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"Loser Takes All" is an unusual episode, as Lt. Kojak is shot. Naturally, being the title character of the show, you know he'll survive. Still...he was shot!

Michael Hagar (Leslie Nielsen) is a master criminal who only pulls big heists every few years...otherwise he hangs out on the beaches in Jamaica. The police learn about this through one of their snitches (Antonio Fargas...playing his usual sort of character). But by then, he's already killed and seems more than ready to kill again in order to complete a diamond heist.

This is a most unusual episode simply because of the shooting...and because although shot in the chest, Kojak is up and investigating the case amazingly fast! An interesting story and interesting villain...worth seeing.

The diminutive Paul Anka plays a man fittingly named 'Maus' ('mouse' in German). He's a stoolie who has been feeding Detective Calucci information and thereby Calucci has been making some very high profile busts. However, what Calucci doesn't realize is that Maus isn't helping him out of the goodness of his heart....he's using Calucci to eliminate his competition. What's worse, the rat-like Maus has a big mouth and was overheard telling folks he's got a cop 'in the bag'. Surely this situation isn't going to end well...and Kojak is worried Calucci might be either on the take or incredibly dumb.

Anka is really good here. Considering he's known as a singer-composer, he manages to play a suitably slimy guy. An interesting plot...with a pretty unusual ending...make this one worth seeing.

"Cross Your Heart and Hope to Die" is an episode clearly influenced by the movie "Psycho". There are just too many similarities for it not to be based, in part, on the Hitchcock film.

A young woman is out on a date when the guy is stabbed to death by an unknown assailant. Now, it isn't that the woman didn't see the killing. No, instead she is mentally ill and her mind is a bit scrambled and she cannot fully recall the events. Because of this, Kojak is very sensitive towards the woman and her fragile emotional state. His hope is that given time and gentle prodding he can get her to recall the events of the night.

What no one realizes is that the killer is the lady's trusted neighbor. This trusted 'friend' turns out to be a real wacky guy...much sicker than the lady. After all, most folks don't go around murdering people, dressing up like their mother, and spying on others. Can Kojak stop this Norman Bates-like guy before he kills yet again?

While this episode is very tough to believe when you think about it, it IS very entertaining. Plus, seeing the killer dressed up like mommy is something you just have to see! Strangely entertaining.