User Reviews

I agree that it sucks that Barnaby isn't in this much but for a Betty episode I thought this was great! I thought the girls were pretty scary and I was on the edge of my seat!

This story has been done before, but it's worth a look because the ladies in question are absolutely dangerous.

It's also a case for Betty who investigates an elite academy plagued with accidents... and they are getting worse. I think it's fair to mention by this stage in the series, the show definitely had more female villains than male. And what a rough bunch!

The only debit here is Barnaby has little screen time, but it's to be expected with Betty and JR on the team, especially in later seasons.

Historically speaking, this episode is a must see for actress and singer Terri Nunn, who became quite famous in the 80s for singing "Take My Breath Away." For soap opera fans, Marla Adams plays Eleanor, long time member of the YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS.

Quinn Martin favorite Patricia Smith plays the more "mature" woman in the story, known for the BOB NEWHART SHOW.

Great trivia note; director Ray Austin was originally Cary Grant's chauffeur! Austin, who passed in 2023, was associated with MAGNUM PI and HART TO HART, a long list of credits. Another Hollywood veteran who should have written a book, ya think?

For all us Lee Meriwether fans. Lee will not let you down. SEASON 7 EPISODE 12 remastered color/CBS dvd box set. Released 2018.

"Academy of Evil" is a very odd case for Barnaby Jones....or, more rightly, for his company....as Barnaby is barely in the show at all. It's about some private girls school where a small group of girls are apparently up to no good. Sure, some of it is criminal activity...though it's hardly serious crimes nor the sort of thing Barnaby ever handled in other episodes. For this reason, it's a bit hard to believe!

After a teacher breaks her arm due to a supposed prank, someone from the school comes to Barnaby to ask he investigate to figure out who's behind this and other nasty 'prainks'. Instead, he hands the case off to Betty...mostly because by season 7, Barnaby mostly handed off cases to her and Jedediah....a MAJOR problem with later episodes. Folks tuned in to see Barnaby...and he's hardly seen. Betty deliberately confronts trouble makers and tries to make herself the object of the mean girls' 'pranks'....and soon she truly is hated by these nasty teens.

While the basic idea of this show is interesting, it also seems like the writers had run out of ideas as investigating misdemeanors at a girls school seems ludicrous for an agency known for investigating murders and insurance fraud! Also, the wicked teens are a bit on the obvious side....and you wonder how the school hadn't identified them as troublemakers a lot sooner. Plus, the ring leaders' actions when they realize Betty is an undercover investigator defies common sense. Overall, a big disappointment. I didn't hate it nearly as much as the other review currently on IMDB but it certainly is NOT good. Besides, with so many other really bad late season 6 and season 7 episodes, I'll save most of my hate for episodes like "Hitch-Hike to Terror" and "Uninvited Peril".

Ask I expected, before viewing, this one is really bad.

The story is weak. Script not good. No defined plot. Crime, if you could call it that, is misdemeanor, at best.

Worst part, is that Barnaby, has about three minutes of screen time total, and is reduced to a pawn, with nothing to do.

Avoid.