The Mod Squad: Season 2, Volume 1 – DVD Review

DVD Reviews, Reviews



The Mod Squad should be an unintentional comedy after all these decades. Three undercover cops blend with the subcultures around Los Angeles in 1969. The clothes, the hair and the slang should make this a cheesefest like CHiPs. Even with all the historical goofiness, there’s no desire to constantly point and laugh at the screen. Why not? Because there’s a sincerity between the three young semi-policemen. Linc (Clarence Williams III), Pete (Michael Cole) and Julie (Peggy Lipton) have transformed from troubled teens to a well-oiled crime fighting unit on The Mod Squad: Season 2, Volume 1.

“The Girl in Chair Nine” is a supernatural case where they depend on a clairvoyant to track down a missing college student. The Captain (Tige Andrews) thinks this is all made up, but Julie won’t let the psychic trail go cold. There’s plenty of odd turns as it mixes psychics and psychos with an abortion ring. “My Name Is Manolette” has the trio hunting down thieves. During a stakeout they come across a Mexican kid that needs help. What they discover is the kid was used by the thieves to sneak through small windows at the businesses. Can they help the kid without getting him indicted in the crimes? “An Eye For An Eye” gets the Captain personally involved in a case. Narcotics dealers kidnap the Captain’s girlfriend. They want to trade her back for a snitch whose testifying against them. It’s a tense adventure. “To Linc — with Love” allows Linc to loosen up. He’s the star of a romantic comedy when he falls for the driving inspector at the DMV. She wants to fail him, but he wants to work extra credit magic on her. However things get tense when his attentions turn serious. She’s got a secret in her past that Linc can’t know.

“Lisa” has them guarding Carolyn Jones (Morticia from The Addams Family). Someone wants to kill her. Her luggage explodes at the airport. The main suspect is a lurking Joseph Ruskin. But they quickly learn that Carolyn’s more complicated than merely kookie. The colors on her outfits will test your eyeballs. She’s not wearing her usual basic black. “The Death of Bill Hannachek” brings a country twang to their psychedelic world. Sheb Wooley (Rawhide) is a country singer who blows up big and not on the Billboard charts. The trio go undercover to infiltrate Wooley’s honky tonk. Julie sings, but it sounds like she’s lip synching. Tyne Daly (Cagney & Lacey) is a woman in the middle of the various suspects. In a daring moment, a member of the Mod Squad bites the dust. I’m not saying who, but keep the Kleenex near the TV.

“A Place to Run, A Heart to Hide In” is one of the lighter in tone episodes. A college student dies under mysterious circumstances. Pete joins a football frat to investigate. The paddling the pledge scene comes extremely close to a campy moment. But things tense up when a big time donor to the program arrives on the scene. Who is Mr. Moneybags? It’s Dom DeFore, beloved as Mr. Baxter on Hazel. I’ve never seen him play such a caring yet creepy guy. He’s the kind of booster who wants his college team to win at all costs. He’s got the wallet to back up his dreams. “The Healer” puts Linc on the trail of quack doctor. The fraud physician is worse than an insurance company when unhappy clients refuse to pay their bills.

Whenever a show becomes an instant youth hit, there’s always new star ego issues during the second season. Think of what happened to John Travolta after his freshman year on Welcome Back, Kotter. How Chevy Chase star tripped on Saturday Night Live. Or how the Monkees wanted to be bigger than their show? None of The Mod Squad seemed too big for their role – not even Tige. Unlike the first season episodes where the trio constantly debate if they really want to be working for the cops, both the characters and the actors want to be the best at their jobs. The Mod Squad: Season 2, Volume 1 keeps the show hip without playing everything for a laugh.

The Episodes
“The Girl in Chair Nine,” “My Name Is Manolette,” “An Eye for an Eye,” “Ride the Man Down,” “To Linc — with Love,” “Lisa,” “Confrontation!,” “Willie Poor Boy,” “The Death of Bill Hannachek,” “A Place to Run, A Heart to Hide In,” “The Healer,” “In This Corner — Sol Alpert” and “Never Give the Fuzz an Even Break.”

The video is 1.33:1 full frame. The transfers let you absorb all the groovy details. You can count Peggy Lipton’s freckles. The audio is Dolby Digital mono. You’ll feel the funky score in your gut.

None.

The Mod Squad: Season 2, Volume 1 keeps up the good work of this hip trio of undercover agents. While the show wants to remain hip for the kids, it never gets too light weight in the crimes.

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CBS DVD presents The Mod Squad: Season 2, Volume 1. Starring Michael Cole, Clarence Williams III, Peggy Lipton & Tige Andrews. Boxset Contents: 13 episodes on 4 DVDs. Released on DVD: November 25, 2008. Available at Amazon.

Joe Corey is the writer and director of "Danger! Health Films" currently streaming on Night Flight and Amazon Prime. He's the author of "The Seven Secrets of Great Walmart People Greeters." This is the last how to get a job book you'll ever need. He was Associate Producer of the documentary "Moving Midway." He's worked as local crew on several reality shows including Candid Camera, American's Most Wanted, Extreme Makeover Home Edition and ESPN's Gaters. He's been featured on The Today Show and CBS's 48 Hours. Dom DeLuise once said, "Joe, you look like an axe murderer." He was in charge of research and programming at the Moving Image Archive.