Ironside (TV Series) I, the People (1968) User Reviews

The first shock jocks

[bkoganbing · 7/10 · 18 February 2017]

Although I had this one figured out almost immediately, this Ironside story with Milton Berle as a guest star is entertaining indeed with Berle in a dramatic role. If he stole any material it was from Andy Griffith as Lonesome Rhodes from A Face In The Crowd.

Berle's character is based on some of those very first shock jocks that I remember so well from the 60s. Those of us who remember the 60s will no doubt remember people like Joe Pyne and Alan Berg. Later on Morton Downey, Jr. treated guests like Berle treats his.

Ironside and his team are in this because Berle has targeted police captain George Murdock holding him up to scrutiny and ridicule. But he's one of many. Then there are attempts on his life and a successful one on the wrong target, Berle's wife Julie Adams.

Remember folks, Milton Berle is one consummate performer.

Hmmm, source material for our times?

[casugi · 7/10 · 5 February 2024]

I caught this by accident, really, but it seems providential. It reminds me of a certain 21st century Presidential candidate. Now I'm wondering if he got his ideas to run for office from this Ironside episode.

So many parallels to you know who---obnoxious personality, mocks the weak, loyal only to himself, name calling. Even has a wife who hates him.

Milton Beryl does a fine job in this dramatic role. The plot may or may not surprise you, but it is entertaining. I've always loved Raymond Burr, although I have to admit I prefer him as Perry Mason. I never much liked the setup of the show with the thee assistants, but to be fair. I didn't watch it very often.

My entire life was a lie! I hurt instead of helped people!

[sol-kay · 7/10 · 23 July 2013]

***SPOILERS*** Milton Berle is TV's "The People's Voice" shock talk show host Ross Howard who's Job is to dig up dirt and exposed those who are a threat to the well being and morality of the American people. Like the late Morton Downey Jr. who in real life imitated him ten years later Ross despite his wholesome American pie image is about the sleaziest and most immoral person that he ever exposed on his show. It when Ross tried to take down Chief Robert T. Ironside's, Raymond Burr, good friend and fellow cop SFDP Captain Walter Finch, George Murdock, that his background that he so successfully hid from the public all came out in the wash or in his dirty laundry.

Planning to run for state senator Ross uses every underhanded tactic to get the public to support and vote for him in the upcoming November Elections. Going so far as to evoke sympathy for himself by making as if the enemies of America, whoever they are, are trying to knock him off. That in order of getting voted into office and going to Washington D.C as California newly elected senator. But when Ross starts to put the screws on Captain Finch in a 20 year old wife beating complaint that was found to be bogus is when Ironside in turn put the screws on him! And came up with a load of phony accomplishments lies and crimes, including murder, that put a sudden end to his reign of terror and false intimidation of people as well well as him having a total and complete meltdown on his talk show!

***SPOILERS*** It was when Ross' estranged wife Norma, Julie Adams, threatened to expose his "splendid" war record where he was awarded a silver star in single handedly storming a pill box and wiping out an entire North Korean machine gun nest that he planned to shut her up and shut Norma up permanently. Having his car blown up with Norma in it was to make the public feel sympathy for him so he thought. But it was Chief Ironside with the help of one of Ross's staff, who was blackmailing him, writer Phil Manning, Dane Clark, who put an end to his high flying plans for the future. And the fact that Ross just couldn't help himself in degrading Captain Finch on his live TV show put an end to him his career, both on TV & politics, as well as freedom just as well.