The Matchmakers
The Matchmakers | |
Episode # | 217 |
Air Date | January 27, 1979 |
Briefing | Derk joints shift; Secret Service seminar |
Brief Plot
Cora Gilford is forced to move from her home so she tried to kill herself and then gets in an accident. Derk, a 30-year motor veteran, is set to retire. CHPs play matchmaker between Cora and Derk.
Plot
Ponch and Jon chase a woman (Cora) driving her truck recklessly. She ends up driving into a pond and Ponch wades in after her. It turns out she was attempting suicide. Ponch, Jon, and Sindy go to the Cora's house to drop her off later. After the briefing, Ponch and Jon respond to an accident. Some loose scrap cars could fall on an occupied car but Derk manages to tie down the load. On the freeway, Ponch and Jon are chasing a car which is chasing another car when Derk joins in. Derk pulls them over and the man in the first car turns out to be a P.I. who was taking the mother's daughter to the father. After their shift, Ponch and Jon ride out to Derk's place to check out his motorcycle collection. Meanwhile, Animal Control goes to Cora's house to take her animals. She can't take it and tries to drive off a cliff...but stops just in time. Just up the road, she swerves to avoid an oncoming car and flips over. The truck slides to the edge of the cliff. Luckily, Derk lives nearby so Ponch, Jon, and Derk ride up on some old motrocycles to save her. Just as Jon saves her, the truck falls over. At the hospital, Ponch and Jon convince Derk to take in Cora's animals. After the second briefing, Cora asks Derk out to dinner. Across town, the P.I. kidnaps the girl again. Ponch and Jon respond covering the 405 northbound. Sindy follows him on the freeway but loses him when he pulls off. Ponch, Jon, and Sindy split up, but Derk (aka Mary 9) finds him headed for the airport. When he arrives, his plane is ready and waiting. Derk chases the plane followed by Ponch, Getraer, and Sindy. Ponch sticks his stick in the elevator of the plane so they can't take off. They manage to stop the plane and everything is fine. That night, Cora moves her animals into Derk's garage and Ponch and Jon help.
Great Quote
Guest Stars
- Gregory Walcott as Derk
- Jenny O'Hara as Cora Gilford
- Danny Wells as Phil Davies
Also Starring
- Brianne Leary as Sindy
- Brodie Greer as Baricza
- Paul Linke as Grossman
- Lew Saunders as Fritz
Co-Starring
- Judy Penrod as Doreen Evans
- Hal Frederick as Animal Control Officer
Featuring
- John Bernabei as Caddy Driver
- Richard Andert as Pilot
- Marc Baxley as Paramedic
- Jerry Boyd as Trucker
Crew
- Produced by: Cy Chermak
- Written by: L. Ford Neale & John Huff
- Directed by: Harvey Laidman
- Executive Consultant: Rick Rosner
- Story Editors: William D. Gordon & James Doherty
- Associate Producer: Paul Rabwin
- Developed for television by: Paul Playdon
- Music by: Alan Silvestri
- Theme by: John Parker
- Music Supervisor: Harry V. Lojewski
- Director of Photography: Robert F. Sparks
- Art Director: Joseph M. Altadonna
- Editors: Dennis Mosher & Michael Renaud
- Unit Production Manager: Thom Anable
- Assistant Director: Richard Schor
- 2nd Assistant Director: Mary Lou MacLaury
- Script Supervisor: Jack Gannon
- Set Decorator: W. Joseph Kroesser
- Production Consultant: Bob Hayden
- Technical Advisor: Dick Barton
- Sound: Robert Sheridan & Hal Watkins, C.A.S.
- Stunt Co-ordinator: Paul Nuckles
- Wardrobe Supervisor: Shelly Levine
- Makeup: John M. Norin
- Casting: Michael O. Hanks
- Locations by: Cinemobile Systems
- With Appreciation to Glen B. Craig, Commissioner California Highway Patrol
- Motorcycles Furnished by: Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A.
- Automobiles furnished by: Ford Motor Company
- Filmed in METROCOLOR / Titles and Opticals MGM
- Rosner Television in association with MGM Television
Fun Facts
- The show begins with Ponch and Jon exiting the freeway and passing through the intersection of Paxton St. and Foothill Blvd. View in Google Maps
- Ponch and Jon are wearing sweaters and jackets.
- Everyone is wearing long-sleeved shirts (and jackets outside), however, during the establishing shot of Central, an officer is walking outside with short sleeves.
- In the final chase, Derk is writing a ticket on Sheldon Street when he spots Davies drive by along Glenoaks Blvd. View in Google Maps
Mistakes
- When the truck carrying junked cars flips, the dispatcher calls out an 11-80, but gives no location. Jon responds and gives an "ETA of 3." How does he know where he is going?
- Derk's antique Harleys are not equipped with electric starters (not available until 1965 on the Electra-Glide), yet none of the riders kick start them.
- When Ponch rescues Cora from the pond, the water is nearly up to the bottom of the pickup's windows in the long shots, but the shot from inside shows the water below the door.
- When the truck flips, all the junked cars fall parallel to the trailer bed, but in the next shot, four cars have jumped on top of the others.
- When the kidnapped girl's mother gets out of her car, all the traffic on the right is stationary, even though no one has stopped it.
Buy this Episode
- The Matchmakers on DVD at Amazon.com
Preceded by: "Pressure Point" |
The Matchmakers 217 |
Followed by: "Rally 'Round the Bank" |