The Equalizers

The Equalizer Season 1 Episode 20: No Conscience Aired on CBS: March 26, 1986 Directed by: Richard Compton Written by : Mark Frost Featuring: Laurie Metcalf, D.W. Moffett, Linda Thorson, Kelly Curtis, Madison Arnold, Mark Margolis Picture this: You're in an improv group asking for a situation and someone shouts "A ladies man who has 36 hours to give some bad guys some unknown thing a woman gave hi...

The Equalizer Season 1 Episode 19: Breakpoint Aired on CBS: February 19, 1986 Directed by: Russ Mayberry Written by : Scott Shepherd and Don Carlos Dunaway Featuring: Patricia Clarkson, Tony Shaloub, Earl Hindman (Home Improvement's Wilson!) The Equalizer goes all Die Hard two years before Die Hard came out. Patricia Clarkson is getting married, Robert McCall is attending and has to step into acti...

The Equalizer Season 1 Episode 18: Unnatural Causes Aired on CBS: February 12, 1986 Directed by: Alan Metzger Written by : Susan Woollen Featuring: Gwen Verdon (!), Kim Delaney, Bobby DiCicco, Mark Margolis, Ron O'Neal, Alice Spivak It was a simpler time for serial killers. Pre-Hannibal Lecter it wasn't about a psychology, it was enough that someone killed multiple people and had some gimmick, let...

The Equalizer Season 1 Episode 17: Torn Aired on CBS: February 5, 1986 Directed by: Russ Mayberry Written by : Carl Eastlake Featuring: A young Melissa Joan Hart, Patricia Richardson, Ron O'Neal, Saul Rubinek (last appearance on the show) A powerhouse episode. The most ambitious cinematography on this show yet as the Equalizer flashes back to his work on the field long ago. Someone from his past i...

The Equalizer Season 1 Episode 16: Wash Up Aired on CBS: January 29, 1986 Directed by: Richard Compton Written by : Mark Frost Featuring: Robert Davi (Goonies), Ron O'Neal's first appearance as Lt Isador Smalls (Super Fly!), Yvonne Wilder, Bill Cwikowski, Brian Tarantina, Michael O'Hare, Mark Margolis, Irving Metzman, Joe Spinell Once again, the tremendous trio Chris, Vince, and Chuck providing wh...

The Equalizer Season 1 Episode 15: Dead Drop Aired on CBS: January 22, 1986 Directed by: Donald Petrie Written by : Maurice Hurley & Joel Surnow Featuring: Everybody... Mickey, Jimmy, Sterno, Dana, Saul Rubinek annoying Jason, and Robert Lansing as Control is back! Also Robin Curtis, James Eckhouse (90210), Roma Maffia, and Robert O'Reilly (Gowron). A florist unrealistically falls into danger...

The Equalizer Season 1 Episode 14: Out of the Past Aired on CBS: January 15, 1986 Directed by: Richard Compton Written by : Cyrus Nowrasteh Featuring: legend Sandy Dennis (as ex Mrs Equalizer), Stephen McHattie (Elaine Benes' psychiatrist), Barry Primus, Brad Dourif (Cuckoo's Nest!), Jasmine Guy (Whitley! in her first post-Fame role), Sylvia Miles, super cool James Gammon (Major League), Dan Moran...

The Equalizer Season 1 Episode 13: Back Home Aired on CBS: December 18, 1985 Directed by: Alan Metzger Written by : Neil Cohen Featuring: Frank Converse, Charles Hallahan (The Thing, Hunter), Marisa Berenson (Barry Lyndon), Jude Ciccolella, Helen Hanft ("the Ethel Merman of off-off-Broadway"), Allen Swift (voice of Underdog's Simon Bar-Sinister), Jordan Marder, and NFL great Fred Williamson (back...

The Equalizer Season 1 Episode 12: Reign of Terror Aired on CBS: December 11, 1985 Directed by: Richard Compton Written by : Steve Bello Featuring: Lonette McKee (Brewster's Millions), Fred Williamson (NFL great), Immanuel Pena, and Paul "My name's Paul and this is between y'all" Calderon The Equalizer has to save a health clinic in the slum from being overrun by a glam apocalyptic street gang, an...

The Equalizer Season 1 Episode 11: Desperately Aired on CBS: December 4, 1985 Directed by: Donald Petrie (Mystic Pizza!) Written by : Charles Grant Craig Featuring: Blanche Baker, Tovah Feldshuh, Ray Sharkey, David Margulies, Jack Gilpin, Carlos Carrasco, Roma Maffia We've seen it before - a woman looking for an escape from her boring household goes into the city, then within an hour is in way ove...

The Equalizer Season 1 Episode 10: Bump and Run Aired on CBS: November 20, 1985 Directed by: Richard Compton Written by : Jim Trombetta Featuring: Meat Loaf, Brian Bedford (voice of Disney's Robin Hood!), Mark Linn-Baker (Cousin Larry!), Charles Dutton (Roc), Nathan George (Cuckoo's Nest) and Keith Szarabajka (Mickey!) The Equalizer often butts heads with the police department for doing the work h...

The Equalizer Season 1 Episode 9: Mama's Boy Aired on CBS: November 13, 1985 Directed by: James Sheldon Written by : Heywood Gould Featuring: Christine Baranski, Adam Horovitz (Ad Rock from the Beastie Boys!), Alex Winter (Bill of Bill and Ted!), Bob Gunton (the Shawshank warden!) Folks, this one is must see TV. It's got so many elements of a great Equalizer episode - several celebrities, bad guys...

The Equalizer Season 1 Episode 8: The Distant Fire Aired on CBS: November 6, 1985 Directed by: Alan Metzger Written by : Robert Sabaroff Featuring: Jon DeVries, Alberta Watson (La Femme Nikita), Saul Rubinek (1st of 3 appearances), Bill Cobbs, Mark Margolis (Jimmy has more divorce woes), Frank Adonis The Equalizer teams with a hitman to save the life of a woman they were both romantically involved...

The Equalizer Season 1 Episode 7: The Children's Song Aired on CBS: October 30, 1985 Written by: Howard Chesley Directed by: Richard Compton Robert McCall and his son Scott (William Zabka) are off to a cabin to chop some wood and have a special talk. But soon they have to protect a hitchiking woman (Dana Barrow, Audrey Griswald!) -- and themselves! -- from a bunch of country hoodlums (led by Bradl...

The Equalizer Season 1 Episode 6: The Confirmation Day Aired on CBS: October 23, 1985 Story by : Eric Blakeney & Gene Miller Teleplay by : Edward Adler & Heywood Gould Directed by: Richard Colla Louie Ganucci (Burt Young!) gets involved in the dumbest heist and needs protection against the local mob boss (Joseph Wiseman - Dr No!). Louie's son (Ilan Mitchell-Smith - Weird Science!) brings i...

The Equalizer Season 1 Episode 5: Lady Cop Aired on CBS: October 16, 1985 Written by: Kathryn Bigelow (!!) Directed by: Russ Mayberry The Equalizer is hired by a rookie female police officer assigned to a team of officers who are oh boy so corrupt in just everything they do, from junior high antics to psychotic pure evil. Robert McCall's strategy is to play mind games on them, from the irritating...

The Equalizer Season 1 Episode 4: The Lock Box Aired on CBS: October 9, 1985 Written by: Frank Military Directed by: Russ Mayberry What happens when a Midwestern family goes against their better judgement and visits New York City? About the only thing that can happen - their teenager daughter is whisked away by a charming but evil Adam Ant. Luckily these out-of-towners hear tell of a certain indiv...

The Equalizer Season 1 Episode 3: The Defector Aired on CBS: October, 1985 Written by: Heywood Gould Directed by: Rod Holcomb It's not easy to make show that focuses on Russian spies yet has zero international intrigue, but The Equalizer finds a way. First every action scene has to make no sense off the bat then get weirder from there. For quieter scenes, have Robert unbutton way too many shirt bu...

The Equalizer Season 1 Episode 2: China Rain Aired on CBS: September 25, 1985 Written by: Victor Hsu Directed by: Richard Compton Episode 2. The first episode after the "establish several throughline plots" pilot. The Equalizer is called in to help return a kidnapped boy. But he's going to need help... Cue the first appearance of his up-for-anything agency cohort Mickey Kostmayer. You'd think with...

The Equalizer Season 1 Episode 1: The Equalizer (pilot) Aired on CBS: September 18, 1985 Written by: Michael Sloan Directed by: Rod Holcomb Notable guest stars: Patricia Kalember, Jerry Stiller, David Proval Like most pilots, this one packs in a lot - gotta give the audience a taste of every aspect of what they're in store for with this brand new show. In this one: Robert McCall (EQ) breaking from...