The Equalizers

The Equalizer Season 4 Episode 22: Suicide Squad Aired on CBS: August 24, 1989 Directed by: Marc Laub Written by : Jacqueline Zambrano Featuring: Ving Rhames, Adam Coleman Howard, Joe Morton Ladies and gentelmen, we have arrived. The 88th and final episode of the hit 80s show The Equalizer, and the 94th and final episode of our podcast The Equalizers. The episode itself doesn't provide any closure for the original series, but at least it's one last bonkers plotline - Ving Rhames, playing what we assume is a first draft version of Marsellus Wallace, is a drug lord who employs specifcally injured athletes, and EQ has to protect a teenager Willy whose football is ending short because of a bad knee. But whereas the episode doesn't give any kind of grand sendoff to the series, Chris, Chuck, and Vince (yes Vince!) do their best to make up for it. We got together and MST3K'd this guy, having our own party and sending off our podcast in style. It's a different format and different sound because we wanted to go all out to celebrate The Equalizer. This episode was a blast as was this entire ride. Thank you to everyone who came along with us. @equalizerspod equalizerspodcast at gmail dot com https://www.facebook.com/equalizerspodcast/

The Equalizer Season 4 Episode 21: Endgame Aired on CBS: August 10, 1989 Directed by: Alan Metzger Written by : Coleman Luck Featuring: Elizabeth Berridge, Amy Morton, Lewis Van Bergen, Josef Sommer, Nick Bakay Penultimate episode! We all remember the gaming mastermind Leon from the 1980 movie Midnight Madness who set off five teams on an epic scavenger hunt just for his own whimsy. Similarly in Endgame, the Equalizer goes up against an old dude who is really into "war games" - which unfortunately are less about Matthew Broderick and Ally Sheedy, and more about an elaborate recreation of the Battle of Gettysburg with little toy soldiers in his office. And this old dude's fixation on strategic games has bled into a real life game of vengeance aimed at an attorney and her sister (who happen to be pretty messed up themselves). Not necessarily a top tier EQ episode, but Chris and Chuck are on the home stretch and still giving it everything they got, including perhaps the best On This Date segment yet as Chris shows us what he's made of with a heartfelt serenade. @equalizerspod equalizerspodcast at gmail dot com https://www.facebook.com/equalizerspodcast/

The Equalizer Season 4 Episode 20: Race Traitors Aired on CBS: June 29, 1989 Directed by: Robert E. Warren Written by : Robert Sabaroff Featuring: Laurence Fishburne, David Andrews, Michael Cerveris, Verna Bloom, John Cale The antipenultimate Equalizer episode. This one is... woo boy. The Equalizer is going against a local chapter of neonazi skinheads including a childhood friend of Mickey's. Does the episode approach the topic delicately? Well it starts right off with stock footage of the Third Reich and sails on from there. At the very least, the viewpoint of the Equalizer and the show is in line with today's sensibilities. That said, maybe for the best that so much off the plot focused on weird white supremacy middle management. It's a very strange angle on a very real and sensitive topic. Similarly, Chris and Chuck handle the coverage of this episode with the delicacy of a runaway elephant. @equalizerspod equalizerspodcast at gmail dot com https://www.facebook.com/equalizerspodcast/

The Equalizer Season 4 Episode 19: Heart of Justice Aired on CBS: May 11, 1989 Directed by: Bradford May Written by : Gail Morgan Hickman Featuring: John Shepherd, Paul Guilfoyle, Vincent Gallo (!), Philip Bosco, Patty Mullen New York City in 1989. When the wheels of justice can't convict obviously guilty criminals because of legal loopholes, those criminals run free and, once they get drugged up, they can go out and spend the day terrorizing innocent people without any consequences. This is the case for The Equalizer in this episode, so much so that while he's trying to stop a man who's out for vengeance to right a legal wrong, that guy gets beat to the punch by ANOTHER dude who's out for vengeance to right a legal wrong, just in a more general sense. This episode has emotions, it has an EQ-patented intricate plan that explodes, and it acts as a "Stay Away" sign for anyone thinking of visiting NYC. @equalizerspod equalizerspodcast at gmail dot com https://www.facebook.com/equalizerspodcast/

The Equalizer Season 4 Episode 18: The Caper Aired on CBS: May 4, 1989 Directed by: Alan Metzger Written by : Tom Towler Featuring: Maureen Stapleton, Laura San Giacomo, Zach Grenier, Michael Wincott A lighter episode of The Equalizer. Yes there's still some grisly violence but this time that's paired up with a lighter mystery plot, a diamond heist, and a spunky new sidekick for Robert McCall. EQ is helping out Mrs. Rutherford (Maureen Stapleton), an older woman who's witnessed a murder and whose head is otherwise in the clouds from all the cheap mystery novels she reads. And she insists on a female bodyguard, so on Mickey's recommendation EQ enlists the help of Trudy Collins (Laura San Giacomo) who looks straight out of Desperately Seeking Susan. All that plus a mystery plot twist and a rather gratuitous strip club scene. Chris and Chuck dig deep into the episode as well as into the Florentine Diamond, Indy 500 pace cars, and the Kinsey report. @equalizerspod equalizerspodcast at gmail dot com https://www.facebook.com/equalizerspodcast/

The Equalizer Season 4 Episode 17: Prisoners of Conscience Aired on CBS: April 27, 1989 Directed by: Marc Laub Written by : Robert Eisele Featuring: Tony Plana, Pat Hingle, Dan O'Herlihy, Tim Woodward (Edward's son!) Another Equalizer episode with international intrigue. Whereas last week dealt with Bulgarian ambassadors, this time we got a team of torturers in town working for the Chilean government. But as with every Equalizer episode, the creators add some additional, crazy intrugue of their own: The head torturer (Randall Payne) just happens to be the same man who killed Robert McCall's father; we get a flashback/dream sequence with the Equalizer talking to his father, played by Edward Woodward's real life son Tim Woodward; plus the torture sequences have less polish than our 21st century sensibilities are accustomed to, so that's kinda weird. Chris and Chuck go deep on Chilean history, pronounce "Pinochet" in every way possible, and salute Robert Lansing for his final appearance as Control. @equalizerspod equalizerspodcast at gmail dot com https://www.facebook.com/equalizerspodcast/

The Equalizer Season 4 Episode 16: Time Present, Time Past Aired on CBS: April 20, 1989 Directed by: Gordon Hessler Written by : Tom Towler Featuring: William Zabka, Shirley Knight, Brian Bedford, Dennis Boutsikaris A big episode for the larger Equalizer through-story: First, the second appearance of Kay: Equalizer's ex-wife and Scott's mother. Shirley Knight got a Best Guest Actress Emmy nomination for her "You were never there for us... and now look what you've done: Scott's been kidnapped by the Bulgarian Embassy" scenes with Edward Woodward. Secondly, this episode is a series wrap for William Zabka, and what a way to go: a training montage, thwarting the Bulgarians, losing his innocence, listening an opera album on headphones. It's a tour de force. And then the action itself - brotherly strife between two Bulgarian spies by two veteran guest stars of the show - packs a punch and checks off one more country whose spies the Equalizer has taken head on. @equalizerspod equalizerspodcast at gmail dot com https://www.facebook.com/equalizerspodcast/

The Equalizer Season 4 Episode 15: Starfire Aired on CBS: April 13, 1989 Directed by: Bradford May Written by : Robert Eisele Featuring: Michael Moriarty, George Plimpton, Wendell Pierce, Angela "you're what the french call les incompetents" Goethals Equalizer episode or early precursor to the X-Files? Another superlative episode, the most sci-fi episode to date. This one reinforces once again that audiences have no idea what to expect when they sit down to watch an Equalizer episode. EQ helps a man who calls himself Seti (nudge nudge, UFO nerds) who believes he is part of a large cosmic battle but who is for real being targeted by assassins. That would be enough but this episode just keeps giving - Bunk from The Wire as a psychologist monitoring this odd alien guy; a spacey kaleidoscope; some budget 80s special effects; and another odd inclusion of a young girl in trouble (Angela Goethals not long before Home Alone). Is the show hinting that UFOs are real? Are they in fact real? Chris and Chuck provide conclusive answers to that question and many more in this can't-miss episode. @equalizerspod equalizerspodcast at gmail dot com https://www.facebook.com/equalizerspodcast/

The Equalizer Season 4 Episode 14: 17 Zebra Aired on CBS: April 6, 1989 Directed by: Alan Metzger Written by : Jacqueline Zambrano Featuring: William Atherton, Cordelia González, Joe Seneca, Robert Joy Just like other epic shows like The Sopranos or Breaking Bad, we at this Equalizer podcast have a different schedule for the second half of our final season. In our case, what has usually been a weekly show is now... every month or so. But like Gideon's army of three hundred against the Midianites, we are charging ahead with trumpets blaring. And 17 Zebra is a doozy of an episode to come back to: legendary Equalizer guest William Atherton (jerk from Real Genius, Die Hard, Ghostbusters) stars as an esteemed paramedic who is so fed up with the drunks, winos, and junkies he picks up that he starts killing them! If that wasn't enough, we go deep on every Bible verse McCall tosses around. Just like a prayer we will take you there, listeners. @equalizerspod equalizerspodcast at gmail dot com https://www.facebook.com/equalizerspodcast/

The Equalizer Season 4 Episode 13: Lullaby of Darkness Aired on CBS: March 30, 1989 Directed by: David Jackson Written by : Coleman Luck Featuring: Stephen Lang, Ellen Latzen, Mary-Joan Negro, Vivian Nathan, Jacqueline Brookes Stephen Lang - the villainous Colonel Miles Quaritch in Avatar - is similarly evil in this one, though his victims aren't the Na'vis but rather his character's own wife and daughter. Like most episodes dealing with ugly topics, the viewpoint of the show is good but the execution gets uncomfortable, being from 1989 and all. Shaking up the episode: a) Lang's character takes out a restraining order against the Equalizer (future EQ villains take note) b) the daughter escapes into her imagination along with her old/creepy/evil dolls, making this the most that The Equalizer has ever dipped into the fantasy genre. We wouldn't say it's the easiest Equalizer episode to watch, but of course we're established professionals so this podcast episode goes down easy as always. @equalizerspod equalizerspodcast at gmail dot com https://www.facebook.com/equalizerspodcast/

The Equalizer Season 4 Episode 12: Silent Fury Aired on CBS: March 8, 1989 Directed by: Russ Mayberry Written by : Donna Powers & Wayne Powers Featuring: Cynthia Nixon, Howie Seago, Jon Polito, Paul McCrane, Mark Boone Junior, Beth Ann Bull Another Equalizer special episode. This time he is helping the victims of a band of burglars who target deaf people. Among them, a young Cynthia Nixon in an impressive performance as a deaf person who calls on the Equalizer and has to mediate between him and her hothead fiancee. This episode takes on its special episode topic from many angles but as we note there are a few omissions (What do Cynthina and her fiancee do besides being deaf?), a few cut corners (Do people really just stand around the Center For The Deaf), and a few Equalizer-spiked additions ("What if the attack against the burglars was somehow hearing-themed?"). All that plus Chris shared his own stories about the topic which somehow break the podcast. @equalizerspod equalizerspodcast at gmail dot com https://www.facebook.com/equalizerspodcast/

The Equalizer Season 4 Episode 11: Trial By Ordeal Aired on CBS: March 1, 1989 Directed by: Marc Laub Written by : Coleman Luck Featuring: Roy Dotrice, Sylvia Sidney Equalizer clip show! Control is on trial by an Agency Tribunal, with a judge and prosecutor and big agency flag and everything. The agency thinks that all the help Control has given The Equalizer could be considered treason, so they review all of these as evidence... which is where the clips come in. It's a unique clip show, only 30% or so clips, and by the Morrison Directives (one of several agency phrases in the episode), if he's found guilty he gets the chair! We go deep on the episode and clip shows in general, as well as expressing our love of Debbie Gibson. @equalizerspod equalizerspodcast at gmail dot com https://www.facebook.com/equalizerspodcast/

The Equalizer Season 4 Episode 10: Past Imperfect Aired on CBS: February 15, 1989 Directed by: Russ Mayberry Written by : Gail Morgan Hickman Featuring: Mark Margolis, Hector Elizondo, Katherine Cortez, Jose Edwin Soto A bittersweet episode, given the recent passing of Mark Margolis. It's his last episode as lovable Jimmy on The Equalizer and packs the most emotional punch. Jimmy acts as Big Brother to a fatherless boy named Tomas. It's a sweet relationship but gets a bit muddy when the boy's father shows up, and then a cartel and the agency and the DOJ are all chasing after him. We pay tribute to Mark Margolis the actor and the character Jimmy while also wondering if Jimmy is really a good fit for the Big Brother program. Also featuring a great guest spot by Hector Elizondo, snake tattoos, and more EQ series callbacks than usual, e.g. microdots. @equalizerspod equalizerspodcast at gmail dot com https://www.facebook.com/equalizerspodcast/

The Equalizer 3 movie! Holy cow. How often does it happen on a podcast for a 35 year old show that a new movie in the franchise comes out? Not often at all. For Chris and Chuck, it's a lot of firsts - the first podcast field trip (to a Chicago suburb halfway between our respective suburbs), the first mid-season bonus episode, and the first time we've seen the character Robert McCall, whom we have discussed so very much, on the big screen. It's a roaring rampage of bloody Equalizing justice. On the whole it's consistent with the first two movies, but also a departure in significant ways. Antoine Fuqua and Denzel Washington reteam, along with cinematographer Robert Richardson to bring you this installment of The Equalizer in a beautiful Italian seaside village, and Chris and Chuck are here to discuss it with their specialized expertise of the original Equalizer. @equalizerspod equalizerspodcast at gmail dot com https://www.facebook.com/equalizerspodcast/

The Equalizer Season 4 Episode 9: The Visitation Aired on CBS: February 1, 1989 Directed by: Bradford May Written by : Robert Eisele Featuring: Jenny Agutter, James Tolkan, Leonardo Cimino, Mike Starr, Mel Gorham The Equalizer has an Outbreak episode - EQ has to stop a deadly disease from spreading outside of New York City. You may think you know what to expect from an episode like this, but the classic beats of the Equalizer totally overtake the beats of a typical pandemic story. Like in this one, the only way to stop the spread is to locate the biggest illegal arms dealer in New York who happens to be Mr. Strickland from Back to the Future wearing a Pirates cap. And the infectious disease plot is further pushed aside by perhaps the most bizarre EQ romance to date - the rekindling of a long-ago relationship that, from what we learn of it, is rather creepy. A bonkers episode that is unpredicatable to the last minute. @equalizerspod equalizerspodcast at gmail dot com https://www.facebook.com/equalizerspodcast/

The Equalizer Season 4 Episode 8: The Sins of Our Fathers Aired on CBS: January 18, 1989 Directed by: Paul Krasny Written by : Tom Towler Featuring: J. Smith-Cameron, Al Shannon, Yvonne Wilder, Austin Pendleton, Joe Morton, Michael Sergio A mobster's son is kidnapped; EQ helps his wife extricate her son from the inevitability of a life in the mafia. On the whole this is a rather thin episode considering a) recent heavy-hitting and very special episodes b) it's hard not to compare this plot of mafia domestic issues with The Sopranos which got just a tad more intricate and nuanced. That said our podcast coverage of this episode has got poetry, it's got Bible verses, it's contemplative. Making the episode has made our outlook on life that much more optimistic and informed, as we are sure it will for our listeners listening to it. Where this inspiration comes from, whether it's from The Equalizer, from our own lives, a combination or the collaboration - who knows, but there's probably some sonnet out there for that. @equalizerspod equalizerspodcast at gmail dot com https://www.facebook.com/equalizerspodcast/

The Equalizer Season 4 Episode 7: Making of a Martyr Aired on CBS: January 11, 1989 Directed by: Bradford May Written by : Wayne Powers & Donna Powers Featuring: Tom Noonan, Barbara Williams, Sally Jessy Raphael (as herself) First episode of 1989. This is a very special episode that doesn't seem to know what to do with its very special topic. How is The Equalizer - who in the 3 1/3 seasons we've seen so far seems to enjoy guns and the freedom to shoot more or less anyone he wants based on his own idea of justice - going to deal with a friend's wife who's bringing everybody down with this whole gun control thing. It's the first time in a while that McCalls's views seem antiquated compared to modern day. We cover the episode much more thoroughly than the episode covered the original topic. @equalizerspod equalizerspodcast at gmail dot com https://www.facebook.com/equalizerspodcast/

The Equalizer Season 4 Episode 6: Splinters Aired on CBS: December 14, 1988 Directed by: Paul Krasny Written by : Coleman Luck Featuring: Kevin Conway Richard Bright, Christopher Meloni (1st credit), David Brisbin The KGB tries to reprogram Mickey's mind to turn on the Equalizer. But there's one thing the KGB didn't plan on: Mickey's heart, filled with love you can only get when you loyally assist your ex-secret agent coworker's weird new Equalizing business. This is first time the show has delved into sci-fi and easily the trippiest Equalizer episode. We break it down and place it in the history of the topic of memory fluidity in movies, as well as break down the entire sixth season of Black Mirror. @equalizerspod equalizerspodcast at gmail dot com https://www.facebook.com/equalizerspodcast/

The Equalizer Season 4 Episode 3: Day of the Covenant Aired on CBS: December 7, 1988 Directed by: James A. Contner Written by : Robert Eisele Featuring: Kasi Lemmons, William Zabka, Theodore Bikel, Michael Genet, Tobin Bell There are two sides to this episode. On one hand is a relatively tight plot about a violent resistance movement to the Apartheid, including an opening segment of footage from South Africa and even Desmond Tutu... not to mention a rogue Afrikaner, the NIS, and some grenades. On the other hand, there is Scott's first appearance in Season 4, featuring an even more majestic mane of hair, an actual music performance by his light jazz/peppy Muzak band, and repeatedly pulling a race card on his dad. Leave it to The Equalizer to bring together that doofus character with a very special episode that deals with a current topic more than any other episode to date. @equalizerspod equalizerspodcast at gmail dot com https://www.facebook.com/equalizerspodcast/

The Equalizer Season 4 Episode 4: Eighteen with a Bullet Aired on CBS: November 16, 1988 Directed by: Richard Compton Written by : Bruce A. Taylor Featuring: Bruce Payne, Colleen Ann Fitzpatrick (Vitamin C), Amy Morton, and Ken Obert (Remote Control!) The Equalizer dives into the hollow amoral music industry. A slimy agent, Greg Rivers, is trying to take advantage of a new young talent, Beverly Heat, but is having difficulty because his previous protégé, Gina Rox, is defiantly standing up to Greg and the music industry that spat her out. Greg gets more and more erratic not least because EQ and Mickey are contuinually taunting him for about a week straight. Great episode and great view of the 80s music scene from EQ's viewpoint. @equalizerspod equalizerspodcast at gmail dot com https://www.facebook.com/equalizerspodcast/

The Equalizer Season 4 Episode 3: Riding the Elephant Aired on CBS: November 9, 1988 Directed by: Donald Petrie Written by : M.K. Lorens Featuring: James Hong, Mako, Russell Wong, Elizabeth Sung The Equalizer dives deep into a great story set in the gritty side of Chinatown. Lots of action, a love story, father/son drama, importing heroin, a seedy club/massage parlor called The Rose of Bangkok, explosions, kickboxing, some great Equalizer/Control arguments about morality, and strong Asian cast (though not necessarily Thai as the story calls for). A great one to watch while the country still has James Hong fever after EEAAO. Chris and Chuck bravely break it down as always, this time taking from their toolbox something they haven't used in a while, a dramatic scene read. @equalizerspod equalizerspodcast at gmail dot com https://www.facebook.com/equalizerspodcast/

The Equalizer Season 4 Episode 2: Sea of Fire Aired on CBS: November 2, 1988 Directed by: Alan Metzger Story by : Peter McCabe, Teleplay by : Peter McCabe & Coleman Luck Featuring: Keith David, Reginald VelJohnson, David Strathairn (!), Seret Scott There is another street gang in the Equalizer universe, and just like the others, it has no apparent business plan or any kind of plan really outside of revelling in being terrors in their community. This gang, the Demon Lords, commit a crime in their high school much much worse than their otherwise Greasers "spitballs and goofing in the hallways" demeanor. Equalizer is on the case as a teacher this time, going all Dangerous Minds on them. Also Mickey's got a spiffy new short haircut which sparks Chris to think back to his skateboarding past. @equalizerspod equalizerspodcast at gmail dot com https://www.facebook.com/equalizerspodcast/

The Equalizer Season 4 Episode 1: The Last Campaign Aired on CBS: October 26, 1988 Directed by: Richard Compton Written by : Lee Batchler & Janet Scott Batchler Featuring: Stanley Tucci (!), Laila Robins, E.G. Marshall, Wendell Pierce We're back, baby! Season 4 of the Equalizers podcast is officially afoot, and the original Equalizer gives us another classic to start us off. Stanley Tucci as a scheming NYC politician frames one of his workers and she ends up in a mental institution. The Equalizer and Pete (in her final EQ episode) pose as new patients to help her out (EQ undercover, always a treat). Also an early role for Wendell "Bunk Moreland" Pierce. Plus we go over the landscape of the 88-89 TV season, what the landscape is for the final EQ season and the last TV season of the 80s. Join us as we start what is sure later to be heralded as a groundbreaking season of podcasting. @equalizerspod equalizerspodcast at gmail dot com https://www.facebook.com/equalizerspodcast/

The Equalizers Clip Show Celebration! Before kicking off season four, Chris and Chuck dust off their matching tuxes, rent out the closest thing the Chicagoland area has to the Acadamy Awards' Dolby Theater (the Hyatt O'Hare in Rosemont), and host the first ever Equalizers podcast clip show! For the special occasion, your humble hosts have picked out a few clips from the most recent podcast season: from the highly acclaimed to fan favorites to personal picks to the most historically significant. It was a magical evening and thanks to everyone for coming out and celebrating... and for helping remind Frank Whaley not to fill up on appetizers! @equalizerspod equalizerspodcast at gmail dot com https://www.facebook.com/equalizerspodcast/ Additional audio: myNoise

Bonus Episode: Review a DVD Featurette: The Story of The Equalizer Featuring: Keith Szarabajka, William Zabka, Coleman Luck, Robert Eisele We're between seasons now so it's a fun time to cover some different territory... but not that different. We watched a 45 minute featurette included in an Equalizer DVD set called The Story of The Equalizer. We all know the show deserves a sweeping documentary highlighting the impact of the show, how it fit into the late 80s culture, ideally with a realistic presentation of the strengths and endearing weaknesses of the show itself. This isn't quite that. This is four interviews plus clips of the show and that's about it. And even when Keith Szarabajka is containing his bitterness at being overlooked to carry the show while Edward Woodward was recovering from a heart attack, it's all a rather rose-tinted view of the show. Still there are some good stories about the show, some great stories about Robert Mitchum, and now we're even better poised to take on the final season. @equalizerspod equalizerspodcast at gmail dot com https://www.facebook.com/equalizerspodcast/

The Equalizer Season 3 Episode 22: Always a Lady Aired on CBS: May 4, 1988 Directed by: Marc Laub Story by : Scott Shepherd; Teleplay by : Peter McCabe Featuring: Anne Twomey, Joseph Mascolo, Lewis Van Bergen, Susan Gibney, and (possible stunt cast) Rita Jenrette The Equalizer show packs a lot into their season finale: Agency intrigue, flashbacks, past romances, a casino with a back room for the mobsters that own the place and one of those secret buttons under the roulette table. Some episode superlatives: more female guest stars than usual, more gruesome crime scenes than we're used to, and a rare plot twist. And we, your fearless guides on this journey, reflect on this season finale and look hopefully towards the future (season four of The Equalizer). @equalizerspod equalizerspodcast at gmail dot com https://www.facebook.com/equalizerspodcast/

The Equalizer Season 3 Episode 21: Target of Choice Aired on CBS: April 6, 1988 Directed by: Mark Sobel Written by : Kevin Droney Featuring: Michael Parks, Verna Bloom, John Bedford Lloyd, Kevin Geer, Lenny Venito, Denise Faye, Cecily Adams The penulimate episode of season 3 sees the return of actor's actor Michael Parks as Paul Gray whose family (teenage son and wife suffering from MS) is in danger because a man he testified against is inexplicably out of prison. Some great Mickey time in this one (long overdo), plus a crazily plotted action scene, expectedly awkard portrayal of Paula Gray's condition, and some fiery Equalizer lectures to their lame teenage son. It's happened before that episodes waver as we get close to the end of the season, but this one is still a solid true-to-form Equalizer. @equalizerspod equalizerspodcast at gmail dot com https://www.facebook.com/equalizerspodcast/

The Equalizer Season 3 Episode 20: Regrets Only Aired on CBS: March 30, 1988 Directed by: James A. Contner Written by : Robert Crais Featuring: J. Smith-Cameron (Gerri from Succession!), Philip Kraus, Polly "Kiss My Grits" Holliday, Debra Jo Rupp (That 70s Show), Tony Longo We've seen plenty of damsel in distress plotlines, but this one starts at crazy and builds to "What is even going on?" A woman is terrorized by her ex-husband's weird gaslighting schemes that are tough to prove. But crazy schemes are right up The Equalizer's alley; he counters with gauging with "Hm what effect will it have on this guy if I pretend to take a romantic interest in his ex-wife?" ... and then, to the viewer's surprise, they actually do take a romantic interest in each other. Warning: The episode itself, with its ever-increasing absurdity paired with the May-December romance, has in some cases (ours) led to nausea. @equalizerspod equalizerspodcast at gmail dot com https://www.facebook.com/equalizerspodcast/

The Equalizer Season 3 Episode 19: Last Call Aired on CBS: March 23, 1988 Directed by: Michael O'Herlihy Written by : Robert Crais Featuring: Joe Maruzzo, Michael Cerveris, James Rebhorn, David Schramm, Colleen Ann Fitzpatrick (Vitamin C), Peter Sellars, Tony Azito Two hooligans take over Pete's, the Irish pub that Robert McCall bought earlier this season. Among the hostages are Mickey and Pete (note, a woman), both agents (current and former) who you'd think could easily take on these amateur thugs (and could more to do on the show as well). But no it's Equalizer who goes around learning more about the hooligans (learning a little too much, file under Bizarrely Graphic Details), then mediating a deal (which of course goes awry and the bad guys get shot). Another stellar EQ bottle episode, and also we break down the Police Academy movies. @equalizerspod equalizerspodcast at gmail dot com https://www.facebook.com/equalizerspodcast/

The Equalizer Season 3 Episode 18: No Place Like Home Aired on CBS: March 16, 1988 Directed by: Tobe Hooper (Texas Chainsaw Massacre!) Written by : Robert Eisele Featuring: Michael Rooker, Kelly Curtis, Michael Lerner, Richard Bright, Leo Burmester, Ed Lauter The Equalizer helps out a down-on-their-luck family who needs welfare assistance in the time of Reaganomics. This one surely had people chatting at the water cooler as they waited for their inter-office mail. This hit the topic thoroughly, between Mickey "Bootstraps" Kostmayer, the actual streets of NYC, multiple levels of capitalists and welfare programs, even the media. The usual Equalizer crazy antics made way for a renowned director (Tobe Hooper) and a top-tier guest spot by new-on-the-scene Michael Rooker. We don't solve all of the nation's problems in our discussion of this episode, but we got to most of them. @equalizerspod equalizerspodcast at gmail dot com https://www.facebook.com/equalizerspodcast/

The Equalizer Season 3 Episode 17: The Mystery of Manon: Part 2 Aired on CBS: February 24, 1988 Directed by: Bradford May Written by : Coleman Luck Featuring: Anne Heywood, Lawrence Dane, Melissa Sue Anderson, William Zabka Part two of the final of four Equalizer two-parters. Everyone knows EQ is Yvette's real father, there's a lot of emotional regrouping after that. Then the bad dude that threw Manon back in everyone's life starts kidnapping people and EQ sets himself up to take down that guy from the inside, which he does in an especially epic fashion. Like its "mysterious" title, the episode ends on a note of ambiguity. We break that down as well as the roles of Scott and Control, and the pressing matter of responding via podcast to six year old tumblr posts. @equalizerspod equalizerspodcast at gmail dot com

The Equalizer Season 3 Episode 16: The Mystery of Manon: Part 1 Aired on CBS: February 17, 1988 Directed by: Bradford May Written by : Coleman Luck Featuring: Melissa Sue Anderson, Anthony Zerbe, William Zabka Theoretically the Equalizer audiences in the late 1980s were demanding a) more Mary Ingalls b) of all the areas in EQ's mysterious past we could explore, let's explore more of his past romance with Manon; explore as much of that sliver of his backstory as possible, then we can move on to the rest of his sordid, intriguing past that's been hinted at so much. Or maybe the creators just thought the audiences were demanding that, but either way that's what we got. It's a bit of a reunion: Yvette's back, still unaware EQ is her biological father; Marcel's back, Scott too, even Jimmy and schlubby Sterno. There are some dark themes, dreams, despair, and setting up a lot of pins for Mystery of Manon Part 2 to knock down. @equalizerspod equalizerspodcast at gmail dot com

The Equalizer Season 3 Episode 15: Something Green Aired on CBS: February 10, 1988 Directed by: Luis Soto Written by : Kevin Droney Featuring: Macaulay Culkin! Almost three years before Home Alone, a seven year old Macaulay Culkin appeared in The Equalizer, his second credit. That in itself is worth the price of admission to watch this episode for free on nbc.com. You can tell he was bound for greatness. We just wish the creators of The Equalizer realized how proficient he would be at tricking his kidnappers and setting clever booby traps. Missed opportunity. This episode is also notable for stretching the possibilities of what's allowed under diplomatic immunity; the triumphant return of Mickey Kostmayer; and the final appearance of Richard Jordan as Harley Gage, initially brought in to pick up the slack after Edward Woodward's heart attack. We try to honor his departure... since the show itself did not. @equalizerspod equalizerspodcast at gmail dot com

The Equalizer Season 3 Episode 14: Video Games Aired on CBS: January 27, 1988 Directed by: James A. Contner Written by : Peter McCabe Featuring: Vanessa Angel (Kingpin), Daniel Davis (The Nanny), Andreas Katsulas, John Bedford Lloyd, Annabelle Gurwitch This one is the most "Equalizer After Dark" episode so far. From the title, you'd think it was about some sort of criminal enterprise centered around Atari machines, but no... this episode deals with a brothel taking videos of the prostitutes in employs, then blackmailing them to keep working. And we kid you not, the phrase "Whore Wars" is actually used by an actual character on this actual show to describe the situation. We dive deep into what could have made this episode better, as well as congratulate Stewart Copeland on his recent Grammy win. @equalizerspod equalizerspodcast at gmail dot com facebook.com/equalizerspodcast Music Credit: 2022 Royalty Free Music for Free: Wisdom in the Sun Music Credit: Mind Relaxing Music: France music romantic old

The Equalizer Season 3 Episode 13: The Child Broker Aired on CBS: January 20, 1988 Directed by: Mark Sobel Written by : Mick Curran Featuring: Sam Rockwell, Frank Whaley, Jerry O'Connell, Anthony LaPaglia, Max Casella, Christopher Collet, Thomas G. Waites, Lycia Naff If absolutely nothing else, just check out that cast list. There's a new gang leader on the dire streets of NYC and he's turning on impressionable teens to the rough life: robbing pawn shops, running around, and basking in their misdeeds in their abandoned underground amusement park. You just don't want to get messed up with them, though if you do, you're pretty much guaranteed steady work in the entertainment business for at least forty years. The crazy plot itself would be more at home in a comic book, but this episode is definitely worth it for to see their recognizable faces in what seems like an extended headshot session for their "tough guy" shot. @equalizerspod equalizerspodcast at gmail dot com

The Equalizer Season 3 Episode 12: A Dance on the Dark Side Aired on CBS: January 13, 1988 Directed by: Jonathan Perry Written by : David Lightstone Featuring: Amanda Plummer, David Andrews, George DiCenzo, Brooke Smith ("she puts the lotion in the basket") The first episode of 1988 and... it's not off to a good start. There's an undercover cop who gets in too deep and Amanda Plummer, the police station switchboard operator, hears too much. Sounds compelling, and under different circumstances this could have a been a 42-minute version of The Departed or A Scanner Darkly. Instead we have this amalgam of missed opportunities. Not that we're at a loss for words; we go through what could have made this better, how this compares to other Equalizer duds (few and far between), dive deep into band members gone solo, and look hopefully towards a brighter future for 1988 Equalizer. @equalizerspod equalizerspodcast at gmail dot com

The Equalizer Season 3 Episode 11: Christmas Presence Aired on CBS: December 16, 1987 Directed by: Michael O'Herlihy Written by : Coleman Luck Featuring: Jacqueline Brookes, Corey Carrier, Don McManus, Dean Norris (!) Possibly the most very special episode in the entire run of the show, the Equalizer (aka Mr. Manhattan) and Harley Gage have to protect a boy who has AIDS from some very concerned dads in the neighborhood. Because this is The Equalizer, instead of civilized community discourses these dads opt for smoke bombs, animal masks, and kniving furniture. Kudos to the show, there weren't many TV shows addressing this topic in the 80s; and despite the cartoonish bad guys, the show's viewpoint holds up pretty well, especially compared to other shows. Also it's a bona fide Christmas episode and the first appearance of Pete's, McCall's favorite restaurant. The specialness lives on through the years to make this a very special podcast episode. @equalizerspod equalizerspodcast at gmail dot com

The Equalizer Season 3 Episode 10: The Rehearsal Aired on CBS: December 2, 1987 Directed by: Alan Metzger Written by : Robert Eisele Featuring: Chris Cooper! Jennifer Van Dyck, George Morfogen, Ned Eisenberg, Sharon Chatten The Equalizer show takes the Broadway musical Phantom of the Opera (which debuted the year before) and makes it its own. No, none of the singing, nor any emotional complexity nor any sentiment of who's the real monster nor any nuance in general. But it does have a deformed guy terrorizing a Broadway theater. And instead of a chandelier crashing there's Molotov cocktails. And the original didn't have any mention of freebasing cocaine explosions, so this episode rights that wrong. It's a bona fide bottle episode and wild wild ride. Come for the recap, stay for our deep dives into Phantom, its themes and legacy, and how well it fits into The Equalizer mold. That's all I ask of you. @equalizerspod equalizerspodcast at gmail dot com

The Equalizer Season 3 Episode 9: Inner View Aired on CBS: November 18, 1987 Directed by: Marc Laub Written by : Jim Trombetta Featuring: Katherine Cortez, Terrence Mann, Toni Kalem, Starletta DuPois, Paul Hipp, Ron Vawter, Timmy Cappello We're calling it now, this episode is an instant classic, if anything because it has its own theme song: Shadow Man. A clairvoyant woman helps EQ and Harley Gage track down a serial killer. The newspapers call that guy the Scrapbook Killer but his real inspiration is a hit song by the band "Archon". And that song... is Shadow Man. Between psychic visions and the 80s rock scene, this episode is venturing into new territories, which of course it does in a fresh and informed manner. For example, it shows the way rock concerts used to be promoted in most major cities back then that time nearly forgot about but we remember, and honestly, we'd like to see rock flags come back. @equalizerspod equalizerspodcast at gmail dot com

The Equalizer Season 3 Episode 8: Shadow Play Aired on CBS: November 11, 1987 Directed by: Russ Mayberry Written by : Robert Eisele Featuring: J.T. Walsh, Richard Jordan, Gerry Bamman, Tomas Milian, Paul Calderon To paraphrase the IMDB episode description: "There's a very dense plot concerning a Congressional hearing about a Mafia-funded shadow army overthrowing dictators. And very separately in addition, McCall continues his recovery." On one hand we have J.T. Walsh, an all time great guest star, along with a full cast of regulars - Mickey, Control, Bagler, and Alice Shepard jezebelling over J.T. Walsh's heroism. All that plus multiple assassination attempts that were, like all failed assassinations, poorly executed. This is Edward Woodward's first episode back in scenes alongside the cast since his heart attack, making us wish we could retroactively petition the CBS execs to please let the man recover more before returning to work. @equalizerspod equalizerspodcast at gmail dot com

The Equalizer Season 3 Episode 7: Mission: McCall: Part 2 Aired on CBS: November 4, 1987 Directed by: Alan Metzger Story by : Ed Waters & Coleman Luck Teleplay by : Ed Waters & Scott Shepherd & Robert Eisele Featuring: Robert Mitchum, Richard Jordan, William Zabka, Boris Lee Krutonog The second in the two parter that answers the question: What will become of Robert McCall in the world of the Equalizer now that in real life Edward Woodward has suffered a heart attack? Compared to last episode, the prognosis is not so good. He's locked up in a super secret (but highly accessible) KGB fortress building (conveniently not to far from NYC), unconscious and recovering from a gunshot. Very special guest Robert Mitchum and new character Harley Gage get into crazy shenigans breaking in, talking with Russian accents, shocking themselves for some reason, seducing double agents, blowing things up, brandishing Uzis, and finally escaping with EQ on a helicopter. Once again, your humble Equalizer podcasters are the only ones out there breaking it down and considering all the ramifications in the larger Equalizer universe. @equalizerspod equalizerspodcast at gmail dot com

The Equalizer Season 3 Episode 6: Mission: McCall: Part 1 Aired on CBS: October 28, 1987 Directed by: Alan Metzger Written by : Ed Waters & Scott Shepherd Featuring: Robert Mitchum, Richard Jordan, Frances Fisher, William Zabka, Frankie Faison We knew it was coming. During the filming of season three, Edward Woodward suffered a heart attack and the show The Equalizer carried on. What we didn't know is just how they would handle it. First, they had to throw together a story fast -a KGB kidnapping with some agency scheming, check. Second, introducing a new character in the EQ universe who may carry the EQ torch in case Woodward can't continue with the show, check. Finally, some big star power (for the CBS demographic) who may not necessarily have a detectable resting heart rate. A lot of craziness, a lot of world building, quite the setup to this unexpected but necessary two parter, and our introduction to this new phase of the show. We just wish we could have sent Edward Woodward some flowers in 1987, just as his character has done more than once, awkwardly, to women in distress in the show. @equalizerspod equalizerspodcast at gmail dot com

The Equalizer Season 3 Episode 5: Encounters in a Closed Room Aired on CBS: October 14, 1987 Directed by: Jim Johnston Written by : Ann Lewis Hamilton & Scott Shepherd Featuring: Michael Moriarty, Maureen Mueller, Jamey Sheridan We're still in a limbo between the epic first three episodes of season three and when the show has to radically adjust to Edward Woodward's mild heart attack and he has to step away for a stretch. We categorize this one as "KGB Light": a bittersweet romance between a Russian defector and a scientist escaping Russian custody while in the States, some parallels between the scientist's plight and how EQ felt in the agency, and my god the coats in this episode, people. Definite Americans vibes here. Guest starring Michael Moriarty (Law & Order) and Maureen Mueller who, given her resemblence this episode, would have been a star had they made a Lauren Bacall biopic in the mid 80s. @equalizerspod equalizerspodcast at gmail dot com

The Equalizer Season 3 Episode 4: In The Money Aired on CBS: October 7, 1987 Directed by: Aaron Lipstadt Written by : Ed Waters & Scott Shepherd Featuring: John Heard (the dad in Home Alone), Dennis Boukiaris (Better Call Saul), Patricia Richardson, Ashley Crow, Oliver Platt (first credit!), Dennis Steinberg Yes this episode feels a little like a snap back to reality after the epic two parter that started the season and the potential Emmy bait acting performance in #3 (Vincent D'Onofrio in Suspicion of Innocence). Still, this one has a lot going for it: a focus on Wall Street, skeevy insider trading, some sneaky audience deception (possibly a first on the show), and some third act stunts complete with a human cannonball net. All that plus a spotlight on a lovely 20 foot patch of grassy coastline just off of some expressway in NYC. @equalizerspod equalizerspodcast at gmail dot com

The Equalizer Season 3 Episode 3: Suspicion of Innocence Aired on CBS: September 30, 1987 Directed by: Russ Mayberry Written by : Robert Eisele Featuring: Vincent D'Onofrio, Ann Wedgeworth, John Randolph, Mark Margolis, a little James Eckhouse So. There's a lot of words to throw around - problematic, of its time, doesn't age well. A few things are for sure. This is a very special episode. The Equalizer (the show and the character) had its heart in the right place. And this episode is not to be missed. Following an epic two parter that started the season, The Equalizer turns its focus to a mentally disabled man falsely accused of murder. And Vincent D'Onofrio gives it his absolute all as the lead guest performer. And this is 1987, and The Equalizer isn't much known for subtely. Yeah, there's a lot to process. And process it we do, diligently cataloging other similar performances of the time and the larger topic of how to view past representations of sensitives issues. A very special podcast episode about a very special episode. @equalizerspod equalizerspodcast at gmail dot com

The Equalizer Season 3 Episode 2: Blood & Wine: Part 2 Aired on CBS: September 23, 1987 Directed by: Alan Metzger Written by : Coleman Luck Featuring: Telly Savalas, William Atherton, Moira Sinise Yowza. Once again, they are starting out strong for season three - a two parter airing on the same night, grabbing America by their lapels and saying "We're back and we're not messing around." And it's hard to start out any more grandiose plotline than William Atherton threating to poison the entire city of New York, and God appearing to Telly Savalas and absolving him of his horrible past. We were blown away by the first part last week, and turns out that was just an appetizer, just setting the stage for all the craziness in this episode. Great outdoor shots of the city, nutso plotlines, and lots of screentime for Savalas and Atherton to shine. An amazing episode that bodes well for the rest of season three. @equalizerspod facebook: equalizerspodcast equalizerspodcast at gmail dot com

The Equalizer Season 3 Episode 1: Blood & Wine: Part 1 Aired on CBS: September 23, 1987 Directed by: Alan Metzger Written by : Coleman Luck Featuring: Telly Savalas, William Atherton, Moira Sinise We are back! And The Equalizer is back for an all new season, number three, and they didn't just go big for their season premiere, they went for an all out television event. All stops have been pulled, the breaks are noticeably unpumped. It's a power play against Dynasty, and it's telling St. Elsewhere to go far elsewhere. Move over Magnum PI, you can start your eighth season next week. For the only time in its run, The Equalizer aired both parts of a two parter on the same night. And what a two parter - car crashes, Italian radicals, heaven, hell, God, the devil. Not only that, they're doubling down on guest stars - the legendary Telly Savalas as a monk who also happens to consult for the FBI. And not just any villian but perhaps the biggest "hey that guy" villains of the 80s, William Atherton (evil in Real Genius, jerk in Ghostbuster, unethical in Die Hard). Join us as we break down the new season and dig into the first half of this epic two parter. @equalizerspod facebook: equalizerspodcast equalizerspodcast at gmail dot com

It happened first when the Eagles reunited and it's happening again: Hell freezing over. And in our case it's not because dumptruck full of money pulled up to our front door (ahem, Don Henley). No in our noble case it's a quest for truth, for perspective, and to not be Equalizer snobs. Of course we're talking about watching the 2021 reboot of The Equalizer starring Queen Latifah, now in its third season. We watched the first two episodes to get a feel of the premise and the structure of the show. Are we biased? Possibly, though we try to keep the "Woodward did it better" takes to a minimum. If anything it shows growth and maturity for the two of us, personally and as podcasters. Baby steps, it takes a village, we can be heroes, just for one day. @equalizerspod equalizerspodcast at gmail dot com

We did it before and we're doing it again. While some may rest while they're on season break, we take it as an opportunity - to expand our minds to other contributions to the Equalizer universe, to see what traits of Robert McCall have made it into the movie franchise, which traits from the first movie are strengthened, and overall to watch a great fun movie. From 2018 in all its major motion piction glory, it's The Equalizer 2. Denzel is back as Robert McCall, he's a Lyft driver now, Pedro Pascal has joined the story. The first movie's down, we got the world building and origin story taken care of, now it's just Denzel's McCall in his groove equalizing left and right big and small. Sometimes it's the folks in his Boston apartment complex, sometimes it's off in foreign countries. One thing's for sure, he's a force of good in the world, while also seeming to enjoy breaking people's fingers. @equalizerspod equalizerspodcast at gmail dot com

The Equalizer Season 2 Episode 22: Re-Entry Aired on CBS: May 27, 1987 Directed by: Aaron Lipstadt Story by : Dennis Manuel, Teleplay by : Scott Shepherd Featuring: John Goodman, Steve Buscemi, David Johansen (aka Buster Poindexter), Joe Morton, and Stewart Copeland himself! Season 2 finale! And it's a doozy. The guest list is a veritable Coen brothers movie / Monsters Inc voice cast. Pre-Roseanne John Goodman is an honest down-on-his-luck unemployed father forced into a criminal conspiracy to steal plutonium. Pre-Mr. Pink Steve Buscemi is a sleazy guy working in a sleazy electronics store. Pre-Hot Hot Hot Buster Poindexter (released later in summer 87) is a henchman. And amidst his prolific career as Equalizer composer / Police drummer, Stewart Copeland cameos as a pickpocket-for-hire. And the original EQ isn't the only episode with esteemed guest stars - our own Vince Recupito is back to cover this momentous finale. It's safe to say we are not just podcasting about a TV show from the 80s; we are historians and we are making history. @equalizerspod equalizerspodcast at gmail dot com

The Equalizer Season 2 Episode 21: Hand and Glove Aired on CBS: May 20, 1987 Directed by: Alan Metzger Written by : Coleman Luck Featuring: William Zabka, Barbara Garrick, William H. Macy This one is a bit of a departure. And by a bit, we mean it seems like someone switched an Equalizer script with a Scooby Doo script at the last minute and it was too late to turn back (we'll look for a corresponding Scooby Doo where a woman is being hunted by the KGB in gritty 80s Times Square). EQ and his doofus son Scott help a woman haunted by a mysterious man in black in her dreams... and maybe in real life! Is it all in her head? Is her rich family behind it or just especially negligent? Will her therapist William H Macy help her battle her own psyche? Will The Equalizer bounce around genres in the upcoming season? There's more questions than answers in this intrguing episode. @equalizerspod equalizerspodcast at gmail dot com