The F.B.I.: Season 08 (1972) Reviews

The longest-running adventure series on the ABC network, The F.B.I continues to go strong in its eighth season on the air. Returning to the fold are Efrem Zimbalist Jr. as Inspector Lew Erskine, Philip Abbott as Agent Arthur Ward, and William Reynolds as Agent Tom Colby. The season opener, "The Runner", features a guest-star turn by future Spenser for Hire leading man Robert Urich. Other well-known actors appearing this season are Dina Merrill and Daniel J. Travanti in "The Franklin Papers", Ross Martin in "The Wizard", Mark Miller (the father of Penelope Ann Miller) in "Holiday with Terror", Sondra Locke in "Dark Christmas", Martin Sheen in "The Disinherited", Vic Morrow in "Desperate Journey" and Mariette Hartley in "The Double Play". Despite the public's growing disenchantment with governmental agencies in the wake of Vietnam and Watergate, not to mention the recent death of longtime Federal Bureau of Investigation director J. Edgar Hoover, The F.B.I. continued to post decent ratings in its familiar Sunday-night timeslot, ending its eighth season as America's 29th most watched program. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi