Sam & Joe are picked to rob a bank as part of a demonstration of police & security techniques. Only one problem. Four guys dressed as wild-west outlaws steal the money and leave them handcuffed together. To say this is an embarrassment to the NYC Police Department is an understatement. Chief Clifford responded by saying, "If either of them as much as gives out his name-- SHOOT him!!!"
Clifford spars with Clayton Gillis, the representative of the Brinkman Security Company, over whose team might be responsible for a leak. Meanwhile, McCloud's got his own problems. His latest fling-- another "society columnist", Geri March (filling in for the missing Chris Caughlin?) repeatedly keeps putting him off for standing her up on dates, and it only gets worse when she becomes jealous of a very-aggressive and annoying TV reporter, Samantha Johnson. She's like "Lois Lane" on steroids, and gets Sam in even deeper trouble with Clifford!
Sam also befriends Elroy Jenkins, who's worked for Brinkman's for over 50 years, and has seen his station in the company threatened by his younger boss, and modern computer technology.
Before it's all over, Sam is almost killed in a burning building, commandeers a Fire Chief's car, then engages in a running chase and gun-fight-- on HORSEBACK!!!
Another fabulous cast this time includes William Daniels ("MARLOWE", "KNIGHT RIDER", "ST. ELSEWHERE") as the Brinkman's exec; Linda Evans ("DYNASTY") as the columnist who gets into a catfight a decade before it became a regular thing for her with Joan Collins; Lloyd Nolan ("MICHAEL SHAYNE", "MARTIN KANE", "SPECIAL AGENT 7", "JULIA") as the aging security man; Stephanie Powers ("THE GIRL FROM U.N.C.L.E.", "HART TO HART") as the reporter who causes trouble wherever she goes; Roger Davis (multiple roles on "DARK SHADOWS" and the 2nd "Hannibal Hayes" on "ALIAS SMITH AND JONES"); Pat O'Brien (the lead reporter in "THE FRONT PAGE", and Jennifer's elderly boyfriend on "WKRP IN CINCINNATI"); and Robert F. Simon ("THE OUTER LIMITS", "BEWITCHED", and "J. Jonah Jameson" on the late-70s' "SPIDER-MAN"), who plays Powers' boss.
Chief Clifford was never as angry before as he was here. Although he did try his best to stay reasonable when dealing with McCloud, it really took until the end of the story before he finally-- ANGRILY-- told Sam, "Good work!"
The "classic" theme song debuted this episode, accompanied (for the 2nd time) by a montage of scenes from various episodes, which really stressed that while this was part of the "NBC Mystery Movie", "McCLOUD" was really an ACTION show!