Month: November 2020

EP3309: Casey, Press Photographer: Clue in the Clouds

Stats Cotsworth

A wealthy man and his wife are killed in a helicopter crash and Casey suspects foul play.

Original Air Date: February 26, 1944

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TV Episode Review: Tenspeed and Brownshoe: The Robin Tucker’s Roseland Roof And Ballroom Murder

Tenspeed and Brownshoe is a 1980 TV series created by Steven Cannell of Rockford Files fame and starring Ben Vereen and a young Jeff Goldblum as conman E.L. “Tenspeed” Tucker and accountant Lionel Whitney. Together, the two form an unlikely private detective agency.

“The Robin Tucker’s Roseland Roof And Ballroom Murder” is the first episode available on Tubi as well as on Shout Factor’s website  and also shared on its official YouTube page.

In the story, Lionel gets a client. A rich man who offers him thousands to find a missing woman, but makes sure that Whitney never sees his face but that they have a picture of Whitney. 

I have to admit that coming in, my expectations were pretty high. The series was created by Stephen Cannell, famous for creating The Rockford Files, The A-Team, and Greatest American Hero. And Vereen and Goldblum have had a major careers since then.

It’s a bit disappointing to say that the episode is just okay. Goldblum has a certain charm and I like the idea of a private detective who is into these hard boiled Mark Savage books (from what I gather I’d say Savage is a lot like Michael Shayne) but there’s not a whole lot else to his character other than not knowing what he’s doing. There’s a certain charm to it, but it’s not something that demands your attention.  The same could be said of Vereen’s Tenspeed. He has some good moments, but considering the number of cons that Rockford pulled over the years on the Rockford Files, the efforts here look pedestrian.  

The show has moments where it reminds a little bit of Cannell’s more successful series. Whitney reminded me a little bit of the way Ralph Hinkley would be written in Greatest American Hero but that emphasized how mediocre it was overall

This isn’t bad, but it’s disappointingly middling.  If you set your expectations low,  you can enjoy it. But compared to all of the genuinely good 1970s and 80s detective programs, the only good reasons to watch this one are nostalgia, being a fan of Goldblum or Vereen, or being  Stephen Cannell compleitists. That and the fact can be streamed for free. 

Rating: 2.75 out of 5

EP3308: Under Arrest: Paris Road

Captain Scott tries to find the criminal who coerced him into allowing the theft of a famous Van Gogh Painting.

Original Air Date: June 26, 1948

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EP3307: Yours Truly Johnny Dollar: The Month-End Raid Matter

Edmond O'Brien

Johnny goes to Kansas City to investigate a $250,000 armored car robbery.

Original Air Date: April 28, 1951

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EP3306: Mystery is My Hobby: Uncle Howard’s Treasure Map

A woman asks Barton Drake to help protect her recently rescued uncle after he received several death threats, however she and Bart find him murdered.

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Video Theater 192: Code 3: Case 2206

Several allegations of theft began to mount against a Sheriff’s Deputy.

Season 1, Episode 20

Original AIr Date: August 13, 1957

EP3305: Man Called X: Guns on the Niger

Herbert Marshall

The Man Called X and Pegon travel down the Niger river to stop the sale of stolen weapons.

Original Air Date: February 15, 1948

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AWR0149: Heartbeat Theater: John Balls’ Thanksgiving

Amazing World of Radio
An indigent worker meets a young man who’s run away from home the day before Thanksgiving.
Original Air Date: November 24, 1963
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EP3304: The Fat Man: Murder Plays the Horses (AU)

Brad is hired by an elderly playboy whose daughter is being threatened if he doesn’t withdraw his horse from an upcoming race.

Original Air Date: August 26, 1954
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EP3303: Casey, Crime Photographer: After the Turkey-The Bill

Stats Cotsworth

Casey and Ann look into a Thanksgiving Day hold-up.

Original Air Date: November 27, 1947

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EP3302s: Tonight at Nine Thirty: The Black Market Murders

A San Francisco police inspector investigates the apparent murder of a shady businessman.

Original Air Date: March 16, 1945

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Audio Drama Review: Twilight Zone Radio Dramas, Volume 9

The ninth volume of Twilight Zone radio dramas features six more audio recreations of tales from the Classic TV series.

The set kicks off with “Time Enough at Last” where a bank teller who wants to do nothing but read and talk about what he’s read is persecuted by both his wife and his employer. It’s a classic story. The TV version is tragic and depressing and the expanded time for the audio drama manages to make it even moreso.

Next up is, “Will the Real Martian Stand Up?” There’s a report of a UFO, state troopers go out to investigate and find footprints leading to a diner. A bus has just arrived. The driver says he had six passengers, but there’s seven in the restaurant. Who’s the real Martian? This story is a nice science fiction mystery with a very clever twist at the end.

“The Trade-Ins” takes us to a world where the elderly can have their life renewed with a new body. An elderly couple wants to do this so they can have a fresh start on life. But they’ve only saved enough for one of them to get the treatment. The story has a few logical issues but still has some very sweet and surprising moments in it.

“A Passage for a Trumpet” features a trumpet player whose career has been ruined by his drinking. He’s ready to pack it in, selling his trumpet, and getting ready to leave town when he steps out in front of an oncoming truck. The story gets interesting when we find out what happens next. The story is heartfelt and earnest even its turns are a bit predictable.

“I Shot an Arrow Into the Air…” follows the crew of a downed spacecraft. One crew member sees this as a cutthroat survival experience. They have limited rations and the more of them there are, the less long those rations will last. So if fellow crew members die off, that’s longer for him to live. This one turns on a huge twist which changes everything for both the protagonist and the listener.

“The Brain Center at Whipples:” The owner of a factory (Stan Freberg) is bringing automation to spur on efficiency and eliminating jobs. This is a heavy-handed story about the anger and fear at the coming of automation. There’s a twist but you can see it coming a mile away. It does seem when Freberg did the Twilight Zone radio dramas, he tended to play roles that were much more caricatures than characters. Still, he does convey good emotion when the owner gets his expected comeuppance.

Overall, this was a pretty solid set. The stories were told well and adapted well (for the most) so the expanded running time the radio dramas offered was to put to good use. There were issues with a few of the stories but even the last (and least favorite) story wasn’t bad. All in all, a decent collection.

Rating: 3.75 out of 5

EP3302: Under Arrest: For a Pack of Cigarettes

Captain Jim Scott tries to track down two hold up men, one of whom has a brutal streak.

Original Air Date: June 6, 1948

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EP3301: Yours Truly Johnny Dollar: The Willard South Matter

Edmond O'Brien

Johnny goes to the Virgin Islands to investigate the disappearance of an insured man who disappeared at sea.

Original Air Date: April 21, 1951

When making your travel plans, remember http://johnnydollarair.com

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EP3300: Mystery is My Hobby: Sally Anders is Murdered


A fugitive comes to Drake for help insisting he didn’t murder his wife.

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