LYNNE MARTA LAUGH IN SERIAL
LYNNE MARTA LAUGH IN PLUS
LYNNE MARTA LAUGH IN SERIES

Why wouldn’t he have attempted to attend a single performance? What’s stopping him? The only way I would believe his innocence is if he was actually bedridden, and I kind of wish he’d been written that way, but plausibility does not seem to be on this episode’s agenda. Plus, later on he proudly tells Starsky and Hutch his grandson is a “smash” at the Savoy Theater, and is astonished when Hutch tells him the place has been closed for a year. Doesn’t Gramps listen to the radio, or the television? Doesn’t he get out on the street, talk to people? Surely he’d be curious, or proud enough, to seek out independent collaboration of his grandson’s inherited genius, if only to announce to his next-door neighbor, “my grandson is a star!” Do that, and the illusion crashes to earth pretty fast. From the sound of things, Lionel’s kept this charade going for a long time, building himself up as an actor of some fame. Gramps listens eagerly to his grandson Lionel’s faked newspaper article extolling his “performance” in a non-existent play.

It’s possible Lionel’s accident prematurely ages him, but if not, Gramps must be in his mid-eighties. And, just for continuity’s sake, where is the meat in this sandwich, Lionel Fitzgerald II? And yet he appears at least forty years old.

If we interpret Dobey’s bluster correctly, it seems as if he really does believe there are three individuals out there who belong to, as Hutch sarcastically puts it, “the one-armed strangulation club”.

I just love how Starsky eases his way into getting the witness Monique (a nice performance by Susan Kellerman, and maybe the best guest performance of the episode) to talk by blandly smiling at her, and in that silent moment manages to send this message: I’m on to you, I know who you are and what you do, I can make it easy on you if you cooperate, or hard on you if you don’t, so why not give me what I want so we can both get out of here? It’s a truly marvelous acting moment. Is Starsky alerted to possible trouble because they recognize Baker, the ultra-excitable newbie patrolman who most assuredly will elicit Hutch’s ire, or is Starsky referencing a Bad Mood streak that has been going for some time?

LYNNE MARTA LAUGH IN SERIES

There is, however, a nicely subtle moment when Hutch’s car pulls up to the murder scene, the guys get out, and Starsky murmurs, “be nice, will you?” I love it when you get the feeling the scene has been rolling on for a while before we get to see it, a naturalistic touch the series always gets right. Jacques and another bright performance by Lynne Marta, all the actors, including Glaser and Soul, seem to have taken a double-dose of Nyquil.

LYNNE MARTA LAUGH IN PLUS

There is very little tension, plus major logic problems with the story. I like the idea of focusing on the taxi business, which would be a rich mine of story ideas, but it’s not used to its potential, and the the episode is notable for its lackluster, half-hearted quality. I’m sure it has nothing to do with the fact that “delusional eccentric with a beef against the world” is the easiest motive for a writer to reach for. Is it because Los Angeles is the Mecca for all thwarted, bitter or stubbornly determined wanna-be stars? Probably. This episode emphasizes the series’ fascination with the creepy side of show business in this case, not only the perpetrator but also all the peripheral characters are hungering for stardom. Written By: Anthony Yerkovich, Directed By: Rick Edelstein. Jacques: Philip Michael Thomas, KC McBride: Lynne Marta, Monique: Susan Kellerman, Danny Deveen: Freeman King Carboni: Jerome Guardino, Joe Benson: Bob Basso, Baker: Ric Carrott. Lionel Fitzgerald: Richard Lynch, Gramps: John McLiam, Kingston St.

LYNNE MARTA LAUGH IN SERIAL

Starsky goes undercover as a cabdriver to catch serial killer Fitzgerald who’s murdering cabbies for revenge.

Lynne marta laugh in