Dead Ringer

Sleazeball detective Ed Mallory (Maury Chaykin) is staking out the Forest Hill manor of an adulterous drunk oil company executive John Lazaro. By chance he witnesses the executive's wife Laura (Michelle Scarabelli) arrive home with a guy named Stanton and it is evident that the two are getting affectionate. When her husband shows up a confrontation ensues resulting in the husband's death.

Midsouth precinct police Detective Kevin O'Brien (Scott Hylands), his partner Detective Frank Giambone (Jeff Wincott) are urged to accept straight-forward jealous husband story to explain murder and go after the mysterious Stanton. A nosy but naive neighbour confirms suspicions which jive with the wife's account as well as that of the morally objectionable private investigator. But tell-tale signs of a larger conspiracy are revealed as two more victims are discovered.

The mystery depicted as well as it's resolution are things that could not happen in a modern context and was probably based upon an old cop's second hand recollections of a real case he heard about from the 1960s or 1970s. Forensics are very different now and information about people is more readily accessible. As shown here though we have this baffling enigma that actually takes up enough precious police time for forty-some minute teleplay.

Like a number of the really terrific performers in Canada's small circle of screen actors back in the 1980s, Chuck Shamata did multiple episodes of Night Heat. In fact he did five portraying a distinctly different character each time. Michelle Scarabelli guest-starred on two episodes as a different character each time Maury Chaykin as. On this hoser cop show the term 'Usual Suspects' could have been a reference to the roster of guest-stars.