I think Kojak is a great programme and I especially enjoyed this episode which I saw today for the first time in nearly 40 years. A serial bomber is planting bombs around New York. A message is left at the scene each time. Each message ends with "Good luck" hence the title of the episode. It had suspense and there was also a twist which was not completely obvious. At least the twist wasn't obvious to me !. Richard Bradford was great. I remember him from his Man in a Suitcase days. Telly Savalas was excellent as Kojak as always with the usual entertaining exchanges between him and Dan Frazer. A very good episode in the series.
5 Reviews
Method to the bomber's madness
bkoganbing4 January 2013
During the Fifties as a lad I remember the stories of The Mad Bomber and when I was 10 years old in 1957 he was finally caught. George Matesky's story was probably the partial basis for this Kojak episode. Matesky set bombs in New York for several years before he was caught.
They had trouble figuring out his motives as well. But our perpetrator here, known as the good luck bomber has a definite plan in mind with a series of five bombs he set. But he sends no notes about a cause, makes no ransom demands, nothing in the usual pattern of things that are typical in these cases. But two people are killed, one of them an NYPD cop with the bomb squad.
Working with Telly Savalas is Jack Ging of said bomb squad and Richard Bradford is an explosives consultant working with Ging.
Kojak and the squad use a very clever ruse to have the bomber incriminate himself. Some similarities here to the plot of the film Juggernaut with Richard Harris and Omar Sharif. A very good and hair raising Kojak episode.
They had trouble figuring out his motives as well. But our perpetrator here, known as the good luck bomber has a definite plan in mind with a series of five bombs he set. But he sends no notes about a cause, makes no ransom demands, nothing in the usual pattern of things that are typical in these cases. But two people are killed, one of them an NYPD cop with the bomb squad.
Working with Telly Savalas is Jack Ging of said bomb squad and Richard Bradford is an explosives consultant working with Ging.
Kojak and the squad use a very clever ruse to have the bomber incriminate himself. Some similarities here to the plot of the film Juggernaut with Richard Harris and Omar Sharif. A very good and hair raising Kojak episode.
Is HE The Bomber.....Or Not?
ccthemovieman-18 February 2012
Warning: Spoilers
The Season Two continues on a roll with another fascinating episode. This one involves a serial bomber who seems to have no motive. He leaves warning notes but there are no demands, no causes he's fighting for.....just what is the deal, here?
There is a great twist here involving the man who is behind it all and I can't say more without spoiling it.
Suffice to say it will keep your attention. Richard Bradford was especially interesting as "Joe Milner." His character will keep you guessing in this story. He is the prime suspect but there are doubts, particularly when he disables a bomb.
There is a great twist here involving the man who is behind it all and I can't say more without spoiling it.
Suffice to say it will keep your attention. Richard Bradford was especially interesting as "Joe Milner." His character will keep you guessing in this story. He is the prime suspect but there are doubts, particularly when he disables a bomb.
Obligatory visit with wife and kid
schwa8819 February 2023
I swear there was another Kojak episode where they recreated the exact same scene where Kojak and crew head out to Long Island to check out a suspect, and the wife and kid are there being protective of their husband/father. I wonder if this is a stock scene that has appeared in many Kojak episodes? I would like to find out.
Anyway, my attention was rapt from the very opening scene, which does a sweeping aerial shot of a Manhattan street in all its gritty seventies glory.
Had a good laugh at Bomber Suspect's living room with the plastic covered furniture. My aunt's house was like that and I still to this day don't get why that trend wasn't viewed ironically.
Anyway, my attention was rapt from the very opening scene, which does a sweeping aerial shot of a Manhattan street in all its gritty seventies glory.
Had a good laugh at Bomber Suspect's living room with the plastic covered furniture. My aunt's house was like that and I still to this day don't get why that trend wasn't viewed ironically.
Interesting,with a different twist to it
ronnybee211228 July 2022
Warning: Spoilers
Here we have an interesting plot idea that is pretty well-done for the most part. A (supposedly) retired criminal bomber that is also an ex convict seems awfully interested in helping the police solve some recent bombing-for-ransom cases in NYC. It is quite suspicious but the police have no concrete evidence to link this man to any of the recent bombings.
This man's expertise is put to use disarming a bomb for the police,which he does get done safely.
This successful bomb disarming opens the door for more bomb defusing and eventually a request for a large fee.
Kojak and company try to trick and trap this wily criminal by way of some strategic lies and other rather questionable tactics.
What will happen?
If not for some of the obvious errors in basic, safe,common-sense police procedures,this episode would be an easy 9/10.
As it is,I give it a 7.5/10 .
Why?
There are several things that are done by this bomb squad here that would certainly never be done in real-life,for several very obvious reasons.
A little proof-reading by actual police would have made this episode much more realistic.
All-in-all,it is not bad despite some weak points.
This man's expertise is put to use disarming a bomb for the police,which he does get done safely.
This successful bomb disarming opens the door for more bomb defusing and eventually a request for a large fee.
Kojak and company try to trick and trap this wily criminal by way of some strategic lies and other rather questionable tactics.
What will happen?
If not for some of the obvious errors in basic, safe,common-sense police procedures,this episode would be an easy 9/10.
As it is,I give it a 7.5/10 .
Why?
There are several things that are done by this bomb squad here that would certainly never be done in real-life,for several very obvious reasons.
A little proof-reading by actual police would have made this episode much more realistic.
All-in-all,it is not bad despite some weak points.
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