Marker to a Dead Bookie

Episode aired Jan 16, 1974
TV-PG
51m

IMDb RATING

7.3/10

232

YOUR RATING

Action Crime Drama Mystery Thriller

Lt. Kojak fails to bring down a wily heroin kingpin, so he ups the ante by putting himself up for sale, pretending he's got no shot at Captain's bars, so he's going for dirty money instead. ... Read allLt. Kojak fails to bring down a wily heroin kingpin, so he ups the ante by putting himself up for sale, pretending he's got no shot at Captain's bars, so he's going for dirty money instead. Theo Kojak's top undercover operative Gil sets up an elaborate scam with the dealers, wher... Read allLt. Kojak fails to bring down a wily heroin kingpin, so he ups the ante by putting himself up for sale, pretending he's got no shot at Captain's bars, so he's going for dirty money instead. Theo Kojak's top undercover operative Gil sets up an elaborate scam with the dealers, where the heroin Gil seized from Janis will be traded back to the smugglers, and bags of sugar... Read all

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

7.3/10

232

YOUR RATING

2User reviews

See production info at IMDbPro

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User reviews2

7.3232

Featured reviews

3planktonrules

Kojak is a stooge for the mob???!!!

The episode begins with a partially botched stakeout. While the drugs and several crooks were stopped, the man behind the drug deal is able to escape. So, the Lieutenant soon finds himself embroiled in a stupid plot...and pretends to be willing to sell the drugs back to the drug kingpin..with the help of a bookie. Why is this so dumb? Because it's obvious that Kojak is a near-perfect cop...and completely above reproach. And, every crook in New York knows this...particularly the big players who could afford to try to buy Kojak! And, the audience isn't dumb...they know this as well.

Despite this huge plot problem, is this episode any good? Not really, as the premise is that ludicrous. A rare misfire from this otherwise excellent series....and an episode that was best not made in the first place.

4bkoganbing

A very big fish

Semi-regular Roger Robinson is a key figure in this Kojak story as he sets up an elaborate drug bust and nets himself a lot of heroin, but not the key man, one very prominent racketeer played by Val Avery. This guy is one big fish that Telly Savalas wants bad.

Much as I like the show and the characters the whole premise of the show is that Kojak while one colorful guy is totally incorruptible. Try as Telly Savalas does and as elaborately as Roger Robinson bates the trap I could never buy a corrupt Kojak. I doubt whether the audience in 1974 bought it either.

The bad guys know what a straight shooter Kojak is and so does the TV audience.