Jake and the Fatman: Season One, Vol. 1

They say that it isn’t over until the Fat Lady sings. Did you ever wonder what “it” was or who the heck this Fat Lady is they keep talking about? I can’t help you there, but I do know who the Fat Man is. It’s William Conrad, who came back to television in 1987 as J.L. McCabe, better known as “the Fatman”. McCabe was one of those tough as nails district attorneys. He was actually an ex-cop, so had great criminal instincts. McCabe wasn’t above bending the law to put away the bad guy, and he wasn’t considered a very friendly type of fellow. He majored in stubbornness and plain speaking. He relied on Jake Styles, his private investigator, to do much of the leg work for the office. Jake was a bit of a flashy playboy, but he always delivered the goods for his boss. Again, Styles wasn’t against breaking a few rules to get what he needed. Styles was played by Joe Penny. McCabe also served as a mentor, of sorts, to young District Attorney Derek Mitchell, played by Alan Campbell. Mitchell was quite wet behind the ears and a little too eager sometimes. His ambition often got the better of him, and it was the gruff McCabe who kept him out of trouble. Finally, the team was completed by Gertrude, McCabe’s loyal and trusty secretary, played by Lu Leonard. While The Fatman put crooks away instead of defending innocent defendants, there could be no mistaking the parallels between Jake And The Fatman and Perry Mason. The two shows were from different times and the styles might not have been the same, but the dynamic was very much the same. You can see a lot of Della Street in Gertrude and more than a little of the Drake/Mason relationship in the two leads. There was far more action but that was more a reflection of the change in decades than anything else. And like Mason, the Fatman rarely lost a case.

The show never really found its footing and struggled for the 5 seasons that it ran. It wasn’t a terribly original program and was steeped in cliché for its entire run. It was never a ratings monster, and there were constant radical changes in attempts to retool the show over the years. In 1989 McCabe and his staff, excluding trusty Gertrude, moved to Hawaii in an effort to spice the show up Hawaii Five-0 style. Even that exotic location didn’t help matters, and the series returned to California by 1990. These erratic changes in location and style meant that the show never found the solid fan base it needed to survive. It was likely William Conrad that was the only thing that allowed the show to last 5 years. What made the show work at all was the unlikely pairing of the two characters. It wasn’t only their weight that separated the two. McCabe looked angry all the time and had a slower pace to his method. Jake was almost too slick; at least that’s the way they tried to portray him most of the time. In the end the pair really were too unlikely for most viewers’ tastes. While it did get 3 Emmy nominations, it never won. These nominations were for cinematography and music only. Today Jake And The Fatman wouldn’t have gotten past the mid season.

This is another one of Paramount’s half season releases. I’m told the decision is driven by retailers wanting lower price point product, but I don’t find the argument credible. There are plenty of full season releases, and consumer surveys consistently show that’s how the public wants their television shows. Retailers will carry these shows in full seasons just like they do all of the others. When Paramount released the various Star Trek shows on DVD, there was obviously no consideration to price point as these shows hit the shelves often double or more what other comparable shows have listed for. It’s greed, pure and simple. For your $25 you get 11 episodes on 3 discs.

Video

Each episode of Jake And The Fatman is presented in its original broadcast full frame format. The show isn’t really that old, but the transfer really looks bad. There’s color bleed and a serious lack of definition. I know the series was originally lensed on film, and you can see a ton of specks and artifacts to prove it, but it appears this transfer comes from a video source. It looks as though it had been dubbed. Everything about this transfer is weak and reflects little to no effort to restore it.

Audio

The Dolby Digital Mono track delivers exactly what you are looking for and nothing more. The dialog is clear, and that’s all you’re going to get out of this minimalist presentation.

Special Features

Each episode gives you the option of watching a very short network promo.

Final Thoughts

William Conrad will always be better known for his far more iconic role of Cannon in the 1970’s. I found his emergence here just wasn’t near as satisfying. Conrad was more or less a caricature of himself here, and the show suffered for it. As much as the network tried to make hay out of the two different characters, I never really felt any chemistry between them. I know the show has its fans, and hopefully Paramount will reward their loyalty with future release collections. If you’re a truly a fan of the show, I’m sure you’re pleased as all get out to finally see the show on DVD. I’m happy for you, but for this reviewer Jake And The Fatman was derivative and awkward to watch. Paramount is taking a chance with this first half season release. I don’t expect there to be a big rush to buy them, and that could mean the collections stop before finishing. For a couple of you out there that means “It’s gonna get ugly”.