Lynnette Mettey Movies

The plot of this 90-minute (Quincy, M.E.) episode gets under way when a human bone, found at the excavation site for a new college building, is given to medical examiner (and temporary forensics teacher) Quincy (Jack Klugman) as a joke. But it is no laughing matter when, after a little lab work, Quincy determines that the bone was from the body of a murder victim. Much to the dismay of his superiors at the LA County Coroner's Office, Quincy puts his regular duties aside to conduct an investigation which may not only determine the identity of the victim, but also solve a 20-year-old murder. The supporting cast includes two future Lou Grant regulars, Linda Kelsey and Jack Bannon. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

A botched robbery provides the basis of this romantic comedy. The caper was performed by three unemployed Vietnam vets desperate for cash. Unfortunately, two of them are captured during the getaway. The third vet continues to flee and stuffs the loot in a convenient mailbox. A dishonest barkeeper and a crazed artist witness this and try to get the money for themselves. The barman needs it to pay back some Mafiosi. The artists find herself attracted to the veteran and so decides to help him get it back from the bartender. The two succeed and then board an ocean liner, where they bump into the president of the bank the veteran robbed. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

First seen on October 3, 1976, as a component of the rotating crime anthology series The NBC Mystery Movie, Quincy, M.E. starred Jack Klugman as the title character, a one-time private medical practitioner who, after the death of his wife, gave up his profitable practice to become a medical examiner with the Los Angeles County Coroner's Office. Using his vast knowledge of forensic medicine, Quincy (whose first name was never revealed on the series) frequently came up against cases of normal or "accidental" death, or suicide, that he suspected to be murders. Whenever this happened, Quincy went into full detective mode, ruffling the feathers of everyone in any sort of authority, from the police to the D.A.'s office to the medical establishment itself. Contentious and persistent, Quincy never let up until he proved his theories or solved the case at hand, even when facing public censure, the loss of his license or a stiff prison term.

Once the series ceased its sporadic NBC Mystery Movie schedule and became a weekly, one-hour NBC offering in the spring of 1977, Quincy broadened his range of outrage to include suspected cases of child abuse, drug and/or alcohol addiction brought about by flaws in the bureaucracy, governmental red tape, incompetent doctors, corrupt politicians, shifty lawyers, gangland chieftains, and those who would prey on the helpless and infirm in all walks of life. While Quincy's intentions were honorable and his results were often laudatory, he proved to be a major pain in the neck to his superior in the coroner's office, Dr. Robert Astin (John S. Ragin). Originally a pompous, preening obstructionist bureaucrat, Dr. Astin mellowed into an intelligent and avuncular character as the series wore on, and became one of Quincy's closest friends. Another "friendly adversary" was police lieutenant Frank Monahan (Garry Walberg), who frequently found himself both resisting Quincy's intrusions into his territory and welcoming his meticulous detective work and razor sharp deductions. Others in the supporting cast included Robert Ito as Quincy's young and ambitious assistant, Sam Fujiyama; Val Bisoglio as restaurateur Danny Tovo (who owned Quincy's favorite watering hole, Danny's); and Joseph Roman as police sergeant Brill.

Although he lived alone on his personal boat which he kept docked at a marina, Quincy did not want for female companionship. His girlfriend during the series' first two seasons was Lee Potter (Lynnette Mettey); she was followed by a steady stream of lovely ladies, including Dr. Emily Hanover (Anita Gillette), who ended up marrying Quincy after innumerable delays and breakups in the series' final season. Created and produced by Glen A. Larson, Quincy, M.E. remained a popular NBC attraction until its cancellation on September 5, 1983. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The first season of Quincy, M.E. found the series in rotation with three other 90-minute detective series (Columbo, McMillan, McCloud) on the Sunday night anthology The NBC Mystery Movie. Thus, crusading L.A. Coroner's Office medical examiner Quincy (Jack Klugman) appeared in only four episodes during the series' maiden season. In the first, "Go Fight City Hall -- To the Death," Quincy questions the likelihood that a young man arrested for the rape and strangulation of a woman could have actually committed the crime; as a result, he exceeds his authority by heading to the victim's workplace to ferret out the truth. In the next installment, "Who's Who of Neverland," Quincy fights his way through a sea of bureaucratic red tape to perform an autopsy on a alleged alcoholic prostitute who has just finished writing her memoirs -- and who just may have revealed her killer's identity in the manuscript. Donna Mills plays the titular victim in episode three, "A Star is Dead," with Quincy suspecting that the decedent did not commit suicide as the police believe. "Hot Ice, Cold Hearts" finds Quincy saving the life of a poisoned burglar, which leads our hero to an even bigger catch. Fans of Quincy will notice that the title character's superior at the Coroner's Office, Dr. Robert Astin (John S. Ragin), is more a blustery buffoon than he'd be in subsequent seasons, forever throwing pointless and self-serving roadblocks in the path of Quincy's investigations. Conversely, most of the other characters are fully formed from the outset, notably Quincy's eager-beaver assistant, Sam Fujiyama (Robert Ito) and irascible but likable police lieutenant Frank Monahan (Garry Walberg). Quincy's principal lady friend during this season (and the next) is cool blonde Lee Potter, played by Lynnette Mettey. Scoring a huge hit with audiences, Quincy was taken out of the NBC Mystery Movie rotation and given its own weekly, hour-long time slot beginning with its second season -- which commenced less than a month after season one, in February of 1977. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In this episode from the mystery series, Banacek investigates the disappearance of a shady banker who was performing a disappearing act on stage. The had good reason to vanish; the police were about to arrest him for embezzling 1.75 million dollars. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

When a call girl wearing a stolen diamond ring turns up murdered, Kojak (Telly Savalas) begins following the fragmentary clues, the path eventually leading to a gang of upstate bank burglars. At the same time, the gang is preparing a spectacular robbery in Kojak's former jurisdiction--and have set up plenty of diversions to keep the cops from nipping at their heels. This episode features a rare TV appearance by former film star Karen Morley, whose career was all but destroyed by the Hollywood Blacklist. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

All in the Family began its third season with this satirical jab at America's "gun culture." Angered at a television editorial advocating gun control, Archie marches down to the TV station demanding that his voice be heard. Astounded at Archie's thick-eared opinions, station manager Bennett (Sorrell Booke) puts Mr. Bunker on the air to deliver a rambling rebuttal. Archie's 15 minutes of fame attracts the attention of a smooth-talking gentleman (Val Bisoglio) who insists that he agrees with Archie 100 percent -- unfortunately. Lynnette Mettey appears unbilled as Bennett's secretary. Scripted by George Bloom and Don Nicholl from a story by Bloom, "Archie and the Editorial" first aired on September 16, 1972. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The 4077th goes into full mardi gras mode when General Clayton (Herb Voland) unofficially announces that a cease-fire has been declared. The only person who refuses to join in the festivities is Trapper (Wayne Rogers), who suspects that the good news is based upon a highly unreliable source. Meanwhile, Klinger (Jamie Farr) goes on a giveaway spree, while Hawkeye (Alan Alda) tries to weasel out of several promises made to several nurses in the heat of passion. "Cease-Fire" originally aired on March 18, 1973. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Klink's fellow officer Captain Hugo Hauptmann (Sandy Kenyon) is exposed as a traitor. Put on trial, Hauptmann finds that his life is in the hands of Klink, who has been chosen as counsel for the defense on the theory that he will bungle the job. It is up to Hogan to save both Hauptmann and Klink in order to steal a map of German submarine installations. First telecast on February 7, 1971, "Klink for the Defense" was written by Bill Davenport. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Perennial TV villain Monte Markham is up to his old tricks as James Devlin, a ski instructor who moonlights as a bank robber. Planning to pull off his biggest heist thus far, Devlin must first head East to link up with former girlfriend--and potential accomplice--Gilliam Norbury (Jessica Walter). Dogging Devlin's trail is, as always, Inspector Erskine (Efrem Zimbalist Jr.) of the FBI. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide