User Reviews

This is more of an observation than a review. I found the Apr 2017 review when I looked up the cast. I was struck by the different look of this first episode of season 8. It's so light-filled it almost seems over-exposed. There's either a new director or new cinematography involved. In view of the earlier review, I have to wonder if there was a complete change-up of writers and other crew as well, as though earlier staffers left after season 7, thinking the show would not be renewed for season 8. All in all, an average episode.

This episode, first episode of Season 8, is highly different. Now, while there are some entertaining moments, like the brawl Mannix has with the man, who gives him a bare hug is different and this one heck of a man doesn't turn out to be the villain, that's very interesting, and different.

In the meantime, this episode is something that is different, and I like the difference here. The musicians performing are pretty good, except for the end when there are a few high notes in the song, I don't think they sang well.

Another thing that is different was the acting, Mannix's acting is fine, average, but the girl who hires him just doesn't sound serious, I didn't like her acting, the singer himself, his acting is different, instead of acting as if he's concerned, he just shakes it off and laughs when Mannix mentions that someone wants you dead.

His singing friend though seems pretty normal though, and Peggy's acting is good as always, so there's that.

Otherwise, this episode is very different and from where I stand, I didn't mind, but either way, you can take any way you want, everyone has had different opinions about it so yeah 👍.

I honestly enjoyed the episode. I like how the Chris character wasn't being a jerk when he's laughing off the threats being made on his life. I go back to that episode with Robert Conrad and I was hoping his character would end up dead tbh.

There's a LOT of music in this episode. That could go either way for a viewer. Either you'll think this is a lazy attempt to pad the episode to fit the time slot, you'll hate it and mute the music or you'll leave it unmuted. The songs were nice and I enjoyed the actor's singing voice. I can't really say that for all the times you have music featured on this series. I think of one lady singing in another episode that sounded like a dying cow and I just have to mute those scenes.

Thought the storyline was interesting and really thought it was a great way to start out season 8.

This is the first episode of the last season of "Mannix" and you'd assume they'd do their very best. Well, you'd be wrong. In fact, "Portrait in Blues" is just awful...and show that Mannix himself just isn't as hip and relevant as he'd hoped he was...though they sure try hard to make him seem young and relevant to youngsters.

The episode is all about a pop/rock duo who are doing just great...apart from the attempts on the life of Chris! Oddly, he just keeps laughing it all off...even when it soon is obvious that someone is definitely trying to kill him. Fortunately, Mannix is there to figure out which of the mostly cartoonish friends and enemies might be behind all this.

Where do I begin? The episode is jam-packed full of music...and clearly serves as filler. This is because the story itself if very weak and, at times, painful to watch. Don't say I didn't warn you about this one!

Some reviewers have given this first episode of the Eighth season a bum rap. True, season openers are generally adventurous, but this Hollywood-ish take on the music industry has its moments. We kids loved it back in the day.

Best thing; this season has Joe driving his cool Camaro!

Actor and singer Kim Milford, who at the time was making a name for himself in productions like JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR, plays a rocker whose life is REALLY in danger. Of course, as the story goes, Milford (playing Chris) shrugs it off, unaware that the killer is playing for keeps.

Guessing the bad guy is (always) fun. Can you guess who it is by mid-way? There's a few interesting clues.

Surprise guest appearance by comedian Larry Storch, in a supporting role. This was Storch's second appearance on the series who, at the time, had recently guested on LOVE, AMERICAN STYLE, "the" perfect show for his talents.

Swedish born Alf Kjellin, who was also working on THE WALTONS and HAWAII FIVE O at the time, directed. He did many top episodes for Alfred Hitchcock's tv show. As an actor, Alf is probably best rememberd as Colonel Ostrovski in ICE STATION ZEBRA (1968), the classic 60s cold war adventure that became even more famous because billionaire Howard Hughes was its biggest fan.

Not classic MANNIX, but worth a look because it's offbeat, and the acting is good. Stanley Adams is always a treat as loud, pushy types. Stacy Keach's dad plays an engineer here, cast in many character roles for years.

SEASON 8 EPISODE 1 remastered color CBS/Paramount dvd box set. 6 dvds. Released 2012, very similar in design to CANNON.

This was probably the worst Mannix epidode that I've seen. The clothes! The hair! The music! The acting! My high school drama teacher had the same horrible hairdo as the musician with the shorter hair, and I thought it looked awful even back then.

The girl who hired Mannix acted like she was in a stupor. Maybe that's what the director was gong for. The plot was cheesy, the talent of the duo was lacking and the whole plot was just stupid. I guess they were going for hip but failed miserably.

The "singers" in this episode are horrible. I would have to mute it when they "performed". I wondered what season he started driving that Camaro. It wasn't a good fit for him. It's sad, because I'm a long time mannix fan.

The reviewer named Zombiemockingbird got it right about the horrible music and singing ( thank God for the fast forward button ). I usually eat dinner while watching an episode of MANNIX, like the show, like the cast..Ward Wood, Gail Fisher, Robert Reed and can't understand why people diss almost every episode and what unrealistic things happen. If you don't like the show, don't watch it! Just watch a cool guy with a really great L. A. apartment, not saddled by a wife, has nice cars and a comfortable income. So he gets called on to save the world once in a while, knocked out & shot every other episode it is still better than nearly anything on TV today.

After hearing them sing, I can understand why someone tried to electrocute these guys; they are absolutely terrible, even for the 70's. I'd rather listen to cats fight. Another reviewer said that Kim Milford is actually a singer; I find that painfully hard to believe. Pair hideous singing with some of the worst acting I have ever seen, and this is one of the worst Mannix episodes ever.

I like Larry Storch, but he wasn't at his best in this. Robyn Millan is horrible; not sure what she was going for, she looks and acts like she's drugged. Kim Milford, and the entire rest of the cast, are just terrible; this was really painful to watch and listen to.

Talk about stumbling out of the gate! As Martin mentioned you'd think they'd want to send off Mannix in style with the first ep of the final season...not so much.

This show probably seemed dated when it aired in '74...the clothes, the wacky DJ, the music, the singers...why you'd insure these two for a cool mil I'll never know...even if Chris/Kim fronted the Jeff Beck Group!

Lots of shots fired but all blanks here...unless you want to know how Kim stayed in "playing" shape!

I (mostly) adore this show, but this is one of those episodes that was just awful all around. The writing sucked - as with most network TV shows around this time that attempted to portray youth culture, the writers idea of "hip" dialog is unintentionally hilarious and stilted, and it's a wonder the actors playing the musicians could deliver those turkeys with a straight face. It appears the two actors bravely tried to do the best with what they had to work with, but nobody could've saved writing this bad.

Also: the songs featured in this show (actually written by the actors playing the musicians) are also howlingly bad, which is too bad; Kim Milford had real musical chops and credibility, having briefly fronted the Jeff Beck Group and played leading roles in Hair, Jesus Christ Superstar and the 1975 touring company of Rocky Horror.

The one bright spot: Barry Gordon, always fantastic in anything he's been in, as the sleazy record producer.

A good candidate for the list of top 10 worst Mannix episodes.