While not the most uproarious episode of the sadly short lived 'Police Squad' series, it still delivers a commendably high amount of successful verbal and visual gags.
Lt. Frank Drebin hears of a drug courier named Joey (Danny Dayton) coming to a bad end. Joey had also worked as an entertainer at a club, so Drebin applies for his job and gets it, enjoying his new stint as comedian / crooner while working to bust crime boss Veronica (Claudette Nevins) and determining the identity of "The Frenchman" who will figure in a big dope deal.
It's too bad to note that this was the final filmed episode of the series, even more so that it never even made it to air. With a script by comics Tino Insana and Robert Wuhl, and capable direction by Joe Dante, 'Testimony of Evil (Dead Men Don't Laugh)' sizes up as solid entertainment. There are jokes both big and small, of course. Wise shoe shine man Johnny (William Duell) educates Dick Clark (playing himself) on the genre of music known as ska and then giving him a jar of "youth cream" which Dick then proceeds to smear on his face. Drebin and the force go way overboard in taking a car apart, trying to find the drugs they think are hidden inside, when it turns out they were in the glove compartment the whole time. When Veronica sticks a cigarette in her mouth, many hands appear out of nowhere to jam lighters in her face.
There's a real delight in seeing Dantes' good luck charm Dick Miller play the role of Veronicas' flunky Vic, and in the way that star Leslie Nielsen has a high old time telling cruddy jokes and doing some endearingly bad singing. William Conrad fulfils the "guest star / murder victim" requirement while Peter Lupus is absolutely hilarious as Norberg and Ed Williams as Mr. Olson does some of his usual teaching. This all leads to an amazing final freeze frame gag that truly brings the house down.
A fine way to close out the series.
Seven out of 10.
Lt. Frank Drebin hears of a drug courier named Joey (Danny Dayton) coming to a bad end. Joey had also worked as an entertainer at a club, so Drebin applies for his job and gets it, enjoying his new stint as comedian / crooner while working to bust crime boss Veronica (Claudette Nevins) and determining the identity of "The Frenchman" who will figure in a big dope deal.
It's too bad to note that this was the final filmed episode of the series, even more so that it never even made it to air. With a script by comics Tino Insana and Robert Wuhl, and capable direction by Joe Dante, 'Testimony of Evil (Dead Men Don't Laugh)' sizes up as solid entertainment. There are jokes both big and small, of course. Wise shoe shine man Johnny (William Duell) educates Dick Clark (playing himself) on the genre of music known as ska and then giving him a jar of "youth cream" which Dick then proceeds to smear on his face. Drebin and the force go way overboard in taking a car apart, trying to find the drugs they think are hidden inside, when it turns out they were in the glove compartment the whole time. When Veronica sticks a cigarette in her mouth, many hands appear out of nowhere to jam lighters in her face.
There's a real delight in seeing Dantes' good luck charm Dick Miller play the role of Veronicas' flunky Vic, and in the way that star Leslie Nielsen has a high old time telling cruddy jokes and doing some endearingly bad singing. William Conrad fulfils the "guest star / murder victim" requirement while Peter Lupus is absolutely hilarious as Norberg and Ed Williams as Mr. Olson does some of his usual teaching. This all leads to an amazing final freeze frame gag that truly brings the house down.
A fine way to close out the series.
Seven out of 10.