The Scapegoat

This is JR's episode all the way, also saddled with buds and lots of problems... Hint from the previous episode.

Andrew Parks, in an excellent role, plays another baddie twentysomething. He breaks into his ex-girlfriends house, trying to steal a coin collection, and kills her. A robbery gone REALLY BAD. In the meantime, the other guy she was dating is accused of the murder. Here's the catch --both young men are friends of JR. That's the stunning part, a story that will definitely keep your attention.

Lots of well known actors appear; soap opera star Bernard Barrow (as Gordon). He appeared on RYANS HOPE and LOVING. John Karlin plays Easy Eddie (you have to love that name). Karlin was a hero to all of us kids, playing Willie on DARK SHADOWS for years. Possibly one of the best tv roles for Andrew Parks, son of famous actor Larry Parks. His character also has a drug problem, while JR's other pal has a drinking problem?

I agree with the last reviewer, there should have been more attention paid to the addictions of JR's friends. Nevertheless, fine direction from Walter Grauman who did an excellent job with this young cast. Memorable ending between Parks and his father. Where a super director comes in.

JR's classic Mustang is a must see for buffs, as is Karlin's 1930s vintage car.

Partly filmed at Echo Park, not far from Dodger Stadium. SEASON 6 EPISODE 15 remastered color. CBS/Paramount dvd box set. First episode of 1978.

I was so disappointed when Barnaby Jones Season Five began, and we were regaled with the happenings I mention in my title. What are the odds -- a private detective's secretary and newly appointed partner would encounter all these crimes and whose friends and relatives would be involved in them? Prior to Season Five the episodes had lots of clever murder plots and lots of Barnaby and less JR and Betty. I liked Betty in small doses, and JR as well. She always seemed so overly dramatic and hammy (even though she won Miss America with a dramatic reading). JR, IMO, was a decent actor but not right for this role After Season Four I lost interest.

Through the course of "Barnaby Jones", one of the most common plots involves a friend of Betty's being killed, committing a murder or just being in some sort of peril. It's used so often, that I am really surprised Betty had any friends left! Well, in "The Scapegoat", the friend angle is used but it's one of Jedediah's...not Betty's.

When the story begins, Dewey has been on a date and has, once again, drunk too much and has made a fool of himself. She is tired of this and tells him to go home and, after a brief struggle he goes. However, in the home ALREADY is another man...a drug addict who has broken in to steal a valuable coin collection. And, when he's caught, he kills the woman.

Soon after this, you learn that the killer is the son of a famous defense attorney. And the attorney soon realizes what his son has done. But, instead of turning him in to the police, he decides to help his son cover up his part in the killing and instead they work to frame Dewey! And, when Jedediah notices that this lawyer has volunteers to represent Dewey BUT keeps giving him bad advice, his budding lawyer instincts start to tingle.

While I generally liked this episode, I was disappointed how the show seemed to minimize alcoholism and domestic violence. Dewey is clearly a problem drinker...probably an alcoholic...though it's never really addressed. Also, when he's drunk, he is abusive...and this, also, seems to be minimized. Not a completely effective episode as a result.