Linda Kelsey, Jack Bannon. As a spiritual successor to Lou Grant, this is where the show wears its heart on its sleeve: casting Kelsey and Bannon in key roles. Both are excellent. Speaking of excellent, this is the 2nd of 4 episodes for Bonnie Bartlett as Devon’s mother. Loved the way their b-story had parallels with the a-story. Both are about parents and the harms they can inflict on their children. (Some way more serious than others.) Another of my favourites, Steven Keats, has a role as a sleazy private eye. He’s searching for the little girl that Jack is protecting. The episode does a superb job with this tale of child molestation. It manages to raise genuine doubts from the start about who is telling the truth and then deliver a convincing and satisfying conclusion. It helps that Karen Lundy, the actress playing the little girl, is wonderful in the role. A powerful and very emotional episode. 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. 10/10
