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22 Episodes 1990 - 1991
Episode 1
Wed, Sep 12, 1990 60 mins
James Earl Jones stars as Gabriel Bird, an ex-cop who's in his 20th year of a life sentence for killing his partner. In the opener, an attorney (Laila Robins) overturns Bird's conviction, then asks him to help find a fellow inmate's killer. Ted Duke: Lincoln Kilpatrick. Capt. O'Neil: Chelcie Ross. Fecky: Jim Ortlieb. Mr. Frank: Marty Davis. Josephine: Madge Sinclair.
Episode 2
Thu, Sep 20, 1990 60 mins
O'Neil gets a hooker to tell Bird she's his daughter, and that her own daughter was kidnapped by her husband, a childpornographer. Part 1 of two. Celine: Michele Lamar Richards. Roland: Jim Boeke. Kathy: Laurie O'Brien. O'Neil: Chelcie Ross.
Episode 3
Thu, Sep 27, 1990 60 mins
Conclusion. Heller knows who's behind the frame, but can't paint the whole picture when Bird refuses to let his daughter give her crucial testimony. Celine: Michele Lamar Richards. O'Neil: Chelcie Ross. Carlo: Marc Lawrence. Bird: James Earl Jones. Heller: Laila Robins.
Episode 4
Thu, Oct 4, 1990 60 mins
Bird tails a parolee who claims he cannot repay the seniors he swindled; Louis becomes a recruiter for an investment counselor. Harley Kovacs: Cecilia Hart. Grimes: H. Richard Greene. Mrs. Morris: Helen Brown. Louis: Dylan Walsh. Bird: James Earl Jones.
Episode 5
Thu, Oct 18, 1990 60 mins
Bird and Heller each see different sides of their client, a gambler accused of killing a witness and two Feds. Johnny Glass: Ramy Zada. Rourke: Steven Gilbrow. Abraham Washington: Mel Winkler. Coleridge: David Selkirk. Bird: James Earl Jones.
Episode 6
Thu, Oct 25, 1990 60 mins
Heller tries to show that media hype and peer pressure influenced a Hispanic teen who shot a boy for the victim's expensive athletic shoes. Ernesto: George Perez. "Smoke" Jackson: Bentley K. Evans. Benjamin: Francois Giroday. Thorn: William Denis. Heller: Laila Robins.
Episode 7
Thu, Nov 1, 1990 60 mins
Charged with murder, Jamil (Brian Grant) expects his "brotherhood" will stand behind him, but they tell him to keep the faith and take the rap. Bishop Dobbs: Moses Gunn. Patrice White: Clarence Williams. Isabell: Tremaine Hawkins. Teardrop: Billy Kane.
Episode 8
Thu, Nov 8, 1990 60 mins
A homeless ex-cop gives assistance in the defense of a homeless murder suspect who Bird suspects was a '50s singing star. Walker Green: Bill Cobbs. Potter: Ken Jenkins. Charlie: Abdul Salaam El Razzac. Bernard: Wendell Wright. Bird: James Earl Jones.
Episode 9
Thu, Nov 15, 1990 60 mins
A hostage situation across the street evolves into one inside Josephine's cafe, where a reluctant robber wants only enough to pursue his dream. Dakota: Peter Frechette. Lt. Roark: Steven Gilborn. Stretch: Scott Colomby. Annie: Virginia Capers. Josephine: Madge Sinclair.
Episode 10
Thu, Nov 29, 1990 60 mins
Watching for evidence of a supposed philanderer's infidelity, Bird and Jamil see only a shot in the dark, while Heller barely escapes abduction. Carmen: Mariska Hargitay. Connie DiFranco: Jennifer Rhodes. Nose: Richard Assad. Bird: James Earl Jones.
Episode 11
Thu, Dec 6, 1990 60 mins
Skeletons in the Heller family closet may come out when Heller's father---a respected judge and his daughter's hero---is indicted. Judge Norton Heller: Len Cariou. Wallis Heller: Mary Carver. Alexandra: Michelle Joyner. Dr. Hernandez: Ivonne Coll. Heller: Laila Robins.
Episode 12
Thu, Dec 20, 1990 60 mins
Bird appears on "The Oprah Winfrey Show," leading to a reunion with his ex-wife, an emotional tug for both---and for Josephine. Ellie Graves: Janet MacLachlan. Thomas Graves: John Wesley. Hazel: Louisa Abernathy. Harry: DeForest Covan.
Episode 13
Thu, Jan 10, 1991 60 mins
Seeking to adopt a crack-addicted infant, Josephine becomes an irresistible force against the immovable system trying to care for such kids. Ginny: Amy O'Neill. Judge: John Lehne. McCord: Tim Ryan. Cangelosi: Greg Rusin. Josephine: Madge Sinclair. Bo: Cylk Cozart.
Episode 14
Thu, Jan 24, 1991 60 mins
An "accessorized" Bird plays the dating game, but faces a rival for Josephine (Madge Sinclair). Meanwhile, romance also inspires the defense of a mercy killer (Jeff Corey). Rollie: Louis Winfield Bailey. Alex: Michelle Joyner. Cleaner: Phil Leeds. Bird: James Earl Jones.
Episode 15
Thu, Jan 31, 1991 60 mins
Jamil (Brian Grant) faces repercussions for leaving his gang; and Heller takes on a tabloid defended by a media darling (Clifton James) who hasn't lost a case in 11 years. Fixx: William Russ. Matthew: Jonathan Brandis. Judge: Lillian Lehman. Pinkay: Taurean Blacque.
Episode 16
Thu, Feb 14, 1991 60 mins
An accidental shooting puts Bird on the operating table, where he talks with his younger self (Todd Davis, in scenes shot in black-and-white) before, during and after the raid in which he shot his partner. Frankel: Michael Madsen. Mary: O-Lan Jones.
Episode 17
Thu, Feb 21, 1991 60 mins
A rapt cafe audience hears Bird and Louis unravel their L.A. mystery involving a screenwriter (Harley Venton), a blonde (Leann Hunley) and her estranged sister (Dana Sparks), whose life may be in danger. Marshall: Bernard Kates. Louis: Dylan Walsh. Bird: James Earl Jones.
Episode 18
Thu, Mar 7, 1991 60 mins
A concentration-camp survivor (David Opatoshu) is arrested for trying to steal a painting he claims he lost during the Nazi occupation of Poland. Stahl: Gregory Itzin. Anton Vasylenko: Jack Gwillim. Alex: Charles James Kahlenberg. Bryce: Keythe Farley.
Episode 19
Wed, Apr 17, 1991 60 mins
Bird goes undercover as a mental patient when a doctor (Caitlin Clarke) hesitates to formally charge her former mentor (George Hearn) with patient abuse and neglect. Jackson: James McDaniel. Doc: Robert Harper. Moon Man: Christopher Collet. Skinner: Sally Prager.
Episode 20
Wed, Apr 24, 1991 60 mins
A man (Kario Salem) may walk on a cop-killing charge because of the overzealous arresting officer (Michael Tylo), who finds zeal for the suspect's attorney---Heller (Laila Robins). Daskell: Stephen Furst. Pontine: Gerry Vichi. Cherry: Deborah Richter. Jamil: Brian Grant.
Episode 21
Wed, May 1, 1991 60 mins
Both Bird's reunion with his daughter (Irene Cara) and Josephine's with her son (Michael Beach) fall short of their expectations. Meanwhile, Louis considers leaving Heller (Laila Robins). Jamil: Brian Grant. Solomon: Anne Bobby. Josephine: Madge Sinclair.
Episode 22
Thu, Jun 6, 1991 60 mins
A lack of evidence frees a professor (Alan Scarfe) suspected of being a rapist whose only living victim is a decoy cop (Holly Robinson). Kelly: Michael Tylo. Crowley: James Russo. Judge: Liz Torres. State's Attorney: Fran Montano. Edward: Leland Orser.