sides. Always nice to see the paternal side of Mannix towards Peggy and Toby. Nice introduction to the cabin. Good to see that Toby likes to fish. The final reveal might have been surprising when originally aired, guess I'm to jaded now - was not a huge "twist".

 

[Doug Wallen]

S.3 Ep. 23 - Murder Revisited

A controversial television interviewer telephones a shadowy figure named Harry Armitage for the "hot seat" segment of his show, accusing Armitage of bribery and influence peddling. As he speaks to Armitage on live television, shots ring out and Armitage is later found dead in his apartment. A woman named Muriel Price is found running from the scene, and her gun is determined to be the murder weapon. Joe Mannix, who had just been hired by Armitage before his death, is then hired by Muriel's twin sister, Valerie, to try to prove that her sister is innocent.

Don DeFore (Hazel), Arlene Martel (Star Trek, The Outer Limits), Joshua Bryant (M*A*S*H)

Another fine visit with Lt. Malcolm. How can you miss when you have Arlene Martel guesting??? She plays a dual role (double the lusciousness). And Mr. B from Hazel!!! Well written and acted story. Solution straight out of Columbo, but the use of technology to solve the crime is something I have a soft spot for. I really liked this one.

 

[Doug Wallen]

S. 3. Ep. 24 -War of Nerves

A young woman who has entered a county fair competition in a rural community north of Los Angeles disappears, and her wealthy father hires Joe Mannix to look for her. As Mannix begins his investigation, everyone he interviews claims that the woman never arrived in town. Then everyone -- the police, the town council, and even his hotel clerk -- suddenly seem interested only in having Mannix leave town as quickly as possible. Mannix learns, however, that they are all frightened by an extortion plot that involves not only the missing woman, but a threat to every person in the town.

Hugh Beaumont (Leave It to Beaver), Mort Mills, Paul Picerni, Alan Baxter, Jon Lormer

A missing girl caper that goes in a totally unexpected direction. A nice episode that kept me guessing. Took me a while to place Ward Cleaver. Good to see him again.

 

[Doug Wallen]

S. 3 Ep. 25 - Once Upon A Saturday (Last new episode of Season 3)

Joe Mannix is visited by an old friend, Beverly Miller, a life-long worker in the carnival world, whose dream of owning her own carnival is threatened when there are several attempts on her life. Mannix visits the carnival on a Saturday as Beverly prepares it for its opening day, to see if he can learn whether someone is indeed trying to kill her. He also brings along Peggy and her son Toby, to atone for bringing Peggy into the office on her day off. Mannix finds that many of the "carny" workers are uncooperative because they deem his presence to be bad luck. And the "accidents" continue, even with Mannix on the scene.

Bethel Leslie (The Doctors), Michael Conrad (Hill St. Blues), Pamela Bellwood (Dynasty), Barbara Rhoades (Shakiest Gun In The West), Gordon Jump (WKRP in Cincinatti), Ward Wood

Supporting appearance from Lt. Malcolm. Not the best episode to end the season on. Not bad, but unrequited love is such a cliched motivation, especially if you want to draw someone to you. Great guest cast keeps the episode watchable. Ok idea, well acted, episode just seems by the numbers.

Ready for season 4.

 

[Doug Wallen]

Watched a few episodes this weekend. Diving into season 4.

S. 4. Ep. 1 - A Ticket To the Eclipse

The niece of Ray Endicott, one of the soldiers from Joe Mannix' old unit in Korea, is murdered in her apartment, and a lighter found there links the killing to another member of the unit, Tommy Gantt, who once dated the girl. But Mannix isn't convinced of Gantt's guilt, and begins to believe that the real killer is yet another former member of the unit -- who may be taking revenge on his former comrades one by one.

Darren McGavin (Night Stalker, A Christmas Story), Dane Clark (3 appearances in Mannix as Lt. Deegan), Paul Mantee (Robinson Crusoe on Mars)

Once again the cabin makes an appearance and Toby still wants to fish for trout. Good payoff for the "B" story, with the villain making friends with Toby. McGavin plays "psycho" very convincingly (parallel bars and horse not so much - obvious double). I was very engaged by this particular story. Nice callback to the Intertect days (also in the opening) by showcasing Joe's karate ability. The ending was very "poetic?" Surprised that Toby was allowed to see the aftermath. A very entertaining episode.

 

[Doug Wallen]

S. 4. Ep. 2 - One For The Lady

On his way to visit a potential client in an office building late at night, Mannix surprises a burglar in a jewelry store. The burglar is killed in a shootout, but the police investigation suggests not only that Mannix did not kill the man in self-defense, but that he stole some of the jewelry. With his license suspended and his finances dwindling, Mannix is tempted to accept an offer to be the bodyguard of a reputed mobster's widow.

Lt. Tobias alert!

Jo Van Fleet, Robert Reed, Jack Carter (Shameless, Ren&Stimpy - voice), David Sheiner (Blue Thunder), James B. Sikking (Hill St. Blues)

What a great episode. From the opening moments, this episode is not what you think it is. That is the best thing, as a viewer you are always guessing - and probably getting it wrong. I was so glad to view this one and see that my expectations were just off. A great twist that still has me thanking the writers for keeping me off balance. Definitely the best episode of the six I have recently screened.

 

[Doug Wallen]

Finished the first disc:
S4. Ep. 3 - Time Out of Mind

Sonny Carter, once a world-champion boxer, has been accused of killing a man who sometimes hung around the boxing arenas trying to fix fights. Sonny's aunt calls her old friend, Peggy, to ask if Joe Mannix will try to find Sonny, who has disappeared. Mannix agrees to look into the matter, but he gets attacked by some thugs who tell him to stop his investigation. The other problem for Mannix is Sonny himself, who would rather flee than face the police investigation.

Brock Peters (To Kill A Mockingbird, ST: Deep Space Nine), Kim Hamilton (To Kill A Mockingbird), Philip Pine, George Tobias (Bewitched), A Martinez (The Cowboys, L. A. Law)

Lt. Malcolm alert!

An okay story. The acting talent is there, the story is just so-so to me. Nothing really stands out. Not bad, just not totally engaging.

 

[Doug Wallen]

S. 4. Ep. 4 - Figures In A Landscape

Someone has been making threatening telephone calls to Joe Mannix, and this mysterious person begins to take shots at him, too -- one of which cuts down Joe's friend Barry Nolan, who runs the photography shop across from Joe's office. That incident brings Joe into a chance encounter with renowned magazine photographer Jill Packard, who eventually begins a friendship with him. But Joe begins to suspect that there's more to the threats than someone who just has a grudge against him, when one of the shots nearly hits Jill, too.

Loretta Swit (M*A*S*H, S.O.B.), Jason Wingreen (Archie Bunker's Place, Matlock), Victor French (Little House, Highway to Heaven)

Lt. Malcolm alert!

Like the last episode, just sorta coasting along. Good guest cast, compelling opening but just to easy to figure out. Maybe it was different when it aired, just seems so predictable on today's viewing.

Heres hoping things pick up on the next disc.

 

[Doug Wallen]

S.4 Ep. 5 - The Mouse that Died

Mannix is hired by the sister of Geoffrey Paradine, a college student who has disappeared. As the episode opens, Mannix is taken off the case because she claims to have found him. Then she admits that although Paradine has contacted her, she believes that her brother is still in trouble. But as he continues to search for Paradine, Mannix starts to have strange hallucinations -- the first symptoms that someone has poisoned Mannix with a slow-acting toxin that will eventually kill him unless an antidote can be found.

Hugh Beaumont (Leave it to Beaver), Douglas Henderson (Wild Wild West), Richard Bull (Little House on the Prairie, Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea), Ward Wood, Robert Ito (Quincy, M.E.), Bill Quinn (The Rifleman)

Lt. Malcolm alert!

Shades of D.O.A.!!! Interesting to see Joe in his drugged out, hallucination phase. Some of thos scenes were extremely trippy. After it was clear he was poisoned I began enjoying those scenes. Makeup was excellent showing his descent to death and his performance accented the makeup. Great performance by Mike Connors. Mannix is one tough detective to keep going as he did. I hope the rest on this disc are just as entertaining. Excellent episode.

 

[Doug Wallen]

S. 4 Ep. 6 - The Lost Art of Dying

A group of prisoners on death row in a prison near Lawson City stage a takeover, taking as a hostage a guard named Charlie Keefer, who is a friend of Joe Mannix. The prisoners demand that Mannix come to see them, where they tell Mannix that one of their number, Carl Dancik, is innocent, and that they want Mannix to re-open his case. Dancik was convicted of the murder of an old girlfriend, but claims he was framed for the crime.

Alex Dreier, Ramon Bieri, Richard van Fleet, Julie Parrish, Val Avery, William Wintersole

A veritable who's who of familiar faces rounding out the cast of a better than average "classic" storyline. The wrongful imprisonment story begins with a prison takeover with one purpose, to get Mannix to help a framed inmate. Doesn't seem at all a likely reason to stage a riot, but this is episodic television in the 70's. After the somewhat questionable beginning, the story does have some very interesting takes as well as the unusual use of showing phone calls by overlaying the caller into the scene. I liked the frame story, just not the setup.

 

[Doug Wallen]

S. 4 Ep. 7 - The Other Game In Town

Victor Brady, a leader in the electronics business, runs up a gambling debt of nearly $250,000 to a Las Vegas casino. Brady's private plane disappears from the radar on its way back to Los Angeles, but after his memorial service, his widow hires Joe Mannix to look for him, claiming that her husband is still alive and contacting her for help in raising the money to pay the casino. His investigation leads Mannix to that casino and the assorted people who work for it and who knew Victor Brady.

Martine Beswick (One Million Years B.C.), Leslie Parrish (Star Trek), Rich Little (The Kopykats), Alan Bergmann, Don Dubbins, Charles Picerni, Ward Wood

Lt. Malcolm alert!!!

I actually remember watching this one originally. I believe that I was intrigued since Rich Little was going to be appearing as an impressionist. I remember Mannix at the end, "Do Victor Brady."

Upon the revisit, the episode is ok, not enough Little for me and the story seems rather average. I will give it credit for sparking the 13 year old me who was tickled to watch his first episode of Mannix. After that exposure, I tried to see more episodes and became a fan of the show. This was only possible if that is what my father wanted to watch. We just had one tv and my father had control. Good times with us all setting around the big 19 inch b/w tv as a family (wishing we had a bigger color console ).

 

[Doug Wallen]

S 4. Ep. 8 - The World Between

Peggy is shot by a stray bullet when Joe grapples with a gunman who has come to the office to steal evidence from one of Joe's cases. While she recuperates in the hospital, she finds herself strongly attracted to the patient across the hall, who is staying in the hospital under an assumed name. She eventually discovers that he is the seriously ill head of a recently-independent African country -- and that the reason for his being incognito is that his political enemies hope that he will not survive his medical treatment.

Hari Rhodes (Daktari, Conquest for the Planet of the Apes), Ford Rainey, Scottie MacGregor (Little House on the Prairie), Albert Popwell (Dirty Harry films)

Peggy injured puts her in the hospital where she can experience "love" and go through all of it stages over a multiple day hospital stay that stretches the bounds of medical necessity. We all know she won't be leaving Joe, even as she displays anger at her temporary replacement. the rest just follows standard "doomed relationship" beats. Not a poorly acted episode, just not a very compelling story (although I did like the Aunts giving the potential husband a good going over).