Wayne Rogers guest stars in this one. "Call Unicorn" begins with a trucker being murdered by a group of criminals within the trucking company. Apparently, they figured out that he's an investigator and they wanted to shut him up...permanently. Soon, Cannon is working at the same place--undercover and as an 18 wheeler driver! Oddly, apparently, Frank Cannon knows how to drive big rig trucks. However, to try to force the gang's hand and discover who their boss is, Frank plays it tough--very tough. This seems to be working when a monkey wrench is tossed into the works--the woman Frank is 'married to' (as part of his cover) is surprised when her sister shows up and wants to meet the new husband! This is a good episode--mostly because the plot is very unusual. I enjoyed it a lot but also laughed because there was so much fighting and Cannon kept winning! Seeing the very rotund William Conrad in all these scrapes was a bit surreal, that's for sure.
4 Reviews
Well rounded entertainer.
jeffpeck501622 August 2020
William Conrad was a very good actor, announcer, and director. He was supposed to be a tough private detective who could out fight, out shoot, and out thing all of his adversaries. He was quite overweight at the beginning but he was such a good actor, it was easy to overlook his obvious physical limitations. As the seasons progressed however he put on more and more weight. It got to a point where I wondered how he could get out of his car, let alone believe he actually chased down a suspect. I don't know if it was the direction, the acting or just William Conrad's distinctive voice but Cannon was such an enjoyable show I was more than willing to suspend my disbelief in his physical abilities.
Different than all other Cannons
cheriesuv13 July 2021
Warning: Spoilers
This is quite an intriguing and unusual episode of Cannon, as it doesn't start in the usual way, with a crime then Cannon being called in to solve it. When we see Cannon for the first time, he's already on the job and we are later given the information bit by bit how he came to be involved.
Besides the usual action sequences, here with a big rig speeding down mountain roads, and fistfights, there are some cute and funny things. At one point Cannon goes to a diner and orders two hamburgers. And he got just that: two hamburgers, no fries. How does he know they don't come with fries? He probably didn't check the menu on his phone. Also, if it were me, I would order just one hamburger and add fries, but Cannon has a habit of having sandwiches without sides. He often makes giant gourmet submarine sandwiches but never eats potato chips with them.
Another funny thing was how Cannon was sleeping on the couch at his fake wife's house, but then when her sister came over to stay, she got the couch and he had to sleep on a couple chairs in the bedroom. They couldn't tell the sister they're not really married, so he had to sleep in the bedroom. And of course they couldn't sleep in the bed together, because they're not really married.
Another fun fact: the building where the diner is where Cannon had two hamburgers, it's still there in Ventura, as can be see on Google Maps. The "Caravan Coffee Shop" sign is even still there as of this writing, but it doesn't look like the building is used as a restaurant any more.
Really a delightful episode of Cannon, with Cannon stopping the bad guys once again.
Besides the usual action sequences, here with a big rig speeding down mountain roads, and fistfights, there are some cute and funny things. At one point Cannon goes to a diner and orders two hamburgers. And he got just that: two hamburgers, no fries. How does he know they don't come with fries? He probably didn't check the menu on his phone. Also, if it were me, I would order just one hamburger and add fries, but Cannon has a habit of having sandwiches without sides. He often makes giant gourmet submarine sandwiches but never eats potato chips with them.
Another funny thing was how Cannon was sleeping on the couch at his fake wife's house, but then when her sister came over to stay, she got the couch and he had to sleep on a couple chairs in the bedroom. They couldn't tell the sister they're not really married, so he had to sleep in the bedroom. And of course they couldn't sleep in the bed together, because they're not really married.
Another fun fact: the building where the diner is where Cannon had two hamburgers, it's still there in Ventura, as can be see on Google Maps. The "Caravan Coffee Shop" sign is even still there as of this writing, but it doesn't look like the building is used as a restaurant any more.
Really a delightful episode of Cannon, with Cannon stopping the bad guys once again.
HOW DO YOU RATE YOUR CHEESE BURGERS?
tcchelsey14 July 2022
I agree with the last reviewer, Bill Conrad did put on a few pounds as the series continued. Later there was a gag story going around that WEIGHT WATCHERS would not honor customers who watched Cannon! That all said, let the record show that Conrad was also an extremely agile actor and, to a degree, did many of his own stunts (which caught everybody by surprise!) A Hollywood original.
Also not to forget producer Quinn Martin was a fantastic host and everyone ate well between fights, stranglings and gunfire. This was a rare tv show with a lot of fun behind the scenes.
Allen Reisner was called in to direct. Reisner was behind such series as THE GREEN HORNET and IRONSIDE, to name a few. This episode may have also inspired the classic tv movie HIJACK (1973) (now on dvd) starring two of William Conrad's pals, David Janssen and Keenan Wynn. It's an exciting trucking adventure where Cannon becomes a driver, investigating some deadly hi-jackings. Wayne Rogers co-stars (shortly before his association with MASH). Rogers began his long career in tv westerns and probably worked with Conrad during his years at Warner Brothers/ABC.
Patricia Smith, a popular actress who was a regular on the DEBBIE REYNOLDS SHOW, plays Cannon's make believe wife ( Mrs. Polaski). They make a very good team and compliment each other. Interesting scene where Patricia asks Cannon (who is sleeping on two chairs!) if he's comfy --and she has a queen size bed! Hmmmm.
The garage chase with creepy Charles Cioffi, had to have been inspired by MANNIX. It's a gem. And, especially, do not miss the wild, wild ride ending. Some real good air shots also. Great directing by Reisner.
David Moessinger wrote this episode, who later served as a co-producer for Bill Conrad's next series, JAKE AND THE FATMAN, which was a lighter version of Cannon in disguise.
For all of us bowling fans, we get a glimpse of the famous PICWOOD BOWL, on Pico Boulevard in LA. The place is now partly a parking structure. In it's day, Picwood was a top bowling alley, open 24 hours. All that's left are the memories and some vintage clips in this episode. If you do a Google search, there are some well done articles on the history of Picwood, and with vintage pictures, also showing it being bulldozed. It's a shame because the building was beautifully designed.
10 STARS.
Recommended for all of us armchair truckers. SEASON 1 EPISODE 3 remastered CBS and Paramount dvd box set (2008).
Also not to forget producer Quinn Martin was a fantastic host and everyone ate well between fights, stranglings and gunfire. This was a rare tv show with a lot of fun behind the scenes.
Allen Reisner was called in to direct. Reisner was behind such series as THE GREEN HORNET and IRONSIDE, to name a few. This episode may have also inspired the classic tv movie HIJACK (1973) (now on dvd) starring two of William Conrad's pals, David Janssen and Keenan Wynn. It's an exciting trucking adventure where Cannon becomes a driver, investigating some deadly hi-jackings. Wayne Rogers co-stars (shortly before his association with MASH). Rogers began his long career in tv westerns and probably worked with Conrad during his years at Warner Brothers/ABC.
Patricia Smith, a popular actress who was a regular on the DEBBIE REYNOLDS SHOW, plays Cannon's make believe wife ( Mrs. Polaski). They make a very good team and compliment each other. Interesting scene where Patricia asks Cannon (who is sleeping on two chairs!) if he's comfy --and she has a queen size bed! Hmmmm.
The garage chase with creepy Charles Cioffi, had to have been inspired by MANNIX. It's a gem. And, especially, do not miss the wild, wild ride ending. Some real good air shots also. Great directing by Reisner.
David Moessinger wrote this episode, who later served as a co-producer for Bill Conrad's next series, JAKE AND THE FATMAN, which was a lighter version of Cannon in disguise.
For all of us bowling fans, we get a glimpse of the famous PICWOOD BOWL, on Pico Boulevard in LA. The place is now partly a parking structure. In it's day, Picwood was a top bowling alley, open 24 hours. All that's left are the memories and some vintage clips in this episode. If you do a Google search, there are some well done articles on the history of Picwood, and with vintage pictures, also showing it being bulldozed. It's a shame because the building was beautifully designed.
10 STARS.
Recommended for all of us armchair truckers. SEASON 1 EPISODE 3 remastered CBS and Paramount dvd box set (2008).
See also
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