I was captivating first by the plot of this episode right from the beginning. What appears to be a routine visit to a neighborhood tavern run by Jean Stapleton-the future Edith Bunker by Detective Adam Flint turns into a nightmare for him and 2 innocent persons brought into the fold by circumstances beyond their control. Exercising caution by not shooting at 3 hoods who decided to rob the tavern Dt. Flint was in on police business results in a publicity blitz on he and the entire 65th Precint.

Along the road to the predictable police chase ending we see James Caan portraying a hood, Dick York as the doctor and brother of the gang boss coerced to treat the ailing hood shot in the getaway played by Bruce Dern and the veteran Frank Campanella chewing out Lt. Parker for faling to close the controversial case. When the nurse who was also forced to treat the dying crook decides to alert the police, the chase is on ending with a touching epilogue setting the record straight of what really happened at the bar.

I recall this series fondly however I don't remember seeing the pilot nor the last 1-hr retrospect episode. I do remember looking forward to each week's show, my wife and pre-teen daughter would enjoy watching it, a few times we had friends over who also liked it.

The leader of the prisoners was a Puerto Rican dude named Fuentes played by Jose Perez, he not only was very funny but typical of mid-70s TV, the character Fuentes was not afraid to make social commentary. I also liked the lead Black prisoner DeMott as portrayed by Hal Williams who was frequently seen on Sanford & Son playing Officer Smitty. The popular character actor of the 70s Rick Hurst was hilarious as inmate Cleaver and the veteran Mel Stewart(George Jefferson's brother Hnery on All in the Family). The dissapointing role was by frequent game show panelist, Tom Poston as Guard Sullivan, he was goofy and just was not believable.

Like other sitcoms of the period, On The Rocks was based on a Britsh TV show, in this case, "Porridge". This series may not have been the best nor the funniest of the 1975-'76 season but it was superior to many others who were renewed for another season or two. The cancellation was due to lack of sponsor support as it was considered too benign a view of prison life so few were willing to buy ad time, this was furthered by letters to the network by members of the penal system frowning on its portrayal of life behind bars.

I look forward to the day that the entire series is eventually released on a DVD box set.

Although this is a episode that entertains, when compared to other Naked City episodes it is slightly below their high standard of excellence.

The main character Arnold Platt is portrayed by Orson Bean who it better known for his frequent game shows panelist appearances. It is a treat to see Mae Questel-the voice of Betty Boop, Olive Oyl and many other cartoon voices, she plays the part of Arnold girlfriend's mother, Mrs. Faber. Barbara Barrie portrays Rosalinda Faber, Platt's girlfriend. Barrie subsequently played Mrs. Barney Miller, another NYC based cop show, as of late she's been on several Law & Order and SVU chapters. The most beautiful Karen Steele has a small but important role as an airline stewardess(using the term of the show epoch)who befriends Arnold Platt at the race track.

There's a great line in this episode, when Lt. Parker wants Sgt. Arcaro to follow Platt's girl, he tells him, "don't lose her or you'll be patrolling the other side of Staten Island and that's the Atlantic Ocean", hmmmm that's where Detective Logan of Law & order was banished to after he punched a corrupt politico.

This installment begins well then enters a valley which is then saved by the above average finale.

An older Italian shoe maker marries his best friend's daughter in a December-June marriage and despite her infidelity he attempts to save their marriage, even the girl's mother tell her son-in-law that he is too good and that her daughter is a tramp. After his wife convinces him that divorce is the only solution he goes to their priest who refuses to annul the matrimony setting up the fabulous conclusion.

The last minutes of this episode are mesmerising and completely captivated me, the suprise ending came out of nowhere and placed the icing on the cake, even the credits scroll and fade out scene continued to keep my attention.

A young Burt Reynolds plays the role of one of the Italian shoemaker wife's lover. The Italian shoemaker is portrayed by Jay Novello who was often seen playing a "nervous" character, in particular several I Love Lucy and Lucy Show episodes

Burn, Baby Burn! grabbed my interest the week before its original screening just because of its title. As a product of So Cal I recall fondly listening to my favorite radio station KGFJ 1230AM, Los Angeles one of the now gone classic Black music radio outlets in the 1960s with a team of intriguing on air personalities led by the legendary Magnificent Montague whose catch phrase was "burn, baby burn", a phrase he would use when a preferred song of his was played. After the Watts Rebelion of August 22nd, 1965, Montague was banned from using his trademark saying.

This is a powerful episode, especially for those of us who lived the mid-to-late 1960s, as a teen or young adult. I found it to be provocative and Clarence Williams III was outstanding, his scenes on the stand holding up under the barrage dealt out by McCoy was flawless. I also enjoyed the chemistry between Briscoe and Green in the scenes leading up to the arrest of William's character, Latiff Miller.
There was a blunder by the writers that was revealed when defense attorney Leon Chiles portrayed by Joe Morton argued for his client's "leery of police frame of mind" by citing previous actual police brutality incidents including the murder of Fred Hampton(a Black Panther) in Oakland, close but no cigar, the assassination of Fred Hampton & others (while they were sleeping) took place in the Windy City and was conducted by the Chicago Police. Despite the error of location for the Hampton murder by police, this was a most enjoyable episode I don't get tired of seeing as often as it is rerun

Jon Jax