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.
#2 - 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.
#3 - 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.
#4 - 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.
#5 - 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.""
#6 - 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.
#7 - 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.
#8 - 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.
#9 - 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.
#10 - 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.
#12 - 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.
#17 - Portrait of a Hero
Mannix - Season 6 - Episode 5
An aircraft prototype is debuted under mysterious circucmstances.
#18 - 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.
#19 - 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.
#21 - 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.
Watch Now:Amazon
#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 - The Big Squeeze
The A-Team - Season 3 - Episode 14
The A-Team opens its own restaurant to lure a ruthless loan shark who has other restaurant owners terrified.
Watch Now:Apple TV
#25 - 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.
#26 - 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
#27 - The Winning Smile
The Six Million Dollar Man - Season 3 - Episode 14
Steve investigates a security leak that has imperiled a top-secret project.
Watch Now:Apple TV
#28 - 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.
#30 - 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.
#31 - 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.
#32 - Mr. Hardcastle Goes to Washington
Hardcastle and McCormick - Season 1 - Episode 16
Hardcastle is up for a spot on the Supreme Court bench but some people don't want him to be chosen.
#33 - Once Again with Vigorish
Hardcastle and McCormick - Season 1 - Episode 8
Hardcastle & McCormick set out to assist a woman lawyer who is an old friend of Hardcastle's convict a mobster who is running stolen property in semi trucks.
#34 - 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.
Watch Now:Apple TV
#35 - Holiday in the Hills
The A-Team - Season 1 - Episode 8
B.A.'s fear of flying is justified when the A-Team's plane crashes in the backwoods where they must battle mountain men to keep a man from being burned at the stake.
Watch Now:Apple TV
#36 - It's a Desert Out There
The A-Team - Season 2 - Episode 17
The sophisticated commando tactics used by a gang for robbing busloads of tourists suggests to the A-Team that they're preparing for a bigger score.
Watch Now:Apple TV
#37 - The Surgeon
Planet of the Apes - Season 1 - Episode 7
Galen must use all his charm to try and persuade his ex-girlfriend, a female ape surgeon named Kira, to operate on Virdon using a forbidden human anatomy book, after the astronaut is shot.
#39 - The Trap
Planet of the Apes - Season 1 - Episode 3
In a ruined city, Burke and Urko are trapped underground and must reluctantly work together to escape, while Alan and Galen must deal with Urko's gorilla patrol in the streets above.
#40 - Labor Pains
The A-Team - Season 2 - Episode 7
The A-Team helps migrant workers to organize against a landowner that is forcing them to live and work under slave-labor conditions.
#41 - Shadler
Gunsmoke - Season 18 - Episode 17
Just before he's to be hung, stage robber Shadler busts out of jail, by slugging his last rites priest and donning the robes as a disguise. While burglarizing an uninhabited farm, the escapee helps Deputy U.S. Marshal Newly elude hostile lawmen quarantining a nearby outpost struck by a mysterious plague. Newly believes his pursuers are actually a ring of vultures waiting to loot the dying settlement. When Newly heads back to the besieged town, the fake padre insists on riding with him to minister to the dying citizens.
#42 - Decoy
Alfred Hitchcock Presents - Season 1 - Episode 37
Gil Larkin is suspected of murder when Mona Cameron's allegedly abusive husband is shot dead in front of him and he gets knocked out by an unknown assailant.
#43 - Bondage
Police Woman - Season 3 - Episode 21
Pepper assumes the role of a porn queen after a hardcore porn film actress is murdered.
#44 - Warning: All Wives
Police Woman - Season 1 - Episode 3
Pepper and Bill go undercover to catch a rapist/killer who is targeting the wives of patients at a hospital.
#45 - Terror on Grant Avenue
Ironside - Season 7 - Episode 17
An elder in the Chinese community is murdered, and a young man is held to be responsible. The Chief calls in his friends in the community to help him find the young man in question, whom he believes has been framed in order to cause a rift between young and old in China Town.
#46 - #1 With a Bullet
Riptide (1984) - Season 1 - Episode 10
rc: Marsha Warfield (Max), Jack Ging (Lt. Quinlan) After falling out with their record company, two singers of a long-running hit group loose control of their car, killing one and leaving the other in hospital. The location of the surviving singer, Dell Turner, is being kept very under wraps, and Murray agrees on behalf of the Riptide Detective Agency to take on the task of finding which hospital he's in and delivering flowers sent by the group's fan club. But the seemingly straight-forward assignment leads the guys, along with a Nurse they unintentionally endanger after duping her into helping them, to uncovering a case involving the executive of the record company trying to bump Turner off in order to make huge sales of a memorial album...
#47 - Beat the Box
Riptide (1984) - Season 2 - Episode 5
rc: Ken Olant (Dooley), Jack Ging (Lt. Quinlan) Nick and Cody are on the Riptide reluctantly helping Murray test out his new lie-detector game creation, "Beat The Box", when a television producer comes aboard to hire them to protect an upcoming guest on the show she works for - an author, who was nearly murdered when he arrived at the airport. But as they arrive to escort the man, he has seemingly gone insane and dives out of his high-rise window. As they investigate, they find themselves uncovering the slaughter of thirty soldiers in Vietnam years before, a case in which Murray's new game plays a key part in solving...
#48 - The Liberator
Planet of the Apes - Season 1 - Episode 13
Burke and Virdon are captured by a bunch of humans determined to hand them over to the Apes.
#49 - Two Ounces of Tin
The Rifleman - Season 4 - Episode 21
Sammy Davis Jr. stars as Tip Corey, son of a man allegedly murdered in North Fork.
#50 - Quiet Night, Deadly Night
The Rifleman - Season 5 - Episode 4
Townspeople brace for the worst when a new girl arrives with symptoms of smallpox.