77 Sunset Strip (TV Series) The Target (1964) User Reviews

An expose with a lot to be exposed

[bkoganbing · 7/10 · 11 October 2017]

This episode of 77 Sunset Strip finds Stu Bailey being hired by Jeanne Cooper wife of Keith Andes who back in the day was a crime reporter and if you believe Efrem Zimbalist one of the best. Andes got jammed up and did a stretch in prison and is now out. But almost immediately upon coming out is almost killed.

It turns out Andes has decided to write a tell all expose and he knows a lot to be exposed from the old days. There's all kinds of people who would like Andes dead. It's a colorful group of people that Zimbalist meets while trying to find the right perpetrator.

There's one performance that really stands out. It's that of Jimmy Lydon who is one of two bunk mates that Andes had while in the joint. He has one scene with Efrem Zimbalist and it's an interesting one.

This was a good episode and the end will throw you a bit. I wonder if he ever collected his fee.

WATCH YOUR BACK, STU!

[tcchelsey · 9/10 · 20 March 2023]

As I have said, although producer Jack Webb moved Stu to New York City, and the famous theme was gone, the stories were pretty good. Credit this one to famous writer Tony Barrett, producer and writer for the MOD SQUAD. Barrett also wrote a ton of episodes for PETER GUNN and BURKE'S LAW. When you come down to it, after watching many later episodes, 77 SUNSET STRIP with Efrem Zimbalist going solo, not married, a man on a mission, became more like a prelude to MANNIX. This is a violent episode, all about Keith Andes as Frank, the writer of a tell all crime book, marked by assassins. The first scene has the feel of a MANNIX or PETER GUNN episode as Andes is shot in front of his house and left for dead. Jeanne Cooper is very good as his wife, Gina. Producer William Conrad has a nice bit as a tough guy named Al, and to note, both Andes and Cooper would appear on his 70s cop show, CANNON. In gag roles, look for Jack Webb as a bystander, just standing around in the crowd and former teen star and co-producer Jimmy Lydon as Charlie. Veteran Lyle Talbot plays Tatum and Les Tremayne, who no doubt worked with Conrad in his days as radio's Marshall Matt Dillon, plays the warden. Recommended late night stuff. SEASON 6 EPISODE 18. Dvd box set.