I think every time a call went out, in the mid 60s, for somebody to play a long time friend who had a grudge (or chip on his shoulder) then Gary Lockwood's agent flipped up on the old Rolodex. This episode sports great performances from Lockwood, Andrew Duggan and Lee Meriwether - and some true gems of examples of physical reaction acting from Robert Hogan as Lockwood's over burdened co-pilot. However, it just stretches the imagination too much. Lockwood's "Lt. Josh McGraw" is an old friend of both Gallagher and Brig. Gen. Brit (Duggan who seems to not need his cane so much in this episode) and McGraw's father is a big time general somewhere that got him in the same outfit as Gallagher. He also dates Britt's daughter ... but, in short, he envies Gallagher's command, his girlfriend (for this episode played by the talented Lee Meriwether) and pretty much just wants to undercut him. This role wasn't a stretch for Lockwood, as he had just wrapped up playing pretty much the same part for Desilu on the second "Star Trek" pilot - "Where No Man Has Gone Before." And it really is just a plain television episode. Part of the plot revolves around McGraw/Lockwood popping into bomber command HQ pretty much whenever he feels like it ... and pouring over classified data. When Gallagher's not babysitting McGraw, or in meetings with Britt, then he is romancing Meriwether - a junior officer - at headquarters. Surprised there was time to bomb anything.
3 Reviews
Why try to get assigned to the unit of a man you deeply resent?
planktonrules3 September 2021
"The Idolator" is a poor installment of "12 O'Clock High", as I simply didn't believe the story could be possible. And, the Colonel's reaction to the Lieutenant seemed bizarre and inconsistent to say the least.
When the story begins, a new pilot arrives with his crew at the base. However, instead of radioing in to announce who he was and get permission to land, Lt. McGraw (Gary Lockwood) buzzes the base and behaves like he's a barnstormer. Not surprisingly, the Colonel is furious...until he sees it's McGraw and McGraw happens to be an old friend. Suddenly, the Colonel's anger disappears and McGraw ends up receiving no punishment for this major infraction.
On McGraw's first mission as the pilot of his bomber, he disobeys orders and goes off on his own mission. It turns out to be successful, but McGraw simply won't listen to orders and it soon becomes apparent that he has a MAJOR inferiority complex when it comes to the Colonel. He MUST prove himself superior to the Colonel by doing great AND constantly questioning his authority. Yet, oddly, this happens again....and the Colonel doesn't lower the boom on McGraw.
Later, he goes off on his own....and then he threatens to call his important daddy if the Colonel punishes him!! Finally, the Colonel has had enough and brings the General in to help deal with McGraw. But, again, the Colonel backs off and doesn't really deal with McGraw.
Now I really found this episode frustrating. McGraw is a Lieutenant....and a green one. So, I found it hard to believe he'd be that cocky and insubordinate. I also found it hard to believe that the Colonel wouldn't have barbecued McGraw early in the episode....as McGraw gave him at least four instances where he should have court martialed him or reassigned him. After all, a bomber group can't have such a divisive and oppositional guy....and by the end of the show, he STILL didn't lower the boom on McGraw.
Overall, an episode which seems to contradict everything prior episodes emphasized...that the bombers all function as one and that pilots follow instructions to the letter. A pilot like McGraw would likely have faced arrest with such a record! You can't help but wonder why this episode was made in the first place. It MIGHT have worked had McGraw's actions been more subtle or happened occasionally over a much longer period. As it is, the episode just showed poor writing....and showed the Colonel to be a lousy leader!
When the story begins, a new pilot arrives with his crew at the base. However, instead of radioing in to announce who he was and get permission to land, Lt. McGraw (Gary Lockwood) buzzes the base and behaves like he's a barnstormer. Not surprisingly, the Colonel is furious...until he sees it's McGraw and McGraw happens to be an old friend. Suddenly, the Colonel's anger disappears and McGraw ends up receiving no punishment for this major infraction.
On McGraw's first mission as the pilot of his bomber, he disobeys orders and goes off on his own mission. It turns out to be successful, but McGraw simply won't listen to orders and it soon becomes apparent that he has a MAJOR inferiority complex when it comes to the Colonel. He MUST prove himself superior to the Colonel by doing great AND constantly questioning his authority. Yet, oddly, this happens again....and the Colonel doesn't lower the boom on McGraw.
Later, he goes off on his own....and then he threatens to call his important daddy if the Colonel punishes him!! Finally, the Colonel has had enough and brings the General in to help deal with McGraw. But, again, the Colonel backs off and doesn't really deal with McGraw.
Now I really found this episode frustrating. McGraw is a Lieutenant....and a green one. So, I found it hard to believe he'd be that cocky and insubordinate. I also found it hard to believe that the Colonel wouldn't have barbecued McGraw early in the episode....as McGraw gave him at least four instances where he should have court martialed him or reassigned him. After all, a bomber group can't have such a divisive and oppositional guy....and by the end of the show, he STILL didn't lower the boom on McGraw.
Overall, an episode which seems to contradict everything prior episodes emphasized...that the bombers all function as one and that pilots follow instructions to the letter. A pilot like McGraw would likely have faced arrest with such a record! You can't help but wonder why this episode was made in the first place. It MIGHT have worked had McGraw's actions been more subtle or happened occasionally over a much longer period. As it is, the episode just showed poor writing....and showed the Colonel to be a lousy leader!
Love the actors, not the script
Guad423 April 2022
Warning: Spoilers
Always like the work of Lockwood, Meriwether and Duggan. True professionals who always bring their best game. This script is not one of the highlights of the series. Lockwood's character, Lt McGraw, would have been kicked out of the unit right after his second hi-jink. No commander would have tolerated a pilot on his own agenda like McGraw obviously is. Transfer for sure and maybe pull his wings and he can win the war from a desk. Gallagher is exposed as a commander who lets his personal feelings override his responsibility to his unit. Not the first time for Gallagher to do that nor would it be the last time. I much prefer Savage to Gallagher.
The dynamic between McGraw and Gallagher is very similar to the relationship between Gallagher and his older brother, played by Jack Lord, in another episode.
A senior officer romancing a junior officer was also not tolerated but this is the Hollywood version of war so we can overlook that. Hollywood did several shows/movies where World War II was a great place to pick up chicks.
See this for the actors and not the story. They offset each other so this outing grades out as average.
The dynamic between McGraw and Gallagher is very similar to the relationship between Gallagher and his older brother, played by Jack Lord, in another episode.
A senior officer romancing a junior officer was also not tolerated but this is the Hollywood version of war so we can overlook that. Hollywood did several shows/movies where World War II was a great place to pick up chicks.
See this for the actors and not the story. They offset each other so this outing grades out as average.
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
