This is the first regular episode of "Police Story"--a show from Joseph Wambaugh that was touted as a show emphasizing realistic police work. Each episode was like a mini-movie--with different cast members working in different parts of the Los Angeles Police Department. When the TV audiences watched this one, I am pretty sure a lot of them were shocked. "Dangerous Games" was NOT a typical cop show but was about an undercover vice cop posing as a pimp! Like I said, folks must have been pretty shocked!
When the show begins, Detective Czonka (James Farentino) is posing as CZ Smith--an out of town pimp who wants to buy girls for his brothels around the world. His contact Janette (Elizabeth Ashley)--a madame who works for Snake (Fred Williamson). However, Janette and Snake are cagey--they don't know who CZ is and he could be a cop. Much of the rest of the show shows how Czonka works the two suspects--leading to their arrest. However, as I watched, I wondered if such a case would gain traction or it would be ruled a case of entrapment, as CZ was soliciting them to break the law. Just wondering and I'd love to know the answer to this one.
All in all, this episode was well made and well acted but never really engaged me enough to have me come back for more of the shows. However, I bought season one on DVD--we'll see what I think about further episodes.
Two final things of note. As my wife watched, she was shocked by Williamson's clothing and his very large 'package'--something that made her laugh and we were surprised to see on a network television show of the era. Additionally, Elizabeth Ashley and James Farentino had been married and divorced to each other years before making this show.
