The Best Judge Money Can Buy

When the story begins, a judge is murdered and it's made to look like a suicide. Little by little, you learn that the murder was done in order to get to his father, who is also a judge. Apparently, the father is basically an honest man...but he also has a soft spot for the son and making the son's corruption will be too much for him. Then, using tapes as leverage, the plan is to force the father to grant bail to a mobster who is clearly intending to flee the country. Will this complicated plan work out and will Kojak and his men manage to unravel it in time?

The is one huge reason to watch this particular episode. While throughout the series you hear Kojak repeatedly make fun of Detective Stavros, here Stavros is a major action hero in one scene...and it was was very exciting to watch. The other thing that makes this interesting is that Stavros was played by Telly Savalas' brother, George!

Apart from Stavros being a major hero, the plot, though complicated, is exceptional and it's a very good episode...one well worth your time.

This exceeded all expectations. It wound up being a fascinating case and had some good acting, thanks to veteran John Randolph, "Phillip Mackie Sr." Randolph played the elder, honest judge and father to a dishonest one, "Phillip Mackie Jr." (Walter Stocker) of the big villains in the story). The other bad-guy, "Martin Bronson," was effectively portrayed by Walter McGinn.

Those might not be names you're familiar with, but Randolph was in a lot of TV shows and movies. You probably know the name "Abe Vigoda" of "Barney Miller" fame. Well, as in "The Godfather," Vigoda plays a heavy but his role in minor in this story.

It's a solid episode and well worth your time.