Had I checked the credits first and seen this was written by one Edward J. Lasko, I would have lowered my expectations. Spelling loved to recycle plots on all his shows, but to be fair, the circus theme is one that has been done by everything from Mission impossible to Murder She Wrote. Unfortunately, this is NOT one of the better Big Top offerings of the Classic TV era. Despite this having a way bigger budget by the looks of it, the bare-bones Charlie's Angels episode from 1977 was more entertaining.
Ed Asner is the circus owner - who just happens to be buds with Capt. Greer. It was actually quite funny how Asner's explaining the recent "premeditated accidents" when a massive fire just HAPPENS to break out in the prelude. This is the best part of the episode. It's actually quite unnerving and must have been very hard to stage and control. It looks like something out of a theatrical film rather than a network series.
After this dangerous stunt, nothing really compares. Julie goes undercover as a hi-wire aerialist; Linc is assigned to feeding the lions and Pete tries to make friends with the suspicious cold-fish Anne Archer (FATAL ATTRACTION) who spends her time sweeping elephant's bodies with a broom and being abrasive. Asner killed her father, but this never really develops into anything, and is basically summed up later in a single line.
Julie's green leotard is not very flattering but her hi-wire partner Michael Baseleon (I had to look him up, I was confusing him with another actor) was in incredible shape for his age - 46 when they filmed this. His face looks it, but his cast-iron pecs were impressive for a man of his years back then when the fitness craze was at least a decade away.
The scene where Linc faces off against a hungry lion is badly shot and edited, rendering any suspense null. Later, we have a boring segment where Julie listens to Asner wax poetic about the circus as if he's sharing with her the true meaning of life.
The climax has zero excitement and there were way too many characters - none of them interesting. Asner is slumming here (did MTM not pay enough that he had to moonlight during hiatus??) and is phoning it in.
Very basic episode, not much here to recommend.
Ed Asner is the circus owner - who just happens to be buds with Capt. Greer. It was actually quite funny how Asner's explaining the recent "premeditated accidents" when a massive fire just HAPPENS to break out in the prelude. This is the best part of the episode. It's actually quite unnerving and must have been very hard to stage and control. It looks like something out of a theatrical film rather than a network series.
After this dangerous stunt, nothing really compares. Julie goes undercover as a hi-wire aerialist; Linc is assigned to feeding the lions and Pete tries to make friends with the suspicious cold-fish Anne Archer (FATAL ATTRACTION) who spends her time sweeping elephant's bodies with a broom and being abrasive. Asner killed her father, but this never really develops into anything, and is basically summed up later in a single line.
Julie's green leotard is not very flattering but her hi-wire partner Michael Baseleon (I had to look him up, I was confusing him with another actor) was in incredible shape for his age - 46 when they filmed this. His face looks it, but his cast-iron pecs were impressive for a man of his years back then when the fitness craze was at least a decade away.
The scene where Linc faces off against a hungry lion is badly shot and edited, rendering any suspense null. Later, we have a boring segment where Julie listens to Asner wax poetic about the circus as if he's sharing with her the true meaning of life.
The climax has zero excitement and there were way too many characters - none of them interesting. Asner is slumming here (did MTM not pay enough that he had to moonlight during hiatus??) and is phoning it in.
Very basic episode, not much here to recommend.