#midnightcaller

Midnight Caller 2x11 "Based on a True Story"

★★★★★★★★★☆

John Beck, Sydney Walsh, Sal Viscuso. Flashbacks to a major earthquake that rocked the city. Beck is terrific as a disingenuous producer who wants to tell Jack’s story on film. His character allows the script to make a valid point about “based on a true story” movies that embellish the facts. Spring 1990: Tuesdays on NBC after In the Heat of the Night. Against Thirtysomething (ABC); CBS Tuesday Night Movie (CBS). 9/10

Midnight Caller 2x10 "Do You Believe in Miracles?"

★★★★★★★★☆☆

Leslie Jordan, Dennis Lipscomb, Reni Santoni. Just before Christmas, a weeping statue of Jesus is stolen from a church. Can Jack get it back before Christmas Eve mass? Terrific cast and several larger-than-life characters appear in this semi-comedic episode. It successfully walks the line between silly and serious, and pretty much pulls it off. Fall 1989: NBC aired Midnight Caller in the final hour of Tuesday prime time after In the Heat of the Night. Against it were Thirtysomething on ABC and Island Son on CBS. 8/10

Midnight Caller 2x09 "Blood Red"

★★★★★★★★★☆

Pam Grier. It’s not perfect, but this episode packs some serious punches. It looks like it’s going to be about gambling addiction–and it is to a large degree–but it soon morphs into a gripping crime drama about forged paintings. Karen Kopins almost steals the episode as a gorgeous widow. It’s a shame we never saw her character again. Her scenes with Jack were fabulous. James Handy is excellent as a very cold gangster. His confrontation scene with Jack is chilling. There’s really menace behind his every word. It feels like Jack is really in danger. The main guest character gets a sudden and shocking death near the end. You’d think the episode couldn’t top that, but you’d be wrong. When Jack revealed the identity of the murderer that started it all, I pretty much gasped out loud. Really was blindsided. The closing monologue–on the subject of friendship–is one of the show’s very best. Such a shame the plot is driven by so many casual coincidences. Fall 1989: NBC aired Midnight Caller in the final hour of Tuesday prime time after In the Heat of the Night. Against it were Thirtysomething on ABC and Island Son on CBS. 9/10

Midnight Caller 2x08 "End of Innocence"

★★★★★★★★★★

Linda Kelsey, Jack Bannon. As a spiritual successor to Lou Grant, this is where the show wears its heart on its sleeve: casting Kelsey and Bannon in key roles. Both are excellent. Speaking of excellent, this is the 2nd of 4 episodes for Bonnie Bartlett as Devon’s mother. Loved the way their b-story had parallels with the a-story. Both are about parents and the harms they can inflict on their children. (Some way more serious than others.) Another of my favourites, Steven Keats, has a role as a sleazy private eye. He’s searching for the little girl that Jack is protecting. The episode does a superb job with this tale of child molestation. It manages to raise genuine doubts from the start about who is telling the truth and then deliver a convincing and satisfying conclusion. It helps that Karen Lundy, the actress playing the little girl, is wonderful in the role. A powerful and very emotional episode. Fall 1989: NBC aired Midnight Caller in the final hour of Tuesday prime time after In the Heat of the Night. Against it were Thirtysomething on ABC and Island Son on CBS. 10/10