ROBERT MCCALL (1985)

Full Name:	Robert McCall
Series Name:	The Equalizer
Nationality:	American
Organization:	The Agency
Occupation	Agent

Creator:	Michael Sloan, Richard Lindheim
Time Span:	1985 - 2023

ABOUT THE SERIES

Robert McCall is a former agent with the Company.

The exact identity of this intelligence bureau, also referred to as the Agency, is never specified but there is sufficient evidence pointing towards the CIA, if unspoken. McCall was an agent for many, many years and based on the contacts he has, he has made a big name for himself. Those he made his home in New York City, having a very nice apartment there as well as an ex-wife and a grown musician son, he was a man of the world and saw action in every part of the planet. His knowledge of languages and traditions is impressive.

At the time of the first recorded adventure, McCall is in his late 50's or very early 60's. He is growing extremely tired of the duplicity and the underhanded ways the cloak and dagger game is played and would very much like out. A particularly brutal event in a NY subway in which he promises a desparate man holding a hostage that if the man let the hostage go, all would be fine. The hostage is released and another agent shoots and wounds the man. To keep the wounded and still dangerous man from harming anyone, McCall must kill him. That is the final straw.

McCall turns in his papers and retires. Unfortunately, no one retires from this Agency and his New York boss, known only as Control, lets him know how scared his bosses are. Too much information is in his head, Control warns, to be let free. It was almost certain a hit squad would be dispatched to take him out. "Let them come" was McCall's response. Before too much time has passed, Control lets McCall know he worked out a deal with the upper echelon - let McCall live and maybe he would be there for a favor now and then.

It was not just to get out that McCall retired, though. Not hurting for money, and feeling a need for penance, he began a small one-man crusade to help the underdog get out from under. His reasoning is quite clear to himself - he has done enough bad things on behalf of his "employers" to last several lifetimes and he wants to even things out a bit. This reasoning is not so understandable to some who knew him in the old days. Control, for all his protests against his friend's actions, is one of the few who does comprehend.

"Got a problem? Odds against you? Call the Equalizer" is the advertisement in the newspaper. It gives a phone number in Manhattan where help can be reached, although McCall has obviously learned to never answer the phone directly but let the machine get it and play back messages later. If McCall decides that the caller is legitimate and not, as often is the case, someone looking for a hand out or an acquaintance rubbed out, he will contact the person and schedule a meet in a safe location. Once he takes the case, though, regrets are in store for those he rules deserving of it.

Since McCall is no stranger to the City and many of his former associates, and not a few opponents, live there, he thinks nothing of routinely calling upon them for assistance. Many are less than happy about the calling but some, like his protege and young friend, Mickey Kostmayer, delights in working again with his old mentor and gladly drops whatever he is doing when summoned. Since that is sometimes something Control had him doing, friction can be high between McCall and Control. Nevertheless, the old friendship between McCall and Control goes back a long way and despite his irritations, Control has come to McCall's help himself more than once.

BOOKS

Number of Books:	6
First Appearance:	1987
Last Appearance:	2020

The three books in the series that were published were novelizations of several of the episodes. They were published in Britain first. It is unknown if they were ever released in the States.

In 2014, the series got a reboot with a movie release and a book by Michael Sloan, one of the creators of the original series.


1			The Equalizer Written by David Deutsch Copyright: 1987 Novelizations of two episodes from Season 1: Pilot: The Equalizer by co-creator, Michael Sloan, in which a woman is being stalked and a security expert is endangered by his own bosses, and The Children's Song by Howard Chesley, Joel Surnow, and Maurice Hurley which has McCall trying to protect the only witness for a murder by a group of rapists.

2			The Equalizer: To Even The Odds Written by David Deutsch Copyright: 1987 Novelizations of two episodes from Season 1: The Defector by Heywood Gould in which McCall helps a double agent defect as he also teaches a young boy to stand up to bullies, and Back Home by Neil Cohen, Joel Surnow, and Maurice Hurley which has a banker who is simultaneously trying to force tenants out of a building even as he is planning the murder of his wife.

3			The Equalizer: Blood And Wine Written by David Deutsch Copyright: 1987 Novelization of one episode from Season 3: Blood and Wine by Coleman Luck which has McCall joining with a monk, a man who once was a terrorist, as they look for the man's former partner who is planning on a major event.

4			The Equalizer Written by Michael Sloan Copyright: 2014 Wanting quiet and solitude after his years of doing things for his country he wants to forget, Robert McCall works in a warehouse store and minds his own business. But then seeing bad people hurt good people is something he cannot ignore.

5			Killed In Action Written by Michael Sloan Copyright: 2018 This book tells of the very beginning of Robert McCall's life as The Equalizer; a woman trying to free her daughter from white slavers and another mother who wants to find out if her son, fighting in Syria, is alive or dead.

6			Equalizer: Requiem Written by Michael Sloan Copyright: 2020 "Robert McCall's friend, Granny, a one-time covert agent for a shadowy spy organization called The Company, sends McCall a cryptic message telling him that he is being imprisoned in a North Korean prison camp. He and the other western prisoners are being tortured. The prisoners are surrounded by dense forest from which there is no escape. McCall embarks on a perilous course to rescue his friend and the other prisoners, aided by two charismatic North Korean mercenaries. It is a suicidal mission for McCall but he has no choice to attempt it. At the same time, an old enemy of McCall has been setting up a trap for him with some handpicked mercenaries. She is the lover of a spy McCall once had to kill and her revenge on him is callous and impassioned."

MOVIES

Number of Movies:	5
First Appearance:	1987
Last Appearance:	2023

Initially after the second season of the popular television series had wrapped, a two-part episode from that season was edited and released as a VHS movie.

Nearly three decades after the original Equalizer appeared on the television screen, the great Denzel Washington brought to the big screen his own take on the concept of an Equalizer, a former operative making amends for his actions in the field by coming to the aid of those in trouble.

These movies shown below are of that Robert McCall, not this television one. They are mentioned here only for consistency sake and to help point out the difference.

Mind you, I loved the television show very much and I loved these movies as well. Different characters, really, but both definitely awesome!

Likely because of the popularity shown by the first Denzel Washington version of Robert McCall, the year after the first movie came out, the two-part episode which had started Season 3 was merged into a "movie" for sale on DVD. Since it came out between the two Washington movies, it is sandwiched between them below.

So we have two sets of two movies, one with Woodward's Robert McCall and the other set with Washington's.


1			The Equalizer: Memories Of Manon Director: Tony Wharmby Writer: Coleman Luck Actors: Edward Woodward as Robert McCall, Melissa Sue Anderson as Yvette Marcel, Robert Lansing as Control, Anthony Zerbe as Phillip Marcel, Anne Heywood as Manon Marcel Released: 1987 The 37th & 38th episodes (the 15th and 16th from Season 2) of the TV series packaged as a movie on VHS by MGM Home Video. Yvette Marcel asks her godfather Control and McCall with her father that is dead set on finding her mother that might have been killed years earlier.

2			The Equalizer Director: Antoine Fuqua Writer: Richard Wenk Actor: Denzel Washington as Robert McCall Released: 2014 Robert McCall works in a warehouse store and tries to forget the life he once lived as an agent. Sleep does not come easy. Neither does rest when, try as he might to live a peaceful life, he finds he cannot watch bad people hurt good people.

3			The Equalizer: Blood & Wine Released: 2015 The first 2 episodes of from Season 3 of the television series were packaged as a movie on DVD. Robert McCall is forced to work with a former terrorist on a deadly mission in New York.

4			The Equalizer 2 Director: Antoine Fuqua Writer: Richard Wenk Actor: Denzel Washington as Robert McCall Released: 2018 Robert McCall is after the rogue agents that have gotten his friend and former colleague murdered.

5			The Equalizer 3 Director: Antoine Fuqua Writers: Richard Wenk, Richard Lindheim Actors: Denzel Washington as Robert McCall, Dakota Fanning as Emma Collins Released: 2023 ""Robert McCall finds himself at home in Southern Italy but he discovers his friends are under the control of local crime bosses. As events turn deadly, McCall knows what he has to do: become his friends' protector by taking on the mafia.""

TELEVISION


Number of Episodes:	88
First Appearance:	1985
Last Appearance:	1989
Network:	CBS (US)

REGULAR CAST
Edward Woodward	Robert McCall [ 1-4 ]
Robert Lansing	Control [ 1-4 ]
Keith Szarabajka	Mickey Kostmayer [ 1-4 ]

In September 1985, CBS aired the first episode in a new action series starring veteran British actor Edward Woodward. According to one of the creators of the show, the original thought had been to have someone like James Coburn play the character but it was decided that Mr. Woodward would play him. For his part, Mr. Woodward definitely had the credentials especially after having already played the spy Callan on British television from 1967-1972.

The shows would traditionally start with a scene in McCall's Manhattan apartment showing the answering machine recording a new call for help, setting the scene for that night's main adventure. The dialogue was routinely brisk and pithy with lots of jabs at McCall from his old friends and warnings to mind his own business from bad guys and even better retorts from McCall. These rejoinders were often followed up with enough physical action to show how much they were meant.

Playing Control, McCall's former boss and current friend was another veteran actor, Robert Lansing, and his ability to appear mysterious and menacing was as superb as Mr. Woodward's. Throwing in the young but by no means novice agent, Mickey, played with great skill by Keith Szarabajka, and the show was a hit.

There was enough action to satisfy most couch potatoes and enough violence to give pacifists strokes on a weekly basis. The show lasted four years and might have gone on longer had not Mr. Woodward suffered from a heart attack and frail health afterwards. Even bringing in the great Robert Mitchum for a couple of episodes and having Richard Jordan take over for a few more did not save the series. Mr. Woodward did return to the show but only for another season.

Note: the dates, directors, writers, and plots shown below were taken from the terrific entry for this show in Wikipedia.


1	The Equalizer Episode S1-1, first aired 09/18/1985 Director: Rod Holcomb Writer: Michael Sloan Robert McCall, disenchanted with "The Company" (an otherwise unnamed American intelligence agency), quits and starts his own detective agency. His first cases are helping a computer clerk whose life is in danger after he stumbles across some incriminating data, and a woman being stalked by a crazed man.

2	China Rain Episode S1-2, first aired 09/25/1985 Director: Richard Compton Writers: Joel Surnow, Maurice Hurley, Victor Hsu When a Chinese maid's young son is snatched by mistake in place of the son of the woman's wealthy employers, McCall is hired to locate the boy.

3	The Defector Episode S1-3, first aired 10/02/1985 Director: Rod Holcomb Writer: Heywood Gould McCall comes to the aid of a Russian double agent who wants to defect to the west but when the man is murdered, McCall must protect his ballerina daughter. Meanwhile, McCall also helps a teenager stand up to a group of bullies while balancing time with his latest mistress.

4	The Lock Box Episode S1-4, first aired 10/09/1985 Director: Russ Mayberry Writers: Frank Military, Joel Surnow, Maurice Hurley When a teenage girl is abducted by a pimp who runs an anything-goes, invitation-only brothel, the girl's parents hire McCall to find their missing daughter.

5	Lady Cop Episode S1-5, first aired 10/16/1985 Director: Russ Mayberry Writers: Kathryn Bigelow, Maurice Hurley, Joel Surnow A young policewoman hires McCall when she finds that her partner and his cronies are corrupt, and intend to make sure that she doesn't blow the whistle on them.

6	The Confirmation Day Episode S1-6, first aired 10/23/1985 Director: Richard Colla Writers: Eric Blakeney, Gene Miller, Edward Adler, Heywood Gould A teenage boy hires McCall for help after his father stole a truckload of antiques, which resulted in the man's friend being shot dead and the boy's father now being wanted by the Mob. McCall also helps an old lady who is sure someone is stalking her.

7	The Children's Song Episode S1-7, first aired 10/30/1985 Director: Richard Compton Writers: Howard Chesley, Maurice Hurley, Joel Surnow McCall takes his estranged son Scott for a weekend away in the country to try and bond, but they don't exactly have a quiet time when they end up protecting a girl from a group of young thugs led by Dillart who killed her boyfriend and now intend to keep her from talking.

8	The Distant Fire Episode S1-8, first aired 11/06/1985 Director: Alan Metzger Writers: Robert Sabaroff, Maurice Hurley, Joel Surnow McCall is forced to team up with a known hitman, to save the life of a woman they both used to love from a killer.

9	Mama's Boy Episode S1-9, first aired 11/13/1985 Director: James Sheldon Writer: Heywood Gould A single mother hires McCall to straighten up her troubled teenage son, who is going off the rails after falling in with a drug runner with martial arts skills.

10	Bump and Run Episode S1-10, first aired 11/20/1985 Director: Richard Compton Writers: Jim Trombetta, Maurice Hurley, Joel Surnow McCall must track down a vigilante who is killing punks in his name, while also helping a female student who is in danger from some thugs after an attempted car-jacking against her went wrong, leaving one of them dead and the surviving thugs seeking retribution.

11	Desperately Episode S1-11, first aired 12/04/1985 Director: Donald Petrie Writer: Charles Grant Craig McCall protects a lonely wife after a stranger tried to lure her into an affair, breaking into an apartment and murdering a man in the process. Things get even worse when the stranger turns out to be a hit-man.

12	Reign of Terror Episode S1-12, first aired 12/11/1985 Director: Richard Compton Writers: Steve Bello, Coleman Luck McCall does his best to rectify the situation when the new doctor at a local clinic in gang territory is targeted by the vicious gang after she refuses to give them drugs as payment for working on their turf.

13	Back Home Episode S1-13, first aired 12/18/1985 Director: Alan Metzger Writers: Neil Cohen, Joel Surnow, Maurice Hurley When McCall is hired to protect the elderly residents of a run down apartment block, who are being harassed by the block's banker owner, he also discovers that the man has arranged to have his estranged wife murdered.

14	Out of the Past Episode S1-14, first aired 01/15/1986 Director: Richard Compton Writer: Cyrus Nowrasteh A deranged, dying ex-con is harassing the man who testified against him. McCall is called for protection by the man's wife - the woman who McCall was married to years before.

15	Dead Drop Episode S1-15, first aired 01/22/1986 Director: Donald Petrie Writers: Maurice Hurley, Joel Surnow When a man is marked for murder after innocently having his name used in a mailing racket, McCall assembles a team of contacts to stake out the group behind the scam and let it be known that McCall's client is innocent.

16	Wash Up Episode S1-16, first aired 01/29/1986 Director: Richard Compton Writer: Mark Frost McCall is hired by two skyscraper window washers, who are certain that their boss is trying to have them killed after they set about forming a union.

17	Torn Episode S1-17, first aired 02/05/1986 Director: Russ Mayberry Writers: Joel Surnow, Maurice Hurley, Carl Eastlake McCall is hired to protect a woman and her young daughter (played by a 9-year-old Melissa Joan Hart) from her abusive husband about to be released from prison, but finds his time divided as he also tries to get even with a contact who betrayed him years before.

18	Unnatural Causes Episode S1-18, first aired 02/12/1986 Director: Alan Metzger Writers: Susan Woollen, Coleman Luck, Scott Shepherd A serial killer, who targets lonely middle aged women and leaves an orchid at the scene of the crime, is on the loose. McCall investigates, while also being hired by a young wannabe actress who has fallen foul of a flashy pimp.

19	Breakpoint Episode S1-19, first aired 02/19/1986 Director: Russ Mayberry Writers: Scott Shepherd, Don Carlos Dunaway McCall is attending a wedding reception when the party is suddenly taken hostage by a group of terrorists who have kidnapped a Middle East philanthropist.

20	No Conscience Episode S1-20, first aired 03/26/1986 Director: Richard Compton Writer: Mark Frost A womanizer is kidnapped and beaten up for a piece of information that his captors want - but he doesn't know what it is. Given 36 hours, the man hires McCall to help him, a case with many turns.

21	Unpunished Crimes Episode S1-21, first aired 04/01/1986 Director: Alan Metzger Writers: John Burke, Grenville Case McCall is hired by a boy to help his inventor father, whose designs were ripped off by a multi-million dollar corporation run by a ruthless executive.

22	Pretenders Episode S1-22, first aired 04/08/1986 Director: Richard Compton Writer: Scott Shepherd McCall is hired by a fledgling reporter who is convinced that her new apartment neighbor is up to no good. But she can't prove anything, and the police don't want to know.

23	Prelude Episode S2-1, first aired 10/08/1986 Director: Richard Compton Writer: Carleton Eastlake A dictator, who McCall helped bring to power, kidnaps an American journalist who McCall must now rescue.

24	Nocturne Episode S2-2, first aired 10/15/1986 Director: Richard Compton Writer: Carleton Eastlake McCall comes to the aid of a blind rape victim who hears the voice of her attacker.

25	A Community of Civilized Men Episode S2-3, first aired 10/22/1986 Director: Alan Metzger Writers: Daniel Pyne, Scott Shepherd A widow is being pressed to pay off her husband's debts, and enlists McCall's help to keep the collectors off her back. Jennifer Grey plays the widow's daughter.

26	Joyride Episode S2-4, first aired 10/29/1986 Director: Russ Mayberry Writers: Jim Trombetta, Charles Grant Craig A hearse, bearing a coffin full of crack cocaine, is stolen and taken for a joyride by two young boys who are unaware of the contents of the coffin.

27	Shades of Darkness Episode S2-5, first aired 11/05/1986 Director: Donald Petrie Writer: Jack V. Fogarty McCall must clear a National Guardsman wrongly charged with murder.

28	Nightscape Episode S2-6, first aired 11/12/1986 Director: Aaron Lipstadt Writer: Carleton Eastlake McCall is asked by a rape victim (Frances Fisher) to stop her husband from seeking revenge on her attackers.

29	Counterfire Episode S2-7, first aired 11/19/1986 Director: Alan Metzger Writers: Scott Shepherd, Coleman Luck McCall is framed for a blind man's murder, and the waitress who set him up is nearly killed. McCall must work with the girl to find the man who set up both of them and restore his good name.

30	The Line Episode S2-8, first aired 11/26/1986 Director: Russ Mayberry Writer: Steve Volpe McCall is called upon to help a woman whose son was killed by a citizen's patrol group.

31	Tip on a Sure Thing Episode S2-9, first aired 12/03/1986 Director: Donald Petrie Writer: Scott Shepherd A bookie kidnaps a jockey's son in an attempt to fix the outcome of a horse race.

32	The Cup Episode S2-10, first aired 12/10/1986 Director: Mario DiLeo Writers: Andrew Sipes, Carleton Eastlake, David Jackson Mickey Kostmayer's brother, a priest, hears a criminal confession moments before the man is murdered.

33	Heartstrings Episode S2-11, first aired 12/17/1986 Director: Russ Mayberry Writer: Loraine Despres A woman's baby son has been kidnapped, and McCall is called on to retrieve him.

34	High Performance Episode S2-12, first aired 01/07/1987 Director: Russ Mayberry Writer: Jack V. Fogarty McCall protects a construction worker who is both a witness to a killing and the murderer's next target.

35	Beyond Control Episode S2-13, first aired 01/14/1987 Director: Alan Metzger Writer: Coleman Luck McCall must protect his former boss Control from a KGB hitman.

36	Carnal Persuasion Episode S2-14, first aired 01/21/1987 Director: Leon Ichaso Writer: Dennis Manuel A judge offers to release a convicted man... if his wife will perform sexual favors for him.

37	Memories of Manon: Part 1 Episode S2-15, first aired 02/04/1987 Director: Tony Wharmby Writer: Coleman Luck A joint American/Canadian task force, led by Phillip Marcel, is destroying mob operations along the Eastern seaboard with the assistance of an informant codenamed Chrysalis. Mob boss Frank Dorgan kidnaps Phillip's daughter, Yvette, and threatens to kill Phillip if she doesn't provide the identity of Chrysalis. Yvette turns to her godfather, Control, who enlists McCall to protect the Marcels. Control reveals that Yvette is the daughter of McCall's beloved former operative, Manon...but doesn't reveal her other secret...

38	Memories of Manon: Part 2 Episode S2-16, first aired 02/11/1987 Director: Tony Wharmby Writer: Coleman Luck Dorgan kidnaps Yvette again to raise the stakes in his pursuit of Chrysalis. McCall must now play Dorgan against Chrysalis to thwart Chrysalis' plans and save the Marcels - while coming to terms with his own link to Yvette.

39	Solo Episode S2-17, first aired 02/18/1987 Director: Alan Metzger Writer: Carleton Eastlake A woman is wanted in Pennsylvania for a policeman's murder...and McCall is the woman's new lover.

40	A Place to Stay Episode S2-18, first aired 02/25/1987 Director: Alan Metzger Writers: Marc Rubin, Carleton Eastlake, Coleman Luck McCall takes the case of a runaway child who has been taken in by a child porn artist.

41	Coal Black Soul Episode S2-19, first aired 05/06/1987 Director: Richard Compton Writer: Scott Shepherd McCall deals with someone who claims he can't stop killing women and also has his eyes on a female psychiatrist.

42	First Light Episode S2-20, first aired 05/13/1987 Director: Richard Compton Writer: Jack Fogarty Scott takes on his father's role as "The Equalizer" while his father is away, and his case involves a merchant seemingly harassed by local thugs...but Robert's true nemesis holds a grudge from World War II.

43	Hand and Glove Episode S2-21, first aired 05/20/1987 Director: Alan Metzger Writer: Coleman Luck An invalid woman has nightmares, and one of them comes true when one of the figures from them appears in her room.

44	Re-Entry Episode S2-22, first aired 05/27/1987 Director: Aaron Lipstadt Writers: Dennis Manuel, Scott Shepherd McCall is called on to help a man who was tricked into committing a crime.

45	Blood & Wine: Part 1 & 2 Episode S3-1, first aired 09/23/1987 Director: Alan Metzger Writer: Coleman Luck McCall and a monk, who was a terrorist before his conversion, must track down the monk's former partner.

46	Blood & Wine: Part 1 & 2 Episode S3-2, first aired 09/23/1987 Director: Alan Metzger Writer: Coleman Luck McCall and a monk, who was a terrorist before his conversion, must track down the monk's former partner.

47	Suspicion of Innocence Episode S3-3, first aired 09/30/1987 Director: Russ Mayberry Writer: Robert Eisele A mentally retarded man witnesses the murder of one of his coworkers in an alley, is charged with the crime and enlists McCall to help prove his innocence.

48	In the Money Episode S3-4, first aired 10/07/1987 Director: Aaron Lipstadt Writers: Ed Waters, Scott Shepherd A woman crosses some corrupt stock traders.

49	Encounter in a Closed Room Episode S3-5, first aired 10/14/1987 Director: Jim Johnston Writers: Ann Lewis Hamilton, Scott Shepherd A Soviet defector's parents have been kidnapped by the KGB and will only release them if she convinces another defector to return to their home country.

50	Mission: McCall: Part 1 Episode S3-6, first aired 10/28/1987 Director: Alan Metzger Writers: Ed Waters, Scott Shepherd McCall is kidnapped by the KGB and Scott enlists help of a former Agency colleague Richard Dyson to free him.

51	Mission: McCall: Part 2 Episode S3-7, first aired 11/04/1987 Director: Alan Metzger Writers: Ed Waters, Coleman Luck, Scott Shepherd, Robert Eisele Part 2: Dyson enlists former deep cover operative Harley Gage to assist him in rescuing McCall from his KGB captors.

52	Shadow Play Episode S3-8, first aired 11/11/1987 Director: Russ Mayberry Writer: Robert Eisele McCall must help colleague Harley Gage protect a government witness from assassins who are looking to keep him from testifying before a Congressional Oversight Committee.

53	Inner View Episode S3-9, first aired 11/18/1987 Director: Marc Laub Writer: Jim Trombetta McCall is enlisted by a psychic who claims to have seen a serial killer's next murder.

54	The Rehearsal Episode S3-10, first aired 12/02/1987 Director: Alan Metzger Writer: Robert Eisele McCall and Gage are trapped in a theater with an acting company after someone plants bombs at all the theater's exits and cuts the phone lines.

55	Christmas Presence Episode S3-11, first aired 12/16/1987 Director: Michael O'Herlihy Writer: Coleman Luck McCall and Gage are called on to protect a six-year-old boy with AIDS, whose grandmother is dealing with increasingly violent harassment from their scared neighbors.

56	A Dance on the Dark Side Episode S3-12, first aired 01/13/1988 Director: Jonathan Perry Writer: David Lightstone McCall must protect a police switchboard operator who overheard a policeman talk about his former partner's murder and is now being threatened into silence.

57	The Child Broker Episode S3-13, first aired 01/20/1988 Director: Mark Sobel Writer: Mick Curran McCall helps a young woman whose boyfriend is being used as a pseudo-slave.

58	Video Games Episode S3-14, first aired 01/27/1988 Director: James A. Contner Writer: Peter McCabe An investigative reporter tracking information on a call-girl operation and his daughter's death goes missing.

59	Something Green Episode S3-15, first aired 02/10/1988 Director: Luis Soto Writer: Kevin Droney A diplomat has kidnapped his son from his ex-wife and has $10 million in mob money in tow. McCall is called on to stop them from leaving the country.

60	The Mystery of Manon: Part 1 Episode S3-16, first aired 02/17/1988 Director: Bradford May Writer: Coleman Luck Control's goddaughter Yvette Marcel returns, asking Control and McCall for help with her father Phillip, who has received information that his wife Manon - long believed to be dead - may still be alive.

61	The Mystery of Manon: Part 2 Episode S3-17, first aired 02/24/1988 Director: Bradford May Writer: Coleman Luck With Phillip now dead, McCall and Control must discover the true identity of the woman who believes herself to be Manon - and expose the shadow party controlling her.

62	No Place Like Home Episode S3-18, first aired 03/16/1988 Director: Tobe Hooper Writer: Robert Eisele A man on welfare is in need of help from McCall to protect him from his abusive landlord.

63	Last Call Episode S3-19, first aired 03/23/1988 Director: Michael O'Herlihy Writer: Robert Crais Kostmayer and several others are taking hostage by a rapist on the run from a Mafia assassin.

64	Regrets Only Episode S3-20, first aired 03/30/1988 Director: James A. Contner Writer: Robert Crais A woman is stalked by her ex-husband.

65	Target of Choice Episode S3-21, first aired 04/06/1988 Director: Mark Sobel Writer: Kevin Droney A murderer is paroled, and the man who helped put him away finds out he is living in his neighborhood.

66	Always a Lady Episode S3-22, first aired 05/04/1988 Director: Marc Laub Writers: Scott Shepherd, Peter McCabe McCall is called on to try to save a former colleague, who is apparently framed for money theft.

67	The Last Campaign Episode S4-1, first aired 10/26/1988 Director: Richard Compton Writers: Lee Batchler, Janet Scott Batchler A state senate candidate is blackmailing the incumbent to endorse him for election.

68	Sea of Fire Episode S4-2, first aired 11/02/1988 Director: Alan Metzger Writers: Peter McCabe, Coleman Luck McCall is called on to help a high school principal deal with a gang who raped a female student in the school gym.

69	Riding the Elephant Episode S4-3, first aired 11/09/1988 Director: Donald Petrie Writer: M. K. Lorens Two Thai nationals are being hassled by a racketeer with connections to McCall's past employers.

70	Eighteen with a Bullet Episode S4-4, first aired 11/16/1988 Director: Richard Compton Writer: Bruce A. Taylor McCall and Kostmayer help a young singer escape the clutches of her manager, who is up to no good.

71	Day of the Covenant Episode S4-5, first aired 12/07/1988 Director: James A. Contner Writer: Robert Eisele In a case of mistaken identity, Scott's girlfriend is kidnapped by an Afrikaner fanatic who believes she is a terrorist.

72	Splinters Episode S4-6, first aired 12/14/1988 Director: Paul Krasny Writer: Coleman Luck Kidnappers take Kostmayer hostage and torture him in an attempt to turn him on McCall.

73	Making of a Martyr Episode S4-7, first aired 01/11/1989 Director: Bradford May Writers: Wayne Powers, Donna Powers A gun control advocate receives threatening phone calls.

74	The Sins Of Our Fathers Episode S4-8, first aired 01/18/1989 Director: Paul Krasny Writer: Tom Towler A mobster's son is kidnapped as part of a revenge plot against his father.

75	The Visitation Episode S4-9, first aired 02/01/1989 Director: Bradford May Writer: Robert Eisele An ex-lover of McCall's is forced to help victims of a virus carried by two men who have killed an international arms dealer.

76	Past Imperfect Episode S4-10, first aired 02/15/1989 Director: Russ Mayberry Writer: Gail Morgan Hickman A cartel uses a man's estranged son to try to make the man do what they want him to.

77	Trial by Ordeal Episode S4-11, first aired 03/01/1989 Director: Marc Laub Writer: Coleman Luck McCall defends Control against treason charges filed against him by The Company.

78	Silent Fury Episode S4-12, first aired 03/08/1989 Director: Russ Mayberry Writers: Donna Powers, Wayne Powers McCall helps a deaf robbery victim.

79	Lullaby of Darkness Episode S4-13, first aired 03/30/1989 Director: David Jackson Writer: Coleman Luck McCall is called on to help a mother and daughter escape their abusive home life.

80	17 Zebra Episode S4-14, first aired 04/06/1989 Director: Alan Metzger Writer: Jacqueline Zambrano McCall investigates the death of several homeless people who have died from heart attacks while in ambulances.

81	Starfire Episode S4-15, first aired 04/13/1989 Director: Bradford May Writer: Robert Eisele McCall helps a man who is convinced he is an alien being hunted by killers.

82	Time Present, Time Past Episode S4-16, first aired 04/20/1989 Director: Gordon Hessler Writer: Tom Towler Scott and a Bulgarian defector (who was aided by his father) are kidnapped, and Scott enters his father's line of work when he tries to rescue the man.

83	Prisoners of Conscience Episode S4-17, first aired 04/27/1989 Director: Marc Laub Writer: Robert Eisele McCall tries to free a Chilean poet from the grasp of a man who killed his father years ago.

84	The Caper Episode S4-18, first aired 05/04/1989 Director: Alan Metzger Writer: Tom Towler A cleaning woman witnesses a murder and tries to solve it.

85	Heart of Justice Episode S4-19, first aired 05/11/1989 Director: Bradford May Writer: Gail Morgan Hickman A man hellbent on getting revenge on the men who attacked his wife enlists McCall's help when he finds out someone else has gotten to them first.

86	Race Traitors Episode S4-20, first aired 06/29/1989 Director: Robert E. Warren Writers: Donna Powers, Gail Morgan Hickman, Wayne Powers McCall comes to the aid of a black family being harassed by racists.

87	Endgame Episode S4-21, first aired 08/10/1989 Director: Alan Metzger Writer: Coleman Luck A man who is a master of strategy games uses his knowledge to plot revenge against two sisters.

88	Suicide Squad Episode S4-22, first aired 08/24/1989 Director: Marc Laub Writer: Jacqueline Zambrano McCall aids a young student who has turned to drug dealing after he loses his athletic scholarship at college.

DIGESTS AND MAGAZINES

Number of Digests:	1
First Appearance:	1986
Last Appearance:	1986


1			The Equalizer Annual 1987 Written by Unknown Copyright: 1986 Published by World International Publishing. A collection of stories (comic & text) and possibly other stuff based on the TV series.

MY COMMENTS

I was so much a fan of the series, I never missed an episode. If I was not in front of the television when the latest episode was aired, I was there later when my VCR replayed it. I had already loved Edward Woodward as Callan from when I saw him while stationed overseas so the idea of seeing an older but more deadly version taken on corrupt politicians, gangsters, nasty boyfriends, and the like was too much fun to not watch.

Technically, Robert McCall, the Equalizer, is no longer a spy and most of what he does is no longer spy related but considering the fact that sometimes they are and the fact that he uses the resources, willingly or not, of the Company means this series definitely belongs in this compendium. Add to that the fact that this answers the question of what happens to civilians when they up against professionals.

The writing of the novelizations is very well done and are worth reading, if only to recapture the fun that was the Equalizer.

GRADE

My Grade: A-

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