Slattery's People - Season 1

Impressive opener of a series involving life in a state legislature, where voting is done by buttons and all talk revolves around the passage of a bill. Tonight, an earnest minority leader is forced to investigate a respected leader. The plot has its dramatic moments, but the main interest lies in the workings of the state body itself.

Representative Slattery (Richard Crenna) goes to the aid of an ex-GI (Tommy Sands) who had defected to the Viet Cong in Vietnam. A resident of Slattery's district, the shattered youth returns home to find that he is no longer a citizen.

Joan Blackman has a secret that may destroy her father's life. Slattery persuades an educator to stand for reappointment as state board of education president despite the threat of a smear.

Ed Wynn, as spry old Ezra Tallicott, enlists the aid of State Representative Slattery. Earnest hero Slattery fights against closing a home for the aged.

State representative Slattery (Richard Crenna) is crusading in a different direction. In an obvious effort to show a more romantic side to Slattery, you are to believe he is capable of being sidetracked by shapely lobbyist Sally Kellerman, one of "those Utopian reformers."

Hero Slattery has a hard time convincing a high-minded representative that compromise isn't a dirty word but one of the basic laws of government. The plot is believable and guest Ricardo Montalban is fine as the idealistic Latin.

A study of a young couple who have adopted a Korean war orphan and who are faced with the state taking the baby away from them.

Best episode so far from this surprisingly good series. A Representative and his overly ambitious wife, eager for Washington, D. C dip low into the bucket for a sensational campaign issue, and look to help from a muck-raking broadcaster. Slattery fights the couple all the way. A good script is enhanced by two good performances by jack Warden and Georgann Johnson.

A scientist turns down a government hardware contract to save his company and Slattery jumps in the middle.

Bribery rears its ugly head in the legislature, along with hand-wringing, emotional scenes. Slattery finds a fellow Representative suddenly switching sides on a tax bill and smells a rat. Slattery is vigorously opposed to House Bill 2319, a measure that would grant a multimillion-dollar tax rebate to eight corporations. Also against the legislation is James Patrick Shepherd, a member of the opposition party. Pushing hard for passage of 2139 is lobbyist Harry Colby, a man who would use any means to get the measure approved. And when Colby learns Shepherd is seriously ill, the lobbyist is certain he has found just the means.

A pertinent, well handled drama on sex education in school, as hero Slattery stands up to defend a suspended school teacher. Besides the interest in the subject matter, there's sufficient fireworks between Slattery and a no nonsense parent who happens to be a Board of Education member, to hold your attention throughout. "National Velvet's" Lori Martin plays a featured role.

A reporter is on the hook for a bribe story in a fairly Interesting entry. According to custom, the newsman refuses to name his source and takes quite a shellacking in the process. Good arguments crop up on both sides, something this series handles very neatly.

Good drama, and an interesting behind-the-scenes look at political parties attempting to discipline their legislative members. A new lady Representative goes after Slattery's hide and almost sheds him of his power. Slattery shows a new toughness in this one and guest star Vera Miles plays the bitter, clever woman with finesse.

Two plots, capital punishment and the art of compromise, keep this hour humming. There's a good deal of palaver, some romance, and a nice performance by Martin Milner as an unlikable but idealistic new representative to hold you, even though you'll probably be in the dark about his change of thought at the end.

Good episode which focuses on the large number of problems that make up a Representative's daily fare. The main storyline concerns the extradition of a friend and Slattery puts his influence to work.

A grand show, thanks to a good script and the performances of two old pros, actors Lee Tracy and James Dunn. They fight a town boss in a local election which draws hero Slattery into the action. Actor Dick Crenna does right well with the veterans, but watching and listening to Lee Tracy snap out his lines is the greatest pleasure of the hour.

Interesting, well acted drama about the sad state of boxing. Hero Slattery, who wants it abolished, puts up some very good reasons for his stand in a tale about a boxer on his way out after suffering brain damage in a fight. The anti-boxing arguments are telling, and so is Robert Blake's performance as fighter Joey Leon.

The best part ol this drama about high school dope-addicts and a school teacher who advocates harsh measures to stamp out the problem is the acting of Raymond St. Jacques, Susan Bay and Richard Crenna. The plot twists are acceptable and so are the speeches by an angered Slattery and the teacher, but all are made more meaningful in performance.

First class entry about a doctor who is sued for malpractice after treating an accident victim while out on a fishing trip. Both sides of the ticklish problem are examined in the script, and good performances by Crenna and guests Claude Akins, William Hansen and Barbara Eden give the show a boost.

The play examines the problem of political parties backing underdogs in campaigns. In this case, a poor college professor is running for Congress, and he's heard expressing himself on controversial and unpopular causes. The cast, led by hero Crenna and guest star John Larch, is splendid.

Slattery defends a lady doctor on a slander charge in court. Actually, the issue is child beating and the problem tracing cruel parents. Hero Slattery becomes very emotional in the process and indulges in a good deal of speech making, but the play is informative and well cast,

Mancuso, a woman prosecutor (Zohra Lampert), involves Slattery (Richard Crenna) in a politically explosive investigation of gambling corruption. Cicely Tyson and Tige Andrews are featured. Amidst a murder investigation, District Attorney Mancuso publicly alleges that legalized gambling houses have corrupted a city sector. Accusing Slattery of inaction due to his party's financial ties to gambling kingpin Arnold Layton, she provokes him into launching an investigation.

Pat O'Brien as a bewildered, aging politician, contributes a touching performance. There is too much talk in this one, but viewers, especially older ones, should find interest in the theme concerning a fighting rooster, with weathered wings, who has been put out to pasture. Nancy Wickwire and David McLean co-star.

Some interesting points are made in this drama about conformity in a large housing tract, but the play is weakened somewhat by characters that are overdrawn. Guest stars include Forrest Tucker, Fred Clark and Louise Troy.

Absorbing story about backstage maneuvering at a state political convention. Through all the deals between candidates, the only oddity seems to be a lady campaign manager who flirts and bargains with Slattery. However, the acting is competent and the convention scenes well-paced and produced.

Elsa Lanchester stars as a kooky, motor-scooter riding spinster who battles Slattery (Richard Crenna) and his plan to run a superhighway through her small town animal sanctuary.