I’ve just finished listening to this awesome
interview Richard did last week: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/richardrossi/2014/12/03/hollywood-movie-star-richard-anderson-aka-oscar-goldman-writer-al-doshna-1
It’s definitely a treasure. I loved listening to him all the way along, and it
was fun to hear what some of the fans had to say. Perry is only briefly
touched on, but it was great to hear it mentioned.
I blushed a little when the topic of Oscar
Goldman and Jaime Sommers as a romantic pairing came up, but whatever Richard
may have thought of the idea, he was very gracious and kind about it (as he was
throughout the whole interview) and mentioned that people were asking him about
that even back when The Bionic Woman was first on.
I have to admit, I can never fully get away from
being rather fascinated by the idea of the pairing. I feel a bit guilty for
that because of Steve Austin and Jaime’s epically soap opera romance, but I
remain intrigued anyway. I pretty much love looking at Oscar and Jaime’s
relationship in every way possible: friendship, familial, or romantic. And I
think it’s time I saw the Deadly Ringer episodes they were discussing at
one point. Due to me not liking when main characters end up in prison, I still
haven’t seen those yet, but I’ve planned to since I’ve been sure there are some
awesome Oscar scenes in them.
It’s so very exciting that Richard’s book is
coming out! It’s a treat for all Perry fans, Richard fans, and classic
movie and television fans. I know Richard will have many exciting things to
tell.
And as season 4 of Perry wound to a close
and season 5 begins to unfold, I observe first Sergeant Brice’s expanding role
and second, the apparent search for someone else to help take some of the
acting strain off of Ray Collins, whose health was starting to fail.
It’s obvious that they first tried the idea of
Sergeant Brice becoming more talkative and involved. In late season 4 episodes
such as The Grumbling Grandfather and The Guilty Clients, Brice
has a lot more to do or say than in most episodes, even taking over completely
for Tragg in some scenes and episodes.
I definitely like the idea and wonder why it didn’t
work out. Was Lee Miller uncomfortable having more to say? Did they determine
that the quiet, understated Sergeant Brice just wouldn’t be able to carry
things by himself very often and a more forceful character would be needed?
On that, I probably agree at least somewhat.
Brice is so calm and gentle and not bothered by Perry and company hanging around
and investigating. The show would have certainly taken on a different dynamic
with the more permissive Sergeant Brice being more in charge of things. He
probably would have become much more of an ally to Perry and company, freely
allowing them their investigations and perhaps letting Perry or Paul be right
with him to look into questioning suspects and the like. In later episodes, on
one occasion he shows definite amusement over his superior blowing his stack at
Perry’s interference, and on another, indicates to Paul that if it were up to
him, he would let Paul stay and look around a crime scene.
I can’t say I would have minded at least seeing
what the show would have been like with that changed dynamic. But I’m not sure
it would have worked out for long, since it seems Gardner and the crew wanted
it to stay with the police sometimes assuming great opposition to Perry’s
investigations, and since amusingly frustrated exchanges are often a big and
important part of Perry’s interaction with the police. Brice just isn’t the
type to engage in such exchanges. Hence, they definitely needed someone aside
from Brice to be there.
Thus began what seems to be a bit of a search.
Although they try Wesley Lau very early in season 5, playing Lieutenant
Anderson in a great couple of scenes in The Malicious Mariner, he doesn’t
immediately become part of the main cast. They also try Med Flory, another
actor from late season 4, who in The Crying Comedian plays Lieutenant
McVey, twin brother to Captain McVey of the United States Air Force. . . .
(Just kidding, but I still find it bewildering that both of his Perry
characters are named McVey! I am definitely going to make them twin brothers in
my stories.)
Then we have a couple of episodes in a row that
do not feature the regular city police cast. The next time we get back to them,
Tragg is there again (with faithful Sergeant Brice silent in the background).
The next episode after that, Andy is back and this time stays.
I would be curious to know in what order the
early season 5 episodes were filmed and whether Andy’s first episode was filmed
after Lieutenant McVey’s. Perhaps they had already decided on Wesley Lau before
any of his police episodes aired, although I would then wonder why they showed
the McVey episode after Andy’s first one.
I
am very glad they ended up choosing Wesley, but I love Med Flory as Captain
McVey in The Misguided Missile and I know he could have made Lieutenant
McVey a great character too.
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