219. The Confession

Original air date: 30 September 1973
Rerun 12 May 1974

Abel Norton: Kidnapping, Extortion

Abel Norton, a vindictive manager for singer Darlene Clark (real-life singer Nancy Wilson), kidnapps her daughter in retaliation for the death of his son. Ms. Clark had told Norton she'd arrange for a top surgeon to perform the operations but —unconcerned with others, including her own daughter—never bothered. Now, Norton has kidnapped Ms. Clark’s daughter, just as she prepares to open a show in Las Vegas.

What makes this episode click is that Clark herself comes across not only as arrogant, but combative toward Inspector Lewis Erskine (who shows greater concern for the daughter’s safety). Furthermore, Darlene Clark has a dark past which Norton takes full advantage of: She was involved in a hit-and-run accident in Indianapolis three years before. And, as part of the ransom, (spoiler) she finally has to confess this to her audience in Las Vegas.

Though some of this episode seemed to have been shot in LA, many Nevada locations seem to have been used as well. One is reminded of Diamonds Are Forever, the 1971 James Bond film that was partly shot in Vegas.

• Hal Linden plays Abel Norton with a great deal of sympathy, unhinged and angry over the loss of his son. He became famous two years later for the title role in the 1975-82 ABC series Barney Miller. Here, he is clean shaven and a little shaggy looking, just as one might have looked in 1973.
• Tom Selleck, who has a guest appearance in this episode, became famous for playing the Ferrari-driving private eye in the 1980s series Magnum P.I.

This page updated 23 June 2007.