.22 Rifle for Christmas is quite a change from all the excessively sentimental Christmas episodes one usually gets.
The Big Smoke has the most hilarious way that the crook got caught. Basically, an old man is killed and his wife is nearly killed. However, she recovers and tells Friday and Smith that, although she's not absolutely sure as the light wasn't too good, she thinks it was a guy they hired to do some lawn work a while back. So, they get him for questioning (handily, he had already been brought in for passing a bad check). He refuses to crack until Friday says something along the lines of, "You'd better come straight, because the old lady got a good look at you." The suspect then blurts out, "Can't have, the light wasn't good enough-" at which point his brain catches up with his mouth.

Interesting news. ABC is apparently planning to revive Dragnet. They've ordered thirteen episodes for the 2002-2003 season. No word on casting. I hope they won't screw it up.

"The stolen statue of the baby Jesus" is a personal fave.

Gordon, there's only one thing we want, and, that is, of course.... (WAIT FOR IT...}...

Just the facts!

They need someone who can deadpan without being funny to play Friday.

In Big Run there is a rare sound effects flub. Friday and Romero are walking outside from a garage to a house. There shouldn't be an echo to heel taps.

The above mentioned new Dragnet series is suppose to come out in January. Executive producer is Dick Wolf, famed for shows like Miami Vice, Crime and Punishment, and all the Law and Order serieses. A few other production types have been decided on (like cinematographer and costumer), but no word I can find on who's going to be Friday and his partner (and what said partner's name will be).

Scratch that. I've just checked http://www.badge714.com and they say that Danny Huston will be Joe Friday and Ethan Embry will be Frank Smith. I've never heard of them. What do you people at home think?

From IMDB:

Danny Huston -- Son of John Huston, has only done a few things... Starred as Ivan Beckman in Ivans xtc.

Ethan Embry -- Played Rusty Griswold in "Vegas Vacation", and the Bass Player in "That Thing You Do".

A little young aren't they?

Depends... Huston is either 40 or pushing 40. I wouldn't say that's "a little young" for Friday.

Of course, since I turn 40 in October, I wouldn't say that 40's old either!

Ah, I got Frank Smith and Bill Gannon mixed up. Hes about the right age for Smith.

According to Reuters, Huston won't be playing Friday.

Oh, and Embry is currently starring opposite Reese Witherspoon in "Sweet Home Alabama".

First Dan Aykroyd and now Ed O'Neill: Al Bundy to Morph into Joe Friday

I'm given to understand that O'Neill has portrayed policemen on more than a few occasions. So let's not get our minds locked on the fact that he was a regular in a sitcom of debateable quality.

Was listening to The Big Shock and spotted a sound effects goof. Friday announces that he'll pick up the phone, but we don't hear it ringing.