10 Stars.
Special thanks to Worley Thorne, who wrote a very intriguing story --cult status assured. He later wrote for BARNABY JONES and FANTASY ISLAND.
A guest on a talk show Cannon is watching one night DROPS DEAD. Keep your eye on Cannon. You have to love it.
This was actually based on a real incident that happened on the DICK CAVETT show, about a year earlier, 1972. Thorne cleverly connected it to the plot, all about a desperate author who Cannon is very reluctant to protect. The role was obviously modeled after Clifford Irving, the infamous writer who put together a tell-all book about Howard Hughes -- but never interviewed him.
Award winning Canadian actor Gordon Pinsett plays the writer with a questionable past. After years of little success, he writes a book that could make him an overnight literary sensation --and get him killed. The guy who died on tv knew too much, and he's NEXT.
By the way, Thorne may have gotten the bomb in the house idea from MANNIX; one of those had it been real it would have blown up the place. Susan Oliver plays Pinsett's protective friend who is instrumental in getting Cannon to take the case. Oliver is fun and was one of the most popular actresses on tv at the time, the daughter of famed astrologer Ruth Hale Oliver.
Veteran actor Richard Carlson makes another appearance, this time as Mr. Archibald, adding a little spice to the proceedings. Carlson began his career playing good guys, later graduating to television in more dramatic roles, often a villain, and one of the best dressed actors on tv.
Wait for the clever ending; Archibald almost gets away on a technicality. Some really good dialogue at the close.
Filmed in North Hollywood, looks like near Colfax and Hatteras. A nice, quiet neighborhood that still looks the same.
SEASON 2 EPISODE 17. Remastered color CBS/Paramount box set #2. 2010 release. 6 discs total. 21 hrs running time. Catch the cool photos on the back of each box.