Okay, someone has to ask it: Who would name their kid "Corbey"? Fewer than 100 people since 1880, according to a web search. But the ill-fated Vince Master did, and Captain Greer made caring for this orphaned and crippled boy his private penance for bungling an arrest several years earlier. Now the boy's uncle, drug kingpin Nick Master, wants to avenge his brother's death and claim his nephew. And to achieve these ends, Master sets in motion an elaborate frame up beginning with a reliable informant fingering Greer as a cop on the take.
Wait, what? Didn't we just see this plot in the previous episode, "Good Times Are Just Memories," with Leif Erickson as a veteran cop on the take? Watching that episode brought to mind the third season's "Is That Justice? No, It's the Law" guest starring Nehemiah Persoff as Harry MacGeorge, a veteran cop gone bad. And who shows up in "Corbey" playing the villain of the piece? Nehemiah Persoff, making his third and final guest shot on the show (and sporting an ugly mullet, to boot).
Playing Persoff's muscle are the familiar faces of Nick Georgiades and Charles Napier. Georgiades, looking plump and disheveled, was a star on the wane, past his peak playing dapper baddies on THE UNTOUCHABLES. Napier, surprisingly uncredited despite considerable screentime and years of credited roles, was waxing strong and would within a decade be a television staple playing tough guys. His trademark weathered and chiseled features are still a little soft here.
These are the sole series appearances for Georgiades, Napier, and Eddie Ryder, playing the aforementioned informant. Each man brought a lot to the show, and I especially enjoyed the scene where Persoff, Georgiades, and Napier hassle hapless Ryder and conscript him into their nefarious plot. "Tipper Saxon" is the unlikely name given to Ryder's character, and one wonders if his mother or the cops gave him that handle. Wouldn't it be a liability for a police informant to be named "Tipper"? Fun fact: Like Corbey, there were fewer than 100 people named Tipper since 1880 (not counting Tipper Gore, whose real name is Mary).
Ryder gets his big scene in the interrogation room, followed by his grandstand play uncovering the planted heroin in Greer's car. As that scene unfolded, I grew frustrated with Greer's steadfast silence and angry with Metcalf's taking Tipper's outrageous accusations so seriously. Yeah, they had to investigate it by the book, and police corruption was a prevailing problem in those days of Serpico and the Knapp Commission. But it was distressing that a mere accusation could lead to a good cop getting suspended. Oh, then I was mad at Greer for pouting and packing up his office in a box. You were only suspended, Adam, not fired, and if you're confident you'll quickly be cleared, leave things alone and declare like MacArthur, "I shall return," maybe punctuated with a dramatically indignant door punch like you did in the last episode.
I was mad at Greer, but twice as mad at the old biddy who had to blurt out at the birthday party how she heard on the radio that Corbey's beloved "Uncle Adam" just got suspended. Okay, half the blame falls on Greer for being so secretive and for bald-faced lying to Corby's mother about why he'll be skipping out on Corbey's party. If the Johnsons were so dear to Adam, why couldn't he just level with them?
Corbey's birthday party sure gave us a realistic peek at how cruel kids could be. Boy, once the word was out about Greer, those brats sure pounced with tooth and claw on the friend who a moment earlier they were celebrating in song! When, after suffering relentless verbal assault, Corbey fell out of his chair to the floor I groaned and thought, toughen up, ya snowflake flopper! But then I saw the crutches and winced. The clever writer got me with that sneaky introduction to the poor kid's plight.
This was writer Jack Turley's fourth and final script for the show. His most recent story was "The Thundermakers" with Bobby Sherman and Paul Carr, an episode still fresh and fondly remembered by those of us pressing through this fifth and final season. I credit Turley with including in this story the parallel narrative of Benny Tarkin and his two gunsels. It doesn't affect the Greer story at all, except to show what fear Nick Master strikes in the hearts of his competitors in crime. Stack Pierce as Benny gets one scene (and proves himself an early adopter of the Godfather catchphrase, "make him an offer he can't refuse"). Benny's two gunmen get another scene at Tipper's place when discovering someone beat them to the punch (or hit, to be precise). That sobering sight prompted the younger man to question the trajectory of his life. I liked these two guys and how they became a couple believable characters despite such short screen time. Like Napier, both of Benny's gunmen are inexplicably MIA from the credits.
Jean Byron as Corbey's mother Laura Johnson was a welcome face from DOBIE GILLIS and THE PATTY DUKE SHOW. I think she imagined she was still in a sitcom with all that incessant smiling! And then suddenly she was ugly crying and took it over the top and into orbit. Thankfully, the ensuing pitched gun battle drowned out her shuddering sobs.
Among my takeaways were unsettling insights into Greer's character. He is kinda shady! His never mentioning to Pete, Linc, and Julie this important aspect of his life made me realize Greer sees the Squad as more subordinate colleagues than friends. Greer plays it close to the vest, and that's his right. Greer's independent, like an Ayn Rand character, Howard Roark, standing silent. His friends desperately want to help, however, and it was only Pete's stating outright "I like you" that cracked Greer's wall.
Chief Metcalf makes his exit from the series with this episode, and after his shabby treatment of Greer and blustering in-his-face threat to cut him down I was glad to see him go. Hey, Barney, did you forget who rescued your daughter from the drug den of rock star Quinn way back in "The King of Empty Cups"?
PS: This episode featured a sketchy uncle and his innocent nephew. Coincidentally, back in the fall of '72, the same theme played out on MANNIX just three days later in "The Upside-Down Penny."
Wait, what? Didn't we just see this plot in the previous episode, "Good Times Are Just Memories," with Leif Erickson as a veteran cop on the take? Watching that episode brought to mind the third season's "Is That Justice? No, It's the Law" guest starring Nehemiah Persoff as Harry MacGeorge, a veteran cop gone bad. And who shows up in "Corbey" playing the villain of the piece? Nehemiah Persoff, making his third and final guest shot on the show (and sporting an ugly mullet, to boot).
Playing Persoff's muscle are the familiar faces of Nick Georgiades and Charles Napier. Georgiades, looking plump and disheveled, was a star on the wane, past his peak playing dapper baddies on THE UNTOUCHABLES. Napier, surprisingly uncredited despite considerable screentime and years of credited roles, was waxing strong and would within a decade be a television staple playing tough guys. His trademark weathered and chiseled features are still a little soft here.
These are the sole series appearances for Georgiades, Napier, and Eddie Ryder, playing the aforementioned informant. Each man brought a lot to the show, and I especially enjoyed the scene where Persoff, Georgiades, and Napier hassle hapless Ryder and conscript him into their nefarious plot. "Tipper Saxon" is the unlikely name given to Ryder's character, and one wonders if his mother or the cops gave him that handle. Wouldn't it be a liability for a police informant to be named "Tipper"? Fun fact: Like Corbey, there were fewer than 100 people named Tipper since 1880 (not counting Tipper Gore, whose real name is Mary).
Ryder gets his big scene in the interrogation room, followed by his grandstand play uncovering the planted heroin in Greer's car. As that scene unfolded, I grew frustrated with Greer's steadfast silence and angry with Metcalf's taking Tipper's outrageous accusations so seriously. Yeah, they had to investigate it by the book, and police corruption was a prevailing problem in those days of Serpico and the Knapp Commission. But it was distressing that a mere accusation could lead to a good cop getting suspended. Oh, then I was mad at Greer for pouting and packing up his office in a box. You were only suspended, Adam, not fired, and if you're confident you'll quickly be cleared, leave things alone and declare like MacArthur, "I shall return," maybe punctuated with a dramatically indignant door punch like you did in the last episode.
I was mad at Greer, but twice as mad at the old biddy who had to blurt out at the birthday party how she heard on the radio that Corbey's beloved "Uncle Adam" just got suspended. Okay, half the blame falls on Greer for being so secretive and for bald-faced lying to Corby's mother about why he'll be skipping out on Corbey's party. If the Johnsons were so dear to Adam, why couldn't he just level with them?
Corbey's birthday party sure gave us a realistic peek at how cruel kids could be. Boy, once the word was out about Greer, those brats sure pounced with tooth and claw on the friend who a moment earlier they were celebrating in song! When, after suffering relentless verbal assault, Corbey fell out of his chair to the floor I groaned and thought, toughen up, ya snowflake flopper! But then I saw the crutches and winced. The clever writer got me with that sneaky introduction to the poor kid's plight.
This was writer Jack Turley's fourth and final script for the show. His most recent story was "The Thundermakers" with Bobby Sherman and Paul Carr, an episode still fresh and fondly remembered by those of us pressing through this fifth and final season. I credit Turley with including in this story the parallel narrative of Benny Tarkin and his two gunsels. It doesn't affect the Greer story at all, except to show what fear Nick Master strikes in the hearts of his competitors in crime. Stack Pierce as Benny gets one scene (and proves himself an early adopter of the Godfather catchphrase, "make him an offer he can't refuse"). Benny's two gunmen get another scene at Tipper's place when discovering someone beat them to the punch (or hit, to be precise). That sobering sight prompted the younger man to question the trajectory of his life. I liked these two guys and how they became a couple believable characters despite such short screen time. Like Napier, both of Benny's gunmen are inexplicably MIA from the credits.
Jean Byron as Corbey's mother Laura Johnson was a welcome face from DOBIE GILLIS and THE PATTY DUKE SHOW. I think she imagined she was still in a sitcom with all that incessant smiling! And then suddenly she was ugly crying and took it over the top and into orbit. Thankfully, the ensuing pitched gun battle drowned out her shuddering sobs.
Among my takeaways were unsettling insights into Greer's character. He is kinda shady! His never mentioning to Pete, Linc, and Julie this important aspect of his life made me realize Greer sees the Squad as more subordinate colleagues than friends. Greer plays it close to the vest, and that's his right. Greer's independent, like an Ayn Rand character, Howard Roark, standing silent. His friends desperately want to help, however, and it was only Pete's stating outright "I like you" that cracked Greer's wall.
Chief Metcalf makes his exit from the series with this episode, and after his shabby treatment of Greer and blustering in-his-face threat to cut him down I was glad to see him go. Hey, Barney, did you forget who rescued your daughter from the drug den of rock star Quinn way back in "The King of Empty Cups"?
PS: This episode featured a sketchy uncle and his innocent nephew. Coincidentally, back in the fall of '72, the same theme played out on MANNIX just three days later in "The Upside-Down Penny."