S W A T mission with eye candy! The Steel-Plated Security Blanket starts out strong with stealing an armored car. There is some hardcore criminals with a plan and S W A T must figures out why? There is a test on the armored car, and a plan comes out! Into the mix is a beauty contest. Farrah Fawcett is in it with others. A mix of mystery and eye candy. The Steel-Plated Security Blanket has a message about looks, ambition vs trusting loving relationships. At the climax, Hondo has a plan and put into action on a very difficult situation. The viewer is wonder what will happen next and one see the launching of Farrah a good episode. 7 stars.
3 Reviews
Dolls of the 1970's!
FloridaFred19 March 2024
Warning: Spoilers
What a feast for the eyes. The producers and directors trotted out some of the best looking ladies of the 1970's for this episode of S. W. A. T. The beauty pageant includes Farrah Fawcett, Lara Parker, and Loni Anderson; and assisting the bad guys is Jillian Kessner.
Lara Parker was already well-known, as the voluptuous "Angelique" from the spooky soap opera, Dark Shadows. Farrah Fawcett was a virtual unknown at the time this show aired. And the same with Loni Anderson. Both Farrah and Loni would go on to become easily-recognized television stars ("Jill Munroe" from Charlie's Angels, and "Jennifer Marlowe" from WKRP in Cincinnati, respectively).
Adding to the list of leading guest stars / attractive girls is Jillian Kessner, who is regrettably remembered for the pornographic martial arts movie "Firecracker" (yes, there was such a thing, please don't waste time watching it, nothing to see except a half-naked girl whipping up on some bad guys).
The plot of this particular show is a bit formulaic. We get the usual comedy relief with Rose Marie selling bad sandwiches (the SWAT cops are kind of rude this time, they run her off without buying anything). And additional comic relief is provided when Officer Dominic Luca turns down a blind date. To his regret, that blind date is Farrah Fawcett. (She didn't go away empty-handed, Robert Urich stepped in to take her out).
The plot gets a bit confusing. It was fairly easy to follow, until the switch of the diamond crown with a phony, as the robbery takes place. Evidently the lady promoter of the show, and the jewelry store owner, had some kind of scam planned. But it is not clear what happens to them, the scene switches to the shoot-out with the thieves, and we don't see the swindlers again. The writers botched it up.
Like most S. W. A. T. episodes, this is watchable and entertaining, but with the addition of some of the most beautiful women in TV history, it makes for an especially good show.
* * * * * * * * 8 Stars for "The Steel-Plated Security Blanket" * * * * * * * * *
Florida Fred.
Lara Parker was already well-known, as the voluptuous "Angelique" from the spooky soap opera, Dark Shadows. Farrah Fawcett was a virtual unknown at the time this show aired. And the same with Loni Anderson. Both Farrah and Loni would go on to become easily-recognized television stars ("Jill Munroe" from Charlie's Angels, and "Jennifer Marlowe" from WKRP in Cincinnati, respectively).
Adding to the list of leading guest stars / attractive girls is Jillian Kessner, who is regrettably remembered for the pornographic martial arts movie "Firecracker" (yes, there was such a thing, please don't waste time watching it, nothing to see except a half-naked girl whipping up on some bad guys).
The plot of this particular show is a bit formulaic. We get the usual comedy relief with Rose Marie selling bad sandwiches (the SWAT cops are kind of rude this time, they run her off without buying anything). And additional comic relief is provided when Officer Dominic Luca turns down a blind date. To his regret, that blind date is Farrah Fawcett. (She didn't go away empty-handed, Robert Urich stepped in to take her out).
The plot gets a bit confusing. It was fairly easy to follow, until the switch of the diamond crown with a phony, as the robbery takes place. Evidently the lady promoter of the show, and the jewelry store owner, had some kind of scam planned. But it is not clear what happens to them, the scene switches to the shoot-out with the thieves, and we don't see the swindlers again. The writers botched it up.
Like most S. W. A. T. episodes, this is watchable and entertaining, but with the addition of some of the most beautiful women in TV history, it makes for an especially good show.
* * * * * * * * 8 Stars for "The Steel-Plated Security Blanket" * * * * * * * * *
Florida Fred.
More coincidences...
planktonrules28 February 2013
Warning: Spoilers
"S.W.A.T." was a show that I enjoyed as a kid but now as I watch the episodes on DVD I find the writing a bit simplistic. Too often, coincidences just happen to unify episodes. In one, one of the team member's friends (a pro basketball player) comes to visit the S.W.A.T. team--only only a short time later the team is kidnapped! In another, the team practices at a movie lot during the weekend--and only a short time later terrorists take over the place and try to blow it up! And here in "Steel-Plated Security Blanket", T.J.'s girlfriend just happens to be photographing and interviewing ladies at a beauty pageant--when criminals strike! These coincidences undermined the show and just seemed to happen too often for the show to be taken very seriously.
The show begins with an armored truck being stolen. The team is trying to understand why--what BIG crime is coming that they need such a truck? I mentioned above the why--criminals want to strike at a beauty pageant (huh?) to steal a bejeweled crown and scepter. So why the armored truck--so the crooks could pose as the security company contracted to transport these items. Can the team stop the criminals AND save the lives of all the hot beauty contestants? The most interesting aspect of this episode is seeing a pre-"Charlie's Angels" Farrah Fawcett. Both shows, incidentally, were produced by Aaron Spelling and perhaps this guest shot on "S.W.A.T." was what led to her being cast in her break-out series the following year. Otherwise, a silly plot--one that is slight (a beauty pageant?!) and too coincidental to be believable....but, entertaining.
The show begins with an armored truck being stolen. The team is trying to understand why--what BIG crime is coming that they need such a truck? I mentioned above the why--criminals want to strike at a beauty pageant (huh?) to steal a bejeweled crown and scepter. So why the armored truck--so the crooks could pose as the security company contracted to transport these items. Can the team stop the criminals AND save the lives of all the hot beauty contestants? The most interesting aspect of this episode is seeing a pre-"Charlie's Angels" Farrah Fawcett. Both shows, incidentally, were produced by Aaron Spelling and perhaps this guest shot on "S.W.A.T." was what led to her being cast in her break-out series the following year. Otherwise, a silly plot--one that is slight (a beauty pageant?!) and too coincidental to be believable....but, entertaining.
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