When Guest Stars Surprise and Delight, Part II

by Karen A. Romanko

I’ve been neglecting poor bloggie for months, concentrating on my book in progress, Historical Women on Scripted Television, as well as several other creative projects. But I’m back now with some noteworthy guest star sightings, as reported in my social media posts.

January 24: I love all of the Patrick McGoohan Columbo episodes. Just re-watched this one recently (on DVD), his last appearance on the series, “Ashes to Ashes” (1998). McGoohan portrays a murderous mortician in his quirky, inimitable style. He is pictured here with Sally Kellerman, Rue McClanahan, and, of course, Peter Falk. The TV movie also costarred Patrick‘s daughter Catherine McGoohan.

January 25: Julie Newmar, best known for her performance as Catwoman on the 60s series Batman, was a guest star on the McMillan & Wife episode “Aftershock“ (1975). She portrays a dubiously-accented Italian actress who wishes to buy the McMillan residence even after an earthquake reveals a skeleton behind the fireplace. A fun outing with lots of other guest stars, including Richard Dawson and Robert Loggia. Newmar is shown here with Susan Saint James, Vince Cannon, and Rock Hudson.

January 26: Jenny Agutter, who starred in the 1976 science-fiction film Logan‘s Run, about a society that kills its citizens when they reach 30, made a guest appearance on New Tricks, a TV series that reminds us it “doesn’t really matter if you’re old and gray.” In “A Delicate Touch“ (2005), Agutter portrays a prim woman who is none too eager to see her husband‘s murder case reopened. She is shown here with series regulars Dennis Waterman and Alun Armstrong. I love the expression on Dennis‘s face.

January 29: Two of my favorite faces. Suzanne Pleshette, whom many will recognize from her role as Emily Hartley on The Bob Newhart Show, made two guest appearances on The Fugitive. Here she and series lead David Janssen are looking gorgeous in a publicity shot for “World's End” (1964). She played a different character the second time around in “All the Scared Rabbits” (1965). In addition to some great guest stars, The Fugitive had outstanding episode titles.

February 7: George Peppard with guest star Joanna Pettet on Banacek, “Project Phoenix,” 1972. I’ve seen Pettet on The Fugitive and Harry O during my recent DVD travels, and her characters have all displayed depth and intelligence. A fascinating actress.

April 12: David Janssen with guest star Tuesday Weld in “Dark Corner,” a 1964 episode of The Fugitive. I watched this one last night on DVD. Tuesday portrays an older “bad seed” type of character, for those who remember the 1956 film with Patty McCormack.

April 17: A purr-fect entry in this week‘s guest star sweepstakes came via Julie Newmar, who played a cat/woman, but not THAT Catwoman, on Bewitched. Newmar, famous for her portrayal of Batman’s feline nemesis, played Ophelia, a cat and familiar of Endora (Agnes Moorehead) in “The Eight-Year Itch Witch (1971).” Ever suspicious Endora sics Ophelia, now in human form, on an unsuspecting Darrin (Dick Sargent) to test his fidelity to Samantha (Elizabeth Montgomery). Catwoman left, cat/woman right.

May 17: We’ve been sporadically working through the The Man from U.N.C.L.E. DVD set, and finally came upon “The Never-Never Affair” (1965), guest-starring Barbara Feldon and Cesar Romero. The outing was lively and a bit reminiscent of the Scarecrow and Mrs. King episode “Saved by the Bells” (1983), with both having an enemy spymaster who mistakes a novice for a seasoned operative.

May 19: Does a silly little detail ever spoil a TV episode for you? It doesn’t happen to me often, but last night we were watching “The Prophet,” a 1967 episode of The Invaders, and I couldn’t get past guest star Pat Hingle‘s ridiculous wig. I must have mentioned it 10 times! (My poor hubby!) Pat was portraying an alien invader who had taken the form of a human preacher. It looks like they borrowed this wig from Gone with the Wind! It wasn’t a good episode anyway, but that wig certainly did not help.

May 22: I picked up Coronet Blue on DVD last year, and thoroughly enjoyed my trip back to the 60s with Frank Converse, who stars as Michael Alden, an amnesiac with a dangerous secret, if only he can remember it. I’m planning to re-watch soon and introduce my hubby to it. Happy birthday to Mr. Converse, who turns 85 today, pictured here with guest stars Candice Bergen (top) and Juliet Mills.

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Last, but not least, please check out my books about women and television from McFarland Publishers, available in trade paperback and Kindle editions at Amazon:

Television's Female Spies and Crimefighters and Women of Science Fiction and Fantasy Television
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