This pilot for a new series is OK, but - as with many preliminary versions of a concept - can't quite settle on a tone. Knowing that this was a Jack Webb project makes it a little easier to see what they were trying for.
For example, the conversations between the main characters in the office, when not talking about the main case, are obviously meant to be humorous banter, akin to that between Friday and Gannon in Dragnet, or Reed and Malloy in Adam-12. The problem is that the actors aren't comfortable in their characters yet. Also, three-way banter is tougher than two-way. The result is simply confused dialogue, without the needed waits for reactions. This probably would have adjusted itself in a series as the actors drew the characters around themselves.
The story also suffers from the half-hour format. It's simply not enough time to develop the plot lines. The "Law and Order" franchise would solve this years later with the "two shows in one hour" breakdown of a police investigation in the first half hour and a prosecution in the second.
Finally, when Abe Strayhorn (Ed Nelson) is explaining to defense attorney Don Bates (Kenneth Tobey), why he is rejecting a plea deal and going for the manslaughter charges, his dialogue is 100% pure "Joe Friday lecture". The only thing missing is "OK, now let me tell *you* something..." Unfortunately, Nelson's delivery isn't up to the staccato punch of Jack Webb. Again, this might have smoothed out over time.
All in all, not terrible. It's just too unpolished for a good Jack Webb product.
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