After School Specials: Pssst! Hammerman's After You (AKA The 18th Emergency)

After School Specials: Pssst! Hammerman's After You (AKA The 18th Emergency)
ABC
January 16, 1974
Children's
DVD
C+

Bob Rodgers, who'd written a couple episodes for Gilligan's Island, did the teleplay based on the Betsy Byars book.  In fact, he wrote all four of the episodes on the DVD I own, although they fluctuate a great deal in quality.  It's the only AS Special directed by Jack Regas, who'd go on to The Brady Bunch Variety Hour, among other things.  This episode is slow-moving and low-budget, but it's not without interest, playing sort of like a grittier Brady Bunch episode.  Although I've read my share of Byars (it was kind of unavoidable as a Gen-X female bookworm), I don't remember this book or adaptation, so I don't know how well the humor and other elements translate.  The messages about honor and respect are typical of both her and this series.  This definitely could've been a half hour story rather than an hour (counting commercials), but I can see it entertaining kids older than I was at the time.  It's from the second season of the series and not one that stands out compared to some others.

Lillian Adams, who was Mrs. Daley on Gidget and Mrs. Harris on That Girl, is Mrs. Schwartz here.  Kevin McCarley, who's Peaches, would have a similar role, Second Bully, later that year in Summer of the Swans.  Tito Vandis, who's Mr. Casino, would be Col. Andropolis on M*A*S*H later that year.  Bobby Eilbacher, who presumably plays one of the classmates, would make two appearances on The Bob Newhart Show.  And Willie Aames has a minor role in this.