by Ted Davis

Original Air Date: March 1, 1969

Directed by: Stuart Hagmann

Cat Out of the Bag Alert! This review contains spoilers for this episode!

Synopsis: Odds are against most viewers making it to the end of this lackluster episode about the travails of compulsive gambler Donald Jordan (James Olson) and his clumsy efforts to escape the over-eager Accounts Receivables team of the bookmaking syndicate. Standard issue late 1960’s TV detective Joe Mannix (Mike Connors) has to play social worker in order to extricate the nervous and sweaty Jordan from his bad and expensive habits.

Cat Burglar (Scene Stealer): In the pre-credits sequence at the very beginning of the show, as Donald confesses his lapse to his exceedingly high-strung sister Frances (Nan Martin), she is embracing Sammy the cat, who obviously serves as her support animal.

The jittery Donald soon leaves the apartment and Frances walks him to the door, still keeping a close grip on Sammy.

Directly after the opening credits we’re back in the same apartment where Mannix is consulting with Frances. Sammy emits a small mew, which prompts Frances to gather him up for comfort, but she sets the cat down several moments later so that she can rummage through her purse for Mannix’s fee.

Later, just before Mannix steals through an open window of Frances’ apartment to perform some nighttime sleuthing, Sammy hops down from an end table to take his position on a reliably comfy chair where he is seen throughout the remainder of scene during the stultifying argument between Mannix and Frances.

She rushes to pick up her exhausted cat, repeatedly calling his name with trembling emotion.

After Mannix’s departure, Sammy receives a quick nuzzle from Frances. There is a possibility this is another appearance by one of the Orangey team of cat actors but we have no confirmation at this time.

Final Mewsings: Even Sammy the cat looked bored.

Relevant Links:

To discuss this show and other cats in movies and on television, join us on Facebook and Twitter.