It Got By The Censor/In Jokes

[ZelenskyTheValiant (Ivan)]

In the tongue in cheek, season 12 Bonanza episode "The Trouble With Trouble", Hoss is pinch hitting as sheriff in the rough and tumble town of Trouble, California.
At one point his deputy is sitting at his desk and on the wall behind him is a wanted poster:

REWARD $2000
WANTED FOR MAIL ROBBERY
BRONCO LAYNE

The outlaw pictured on the poster is of course actor Ty Hardin, from the Warner Brothers Western "Bronco".
Many Westerns on TV and in the movies had joke Wanted posters featuring writers or directors, family members, actors from competing TV series or even baseball players from the Dodgers.

This episode premiered on October 25, 1970 when Dan Blocker was 42 years old. Tragically he had only 17 more months to live, dying on May 13, 1972 from complications after gallbladder surgery.
Going by Hollywood "Q Scores", at the time of his death Blocker was among the most beloved actors ever as Bonanza had become more than a TV series, a veritable cultural touchstone that was shown
in scores of countries around the world.

I hope you didn't get this in-joke from another one of your in-laws. I hope this one's legit.

Not to worry Ivan. I saw the episode myself tonight and spotted the Wanted poster with Bronco Layne. I always note any kind of list of names, signs in windows, wanted posters etc. as the set
designers put them there for a reason, it isn't random.
99% of the time it's just dressing for what the set is supposed to be but then you have, as in any workplace people who joke around and do things to amuse each other and the cast.
If I worked on a TV series and was told to make up a list of names of international men of mystery who are catnip for the ladies, for Tom Selleck to read out loud as possible suspects,
why not put Ivan and Pahonu at the top, as well as Doc Ibold. Who else, after all?

As for verifying the information I post here almost all are items I found myself. I don't fully trust imdh, I have found quite a number of errors there over the years.
When I watch the Hawaiian Eye episodes, the beguiling Connie Stevens will sing a song as she does in most every episode and if I don't know it's title I look it up on imdh.
A few times they cited the wrong song title.
There used to be a site online about 20 years ago where people traded "easter eggs" and in jokes and such, but I left as it started getting deeply weird.
One of them, from Turkey, noted that if you used the frame by frame advance on your VCR tape, on a specific episode of McHales Navy where Captain Binghampton is in his shorts,
his John Thomas makes an unbilled appearance. Okayyyy.
They must have a lot of time on their hands in Ankara, I think I will scratch Turkey from my bucket list.
"I could just scream"...Captain Wallace Binghampton(Joe Flynn)
I don't blame you Wally.

Loved your Ankara story. Gotta be careful with them easter eggs.

[Luther's nephew Dobie]

FCC Chairman Newton Minow famously termed television a "vast wasteland" during a 1961 hearing before Congress.
The proud king of lowbrows, TV producer Sherwood Schwartz, took offense.

He had his revenge two years later when he created the pilot for Gilligan's Island(which no doubt even now is perplexing alien civilizations monitoring earth signals).

In the opening montage is the beached, now ineffectual S.S. Minnow, which Schwartz named as a comment on and payback to Chairman Minow.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Have Gun Will Travel's Paladin to sore loser:

"No one forces a man to gamble. He comes to the table with his eyes open and he's expected to honor his losses immediately."
Paladin cites Sophocles: "A wise gamester takes the dice as they fall and pays down quietly, rather than grumble at his luck."

Ancient Jersey wisdom: If you can't figure out who the mark is at a poker game, it's you.

[Pahonu]

FCC Chairman Newton Minow famously termed television a "vast wasteland" during a 1961 hearing before Congress.
The proud king of lowbrows, TV producer Sherwood Schwartz, took offense.

He had his revenge two years later when he created the pilot for Gilligan's Island(which no doubt even now is perplexing alien civilizations monitoring earth signals).

In the opening montage is the beached, now ineffectual S.S. Minnow, which Schwartz named as a comment on and payback to Chairman Minow.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Have Gun Will Travel's Paladin to sore loser:

"No one forces a man to gamble. He comes to the table with his eyes open and he's expected to honor his losses immediately."
Paladin cites Sophocles: "A wise gamester takes the dice as they fall and pays down quietly, rather than grumble at his luck."

Ancient Jersey wisdom: If you can't figure out who the mark is at a poker game, it's you.

Another great story! I did know about this, but I’m certain many had no idea.

Also, your ancient Jersey wisdom was used in The Rockford Files.

[Chris109]

FCC Chairman Newton Minow famously termed television a "vast wasteland" during a 1961 hearing before Congress.
The proud king of lowbrows, TV producer Sherwood Schwartz, took offense.

He had his revenge two years later when he created the pilot for Gilligan's Island(which no doubt even now is perplexing alien civilizations monitoring earth signals).

In the opening montage is the beached, now ineffectual S.S. Minnow, which Schwartz named as a comment on and payback to Chairman Minow.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Have Gun Will Travel's Paladin to sore loser:

"No one forces a man to gamble. He comes to the table with his eyes open and he's expected to honor his losses immediately."
Paladin cites Sophocles: "A wise gamester takes the dice as they fall and pays down quietly, rather than grumble at his luck."

Ancient Jersey wisdom: If you can't figure out who the mark is at a poker game, it's you.

Don't you mean 'historical documents'?

[Chris109]

FCC Chairman Newton Minow famously termed television a "vast wasteland" during a 1961 hearing before Congress.
The proud king of lowbrows, TV producer Sherwood Schwartz, took offense.

He had his revenge two years later when he created the pilot for Gilligan's Island(which no doubt even now is perplexing alien civilizations monitoring earth signals).

In the opening montage is the beached, now ineffectual S.S. Minnow, which Schwartz named as a comment on and payback to Chairman Minow.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Have Gun Will Travel's Paladin to sore loser:

"No one forces a man to gamble. He comes to the table with his eyes open and he's expected to honor his losses immediately."
Paladin cites Sophocles: "A wise gamester takes the dice as they fall and pays down quietly, rather than grumble at his luck."

Ancient Jersey wisdom: If you can't figure out who the mark is at a poker game, it's you.

[Luther's nephew Dobie]

FCC Chairman Newton Minow famously termed television a "vast wasteland" during a 1961 hearing before Congress.
The proud king of lowbrows, TV producer Sherwood Schwartz, took offense.

He had his revenge two years later when he created the pilot for Gilligan's Island(which no doubt even now is perplexing alien civilizations monitoring earth signals).

In the opening montage is the beached, now ineffectual S.S. Minnow, which Schwartz named as a comment on and payback to Chairman Minow.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Have Gun Will Travel's Paladin to sore loser:

"No one forces a man to gamble. He comes to the table with his eyes open and he's expected to honor his losses immediately."
Paladin cites Sophocles: "A wise gamester takes the dice as they fall and pays down quietly, rather than grumble at his luck."

Ancient Jersey wisdom: If you can't figure out who the mark is at a poker game, it's you.

Another great story! I did know about this, but I’m certain many had no idea.
Also, your ancient Jersey wisdom was used in The Rockford Files.

Pahonu,
Right you are, courtesy of Jersey Boy David "Sopranos" Chase. Chase was trying to 'class up the joint' by giving the California set Rockford Files some Jersey elan and style.
Along similar lines, I understand UCLA is changing it's name to Rutgers West and the Baywatch remake will be titled "Newark Bay".

[Luther's nephew Dobie]

FCC Chairman Newton Minow famously termed television a "vast wasteland" during a 1961 hearing before Congress.
The proud king of lowbrows, TV producer Sherwood Schwartz, took offense.

He had his revenge two years later when he created the pilot for Gilligan's Island(which no doubt even now is perplexing alien civilizations monitoring earth signals).

In the opening montage is the beached, now ineffectual S.S. Minnow, which Schwartz named as a comment on and payback to Chairman Minow.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Have Gun Will Travel's Paladin to sore loser:

"No one forces a man to gamble. He comes to the table with his eyes open and he's expected to honor his losses immediately."
Paladin cites Sophocles: "A wise gamester takes the dice as they fall and pays down quietly, rather than grumble at his luck."

Ancient Jersey wisdom: If you can't figure out who the mark is at a poker game, it's you.

I heard that Mattel is giving Barbie's boyfriend a make over, he's now a homeless Jersey guy, Hobo Ken.

[Luther's nephew Dobie]

The last episode of the Ted Danson starring "Becker" featured not one but three in jokes.

1) The title, "DNR" was an ironic comment on the series being canceled. It's a medical acronym for Do Not Resuscitate.
2) Becker escorts a woman out of his office who is loudly proclaiming she is friends with the president and has slept overnight in the White House.
3) When Becker replies "sure you did" she calls him names and stomps off, Becker remarking "I pity the poor bastard that's married to her".

The unbilled actress was played by Danson's real life wife, movie star and Arkansas native Mary Steenburgen, who for decades really was friends
with the 42nd president and his family.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Fat, drunk, and stupid is no way to go through life, son."
- Dean Wormer (John Vernon)
National Lampoon's Animal House (1978)

[Luther's nephew Dobie]

My Three Sons season 5 episode 6. "One of Our Moose Is Missing" (1964)

On a Cub Scout camping trip Steve Douglas gets lost in the woods and like Lassie's owner Timmy, falls down a well and has to be rescued.
Afterwards the other adult along on the trip tells Chip Douglas -
"You know if your father had helped Lewis & Clark find the North West Passage they'd have discovered Burmuda instead."

Fred MacMurray played Meriwether Lewis in 1955's "Far Horizons" with Charleton Heston as William Clark.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Nash Bridges Season 2 Episode 12 - "25 Hours of Christmas"
This episode features a treat for all Springsteen fans and denizens from the Swamps of Jersey.
Bruce Springsteen's sax player in the E Street Band, Clarence Clemons, has a cameo as a street guy.
In exchange for Joe getting his sax out of the police property room, "Big Barri" - Clemons - agrees to supply Joe four hard to find tires for Nash's Cuda.
The episode ends with Joe in a Santa suit fronting a band, Clemons wailing on the sax, doing the classic E Street Band version of " Santa Claus Is Coming
to Town".

Any car cuckoos out there should check out the 1971 Hemi Cuda convertible (painted Curious Yellow) Nash drove during the series, one of the all time great cars.
Only ten or so Hemi Cuda's were ever made and are highly sought after, so beautiful they are akin to a work of Art.
The truth is 3 regular Barracudas were brilliantly modified to 'portray' the Cuda, as the originals are worth so much it would have been crazy to use one on a
action series with the car being involved in chases, shot at, etc.
Don Johnson kept one of the 3 "fakes" after the series was canceled, selling it at auction for $148,500 two years later in 2003. All three of the fakes are prized
because of their connection to the series, so much so their owners prefer to keep their identities and the cars locations secret.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Chances are slim and none and Slim just rode out of town"...from a Gary Cooper Western, I have forgotten which, but it's a great line to drop in a conversation.

[Luther's nephew Dobie]

In the eighth episode of season two of the Bob Newhart sitcom "Bob" titled "Better to Have Loved and Flossed", Bob Newhart's dentist has abandoned him in the chair mid procedure and fled the
room as his wife confronts him over his cheating with his dental hygienist.
A panicked Bob cries out

"Is there another dentist in the office who can fix a couple of crowns?"

Peter Bonerz who portrayed the dentist Jerry on the Bob Newhart Show(listed in the credits here as Jerry the Dentist) strides in and reassures Bob that

"I'll be, uh, with you in a second."

Bob ran just two seasons - 33 episodes - and was a victim of terrible scheduling by CBS despite a cast that included Betty White.

[Pahonu]

FCC Chairman Newton Minow famously termed television a "vast wasteland" during a 1961 hearing before Congress.
The proud king of lowbrows, TV producer Sherwood Schwartz, took offense.

He had his revenge two years later when he created the pilot for Gilligan's Island(which no doubt even now is perplexing alien civilizations monitoring earth signals).

In the opening montage is the beached, now ineffectual S.S. Minnow, which Schwartz named as a comment on and payback to Chairman Minow.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Have Gun Will Travel's Paladin to sore loser:

"No one forces a man to gamble. He comes to the table with his eyes open and he's expected to honor his losses immediately."
Paladin cites Sophocles: "A wise gamester takes the dice as they fall and pays down quietly, rather than grumble at his luck."

Ancient Jersey wisdom: If you can't figure out who the mark is at a poker game, it's you.

Another great story! I did know about this, but I’m certain many had no idea.
Also, your ancient Jersey wisdom was used in The Rockford Files.

Pahonu,
Right you are, courtesy of Jersey Boy David "Sopranos" Chase. Chase was trying to 'class up the joint' by giving the California set Rockford Files some Jersey elan and style.
Along similar lines, I understand UCLA is changing it's name to Rutgers West and the Baywatch remake will be titled "Newark Bay".

Hey Dobie,
I offer my apologies on missing this hilarious response with “Jersey elan”, “Rutgers West”, and “Newark Bay”!

[Luther's nephew Dobie]

FCC Chairman Newton Minow famously termed television a "vast wasteland" during a 1961 hearing before Congress.
The proud king of lowbrows, TV producer Sherwood Schwartz, took offense.

He had his revenge two years later when he created the pilot for Gilligan's Island(which no doubt even now is perplexing alien civilizations monitoring earth signals).

In the opening montage is the beached, now ineffectual S.S. Minnow, which Schwartz named as a comment on and payback to Chairman Minow.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Have Gun Will Travel's Paladin to sore loser:

"No one forces a man to gamble. He comes to the table with his eyes open and he's expected to honor his losses immediately."
Paladin cites Sophocles: "A wise gamester takes the dice as they fall and pays down quietly, rather than grumble at his luck."

Ancient Jersey wisdom: If you can't figure out who the mark is at a poker game, it's you.

Another great story! I did know about this, but I’m certain many had no idea.
Also, your ancient Jersey wisdom was used in The Rockford Files.

Pahonu,
Right you are, courtesy of Jersey Boy David "Sopranos" Chase. Chase was trying to 'class up the joint' by giving the California set Rockford Files some Jersey elan and style.
Along similar lines, I understand UCLA is changing it's name to Rutgers West and the Baywatch remake will be titled "Newark Bay".

Hey Dobie,
I offer my apologies on missing this hilarious response with “Jersey elan”, “Rutgers West”, and “Newark Bay”!

Yo Pahonu,
Fuggedaboudid, thanks for the kind words.
Actually I'm a native of the Golden Bear Republic, born in Sonoma - but Jersey raised - so I only kid about California with tongue planted firmly in cheek.
Always had a great time on visits, Dodger Stadium, Universal Studios(Beaver Cleaver's house was a big kick to see), went to see Carson, Hollywood Bowl, happened to go past the
soon to be torn down Dino's of 77 Sunset Strip fame. I love LA.
However the morning we were leaving our Pasadena motel armed cops were raiding the room directly across the courtyard.
We thought the motel had looked nice when we pulled in, but directly under my bed was a big hole in the wall with a rat trap in front that I didn't see till morning.
Throw in the police raid and you can keep Pasadena, little old lady and all.

Anyway:
In the season one, episode 10 of Mannix, titled "Coffin for a Clown", ex Bowery Boy Gabe Dell guest stars. At one point sultry Diana Muldaur angrily sends Mannix on his way with a
nonsensical censored version of a once common 1940's insult that today goes over everyone's head:
"I'd hand you your hat but you didn't come in with one."

The line is really "I'd shit in your hat but you didn't come in with one." Personally I'd think twice before laying that on Joe Mannix.

[ZelenskyTheValiant (Ivan)]

FCC Chairman Newton Minow famously termed television a "vast wasteland" during a 1961 hearing before Congress.
The proud king of lowbrows, TV producer Sherwood Schwartz, took offense.

He had his revenge two years later when he created the pilot for Gilligan's Island(which no doubt even now is perplexing alien civilizations monitoring earth signals).

In the opening montage is the beached, now ineffectual S.S. Minnow, which Schwartz named as a comment on and payback to Chairman Minow.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Have Gun Will Travel's Paladin to sore loser:

"No one forces a man to gamble. He comes to the table with his eyes open and he's expected to honor his losses immediately."
Paladin cites Sophocles: "A wise gamester takes the dice as they fall and pays down quietly, rather than grumble at his luck."

Ancient Jersey wisdom: If you can't figure out who the mark is at a poker game, it's you.

Another great story! I did know about this, but I’m certain many had no idea.
Also, your ancient Jersey wisdom was used in The Rockford Files.

Pahonu,
Right you are, courtesy of Jersey Boy David "Sopranos" Chase. Chase was trying to 'class up the joint' by giving the California set Rockford Files some Jersey elan and style.
Along similar lines, I understand UCLA is changing it's name to Rutgers West and the Baywatch remake will be titled "Newark Bay".

Hey Dobie,
I offer my apologies on missing this hilarious response with “Jersey elan”, “Rutgers West”, and “Newark Bay”!

Yo Pahonu,
Fuggedaboudid, thanks for the kind words.
Actually I'm a native of the Golden Bear Republic, born in Sonoma - but Jersey raised - so I only kid about California with tongue planted firmly in cheek.
Always had a great time on visits, Dodger Stadium, Universal Studios(Beaver Cleaver's house was a big kick to see), went to see Carson, Hollywood Bowl, happened to go past the
soon to be torn down Dino's of 77 Sunset Strip fame. I love LA.
However the morning we were leaving our Pasadena motel armed cops were raiding the room directly across the courtyard.
We thought the motel had looked nice when we pulled in, but directly under my bed was a big hole in the wall with a rat trap in front that I didn't see till morning.
Throw in the police raid and you can keep Pasadena, little old lady and all.

Anyway:
In the season one, episode 10 of Mannix, titled "Coffin for a Clown", ex Bowery Boy Gabe Dell guest stars. At one point sultry Diana Muldaur angrily sends Mannix on his way with a
nonsensical censored version of a once common 1940's insult that today goes over everyone's head:
"I'd hand you your hat but you didn't come in with one."

The line is really "I'd shit in your hat but you didn't come in with one." Personally I'd think twice before laying that on Joe Mannix.

I just finished season 1 of MANNIX a few weeks ago. It only took me a few years. I started the series a few years back and somewhere along the middle of season 1 got sidetracked by other stuff. Didn't return to pick up where I left off until this summer. It's a fine show which I enjoyed a great deal. I understand the show only gets better going forward, with Joe Mannix working solo and not for the high-tech Intertect corporation. I have seen the later episodes here and there (the Joe flying solo + Peggy episodes) and enjoyed them a great deal as well. 3 episodes in particular that I must point out can hang high with some of the best episodes of any 70s TV detective/cop series. "The Silent Cry" opens the second season with a deaf-mute witness to a crime (played by a real-life deaf-mute actress), "Cold Trail" has some great skiing action on the slopes along with a kidnapping and car chase that can rival any big-screen car chase of the 70s, and "The Empty Tower" has Joe and Bill Bixby trapped by criminals in an empty building on a Sunday, with a great twist at the end and a shocking fall from a great height (basically this episode is a precursor to the classic DIE HARD).

I look forward to seeing more of this fine detective series. Of course I've already seen a few of the episodes where Joe faces an old Korean War buddy from the past who comes back as a psycho to kill Mannix. I think this plot line is a running gag in this series. How many of these psychos did he serve with??? The other running gag is Joe always coming across some sleepy unfriendly town which seems to be harboring some secret. Season 1 had one ("Huntdown") and I've read that there are dozens more like this one. Which is fine by me because I've always liked that type of story. Also I saw the one where Joe's car breaks down in the middle of nowhere and he stumbles onto a hideaway for killers/assassins. Frank Langella and John Hillerman are baddies in that one. That was also an excellent later episode.

[Luther's nephew Dobie]

In the season one, episode 10 of Mannix, titled "Coffin for a Clown", ex Bowery Boy Gabe Dell guest stars. At one point sultry Diana Muldaur angrily
sends Mannix on his way with a nonsensical censored version of a once common 1940's insult that today goes over everyone's head:
"I'd hand you your hat but you didn't come in with one."
The line is really "I'd shit in your hat but you didn't come in with one." Personally I'd think twice before laying that on Joe Mannix.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ZelenskyTheValiant (Ivan) wrote:
I just finished season 1 of MANNIX a few weeks ago. It only took me a few years. I started the series a few years back and somewhere along the middle of season 1 got sidetracked by other stuff. Didn't return to pick up where I left off until this summer. It's a fine show which I enjoyed a great deal. I understand the show only gets better going forward, with Joe Mannix working solo and not for the high-tech Intertect corporation. I have seen the later episodes here and there (the Joe flying solo + Peggy episodes) and enjoyed them a great deal as well. 3 episodes in particular that I must point out can hang high with some of the best episodes of any 70s TV detective/cop series. "The Silent Cry" opens the second season with a deaf-mute witness to a crime (played by a real-life deaf-mute actress), "Cold Trail" has some great skiing action on the slopes along with a kidnapping and car chase that can rival any big-screen car chase of the 70s, and "The Empty Tower" has Joe and Bill Bixby trapped by criminals in an empty building on a Sunday, with a great twist at the end and a shocking fall from a great height (basically this episode is a precursor to the classic DIE HARD).

I look forward to seeing more of this fine detective series. Of course I've already seen a few of the episodes where Joe faces an old Korean War buddy from the past who comes back as a psycho to kill Mannix. I think this plot line is a running gag in this series. How many of these psychos did he serve with??? The other running gag is Joe always coming across some sleepy unfriendly town which seems to be harboring some secret. Season 1 had one ("Huntdown") and I've read that there are dozens more like this one. Which is fine by me because I've always liked that type of story. Also I saw the one where Joe's car breaks down in the middle of nowhere and he stumbles onto a hideaway for killers/assassins. Frank Langella and John Hillerman are baddies in that one. That was also an excellent later episode.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hi Ivan,
LOL! I forgot about Joe's squad being recruited exclusively from the people renting rooms at the Bates Motel. To be fair, though the producers kept recycling that story line they were good episodes.
And I think you nailed 3 of the 10 best episodes with the absolutely great "The Silent Cry", "Cold Trail" and "The Empty Tower" with one of my favorite actors Bill Bixby, who could do drama
and comedy and magic and who was also a excellent director. I too liked "Silent Target" and thought John Hillerman overshadowed Langella in the acting department.
Hillerman also played a hitman in the Mannix episode "Search for a Dead Man".
On reflection as to "The Silent Cry" being among the best episodes of 70's TV detective shows, there is so much to like about it I have to agree. In fact I rate it as the best Mannix.
We need Mannix maven Little Garwood to return and put his two cents in. He went on Walkabout before and eventually returned, hopefully he will again.
I always suspected he was a professional writer in the TV/movies sphere going by the jargon he used.

[ZelenskyTheValiant (Ivan)]

In the season one, episode 10 of Mannix, titled "Coffin for a Clown", ex Bowery Boy Gabe Dell guest stars. At one point sultry Diana Muldaur angrily
sends Mannix on his way with a nonsensical censored version of a once common 1940's insult that today goes over everyone's head:
"I'd hand you your hat but you didn't come in with one."
The line is really "I'd shit in your hat but you didn't come in with one." Personally I'd think twice before laying that on Joe Mannix.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ZelenskyTheValiant (Ivan) wrote:
I just finished season 1 of MANNIX a few weeks ago. It only took me a few years. I started the series a few years back and somewhere along the middle of season 1 got sidetracked by other stuff. Didn't return to pick up where I left off until this summer. It's a fine show which I enjoyed a great deal. I understand the show only gets better going forward, with Joe Mannix working solo and not for the high-tech Intertect corporation. I have seen the later episodes here and there (the Joe flying solo + Peggy episodes) and enjoyed them a great deal as well. 3 episodes in particular that I must point out can hang high with some of the best episodes of any 70s TV detective/cop series. "The Silent Cry" opens the second season with a deaf-mute witness to a crime (played by a real-life deaf-mute actress), "Cold Trail" has some great skiing action on the slopes along with a kidnapping and car chase that can rival any big-screen car chase of the 70s, and "The Empty Tower" has Joe and Bill Bixby trapped by criminals in an empty building on a Sunday, with a great twist at the end and a shocking fall from a great height (basically this episode is a precursor to the classic DIE HARD).

I look forward to seeing more of this fine detective series. Of course I've already seen a few of the episodes where Joe faces an old Korean War buddy from the past who comes back as a psycho to kill Mannix. I think this plot line is a running gag in this series. How many of these psychos did he serve with??? The other running gag is Joe always coming across some sleepy unfriendly town which seems to be harboring some secret. Season 1 had one ("Huntdown") and I've read that there are dozens more like this one. Which is fine by me because I've always liked that type of story. Also I saw the one where Joe's car breaks down in the middle of nowhere and he stumbles onto a hideaway for killers/assassins. Frank Langella and John Hillerman are baddies in that one. That was also an excellent later episode.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hi Ivan,
LOL! I forgot about Joe's squad being recruited exclusively from the people renting rooms at the Bates Motel. To be fair, though the producers kept recycling that story line they were good episodes.
And I think you nailed 3 of the 10 best episodes with the absolutely great "The Silent Cry", "Cold Trail" and "The Empty Tower" with one of my favorite actors Bill Bixby, who could do drama
and comedy and magic and who was also a excellent director. I too liked "Silent Target" and thought John Hillerman overshadowed Langella in the acting department.
Hillerman also played a hitman in the Mannix episode "Search for a Dead Man".
On reflection as to "The Silent Cry" being among the best episodes of 70's TV detective shows, there is so much to like about it I have to agree. In fact I rate it as the best Mannix.
We need Mannix maven Little Garwood to return and put his two cents in. He went on Walkabout before and eventually returned, hopefully he will again.
I always suspected he was a professional writer in the TV/movies sphere going by the jargon he used.

Yep, I agree that the recycled stories of Mannix's former psycho war comrades were pretty good, especially the season 6 episode with Clu Gulager. He was VERY creepy in that one! Especially with half his face hidden in shadows and that maniacal cackle. It's like a mix of Two-Face and the Joker. The other 2 I remember were played by Steve Ihnat and Darren McGavin. Ihnat had Joe go through some kind of labyrinthine pipe in some abandoned building (the details are foggy now) and McGavin was some kind of weirdo karate expert which I think was more comical than creepy.

I agree that Little Garwood should return. I also made the earlier post over on the Mannix thread https://magnum-mania.com/Forum/viewtopi ... 924#p76924 where Garwood was a regular poster. Not sure where he is now. Last I recall he was going through CANNON and posting on that thread. That's another show I need to check out some day. Lots of great detective/cop shows in the 70s!