The BEST episodes directed by Arnold Laven
#1 - Dead Ringer
The Six Million Dollar Man - Season 5 - Episode 18
Steve's brush with death is followed by visions that may be the work of a spirit.
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#3 - Live at Eleven
The Greatest American Hero - Season 3 - Episode 7
An Aging TV anchorman plans to retire in grand style. He hires a band of mercenaries to sabotage a nuclear plant, hoping that his coverage of the event can launch a Presidential campaign. Ralph must stop the plant from exploding, but the saboteurs, now dying of radiation poisoning, are determined to succeed.
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#8 - Home Ranch
The Rifleman - Season 1 - Episode 2
Two hired hands of a wealthy cattleman, who has been using the ranch for grazing his cattle, demand that Lucas move out. When Lucas refuses, he is beaten and dragged and then the ranch house is burned down. They left Lucas and Mark with the burning house and rode off with Lucas' rifle. Leaving Mark to tend to the animals, Lucas tracks them down and confronts their boss, Mr. Jackford.
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#9 - New Orleans Menace
The Rifleman - Season 1 - Episode 10
Tiffauges, a wealthy and sadistic Frenchman, who is used to getting whatever he wants, decides he wishes to purchase the McCain Ranch. Tiffauges' lead man, Xavier, proclaims Lucas to be muy macho, and does not believe Lucas will give in so easily. Xavier and the other men are tiring of being subjected to Tiffauges' whippings and cruel treatment. Lucas plays on the men's longing for freedom to keep his ranch.
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#10 - Portrait of a Hero
Mannix - Season 6 - Episode 5
An aircraft prototype is debuted under mysterious circucmstances.
#11 - The Sheridan Story
The Rifleman - Season 1 - Episode 16
Frank Blandon, a man with only one good arm, wanders on to the ranch. Lucas gave Blandon a job to "hire him and Mark a clear conscience". General Sheridan and his patrol wandered by and Lucas offered to let them stay the night at the ranch. Blandon pulled a gun on General Sheridan, as it turned out Blandon was a confederate soldier, who once had General Sheridan in his gun sight during the war. Blandon hung fire, but Sheridan did not hesitate and blew out Blandon's shoulder. General Sheridan shamed Blandon out of exacting his revenge, then lifted Blandon's spirit by praising Johnny Rebs' fighting spirit. Sheridan ordered that Blandon be taken to a hospital to have his shoulder properly mended, carrying out his Commander in Chief's last order to ""Bind up the Nation's wounds.""
#12 - The Indian
The Rifleman - Season 1 - Episode 21
U.S. Marshal Sam Buckhart arrives in North Fork in search of renegade Indians suspected of the brutal killing of a Texas Ranger and his family, but the townspeople are suspicious of him when they discover that he too is an Indian.
#15 - Speak No Evil
Shazam! - Season 2 - Episode 6
Three boys break into their school and accidentally start a fire. They get away before they are seen, but one of the boys' dogs is seen at the school. When the boy confesses, the two other boys find out and chase him into a dangerous electrical plant. Moral: Don't ever be afraid of being called a name. As long as you're sure what you're doing is right, there's no word... no name... that can harm you.
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#16 - And Then There Was One
Ironside - Season 5 - Episode 19
A military-issue fragmentation grenade is used in an attack on two Vietnam veterans, one of whom - a friend of Mark's - is killed. When it transpires that another of the pair's old unit has come under similar attack, the Chief sets out to trap the killer, using Ed in a cunning disguise as bait.
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#17 - The Wrong Man
The Rifleman - Season 1 - Episode 27
Young Mark McCain is eager to help lawman Jay Jefferson, who has arrived in North Fork intent on killing an outlaw for the reward, whether he is the right man or not.
#18 - The Woman
The Rifleman - Season 1 - Episode 32
An unfounded rumor causes North Fork's outspoken feminist schoolteacher to be attacked by a mob of angry townspeople.
#19 - Return of Verge Likens
The Alfred Hitchcock Hour - Season 3 - Episode 1
Verge Likens is a farmer whose father was killed by a crooked politician named Riley McGrath. Verge returns home to avenge his father's death. He manages to get close to Riley by getting hired as an assistant at a barbershop. After asking the barber to run an errand, Verge is alone with Riley and proceeds to lather up the murdering politician for a shave. Verge vividly describes how he is planning to cut Riley's throat. When the barber returns to the barbershop he finds the door locked. He gets the police who break down the door. Inside they find Verge standing over Riley's dead body. Berge has avenged his father's death and he is not guilty of a crime. Riley died of a heart attack.
#20 - Young Englishman
The Rifleman - Season 1 - Episode 13
Lucas gets in trouble when he accuses the foreman of a neighboring ranch of rustling some of his cattle.
#21 - Vigilante
CHiPs - Season 4 - Episode 19
Ponch and Jon investigate a mysterious vandal harassing Getraer and his family. They also have to get a handle on a local community patrol operation. One of its members has become a vigilante, using excessive force while trying to fight crime in remembrance of his son who was run down by a drunk driver.
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#22 - Plague
The Greatest American Hero - Season 2 - Episode 8
A psycho military cult leader tries to spread the small-pox virus.
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#23 - The Sharpshooter
The Rifleman - Season 1 - Episode 1
Lucas McCain and his son Mark arrive in North Fork, New Mexico. Looking to start a new life, they come across a ranch to their liking, which is for sale. Lucas enters a Turkey Shoot in hopes of winning the down payment for the ranch. Jim Lewis, the man who runs North Fork, has bet on Vernon, a young gun he brought in, to win. When talk of Lucas' reputation back in the Nations circulates around town, Mr. Lewis gets nervous and he makes trouble for Lucas by threatening Mark's life.
#24 - Cowboy / Substitute Wife
Fantasy Island - Season 2 - Episode 15
In "Cowboy" Brian Kehoe complicates a happy reunion by past lies about being a rodeo star when in fact he is only a rodeo clown. In "Substitute Wife" hypochondriac Nadine Winslow seeks a new wife for her husband when she thinks she is dying.
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The Big Valley - Season 1 - Episode 5
Victoria sells land to an old friend, keeping a promise made many years before, while Jarrod supports a plan to flood the land to benefit the entire valley.
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#26 - The Brother-in-Law
The Rifleman - Season 1 - Episode 5
Mark's uncle, Johnny Gibb, a big time rodeo rider, comes to visit. While Mark idolizes his uncle, Lucas discovers that Johnny is on the run from the law for an Express Office Robbery. Stacy has a bronco named Lucifer, that nobody's been able to ride for 15 seconds. Alvah, wanting to humble the almighty Mr. Stacy, asks Johnny if he'd ride Lucifer, so that he and the townsfolk could bet that Johnny would ride Lucifer for 30 seconds. Johnny agrees and then makes a deal with Stacy to throw the ride for $500.00. After spending time with Mark, Johnny decides to give the ride his best and then turn himself in to Marshal Torrance.
#27 - The Big Squeeze
The A-Team - Season 3 - Episode 15
The A-Team opens its own restaurant to lure a ruthless loan shark who has other restaurant owners terrified.
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#29 - Blood Brothers
The Rifleman - Season 1 - Episode 35
Lucas McCain gives blood to save a dying man and is surprised by Marshal Torrance's odd behavior toward the man. Then three men arrive from a nearby town and demand custody of the stranger.
#30 - The Invaders
The Big Valley - Season 1 - Episode 16
While out counting cattle, Heath comes across a dead cow and is shot by the same rawhiders who killed the cow.
#31 - Hazard
The Big Valley - Season 1 - Episode 24
A man comes to the ranch looking for Heath and is shot by bounty hunters.
#32 - Eight Hours to Die
The Rifleman - Season 1 - Episode 6
Judge Burton seeks "Justice" against the Hangman, who hanged his son; the Judge, who sentenced his son; and Lucas, the man who caught his son. When Judge Burton discovers that Lucas has a son, he decides that the best way to serve justice is an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, a son for a son. Judge Burton tied Lucas to a wagon and went to hang Mark, feeling that Lucas should feel the same agony that he had felt waiting for is son to be hanged.
#33 - The Photographer
The Rifleman - Season 1 - Episode 18
Abel Goss, the photographer who took Lucas' wedding photograph, is in North Fork doing a portrait of Mark standing in the street. When Goss sees Col. Whiteside and his sidekick Jamison, he recognizes them as the butchers who tortured him and others while he was captive in their prisoners of war camp. When Lucas stops him from killing them, Goss swears to kill those men. Whiteside planned to call Goss out, but he had Jamison shooting from the upstairs hotel window, as his insurance. When the shots are fired, Whiteside is dead, shot in the back, and his gun hadn't been fired. Goss is arrested and at the trial Lucas and Mark have different testimonies. Mark reenacts the scene in the street, and Lucas backs Mark's theory , using the photographic negative Goss had shot of Mark.
#34 - The Retired Gun
The Rifleman - Season 1 - Episode 17
Wes Carney and his wife Clair want to settle down and they figure North Fork might do fine. Wes is a well known gunfighter, who has promised Clair that he would hang up his guns for good. The Carney's want to live a simple, honest life and the Feed and Grain Store, which is up for sale, seems like it might work for them. Carney's reputation and the news that he's settling down brings troublemakers to North Fork. Lucas is the only man willing to stand as deputy with Micah. After Lucas tells the Carney's a story, Clair releases Wes of his promise and the three men take on the troublemakers. After the showdown, Clair announces that Wes will be taking the Sheriff's position he was offered in another town, if it's still available.
#35 - The Dora Gray Story
Wagon Train - Season 1 - Episode 20
Flint is riding ahead of the train with Bill Hawkes when they hear gunshots. Heading in the direction the shots have come from they soon find the evidence of an Indian raid on a small camp site. While Flint is looking around the site, trying to get a clue as to who the victims and assailants were, Bill finds a spent bullet casing. It looks to the two men as if the Indians who attacked the camp have got hold of the newest type of army rifle. Flint sets out to find out if he can track down the gunrunner. He doesn't have to go far before he can see the smoke from a campfire. When he finds the camp his suspicions are aroused by the amount of smoke the campfire is stoked up to make, and during daylight at that; one man, one woman, one wagon, but with a team of horses strong enough to pull a heavier load than the blankets the man claims to be carrying to trade with Indians.In spite of hostility from the man (known as Doc) Flint invites himeself into the camp. When he thinks Doc and the wom
#36 - Zen and the Art of Law Enforcement
Hill Street Blues - Season 2 - Episode 13
Grace asks Esterhaus for help with a barking dog; LaRue suffers a crisis of confidence about the PCP lab bust and starts drinking; Renko's family problems hurt his performance at work; Hill antagonizes everyone in his efforts to recruit for the BOC; Goldblume resorts to force to deal with landlord Sosa; and Furillo tries in vain to hold onto Walter Harmon for the death of Pam Gilliam.
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The Big Valley - Season 3 - Episode 23
Nick falls for newcomer Layle Johnson, who is slow to respond to his attentions.
#38 - Captain Bellybuster and the Speed Factory
The Greatest American Hero - Season 2 - Episode 20
Bill recieves hot tips on a speed factory working out of a fast food chain, and a newspaper reporter publishes pictures of Ralph flying.
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#40 - The Lady and the Longhorn / Vampire
Fantasy Island - Season 2 - Episode 13
In "The Lady and the Longhorn" sweet but wacky businesswoman Vera Templeton is after a millionaire to save her company from bankruptcy. And in "Vampire" famous method actor Leo Drake prepares for his role as Dracula in a very frightening and dangerous way.
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#41 - The Beast in Black
The Greatest American Hero - Season 2 - Episode 6
Ralph finds a window into the 4th dimension while scouting an old house. Bill gets possesed by a woman's spirit, and Ralph must return her through that window.
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#42 - The Resurrection of Carlini
The Greatest American Hero - Season 3 - Episode 4
A magician killed performing his greatest trick seemingly returns from the grave to murder his three rivals. Ralph must use his suit to out trick the would-be killer.
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#44 - My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys
The Greatest American Hero - Season 1 - Episode 6
Ralph reconsiders his suit of powers after a flying mistake almost takes out a bus full of tourists. Bill also reconsiders his job path when one of his heroes is suspected of plotting out the theft of a precious diamond.
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#45 - The Winning Smile
The Six Million Dollar Man - Season 3 - Episode 14
Steve investigates a security leak that has imperiled a top-secret project.
#46 - Choice Cut
Hill Street Blues - Season 1 - Episode 7
Hector Ruiz takes hostages again, this time at a supermarket; LaRue and Washington try to connect the gun that shot Hill and Renko with addict Eddie Hoban; and Cynthia Chase uses the hostage scene to stir up the local merchants.
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#47 - Your Kind, My Kind, Humankind
Hill Street Blues - Season 1 - Episode 9
The Dekker Avenue Merchants Association continues helping the police; Eddie Hoban finds himself out in the cold; Hill, Renko and Belker all have personal problems; Furillo tries to help a confused Santini decide what to do; and LaRue asks Cynthia Chase along on a dull stakeout that suddenly heats up.
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#48 - Death Trap
The Rifleman - Season 3 - Episode 33
Lucas recognizes Dr. Simon Battle as an ex-gunslinger with whom he once traded shots.
#49 - High Bleacher Man
Hunter - Season 1 - Episode 9
Hunter and McCall arrest a man named Gavin, who is a street thug. They are then shocked to learn that the D.A. has made a deal with him. It seems that Gavin can link crime boss Nate Demarest to four murders. And Hunter is not pleased with it, cause if they let Gavin go, he will kill someone eventually. After an attempt is made on Gavin, Hunter suggests that they limit the knowledge of Gavin's whereabouts to just two people, and Gavin says that he wants Hunter and McCall to be those two. Cause he knows that they only way Hunter can prove that he didn't sell Gavin out, is to take a bullet for him. And it is while they are protecting Gavin that McCall recalls an old case wherein she and her partner were investigating Demarest for murdering an undercover Fed. McCall begins by talking to the man's wife and tells about a girl named Crissy who worked for Demarest, whom her husband took an interest in. Hunter then goes to talk to a man who once worked for Demarest, Whitey McPhee. And when he g
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#50 - One More Time
The A-Team - Season 1 - Episode 10
The US government recruits the A-Team to rescue a general and his daughter from guerillas in Borneo.
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