Tonight we watched the first episode of the second season of "The Fugitive." When it was over, I told LohMan that series was just about the best thing I've ever seen on TV. You'll have to take into consideration my viewing habits -- I haven't watched TV with any regularity since the days of Hill Street Blues. But let me tell you, that 45-year-old story was absolutely gripping.
Ed Begley (pere) played a law professor ("Man in a Chariot") who bragged on a local program that he would have been able to get an acquittal or a hung jury in a number of high-profile cases, including Richard Kimble's. Dr. Kimble happened to catch the show and he contacted the professor, who had been a defense attorney of renown before some personal setbacks. In order to test his belief that he could at least come up with grounds for an appeal, the Begley character assigned a re-enactment of the Kimble trial to a group of his students.
Beautifully acted, directed and written, this episode was the one that won The Fugitive the Emmy for Best Dramatic Series in 1965. The three key actors -- Ed Begley, David Janssen (Kimble, of course), and Robert Drivas (student prosecutor) -- have been dead for decades. But Television's Golden Age lives on thanks to the availability of DVDs.
George Eckstein, who wrote the script, died a few weeks ago. If he hadn't done anything else, he should be remembered. But he did do other things. He co-wrote the conclusion of The Fugitive, along with many other TV programs. He also produced Duel, that Dennis Weaver made-for-TV movie about the salesman being pursued by an unbalanced trucker.
I salute you, George Eckstein, for the high quality of your work.
Ed Begley (pere) played a law professor ("Man in a Chariot") who bragged on a local program that he would have been able to get an acquittal or a hung jury in a number of high-profile cases, including Richard Kimble's. Dr. Kimble happened to catch the show and he contacted the professor, who had been a defense attorney of renown before some personal setbacks. In order to test his belief that he could at least come up with grounds for an appeal, the Begley character assigned a re-enactment of the Kimble trial to a group of his students.
Beautifully acted, directed and written, this episode was the one that won The Fugitive the Emmy for Best Dramatic Series in 1965. The three key actors -- Ed Begley, David Janssen (Kimble, of course), and Robert Drivas (student prosecutor) -- have been dead for decades. But Television's Golden Age lives on thanks to the availability of DVDs.
George Eckstein, who wrote the script, died a few weeks ago. If he hadn't done anything else, he should be remembered. But he did do other things. He co-wrote the conclusion of The Fugitive, along with many other TV programs. He also produced Duel, that Dennis Weaver made-for-TV movie about the salesman being pursued by an unbalanced trucker.
I salute you, George Eckstein, for the high quality of your work.