User Reviews

The list of suspects in this show is lengthy and complex. A blackmailer, a junkie male nurse, a female nurse who is in love with the junkie, a philandering psychiatrist, a nurse supervisor, and a very angry widower who is pushing a two million dollar malpractice suit.

The story moves along at a nice pace. There are some great scenes including Cannon behind the wheel of the Lincoln chasing a dirt biker, and a grand finale with a very sick Frank Cannon in yet another car chase involving the Lincoln and two traffic cops in hot pursuit.

I rate "The Wrong Medicine" 10 stars.

Without question, it's tough to follow a classic story that has both Cannon and Barnaby Jones working together. But this good, and with some surprises -- such as an old fashion glass of poison. Shades of Sherlock Holmes or Agatha Christie.

Written by Norman Lessing, who did two episodes for the series, largely writing for HAWAII FIVE O and BONANZA. In this case, Cannon comes to the defense of a young doctor (played by David Birney) accused of malpractice. Obviously a fall guy. Throw into the mix a drug addict who gets killed (though made to look like he overdosed), a suspicious doctor, his nurse and blackmail. There's also a mental patient who wants to strangle Cannon. You have to admit, Norman Lessing was very enthusiastic.

Don Gordon (playing Tillis) makes a terrific bad guy. Gordon was close friends with Steve McQueen and played his partner in BULLIT, also in PAPILLON and THE TOWERING INFERNO.

In a bizarre scene that has to be a first, not only for this series, but many other cop shows, Cannon is forced at gunpoint to swallow poison. Obviously poetic license at work, which shows you that Cannon is about as indestructible as Joe Mannix. Right?

For western fans, Richard Jaeckel guest stars, playing Cy. He worked with William Conrad at Warner Brothers/ABC tv in the 60s. Priscilla Pointer (as Edith), guest stars, who was in the final episode of Season 4. She later became regular on DALLAS and is the mom of Amy Irving. In May 2024 she will turn 100.

Yes, the notes are right. You can see a ramp used to turn over Don Gordon's speeding car.

Directed by Paul Stanley who headed many episodes for MISSION IMPOSSIBLE, and the bizarre poison scene has that feel. 10 Stars for being daring.

SEASON 5 EPISODE 3 remastered color CBS dvd box set. Released 2016.

When the episode begins, an emergency room doctor is accused of having killed his patient through incompetence. However, the doctor (David Birney) swears that he followed the proper procedure...and that the patient had a medic alert bracelet indicating she was a diabetic. But the bracelet disappeared, she wasn't a diabetic and the family is suing. Cannon is brought in by the hospital to investigate. Soon, all sorts of folks start acting as if they have something to hide--including one jerk who sicks a mental patient on Cannon! When more bodies start to pile up, it sure looks like something evil is afoot.

While you get to see a lot of neat stuff in this episode (including Cannon being forced to take an overdose), this show also has one of the oldest and dumbest cliches....the guy who decides to shake down the murderer for more money! You KNOW that the guy will soon be worm food...it's just the way that cliche always works. An overused cliche, to say the least. Worth seeing though a tad weak.