It really is a truth about 'Police Squad': one HAD to actually WATCH the show, and pay attention, in order to notice all of the detail in shots. It took a Mad Magazine approach to its satire so people could miss something good if they weren't watching.
In this riotous second episode, dedicated dumbbell Frank Drebin is on the case of mobsters who make it a practice to pay boxers to throw matches. Drebins' scheme will be to purchase the contract to a crooked boxer, in this case, Buddy Briggs (Patrick St. Esprit), and get him to fight the reigning champ (Grand L. Bush) in a clean manner. But the mobsters have got it all figured out, kidnapping Buddy's girlfriend Mary (super sexy Tessa Richarde) and ordering him to lose for Mary's sake. It's up to Drebin to find and save Mary before the fight is over.
The usual high quotient of successful verbal and visual jokes is on full display for this hilarious, charming series that had a high old time spoofing the old detective shows. Leslie Nielsen is in fine wacky form as Drebin, and nicely supported by Alan North as his superior Ed Hocken. Dr. Olson (Ed Williams) and Johnny the amazingly knowledgeable shoeshine guy (William Duell) continue to have their hysterical moments as well. Delivering funny supporting performances are Floyd Levine as crooked manager Cooper, Irwin Keyes as Luca the thug, and Rudy Solari as Martin the mobster. Extremely prolific stuntman and character actor Thomas Rosales Jr. and future 'Sopranos' regular Tony Sirico make uncredited appearances; Georg Stanford Brown (who directed the next episode) fulfils the 'guest star who dies horribly' requirement.
Inspired jokes include the "Kramer vs. Kramer" title on a boxing marquee, a boxer punching out his own shadow, and Rosales Jr.'s character having a fake beat-up chin applied to his face after a round. In the directors' chair is Joe Dante, who would also direct the sixth and unfortunately final episode.
Eight out of 10.
