Return to Death's Door

Return to Death's Door
Episode #	609
Air Date	December 12, 1982
Briefing	Keep an eye out for the honeymooners.

Title screen

Brief Plot

A guy arrested for hill racing holds a grudge against Ponch because his brother, Ponch's friend, died while racing him. Bruce helps to catch a dog on the freeway and Harlan is persuaded to look after it. A pair of honeymooners steal a car.

Guest Stars

• Lee Montgomery as Chris
• Gina Gallego as Elena
• Ellen Geer as Mrs. Williams
• Bruce Penhall as Bruce Nelson
• Tina Gayle as Kathy Linahan

Co-Starring

• Bryan Cranston as Billy Joe
• Clarence Gilyard, Jr. as Webster
• Bill Cross as Jim Telford
• Ralph Manza as Cooper
• Tony Perez as Eddie
• Kathy Shower as Honey Jean
• John Vidor as Zack

Featuring

• Gaby Mandelik as Sgt. Ford
• Paloma Vander as Tammy

Crew

• Executive Producer: Cy Chermak
• Supervising Producer: Paul Mason
• Written by: Gerald Sanford
• Directed by: Winrich Kolbe
• Executive Consultant: Rick Rosner
• Executive Story Consultant: Joseph Gunn
• Creative Consultant: Larry Mollin
• Story Consultant: Gerald Sanford
• Associate Producer: Randall Torno
• 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: Stephen Myles Berger
• Editor: William Neel
• Unit Production Manager: Donald Gold
• First Assistant Director: Steven P, Saeta
• Second Assistant Director: David Newman
• Set Decorator: W. Joseph Kroesser
• Script Supervisor: Suzi Alter
• Production Consultant: Bill Udell
• Stunt Co-ordinator: Paul Nuckles
• Production Associate: Bonnie Jo Chermak
• Rerecorded at: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios
• Sound: Harlan Riggs, M. Curtis Price, C.A.S.
• Wardrobe Supervisor: Shelly Levine
• Makeup: Richard Cobos, S.M.A., Jane Aull
• Hair Stylist: Don Lynch
• Sound Editor: Mark Dennis
• Music Editor: Tommy Carlin
• Casting: Al Onorato, Jerry Franks
• With Appreciation to Glen B. Craig, Commissioner California Highway Patrol
• Motorcycles Furnished by: Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A.
• Filmed in METROCOLOR / Titles and Opticals MGM
• Rosner Television in association with MGM Television

Fun Facts

• "Death's Door" in the title refers to a deadly curve on a road popular with racers.
• Gina Gallego (Elena) previously appeared in Valley Go Home! in season 3.
• In previous episodes the Thalberg Building in Culver City played a hospital. Here it's the Los Angeles Police Department.

Mistakes

• Just after Bruce catches the dog, Ponch and Bobby get a call about cars racing on Mulholland north of Coldwater. They are clearly in the docks/Long Beach area when they get the call, which is roughly 40 miles away. Surely there are units closer to the action.

Preceded by: "Head Over Heels"

Return to Death's Door 609

Followed by: "Fallout"