User Reviews

In many ways, this episode reminds me of a classic drama from the 1950s, "The Desperate Hours". In the film, a gang of crooks hangs out in a family's home in order to avoid being caught by the police. In the process, they torment the family horribly until the exciting climax. It's a great film...and I assume it must have helped inspire "The Payoff Money".

While Blondie and Mrs. Woodley are out on a shopping expedition, they stumble upon two ex-cons and their packages get switched. Now the crooks have the Bumstead's liver (for dinner...not a liver from one of the family members!) and Blondie has their $50,000 from some robbery. Soon, the hoods show up at the Bumstead home and hold everyone hostage until they find the loot.

In many ways, the episode is okay BUT nearly all the adults in the show OTHER than Dagwood are either greedy or stupid or both. And, the crminals are also really stupid as well...which all weakens the episode a bit.

Blondie leaves early with Harriet for a department store's 25th anniversary sale. At Union Station two shady men, "Top Coat" (George Givot) and Ollie "Tweed Coat" (Art Lewis) with a package of money literally run into Blondie and Harriet. The men were just released from prison and Police Inspector Reilly (uncredited) is waiting for them around the corner looking for proof of the $50,000 payroll heist they are suspected of. He unwraps the package to find it contains liver. The men are set free and realize they accidentally swapped packages with the ladies and find their address. Inspector Reilly is still suspicious, however. Blondie unwraps the package to find the $50,000 and excitedly calls for Dagwood to come home from work. He insists they find the person who lost it. Entitled to the other half, Herb wants to keep it. "Top Coat" and "Tweed Coat" show up wanting the money, which has suspiciously disappeared. They pull guns and hold everyone hostage. The Dithers arrives, separately, to join being detained with the couples and children. When the family dog Daisy comes in with money in its mouth the men try to track down the money but find more than they bargained for.