Midnight Caller 2x09 "Blood Red" shout by RikerDonegal

**Pam Grier.** It’s not perfect, but this episode packs some serious punches. It looks like it’s going to be about gambling addiction–and it is to a large degree–but it soon morphs into a gripping crime drama about forged paintings. Karen Kopins almost steals the episode as a gorgeous widow. It’s a shame we never saw her character again. Her scenes with Jack were fabulous. James Handy is excellent as a very cold gangster. His confrontation scene with Jack is chilling. There’s really menace behind his every word. It feels like Jack is really in danger. The main guest character gets a sudden and shocking death near the end. You’d think the episode couldn’t top that, but you’d be wrong. When Jack revealed the identity of the murderer that started it all, I pretty much gasped out loud. Really was blindsided. The closing monologue–on the subject of friendship–is one of the show’s very best. Such a shame the plot is driven by so many casual coincidences. _Fall 1989: NBC aired Midnight Caller in the final hour of Tuesday prime time after In the Heat of the Night. Against it were Thirtysomething on ABC and Island Son on CBS._ 9/10