The Equalizer Season 1 Episode 21: Unpunished Crimes
Aired on CBS: April 1, 1986
Directed by: Alan Metzger
Written by : John Burke, Grenville Case
Featuring: Dan Hedaya, Regina Baff, John Cameron Mitchell, John Cullum, Jon Polito, Lee Wallace
It's the classic tale of an independent inventor (Dan Hedaya) getting an idea stolen from him by a big company. Except in the Equalizer universe, it happens every so often that terrorists take CEOs hostage; terrorism groups like Red Wind that we find out have some kind of deal with the CEO of the company that's shutting out Dan Hedaya! Plus the Equalizer does some reluctant family therapy with Dan Hedaya's family by making them fix his kitchen. Oh and the company's name is Penatrax.
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Pretenders

The Equalizer aired on CBS from 1985 to 1989. It inspired two Denzel Washington movies and a reboot with Queen Latifah, but the original series with Edward Woodward is largely forgotten (It can be streamed on nbc.com or the NBC Roku app. Your move, Peacock). In a perfect world, it would receive all the nostalgic love of your MacGyver, your Magnum PI, your A Team, your Knight Rider. The premise - a retired special agent puts an ad in the paper to help those who feel the odds are against them (take that, paper clips and talking cars). Never heard of it? Not a problem. Vince, Chris, and Chuck take a deep dive into the show one episode at a time - incredibly absurd plots, well-known guest stars in every episode (sometimes 4 or 5!), and all other aspects of this show that make it a true hidden gem.
Note: This is pure episodic TV, very few larger plots and themes, so no need to listen in order. This podcast, like say the celebrated show Parks+Rec, had a gestation period, and our full crew kicked in on season 1 episode 16, so you might want to skip ahead.
Photo Credit: Bill Heck