Arthur Batanides

Who do you send after a gang of stump-dumb crooks? Who else but the most intellectually-challenged police force in America, in the sixth installment of the Police Academy series. The Wilson Heights Gang, three thieves whose success as criminals is in inverse proportion to their outwardly-displayed intelligence and criminal talent, are managing to terrorize the city in spite of themselves. The increasingly feeble Commandant Lassard (George Gaynes) and his much-put-upon second-in-command Capt. Harris (G.W. Bailey) are instructed to bring the crooks to justice; of course, with the Police Academy regulars as their task force, that's much easier said than done. Bubba Smith, Michael Winslow, Leslie Easterbrook, Marion Ramsey, and Bruce Mahler are on hand once again as the comical cops; Peter Bonerz, a former regular on The Bob Newhart Show, stepped in as director. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

In this third installment of the slapstick comedy series about novice police officers with less than dubious abilities, two police academies have to compete with each other in order to stay in business. The state's skinflint governor claims he has less money to spread around, so one of the police training academies is going to be axed. Commandant Lassard (George Gaynes) calls back some of his former recruits to train the new batch of students, hoping to get the edge on the rival academy. Among the newcomers are brassy Cadet Zed (Bobcat Goldthwait), who is a former gang leader, and his roommate Cadet Sweetchuck (Tim Kazurinsky). Sweetchuck is a wimpy noodle whose Clint Eastwood impersonation is one of the film's most honestly funny moments. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide

The opening episode of Quincy, M.E.'s eighth season finds medical examiner Quincy (Jack Klugman in the middle of another sociological dilemma. 14-year-old Ethan Kellough (DeVoreaux White, former member of a vicious street gang called the "Ravnes", is the prime suspect in the drive-by shooting of a child. The powers-that-be demanding Ethan's arrest have also targeted a halfway house for troubled children, run by inner-city activist Rick Dorado (Gregory Sierra), where Ethan is undergoing a rehab program. It is up to Quincy to determine Ethan's guilt or innocence--and, hopefully, to save Dorado's program from being closed down. Anita Gillette, who had appeared in an earlier Quincy episode as the hero's late wife Helen, joins the series' regular cast in the role of psychiatrist Emily Hanover. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

All the experts have declared that it is impossible to rob a safety-deposit vault surrounded by a sophisticated, high-tech alarm system--but that's just what happens. Clearly the heist was the work of a well-trained team, and the cops are able to arrest one of the suspects almost immediately. Chief Ironside (Raymond Burr), however, is certain that the man in custody is innocent...and meanwhile, the actual master thief is working on a plan to seal Ironside's doom! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

After serving 12 years for a crime actually committed by his brother Dmitri Kampacalas (Scott Marlowe), Jason (played by future Starsky and Hutch costar Paul Michael Glaser), is released from prison. Returning home, Jason is secure in the belief that, per agreement, Dimitri has told the truth to their father Cadmus (Nehemiah Persoff),a Greek restauranteur. But Cadmus is still convinced that Jason is guilty--and is grimly unforgiving towards his "jailbird" son. The tragic consequences stemming from this crisis bring Detectives Stone (Karl Malden) and Keller (Michael Douglas) onto the scene. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Actor Phillip Pine wrote, directed and starred in the cautionary Pot! Parents! Police! The story centers on a teenager who goes off the deep end when his beloved pet dies. He falls into the wrong crowd, begins smoking and toking, and disaster follows. The film's depiction of drug use is sketchy, but the point is made. Pot! Parents! Police! could be described as the Reefer Madness of the 1970s, except that it's not bad on its own terms. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

European business tycoon Carl Vandaam (Alf Kjellin) hopes to recoup his lost fortune by building a hydrogen bomb and selling it to the highest bidder. The IMF's mission is to stop Vandaam in his tracks, a strategy that requires Rollin to pose as one of the potential buyers. The more dangerous aspect of the mission is to remove the plutonium from the completed bomb without blowing up everyone and everything in sight. "Doomsday" was written by Laurence Heath; the episode made its network broadcast debut on February 16, 1969. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The "Commandante" in this Mission:Impossible episode is a man named Acero, played by Lawrence Dane. Joining forces with his longtime political foe Major Martillo (Sig Haig), Acero has imprision Father Paolo Dominguin (Arthur Batanides), the leader of a Latin American revolutionary movement. In order to rescue Father Dominguin, the IMF agents must play upon the bitter rivalry between the two villains--a plan that requires Paris to impersonate a Chinese colonel. Written by Laurence Heath, "Commandante" was originally telecast on November 2, 1969. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

While trying to cap a volcano, Don (Mark Goddard) and Dr. Smith (Jonathan Harris) are captured by a band of primeval creatures, who take their orders from a computer named Protinus. As the rest of the Robinson party conduct a search-and-rescue mission, Don and Smith are faced with the Hobson's Choice of either being executed on the spot or dying a slow death as the lava consumes them. In the course of events, Smith saves Don's life, and for one brief shining moment the two longtime antagonists form a warm (if not lasting!) friendship. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Filmed as the first episode of The Andy Griffith Show's fifth season, "Barney's Bloodhound" was not telecast until October 26, 1964, by which time the season was already six weeks old. Hoping to track down an escaped convict (Arthur Banatides), Barney adds a stray bloodhound named Blue to the Mayberry Police Force. Alas, Blue does not respond to Barney's commands-and even worse, the dog develops a strong affection for the fugitive! "Barney's Blodhound" was written by Bill Idelson and Sam Bobrick. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

How did Rob (Dick Van Dyke) end up in jail, charged with gambling and attempted assault? An inquiring mind -- namely, Laura (Mary Tyler Moore) -- wants the whole story. In flashback, Rob recalls his efforts to stave off boredom and loneliness while Laura was out of town. On an impulse, he looked up an old Army buddy, who happened to have a job at a seedy burlesque house...and the rest, as they say, is history. The moral: Rob would have been better off watching Citizen Kane on "The Late Movie." ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the first episode of a two-part story, Saunders (Vic Morrow) and his men attempt to cross over a hill festooned with German soldiers. They have only advanced a few yards when they are captured by Captain Steiner (Richard Basehart), a sadistic SS officer. Herded into Steiner's headquarters, Saunders, the squad, and two other prisoners, Sgt. Akers (Simon Oakland) and Pvt. Gates (Woodrow Parfrey) are ordered to reveal secret Allied information--with the assurance that Steiner "has ways" of making them talk! Featured in a small role is James Sikking, better known in later years as SWAT leader Howard Hunter on Hill Street Blues. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Dick Van Dyke Show executive producer Sheldon Leonard guest stars as Big Max Calvada, a notorious mob figure who has ostensibly gone legit. Approaching the writing staff of "The Alan Brady Show," Big Max offers to pay them an enormous sum to write a nightclub routine for his nephew Kenny (Jack Larson), an aspiring comedian. Alas, Kenny is utterly bereft of talent, but when Rob (Dick Van Dyke) tries to tell this to Big Max, the mobster merely offers even more money for the monologue -- and also drops a few subtle hints that Rob better do what he's asked if he wants to stay healthy! Ultimately, Kenny makes his professional debut, the disastrous results of which lead to a surprising denouement. Best line: "Have you ever seen a man put on a tie to take a shower?" ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide