The Equalizer Season 2 Episode 22: Re-Entry
Aired on CBS: May 27, 1987
Directed by: Aaron Lipstadt
Story by : Dennis Manuel, Teleplay by : Scott Shepherd
Featuring: John Goodman, Steve Buscemi, David Johansen (aka Buster Poindexter), Joe Morton, and Stewart Copeland himself!
Season 2 finale! And it's a doozy. The guest list is a veritable Coen brothers movie / Monsters Inc voice cast. Pre-Roseanne John Goodman is an honest down-on-his-luck unemployed father forced into a criminal conspiracy to steal plutonium. Pre-Mr. Pink Steve Buscemi is a sleazy guy working in a sleazy electronics store. Pre-Hot Hot Hot Buster Poindexter (released later in summer 87) is a henchman. And amidst his prolific career as Equalizer composer / Police drummer, Stewart Copeland cameos as a pickpocket-for-hire. And the original EQ isn't the only episode with esteemed guest stars - our own Vince Recupito is back to cover this momentous finale. It's safe to say we are not just podcasting about a TV show from the 80s; we are historians and we are making history.
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Bonus: The Equalizer 2 2018 movie!

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