Calletano (a fine Rene Enriquez) makes a controversial acceptance speech after receiving the Hispanic Officer of the Year Award. Furillo (Daniel J. Travanti, super) has his hands full after Fay (an endearingly ditsy Barbara Bosson) informs him that his son Frank Jr. is missing. Bates (an excellent Betty Thomas) gets upset after Davenport (sharply played by Veronica Hamel) tears apart her testimony on the witness stand. This episode makes some pertinent points concerning racial insensitivity with the whole issue of Calletano's anger about being erroneously acknowledged as Puerto Rican by his peers (he's actually Columbian) and further gives Hunter (a nicely loopy James Sikking) a few choice amusing moments to display his singular lack of comprehension of both social poise and race relations. Moreover, there's a wealth of comedy gold to be relished in the subplot involving Belker (essayed with trademark gruff gusto by Bruce Weitz) working undercover at a massage parlor. The startling incident with Washington (an assured performance by Taureen Blacque) accidentally shooting an innocent man dead is smartly handled as an honest mistake any cop could (and sometimes does) make. Helen Shaver contributes a stand-out guest turn as an assault victim who's initially reluctant to press charges against her assailant while Anna Mathias is memorably sexy as saucy masseuse Jeannie.
4 Reviews
"Running away from home's as American as apple pie."
Hey_Sweden1 August 2022
Warning: Spoilers
Belker goes undercover at a massage parlor in order to nab the perp who's been robbing such places of business. Bates makes her first appearance on a witness stand, but is ill-prepared: her testimony disintegrates under heavy examination by Joyce. Calletano receives the prestigious Hispanic Officer of the Year award, only to give in to anger during his acceptance speech; although he later regrets his action, it's not as if he doesn't make some pertinent points. Renko gets angry when an assault victim (Helen Shaver, 'Poltergeist: The Legacy') doesn't press charges because she doesn't want to be inconvenienced. And Furillo & Fay go through the worst nightmare for any parent when Frank Jr. Runs away from home.
Another excellent case study in superior acting, writing, and directing results in a poignant, riveting episode. You do feel some sympathy for many of the characters here, especially Frank, involved in a deeply personal case for the first time while still striving mightily to hold it all together. Washington also figures in a powerful subplot when he mistakenly shoots dead a gun-toting store owner whom he thought was a participant in a robbery. This drives home the point that to err is human, and sometimes bad, bad mistakes can be made despite the best of intentions.
There is some humor, of course, especially in scenes with Belker at the massage parlor. It's especially funny when he crushes a "moving speck" inside a book. But he also gets a chance to be heroic when he saves the life of a corpulent customer who suffers a heart attack.
Many serious, affecting moments abound, with an especially potent "sob into your hanky" closing scene.
Guest stars also include Charles Weldon ("Fast-Walking"), Royce D. Applegate ('Seaquest DSV'), and Micole Mercurio ("The Client"). Jesse John Bochco, the real-life son of show creator Steven Bochco and co-star Barbara Bosson (Fay), makes the first of two actual appearances on the series as the oft-mentioned but rarely seen Frank, Jr.
Eight out of 10.
Another excellent case study in superior acting, writing, and directing results in a poignant, riveting episode. You do feel some sympathy for many of the characters here, especially Frank, involved in a deeply personal case for the first time while still striving mightily to hold it all together. Washington also figures in a powerful subplot when he mistakenly shoots dead a gun-toting store owner whom he thought was a participant in a robbery. This drives home the point that to err is human, and sometimes bad, bad mistakes can be made despite the best of intentions.
There is some humor, of course, especially in scenes with Belker at the massage parlor. It's especially funny when he crushes a "moving speck" inside a book. But he also gets a chance to be heroic when he saves the life of a corpulent customer who suffers a heart attack.
Many serious, affecting moments abound, with an especially potent "sob into your hanky" closing scene.
Guest stars also include Charles Weldon ("Fast-Walking"), Royce D. Applegate ('Seaquest DSV'), and Micole Mercurio ("The Client"). Jesse John Bochco, the real-life son of show creator Steven Bochco and co-star Barbara Bosson (Fay), makes the first of two actual appearances on the series as the oft-mentioned but rarely seen Frank, Jr.
Eight out of 10.
A Hodgepodge of Events
Hitchcoc14 July 2021
Ray Callatano gets Hispanic officer of the year honors, but at the little banquet for him, he rails on the stereotyping, lumping all Latins as Margarita swilling, taco eating persons (he has been a citizen for over 20 years). Other events have Belker undercover at a massage parlor that has been ripped off. This leads later to Washington shooting an innocent man who was carrying a gun. Renko and Hill stifle and attack on a woman whose car had broken down, but at first she refuses to press charges, even though they probably saved her from rape or even death. And, we finally get to meet Frank, Jr. Who has run away from home. Once again, non-stop action.
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