BLUE KNIGHT, THE: PILOT {SERIES PREMIERE} (TV)
Summary
The pilot in this dramatic series about streetwise Los Angeles Police Department veteran Bumper Morgan.
In this episode, Bumper meets with a confidential informant, Frank Zugarelli, before he is called to the scene of a pawn shop robbery where a fellow cop, Donnelly, has been murdered. Bumper learns that the robber made off with not only cash and items of jewelry, but several guns that had been locked in a drawer and were not for sale. Guessing that the guns were the killer's real target and the other loot merely "cover," Bumper begins to search for Earl Coggins, the only other pawn shop employee who knew of the guns' location. A shopkeeper then accuses a young boy, Lucius, of theft; Bumper administers a "lie-detector test" in his squad car and firmly but kindly urges the boy not to repeat his mischief.
Bumper then roughs up a knife-wielding would-be robber and takes the injured man to be treated by his doctor pal, who seems none too pleased with Bumper's rough methods. When he finally locates Earl, he admits that he sold one of the guns to "some black boy" who may have been driving a silver T-Bird. Bumper learns that the T-Bird driver may be Edwin Beall and again recruits Frank to track the man down; the state-of-the-art police computer program offers information about Edwin's possible history in Philadelphia and alleged cross-dressing habits. After Donnelly's funeral, Bumper hangs out with his pal Detective Charley Bronski as another cop, Randy, offers a heartfelt retirement speech. Later, Bumper finally tracks down Edwin in the silver T-Bird, though the car's real owner, the wealthy Mr. Stebbins, states that he has allowed Edwin to drive the car and hints that Bumper has racist reasons for assuming the young black man could not own the expensive automobile. Edwin refuses to admit to any wrongdoing and Bumper's colleagues point out that his case is fairly weak. As he departs the station house, Edwin informs him that he is an "instrument of a repressive society" who will be dealt with "by any means necessary."
Bumper becomes convinced that Edwin is amassing a large collection of guns, including the ones stolen in the robbery, though the other detectives are skeptical. He later assists a homeless man, Wimpey, though the doctor mistakenly believes that Bumper has caused the man's injuries. The doctor's assistant, Moody Larkin, takes a liking to Bumper and accompanies him on a romantic stroll on the beach, where Bumper admits that he may be growing too old for challenging police work. When Moody suggests that he could retire, however, Bumper firmly refuses, feeling that he still has important work to do, particularly in solving Donnelly's murder. Elsewhere, Edwin complains that "some turkey" within his social movement has "freelanced" and killed Donnelly on his own; Bumper soon recruits Wimpey as a lookout, telling him to position himself near the garage that Edwin is using as a headquarters and watch for the fateful silver car.
Frank's associate Nicky frets that Frank has gone missing, and Bumper soon finds him in the morgue, a victim of a heroin overdose. Charley then declares that he has located Donnelly's killer, a man known as "Tank" who has been found with the gun used in the murder. Bumper, however, recognizes Tank as one of Edwin's associates and maintains that there is more to the conspiracy. Despite Charley's warning that he has gone "over the edge" with his obsession, Bumper searches Edwin's garage and finds several more guns; he eventually gets the simple idea to drain the T-Bird's radiator of water. The car soon stalls, prompting Edwin to call a tow truck, driven by Walter; Bumper watches in satisfaction as a beat cop finds three machine pistols stashed under the stalled car and quickly places Edwin under arrest. Later, Bumper breaks the bad news of Frank's death to a saddened Nicky, assuring him that it was a mere accident and that Frank had repeated spoken of his friend's attempts to help him. Commercials deleted.
(This program is a "sequel" to the four-hour November 1973 miniseries of the same name, starring William Holden in the role of Bumper Morgan. After this extended pilot episode, the series resumed in December 1975 and ran through December 1976.)
Details
- NETWORK: CBS
- DATE: May 9, 1975 9:30 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 1:12:42
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: B:14260
- GENRE: Drama, police/detective
- SUBJECT HEADING: Drama, police/detective; Drama, mystery/suspense; Murder
- SERIES RUN: CBS - TV, 1975
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Lee Rich … Executive Producer
- John Furia Jr. … Producer
- J. Lee Thompson … Director
- Albert Ruben … Writer
- Henry Mancini … Music by
- George Kennedy … Cast, Bumper Morgan
- Alex Rocco … Cast, Detective Charley Bronski
- Glynn Turman … Cast, Edwin Beall
- Verna Bloom … Cast, Moody Larkin
- Michael Margotta … Cast, Frank Zugarelli
- Seth Allen … Cast, Piskor
- John Steadman … Cast, Wimpey
- Richard Hurst … Cast, Hartman
- Bart Burns … Cast, Randy
- Ji-Tu Cumbuka … Cast, Tank
- Eric Christmas … Cast, Mr. Stebbins
- Hoke Howell … Cast, Earl Coggins
- Reid Cruickshanks … Cast, Lt. Walsh
- Harry Caesar … Cast, Walter
- John Dennis … Cast, Dolnick
- Valetine Villarreal … Cast, Jesus
- Byron Mabe … Cast, Hemmings
- Curtis Henderson … Cast, Lucius
- John Fujioka … Cast, Tanaka
- Richard Kalk … Cast, Dibbs
- Angela Gibbs … Cast, Maria
- Marc Alaimo … Cast, The Dutchman
- Douglas Dirkson … Cast, Bricker
- Howard Hesseman … Cast, Resident
- Walter Barnes … Cast, Personnel Officer
- Britt Leach … Cast, Programmer
- Don Hanmer … Cast, News Vendor
- Joseph Wambaugh … Cast, Deskman
- Dorothy Meyers … Cast, Shopper
- Lieux Dressler … Cast, Waitress
- Jim Bowles … Cast, Burrito Owner
- Tad Horino … Cast, Medical Examiner
- Peter Colte … Cast
- Daniel Torppe … Cast
- Andre Edwards … Cast
- John Chilton … Cast
- Dea St. Lamount … Cast
- Skip Riley … Cast
- Gary Mascaro … Cast
- Dennis McKenzie … Cast
- Hunter Von Leer … Cast
- W.C. Coleman … Cast