Chief Clifford, in one of his sneakier moments, re-assigns McCloud from patroling a gang-infested neighborhood to training with an all-women's squad. In between flirting with not one but two lady officers, he takes part in a karate class, then while taking one of his fellow officers out for dinner, happens to run across Detective Vince Polk, who casually comments that McCloud will probably be working on a murder case--something Clifford certainly did NOT mention. When it turns out his new lady friend has volunteered to act as "decoy" for a murderous strangler, and that a longtime friend of hers was only just killed by their quarry, Sam feels she's not thinking straight, and insists on helping-- to the increasingly-angry objections of the squad leader, who puts in a formal complaint with Clifford! Despite this, Clifford is actually sympathetic, and unofficially, tells Joe to "help out". It turns out Clifford assigned McCloud to the women's squad specifically because one member of the squad had been killed, he didn't want it to happen again, knew Sam could help, but didn't want to step on the toes of Sgt. Dameron ("office politics"). What follows is a tense, moody sequence in almost pitch darkness, during which McCloud's prairie tracking skills come in handy nabbing the killer and saving a life.
This turned out to be the only episode of this season to get a special spotlight in TV GUIDE the week it aired. Looking at it now, I'm not surprised, as it was the first of two episodes written by then-series executive producer Leslie Stevens! A far cry from his excessively-technical OUTER LIMITS scripts, this adds a lot of character to Sam, allowing him to be romantic, funny (when yodeling cowboy songs over the telephone), angry, and better at his job than his new temporary boss ever imagines.
I could have done without the Tim Morgan song "Take A Look Around", which was clearly added to pad out the timing. I believe this was the first of several such musical numbers included in various McCLOUD episodes over the course of its run. I'm gonna guess this was the work of Glen Larson, who started his career in show business as a member of the singing group The Four Preps!
Aside from regulars J. D. Cannon & Terry Carter, this episode was also the 2nd appearance of Ken Scott as Detective Vince Polk, who here is seen to be getting to be friends with McCloud long before he was joined by Detectives Grover & Simms in season 3.
Nina Foch is "Sgt. V. J. Dameron", head of the women's unit, who at first, welcomes McCloud with warmth and humor, but later becomes increasingly angry and hot-headed at his repeated independant attitude bordering on insubordination. Their interactions in this story predict the later growing irritation of Chief Clifford, who at times became quite apoplectic, despite his early admiration for McCloud's work. I'll always think of Foch mostly as the top secretary in EXECUTIVE SUITE (1954), though I first saw her on THE OUTER LIMITS episode "The Borderland"-- also written by Leslie Stevens. The other day, I was quite surprised to find her as the target of an insane strangler herself in the much-earlier film, RENDEZVOUS WITH BOSTON BLACKIE (1945). That's an uncanny connection!
Ann Prentiss is "Officer Murdock", who McCloud flirts relentlessly with (at first). She stands out in my mind as a murderous KAOS agent in the 2-part GET SMART episode that guest-starred Don Rickles. The sister of Paula Prentiss, she sadly gained a different noteriety when she was convicted for assault and conpiracy to commit murder in 1997.
Susan Saint James is "Officer Keach", who McCloud gets VERY romantic with. Long a favorite of mine, I've seen her in THE NAME OF THE GAME, McMILLAN AND WIFE, and LOVE AT FIRST BITE.
One of my recent favorites, Bart Burns, is nearly-invisible in this episode as "Detective Reimer", a member of the squad backing up the "decoy" as she walks through the park at night, hoping to be attacked by a killer. Not long ago, Burns became my FAVORITE "Pat Chambers" on the 1958 MIKE HAMMER series with Darren McGavin.
I'll say it again-- it is SUCH a pleasure to be able to see these 1st-season episodes INTACT after they were missing in action for 50 YEARS.
This turned out to be the only episode of this season to get a special spotlight in TV GUIDE the week it aired. Looking at it now, I'm not surprised, as it was the first of two episodes written by then-series executive producer Leslie Stevens! A far cry from his excessively-technical OUTER LIMITS scripts, this adds a lot of character to Sam, allowing him to be romantic, funny (when yodeling cowboy songs over the telephone), angry, and better at his job than his new temporary boss ever imagines.
I could have done without the Tim Morgan song "Take A Look Around", which was clearly added to pad out the timing. I believe this was the first of several such musical numbers included in various McCLOUD episodes over the course of its run. I'm gonna guess this was the work of Glen Larson, who started his career in show business as a member of the singing group The Four Preps!
Aside from regulars J. D. Cannon & Terry Carter, this episode was also the 2nd appearance of Ken Scott as Detective Vince Polk, who here is seen to be getting to be friends with McCloud long before he was joined by Detectives Grover & Simms in season 3.
Nina Foch is "Sgt. V. J. Dameron", head of the women's unit, who at first, welcomes McCloud with warmth and humor, but later becomes increasingly angry and hot-headed at his repeated independant attitude bordering on insubordination. Their interactions in this story predict the later growing irritation of Chief Clifford, who at times became quite apoplectic, despite his early admiration for McCloud's work. I'll always think of Foch mostly as the top secretary in EXECUTIVE SUITE (1954), though I first saw her on THE OUTER LIMITS episode "The Borderland"-- also written by Leslie Stevens. The other day, I was quite surprised to find her as the target of an insane strangler herself in the much-earlier film, RENDEZVOUS WITH BOSTON BLACKIE (1945). That's an uncanny connection!
Ann Prentiss is "Officer Murdock", who McCloud flirts relentlessly with (at first). She stands out in my mind as a murderous KAOS agent in the 2-part GET SMART episode that guest-starred Don Rickles. The sister of Paula Prentiss, she sadly gained a different noteriety when she was convicted for assault and conpiracy to commit murder in 1997.
Susan Saint James is "Officer Keach", who McCloud gets VERY romantic with. Long a favorite of mine, I've seen her in THE NAME OF THE GAME, McMILLAN AND WIFE, and LOVE AT FIRST BITE.
One of my recent favorites, Bart Burns, is nearly-invisible in this episode as "Detective Reimer", a member of the squad backing up the "decoy" as she walks through the park at night, hoping to be attacked by a killer. Not long ago, Burns became my FAVORITE "Pat Chambers" on the 1958 MIKE HAMMER series with Darren McGavin.
I'll say it again-- it is SUCH a pleasure to be able to see these 1st-season episodes INTACT after they were missing in action for 50 YEARS.