Sunday, June 28, 2020

The Equalizer: An American Callan


In the early 1980's a series was created in the US for a one hour format.
"The Equalizer" was loosely based on Callan, but with differences.
Set in New York, the main character was Robert McCall, an ex CIA spy and assassin who walked away from "The Company" to start his own career as a white knight for the downtrodden.
Unlike Callan, McCall was wealthy, driving a Jaguar, living in his own New York apartment, and owning several chic safe houses.
Unlike Callan, McCall wasn't a wargamer.
But, in the fourth season, an episode featured wargames that had many echo's harking back to "A Magnum For Schneider".
Once again, it is Gettysburg that is the main wargame. The figures are mostly Britain's. The other four tables are mentioned by the generals on them; Julius Caesar; Napoleon; George Washington; and Rommel. Sadly we don't see them.
But one of the characters flips a table at the end with the clatter of some toys on the floor.
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5 comments:

  1. CelticCurmudgeonJune 28, 2020 at 5:48 AM

    Can you please identify the specific episode in which this appeared? Many thanks.

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    Replies
    1. DougApril 7, 2021 at 4:30 PM

      “Endgame”.
      Last season episode.
      https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0572547/

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  2. Archduke PiccoloJune 28, 2020 at 8:08 PM

    A few years ago I watched a movie 'The Equalizer' with Denzel Dashington in the title role. I thought it rather good, actually. DW's Equaliser was not especially wealthy, and worked in a large DIY warehouse - more down-to-earth than Edward Woodward's rather lofty character (Mind you I liked the TV series as well).

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  3. DougJune 28, 2020 at 8:12 PM

    Yes. It is a fourth season episode called "Endgame".
    It is one of the last episodes made.
    Equalizer was set for a fifth season, but Angela Landsbury threatened a walk out from the TV studio and take her " Murder She Wrote" to another station. So in order to keep her, she was given a huge pay increase that meant series like The Equalizer were cut. This is on the DVD complete set, a one hour show called "The Story of The Equalizer". Coleman Luck was the producer interviewed.

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  4. Terranova47June 29, 2020 at 3:49 PM

    The McCall character, overweight and pudgy would say to his clients "Trust me" when there was no reason in the world to do.

    Edward Woodwood had heart issues and couldn't continue so Robert Mitchum was dug up to fill the space making any further series unlikely. It wasn't helped by the show jumping round in it's time slot.

    The least believable part was McCall always drove tp places in Manhattan and found a parking spot right outside! I live in Manhattan and parking that easily wasn't possible at that time in the 80's.

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