Rate the last 1960s TV episode you watched.

Burke's Law
"Who Killed the Jackpot"
Pilot for the Honey West series
Featured one of my fave actors in a supporting role: Louis Hayward
6.5/10

Whispering Smith (1961). Dark Circle (1961).

This western series lasted for just one 26 episode season. The season was shot in 1959 but didn’t reach TV screens (via NBC) until 1961. "Dark Circle" was episode #18, first broadcast on September 4, 1961. "Whispering Smith" was, at the time, criticized for violence, but has very little by modern standards. Military hero and western movie star Audie Murphy, in his only foray into series TV, plays the title character, a police officer in frontier Denver. His semi-comical and somewhat dim sidekick, George, is played by country and pop crooner Guy Mitchell ("Heartaches By The Number").

mf

Trust me. I’m The Doctor.

Twilight zone monsters are due on maple street. 9/10 splendid show...

The Invaders - Vikor
10 / 10

Three Star Trek-Original Series at one go.

The Galileo Seven (1967). Of the 29 episodes of Season 1, “The Galileo Seven” was the 14th story to be filmed (late September, early October 1966) and the 16th to be broadcast (January 5, 1967). An important episode in the development of Spock’s character. He, McCoy, Scottie and four others become marooned when their shuttle craft crashes and the Enterprise’s scanning equipment goes haywire preventing their rescue. From what we have all heard about William Shatner’s propensity for taking over lines and scenes first written for other actors, we see him, here, taking a less active role than his other three officers. The only drawback to making this story perfect is the ending. After Kirk and McCoy tease Spock about making an emotional decision, Spock defends is action by saying that it was not inconsistent because an emotional reaction was the only logical course; a statement that leaves everybody on the bridge laughing their be-hinds off at the fade out.

The Squire of Gothos (1967). “The Squire Of Gothos” was the 18th story to be filmed (middle of November 1966) and the 17th to be broadcast (January 12, 1967). Again, an Enterprise crew finds itself trapped on a mysterious planet which cloaks itself from the starship’s instruments. Kirk, McCoy and some others are being held against their will in what appears to be an 18th century English castle ruled over by a being who looks human and introduces himself as General Trelane, Retired. It seems he had detected light from Earth but failed to realize that what he was looking at was 900 years old. Trelane is played by William Campbell (“Dementia 13,” “Pretty Maids All In A Row”) in what is my second favorite guest star role of the classic series (the first place is held, you might guess, by Ricardo Montalban). Campbell is a total delight as a peevish, all-powerful being who just wants someone to play with. A wonderful mixture of comedy and suspense with a perfect ending. Campbell also appeared in Star Trek as Koloth, a Klingon warrior, in “The Trouble With Tribbles” (also classic first season). He returned as Koloth again 28 years later in two episodes of “Deep Space 9.”

Arena (1967). “Arena” was the 19th story to be filmed (middle of November 1966) and the 18th to be broadcast (January 19, 1967). This exciting action adventure was adapted from a short story by science fiction writer Fredric Brown (also known as an expert at the short-short story). Brown’s story was filmed once before for “The Outer Limits” in 1964 (“Fun and Games” starring Nick Adams). In this one, Kirk and a captain from a Gorn starship (who looks like an alligator person) are forced by powerful entities to settle their differences one-on-one, each unarmed, on a seemingly barren and rocky planet. A real thriller. As a postscript (for those of you who still remember what a postscript is), there is a truly classic Star Trek moment in the opening sequence of “Arena,” one that even people who have never seen the series know about. A disposable security dude in a red shirt says, “Captain, I see something…” just before being bathed in a blue light and disintegrating. Unfortunately, McCoy doesn’t get to say, “He’s dead, Jim.” (See the fifth-ever broadcast episode “The Enemy Within” for the first instance of that catchphrase.)

mf

Trust me. I’m The Doctor.

Gilligan's Island (1965) S1 E22 Diamonds Are an Ape's Best Friend - I am working my way through the entire series and this is probably the weakest episode yet, still a lot of fun but not more than 7/10.