Saturday, January 20, 2024

Personal Foul 14

screen captures from the Jack and Mike
episode "Personal Foul," 1986

Shelley's third foray into series TV was Jack and Mike. It was about a married yuppie couple living in Chicago, trying to find time for each other in their busy schedules. Shelley played Jackie Shea, a star columnist at The Mirror, a widely-circulated Chicago paper. Her column was awaited by everyone every week. Her husband was Mike Brennan (played by Tom Mason), a successful restaurateur. Other cast members were: Nora Adler (Jacqueline Brookes), Jackie’s editor;  Anthony Kubecek (Kevin Dunn), Jackie's assistant; Carol (Holly Fulger), the head waitress at Mike's restaurant, Brennan's Grill; and Rick Scotti (Vincent Baggetta), an attorney who appears occasionally. In the episode "Personal Foul," a college professor is suspended for trying to flunk the school's star basketball player, and Mike is upset that Jackie's covering the story, since it's his alma mater and he's the team's No. 1 supporter. The episode was originally aired in September 30, 1986.

screen captures from the Jack and Mike
episode "Personal Foul," 1986

To continue, Mike has lunch with fellow Lincoln University alumnus banker Ben Galloway. Ben was asked by their fellow Lincoln U alumni to talk to Mike about Jackie's column the day before. Ben tells Mike that they aren't happy about the picture Jackie's column is painting about the star athletes at their alma mater; and he reminds Mike that he too was on that same scholarship Andrew Taylor is currently on... and he has benefitted a lot from it. Mike tells Ben it's not the same; he worked hard to keep his grades up and to pass his classes. Ben tells Mike that the bank could pull out of refinancing his restaurants if he doesn't do anything. Jackie goes to Lincoln U to speak to Prof. Powell. She wants to know if the professor is still willing to go through with the expose. Powell is adamant on going through with it and to get her teaching status back. She gives Jackie even more info for her next column - documents she had put together for her lawyer in order to prove her claim. Back at Brennan's Grill, after leaving head waitress Carol instructions on how to deal with the day's hot water problems, Mike is about to leave for Jackie's office at The Mirror when new waitress, Belinda, drops a huge tray in front of customers and makes a mess. Belinda does an impromptu comedy routine and puts everyone at ease. Mike gives Carol a look.

screen captures from the Jack and Mike
episode "Personal Foul," 1986