Barnaby Jones (TV Series) Blind Jeopardy (1978) User Reviews

Despite a somewhat silly plot, a very good episode.

[planktonrules · 7/10 · 2 August 2021]

Barnaby is out looking for an important witness to a court case and he assumes that the woman (Gretchen Corbett) is hiding from him because she doesn't want to testify. The reality is that she is on the run, as mobsters want her dead. When Barnaby spots her being forced into a van, he follows and gives chase. Soon there's a shootout and Barnaby is hit in the head. He'll live, at least due to the injury, but his eyesight is blurred. And, once the woman finds him (as she just escaped), the pair team up to avoid the killers.

The idea of an injury that makes Barnaby temporarily blind does seem very contrived, though the episode is exciting and well worth seeing...especially since, for a change, Jedediah is actually pretty helpful!

By the way, look close during the first portion of the show. A woman comes to see Mr, Jones...and she's Betty Lynn, 'Thelma Lou' from "The Andy Griffith Show".

"Blind Jeopardy" was a good enough season premiere of "Barnaby Jones"

[tonyvmonte-54973 · 8/10 · 3 May 2024]

This was the first ep of "Barnaby Jones" not produced by Quinn Martin. In fact, Mr. Martin had retired from producing TV altogether by this time. In this one, Jones is in the woods looking for a woman to ID her former boyfriend as a murderer. She's played by Gretchen Corbett who was often in "The Rockford Files" at this time as Jim Rockford's girlfriend. This was quite a suspenseful initial ep for the show's seventh season especially when Barnaby's condition changes in the middle of it. By this point, star Buddy Ebsen wanted to cut time in his playing his role so subsequent eps showcased either his co-stars Lee Meriwether or Mark Shera.

BARNABY IN A REAL JAM!

[tcchelsey · 10/10 · 29 March 2024]

It happened to Mannix and Cannon, and now it was Barnaby's turn. In this season opener, Buddy Ebsen gets to show off some very good acting skills, far different than the past few seasons.

Hitmen are after a young woman named Jenny (played by Gretchen Corbett) who simply knows too much. Barnaby, in the meanwhile, is searching for her as she is an important witness and gets caught up in a gunfight with the goons, temporarily blinding him when a bullet grazes his forehead. Ironically, it's Jenny who helps Barnaby and both unite to work against the mob. JR is also on the case.

Gretchen Corbett, who was co-starring on the ROCKFORD FILES at the time, is memorable in this role, a talented actress who makes a good partner for Barnaby. Popular actor Richard Evans guest stars, best known for PEYTON PLACE and several appearances on GUNSMOKE. He passed in 2021. I agree with the last reviewer, there's also a surprise appearance by Betty Lynn (as Mrs. Marshall), famous for the ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW.

Beautifully filmed in rugged areas of Santa Clarita, about 32 miles north of LA. A very original episode, and thoughtfully written by William Keys, who wrote six episodes for the series. Note the new "disco" theme in the opening, which I always thought was interesting, a tribute to 70s tv music in a way. In later years though, the series did show its age!

Hang tight with Barnaby, well directed by series regular Walter Grauman.

SEASON 7 EPISODE 1 remastered color CBS dvd box set, 2018 release.