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Submitted by: Mr. Mike
From: Vancouver
I have been watching Longmire, a contemporary "western" set in Wyoming. I binge-watched the first five seasons already (there are only 10 or so shows in each season). What is funny, the lead actor is an Australian like Alex O, some guy who is in his mid-50s named Robert Taylor (same name as the famous American actor of the 1930s-1960s in movies and TV shows).
This show is like Five-Zero in the sense that like Hawaii, which you would expect to be a "nice place," you would think Wyoming is kind of nice and ecological, but boring. However, on the show it is a cesspool of vice and corruption, with lots of issues relating to Native Americans, as well as prostitution, drugs, wife-beaters, veterans with PTSD, the Irish Mafia (seriously), money laundering, etc., etc. In other words, more than enough crime to keep the show going for 5 years (the upcoming season, which will be all released on one day by Netflix this month, will reportedly be the last).
Longmire is the sheriff of some small Wyoming town, and has serious issues because his late wife was dying of cancer but was murdered. There are lots of relationship problems with not only him as he tries to adjust to life without her, but also the people who work for him. Longmire is going crazy because he thinks people are out to get him, his daughter ends up working for the local casino, run by guys who he despises, etc., etc.
I thought the first season had a few Five-Zero-like episodes which were kind of crappy, but the show got better as it went along, and there is a real "holy fucking shit" episode in the 4th season...
Added: November 03 2017 07:27:41 AM
Submitted by: Mr. Mike
From: Vancouver
Hi, Davey, of the season three shows, seven have to be updated, but I am probably just going to rearrange the information that is there. I will get around to doing season one some day, but this will involve watching the shows again. This could take a while. I am currently working on finishing the episodes from season four.
Added: October 22 2017 07:18:44 PM
Submitted by: Davey
From: Tucson
Hi. I like the reviews of Streets. I didn't realize it in the 70s, but the overall production is excellent.
Is it possible to update Season 1 and 3 reviews, to include the analysis and rating?
I have all five seasons on DVD and the reviews greatly help to know which episodes are likely to be best to watch.
It seems like the 60s and 70s were the Golden years. I couldn't watch any modern shows for anything at all.
Thank you.
Added: October 22 2017 03:33:21 PM
Submitted by: Mr. Mike
From: Vancouver
There is only one Ironside WWW site that I have been able to track down, http://www.ironside.tv
This site contains an episode guide, but the episode descriptions are very short and have no critical comment. They look like they have been taken from somewhere like TV Guide.
There are also short biographies of Ironside and his team, plus mention of the DVDs. In North America, only the first four seasons have been released. Seasons 5-8 were released in Australia, are difficult to obtain and require a multiregion player if you are in North America.
There is a discussion forum, but it hasn't had any action for at least six years, and there are very few postings.
I don't know why there is so little interest in this site. One possible reason is when you log on to it, depending on which browser you are using, there may be a pop-up relating to the version of Adobe Flash which you are using, which might cause people some concern, because it looks kind of spammy. When I tried to log on to the site just now using Firefox, there were also long delays caused by one of the subsidiary web sites connected with it.
Speaking of Ironside, Elizabeth Baur, who replaced Barbara Anderson on the show and was a featured player from the fifth to the final eighth season, died recently at the age of 69: http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/elizabeth-baur-dead-ironside-actress- was-69-1047822
Added: October 21 2017 07:57:26 AM
Submitted by: Mr. Mike
From: Vancouver
SOSF reviews for season two are now finished:
http://www.thestreetsofsanfrancisco.info/sosf-2.htm
Added: October 20 2017 08:41:53 PM
Submitted by: ringfire211
From: Philadelphia
Daniel, while I don’t necessarily share your opinions on IRONSIDE I agree with you about PERRY MASON. I’ve tried but could never get into the old B&W PERRY MASON, but the newer 2-hour ones in color from the 80s and 90s I absolute love! Just great whodunnit mysteries!!
Added: October 19 2017 12:12:29 PM
Submitted by: Daniel
From: Bellevue, WA
Hi. I was going to ask if anyone had a comprehensive review website about Ironside, but apparently no one here likes it.
While Burr's immense popularity on Perry Mason, sure helped, if you think about it, it is impossible for a show to go 8 seasons on that alone.
It is an excellent show. I have watched every episode of the first four seasons.
Yes, Burr was a fine actor, but it is more than that. Excellent scripts and unique stories, fairly decent cinematography, and a tremendous comraderie, between the four leads. They obviously chose unknowns, because Burr had to be the star, but the friendly nature of all four, really helps the show. While he snaps at them, occasionally, you can see that he really does like them, and you can understand how difficult it is to be disabled. He does many special things for all three, and they eat together, and even live together- a very warm touch to the show. The Support cast is very vital.
Then, of course, stellar guest stars.
About 2-3 episodes per season, are obviously a Perry Mason type, to please the viewers.
Incidentally, I've tried many times, but can never get into Perry Mason, although the later TV movies, were good.
I like Ironside very much.
Added: October 19 2017 07:10:31 AM
Submitted by: Fred
From: Chatsworth
John C. - I love "The Hard Breed". It has an all star list of guest stars in Jim Davis, Harry Carey Jr., Noah Beery and Sam Elliot. It also has a very good plot even if the old man is delusional enough to think he could get the cute cowgirl. I think Mike gave it an appropriate rating.
Added: October 18 2017 04:16:12 PM
Submitted by: John Chergi
From: Pittsburgh PA
The Hard Breed was a SF episode blessed with excellent acting. It reminded me of The Takers plenty of possible suspects. I enjoyed the rodeo scenes Cow Palace and the way Keller & Stone tried to narrow down the perpetrator. Loved when they K&S watched the footage from the ride and the death of the rider. Solid detective work. Hawaii Five O would do a similar episode Requiem For A Saddle Bronc Rider. Enjoyed both episodes. The men & women have a culture and code in that community. Hard-work, determination, adventure, etc. What did others think of The Hard Breed? JC
Added: October 17 2017 02:16:52 AM
Submitted by: Mr. Mike
From: Vancouver
SOSF S02E21 episode "The Hard Breed" -- review
http://www.thestreetsofsanfrancisco.info/sosf-2.htm#21
Added: October 14 2017 05:53:20 AM
Submitted by: Fred
From: Chatsworth
Police Buff is a very good episode. Bixby plays a really good psycho in this and Target Red. Especially when he always plays a goody two shoe character in his series. Like Courtship of Eddie's Father and My Favorite Martian.
Midnight Express theme was very good. Jolting movie. But I can't argue with the others you mention. Superman is awesome. Capricorn One is a personal favorite. Waterston and Brolin, Gould and Vacarro give great performances. I could do without O.J. Music for it was good.
Added: October 13 2017 02:47:31 PM
Submitted by: ringfire211
From: Philadelphia
I know, seriously! Giorgio Moroder over John Williams?? Over Goldsmith?? Gimme a break! Moroder was just a flavor of the month at the time, that’s it. In addition to BOYS FROM BRAZIL, Goldsmith also provided a superb score for CAPRICORN ONE that year. And then of course there’s Williams’ SUPERMAN! Even John Barry provided an excellent score to the otherwise forgettable Bruce Lee film GAME OF DEATH (Lee had long been dead by then). But they go with Moroder??? Umm, ok. :!thinking:
Added: October 13 2017 08:50:16 AM
Submitted by: Mr. Mike
From: Vancouver
Awards shows have been full of stupidities for years. My favorite is the 1979 Oscars, which gave the prize for best Original Music Score to Giorgio Moroder's Midnight Express over Jerry Goldsmith's Boys from Brazil and John Williams' Superman (seriously). (The other two nominees were Dave Grusin's Heaven Can Wait and Morricone's Days of Heaven. The latter included music from Saint-Saëns' Carnival of the Animals.) I think it's probably after that year that I stopped watching the Oscars show!
Added: October 13 2017 06:47:36 AM
Submitted by: ringfire211
From: Philadelphia
Bill Bixby was Emmy nominated for “Police Buff”. It’s a good performance but I could think of a dozen and more performances on Five-O which were more worthy but were never nominated. I mean how did they ever miss Hume Cronyn???? That’s bizarre! The only guest on Five-O to ever get nominated was Helen Hayes, and I’m convinced that had more to do with her high-profile name than her actual performance. I see that a lot on these awards shows.
Added: October 12 2017 07:40:39 PM
Submitted by: John Chergi
From: Pittsburgh PA
Mr. Mike
I'm happy that you reviewed Police Buff Season 4. I would place Police Buff maybe #5 Streets SF episode in the series. Definitely Top 10. A big Bill Bixby fan and he plays his character with perfection. Haven't watched it in several years but I remember he is a Police Buff with his authentic police uniform and takes out criminals. Police Buff won an award or two I remember that. I think The Takers #1 and Mask Of Death #2. Other spots from 3-10 could be argued. I also love the episode Michael Burns plays a killer who gets revenge on the Committee who disbarred his lawyer Father. The kid works at the Law Library. A classic! JC
Added: October 12 2017 06:07:54 PM
Submitted by: Mr. Mike
From: Vancouver
SOSF S04E15 episode "Police Buff" -- review
http://www.thestreetsofsanfrancisco.info/sosf-4.htm#15
Added: October 12 2017 11:33:38 AM
Submitted by: Mr. Mike
From: Vancouver
SOSF S04E11 episode "Merchants of Death" -- review
http://www.thestreetsofsanfrancisco.info/sosf-4.htm#11
Added: October 11 2017 02:59:16 PM
Submitted by: Mr. Mike
From: Vancouver
SOSF S04E10 episode "Dead Air" -- review
http://www.thestreetsofsanfrancisco.info/sosf-4.htm#10
Added: October 06 2017 04:47:28 PM
Submitted by: Mr. Mike
From: Vancouver
With regard to The Cat's Paw, I think Greenwood's behavior is suspicious as to whether he knew or suspected that his girlfriend Judy Tyrell was the "cat burglar" who was involved in the double murder. He lies at least once when he doesn't mention that he had phoned Judy the night his wife got knocked off (see below). As to why Judy has hot pants for him, I would suggest one of the default reasons I usually say when someone asks why does some hot woman have an interest in some dumpy looking guy: "Because he has a big dick." 
Anyway, to continue:
When Stone and Martin go to see Greenwood after his wife is killed, he says no one had a grudge against his wife (not true, I'm sure his mistress Judy sure did) and his wife was not seeing anyone else. Greenwood hasn't had time to think about what was missing, probably because he has been rattled by his wife's death (or so he says). He takes a call from Judy who is offering help with the wife's funeral and Greenwood says both her name and that of her husband Ted (Edward) during the conversation, which Stone, Keller and Martin overhear.
Later, Stone and Keller go to see Greenwood when they think he is involved with his wife's death. He has an air tight alibi for being in Los Angeles when she was killed based on his phone records from his hotel room. (S01E24: Shattered Image also deals with someone flying to and from Los Angeles to establish an alibi for murder.) But Keller notices that Greenwood phoned the Tyrell residence three times on the evening of his wife's murder when Ed Tyrell was not home. (When did they determine that he was not home? This was a couple of days before he was killed.) From this list of calls, Keller surmises that Greenwood spoke to Judy, but wasn't Judy out murdering Greenwood's wife that evening?
Stone tells Greenwood "someone took your gun and shot your wife," but where was it determined that it was Greenwood's gun that was used? Is Stone just bluffing? Earlier on at the cop shop, there is mention of the fact that the two murders were committed with a gun that was unknown to police.
Greenwood then tells them, "I should have told you about this before," then admits he and Judy were having an affair, and she gave him the tiger-eye ring, which is an essential clue in the story. Judy was going to get a divorce. Greenwood's wife was starting to get suspicious about what was going on. After his wife was knocked off, Judy began to be insistent about Greenwood marrying her as soon as her divorce came through, but he said no. Then Ted was killed. Greenwood says "It had to be Judy."
There are some questions at this point. For example, If Judy killed Greenwood's wife and her own husband, didn't anyone check the roofs above their respective apartments for clues as to how the cat burglar descended, for example? (They would have likely found nothing, since Judy was no cat burglar.) And is Greenwood really involved, or he is just making his story up? (Keller is told to take him downtown for further questioning.) Before Stone leaves, he asks Greenwood "How did she get into the apartment?" Greenwood replies, "She had a key. We met there sometimes." But does this mean >his< apartment (where they are right now)? If so, why wouldn''t he say "We met >here<"?
Regarding Web of Lies, I have dropped the rating a bit because of something I forgot. See the trivia section, the item which starts with "At the beginning of the show, there are some topographic issues." I still thought the show was very good.
Added: October 04 2017 11:36:23 AM
Submitted by: ringfire211
From: Philadelphia
It’s been a while since I’ve seen “The Cat’s Paw”. Barbara Babcock knocks off her own husband as well as Mark Miller’s wife because she wants to marry Miller? Seems kind of extreme but is Miller like super wealthy or something? Or really good looking?
But what I find even crazier is that (according to your review, Mike) she kills her own husband AFTER she kills Miller’s wife and AFTER Miller still tells her he won’t marry her. So after he tells her he won’t marry her she proceeds to kill her own husband? But what will that acccomplish except make it obvious to Miller that she’s the killer??? He obviously can’t be that dense not to figure out that she has hot pants for him and all of a sudden both their spouses are dead. One spouse might be a coincidence but both?? No way!!
Added: October 04 2017 07:29:55 AM
Submitted by: Mr. Mike
From: Vancouver
SOSF S04E12 episode "The Cat's Paw" -- review:
http://www.thestreetsofsanfrancisco.info/sosf-4.htm#12
Added: October 03 2017 08:46:41 PM
Submitted by: Fred
From: Chatsworth
I agree with Ringfire about SoSF Web of Lies. It's a good episode in the 2.5 to 3 star range to my liking. But enjoyable.
Added: October 03 2017 07:24:04 PM
Submitted by: ringfire211
From: Philadelphia
I don’t remember “Web of Lies” being THAT good (certainly not on a 4-star level), at least not as good as season 1’s “The Takers” which had kind of a creepy atmosphere - with those dead bodies being discovered at the beginning. I just remember this episode as the one with Pat Hingle telling tall tales. But it has been a long while since I’ve seen it.
Added: October 02 2017 09:25:46 PM
Submitted by: Mr. Mike
From: Vancouver
SOSF S04E09 episode "Web of Lies" review:
http://www.thestreetsofsanfrancisco.info/sosf-4.htm#9
Added: October 02 2017 03:16:27 PM
Submitted by: ringfire211
From: Philadelphia
My favorite KOJAKism:
If you go near ME or my FAMI-LEE
I will scatter your BRAINS from here to WHITE PLAINS
Added: October 02 2017 08:59:25 AM
Submitted by: Peter Harris
From: Lubbock, Texas
So cool that you are also writing up Ironside!
Ironside was the first of the shows you've reviewed to go into rerun syndication. I saw it in the fall of 1974 as The Raymond Burr show while the original series was still running under the name Ironside. I saw lots of the segments on weekday afternoons.
Lots and lots and LOTS of the episodes are full of "deep, meaningful, real" discussion, especially in the later seasons. The producers and the network wanted to make cop shows "relevant" to the times, which is to say extremely dated. It does break the mold of seeing Ironside as a Columbo prototype outsmarting the cops each week (and gives the supporting cast a lot to do), but it's challenging to watch an episode all the way through when there is so little conventional action.
The theme is high on my favorites list, and the opening graphics of Ironside silhouetted over a red background are good visuals. Although the San Francisco visuals are confined to second-unit photographers, the production values are pretty good, especially after the series became a hit and the network started paying the studio good money to make it look like something better than two standing walls on every set.
Thanks for bringing the show back!
Added: October 01 2017 11:30:32 PM
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