The Gang: Part 1

When I think of this series, this is the episode that immediately comes to mind. JJ gets roped into being part of The Satan Knights gang. They expect him to go to a big fight with their rival gang The Warlords, which of course JJ doesn't want to do. As the other reviewers mention, Thelma gets off a great line when she meets the gang's leader Mad Dog.

The kids get Florida and James to go out to the movies before the gang comes to get JJ. The line is too long at the movies so they decide to leave. On their way home they run into JJ with the gang members and are shocked that JJ is in a gang. James is in fierce protection mode and shows that he is unafraid of Mad Dog - and threatens to put a muzzle on him. Mad Dog reveals the gun he is carrying. In the ensuing scuffle.to grab JJ, Mad Dog shoots him! This was scary and shocking stuff in 1975.

The episode is a two-parter and ends on a cliffhanger not knowing if JJ survived (spoiler: he does).

"JJ and the Gang" finds JJ an unwitting member of the Satan Knights in their ongoing street war against the Warlords. Gang members Sweet Pea (Douglas Grant, later seen in "The Lunch Money Rip-Off") and Neck Bone (Michael Roberts) personally invite the new recruit to tonight's 'dance.' As there are only 100 Knights to 500 Warlords it's a sure bet that someone's bound to get hurt and JJ appreciates the fact that his body hasn't got any holes in it! Successfully getting their parents out of the house for an evening at the movies, Thelma and Michael meet the fearsome Satan Knights leader Mad Dog (Oscar De Gruy), who fails to impress JJ's sister: "JJ, somethin' is here to see you!" An exchange over names offers one of Thelma's finest moments in the entire series: "when I was born my mama took one look at me and called me Thelma, just like your mama took one look at you and called you Mad Dog!" The sickly act doesn't convince the juvenile delinquents, accompanying JJ through the street to encounter James and Florida, who are stunned to learn that their eldest son is a gang member. Mad Dog allows his gun to speak its peace, and JJ makes a pronouncement: "somebody's been shot!"