William Conrad returned to series TV in this clever and witty crime drama, which premiered in 1987 and ran for five seasons. Conrad played hard-bitten L.A. district attorney J.L. McCabe, who employed irreverent but talented investigator Jake Styles (Joe Penny) to help him solve the myriad cases that crossed his desk. With the help of assistant district attorney Derek Mitchell (Alan Campbell), the team corralled criminals of all stripes, although the weekly episodes—cutely named with titles of popular songs and movies—usually revolved around murder. Although the series didn't hit its stride until the first year's second half, the 11 installments collected in this three-disc set still boast some solid entertainment. My favorite is the two-part pilot, “Fatal Attraction,” in which a faithless wife conspires with her stepson to murder her husband and frame a thief for the killing. Almost equally good is “The Man That Got Away,” guest-starring Robert Culp as a shrewd, successful lawyer who slays his ex-wife's lover and pins the crime on her. The scripting, acting, and direction of Jake and the Fatman was typical of ‘80s crime series', but the chemistry between Conrad and Penny added a little something extra, and watching them banter is half the fun. DVD extras are limited to select episode promos. Recommended. (E. Hulse)
Jake and the Fatman: Season One, Volume One
Paramount, 3 discs, 567 min., not rated, DVD: $36.98 Volume 23, Issue 5
Jake and the Fatman: Season One, Volume One
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