hollywoodlegend

Normally a strong series with an interesting cast, this episode was depressing and didn't feel as focused as some. A vice cop hopes his teen daughter can be a pro ice skater, but much of his time is spent trying to bust a prostitution ring of underage girls. He does a good job of switching from loving father to undercover officer stripping down to pose as a customer. Normally Police Story officers are tormented. This one didn't seem as bothered as most.

James Cromwell plays a total creep, and the story of the trusting girl he lures in for abuse seemed thrown in for shock value. Had she been reported missing? Her story could have been developed more.

An unexpected pinball challenge between Cromwell and a woman who works for him seemed very out of place. Would a vice cop really take on a second job in a supermarket to earn more money for his daughter's ice skating lessons and time on the ice (hence the title)? Although he's married, his wife only appears when he's in bed, either at home or the hospital.

The underlying focus is the contrast between the vice sergeant's daughter who can devote herself to skating practice with a goal of going pro, while other teen girls are being beaten, drugged up, and pimped out. Not an episode I'd watch a second time, unlike many in this series.

Review of just one segment: Love and the Happy Family. A rather portly Murray Hamilton has recently married Zira, Kim Hunter. They each have an adult child who is visiting while on spring break. Sian Barbara Allen plays Hamilton's daughter, while a very young and very tall Ed Begley, Jr. Is Kim Hunter's son. The two of them are now supposed to be brother and sister, but instead they've started a romance.

At first, Hamilton and Hunter don't like the idea, and Hamilton thinks of a way to break the young couple up. He'll introduce his daughter to a young man who works for him.

Hamilton gets most of the one-liners that are as corny as you remember this show being. The real entertainment is just seeing the actors if you are a fan of any of them. With a cast of unfamiliar faces, this same segment would not be worth watching.

Adam-12 is probably the single best American police drama, but Season 5 got off to a bad start.

Guest stars Micky Dolenz and Edd "Kookie" Byrnes are fun to see, but can we really take them seriously as a biker gang who have a problem with "the Fuzz"?

A series of purse snatchings by bikers leads to our officers' confrontation with the gang. When they attend a local community police meeting, the story gets worse. The usual "I bet you're not so tough without that badge" line leads to a cringeworthy exchange between Malloy and "Kookie," as Malloy thinks it's a good idea to challenge him to a dirt bike race. Suddenly I expected Fonzie to appear. Is this still Adam-12?

Reed has a short time to teach Pete how to race a dirt bike. How convenient that Reed knows all about it. The big day comes and the "kids" (both men are 40!) have their race. Malloy is a man of integrity, but I'd rather see him doing police work.

Worth it for fans of the Monkees or 77 Sunset Strip, and young boys might have enjoyed the dirt bike scenes. Overall, not the Adam-12 you came to see.