Let's Take A Closer Look At Jill Danko/Kate Jackson

As stated in an earlier blog, the first time I saw the episode 'To Taste of Terror' I decided that I wanted to be Jill Danko. After all, she was married to the hero. I was 12 years old and at the time, had no heroes in my life. I remember during season one, she wore this long blue smock dress that I loved. I wanted one just like it. A girl I went to school with at the time had one that was red plaid and I envied her for it. Plus, she had long dark hair, ala Jill, and the combination just teed me off. Anyway, during Season One, Jill only had two episodes that were all about her. But, she had a few scenes with Mike that showed how frightening it was to be married to a police officer. The best of these was in the episode 'A Bloody Shade of Blue' when someone was targetting police officers. Terry had been blinded by these guys. Jill tried to convince Mike that he had a fever and she wanted him to stay home. After a few minutes, he saw through this and tried to calm her nerves. It was a great scene. In Season Two, she changed her hairstyle and seemed to grow up a bit. I liked the Season One hair the best. However, I loved both of her episodes in Season Two. Again, she only had two, although there were several more where she was highlighted quite a bit. By far, the saddest Rookies episode and the one that everybody, no matter who they're a fan of, seems to remember is 'A Matter of Justice.' I don't know how many fan fiction stories I've written regarding this episode. In fact, I'm working on one now. The questions will always remain if the show had remained on the air for another season or two, would Mike and Jill have finally had a baby? If the show had aired in this day and time, I think so. They would've just written it into the series. But, back then, since every episode told a complete story, probably not. The other Jill episode in Season Two was 'Lots of Trees and A Running Stream.' This episode was okay, but left a lot of unanswered questions. I've written a lot of stuff about the type of person I felt Cleve Andrews probably was. But, I seriously don't think Mike would've really left her alone, knowing Cleve was in town, if he was the kind of creep I've made him out to be in my stories. Season Three brings us what I think is the second best Jill episode ever. 'Nightmare' was an episode that, with little exception, showcased Jill. It was also borrowed from an episode of 'The Mod Squad' which found Julie in almost the same situation, except you had a young Richard Dreyfuss and a woman about to have a baby. But, it was the same house and a thunderstorm. My favorite scene in 'Nightmare' is where Jill runs up the stairs, opens the door to flee and runs straight into Mike, not remembering who he is. I had that scene on audio tape for years (I think I still have it, as a matter of fact.) In Season Three, 'Nightmare' was the only episode that was about Jill and it was the last episode of the season. Which leads me to Season Four. Season Four seemed like every other episode was a 'Jill needing to be rescued' episode. This was especially true toward the end of the season. The best of these was the final episode of the series 'Journey to Oblivion.' After witnessing a murder, Jill is kidnapped by the guy who did the killing and a hired killer. Mike is shot while these two guys are trying to take Jill and she spends hours in a boxcar after a car wreck wondering if he's alive or dead. Mike is also laying in a hospital bed, wondering the same thing. Everybody gets emotional in this episode. The best scene is Lt. Ryker telling the father of the kidnapper that 'if that young woman sustains so much as a hangnail, nothing will stop me from getting my hands on the perpetrator and his accessory.' It was Lt. Ryker at his angry, finger-jabbing best. Now, I'll move on and talk about Kate. Pre-Rookies, she played a character named Daphne Harridge/Collins on the gothic soap opera 'Dark Shadows.' She played this character for nine months. The first three months, she was a ghost and didn't say a word. She had some great scenes with both James Storm, who played Gerard Stiles and David Selby, who played Quentin Collins. I had a mad passion for Quentin. She didn't play Jill in the pilot for 'The Rookies.' According to what I've read, she had another obligation at the time, so the role went to Jennifer 'Don't Get Me Started About Her' Billingsley, who is best known for appearing with Burt Reynolds in 'Gator' and 'White Lightning.' While appearing on 'The Rookies,' Kate made several movies of the week, some more memorable than others. 'Satan's School for Girls,' 'The Killer Bees' and 'Death Cruise' are among the more memorable ones. 'Charlie's Angels' was created around Kate. That quickly fell apart with the Farrah phenomenon, which soon swept the country. I wasn't a fan of 'Charlie's Angels,' not even during the three season where Kate appeared. However, I was a fan of 'Scarecrow And Mrs. King.' The chemistry between Kate and Bruce Boxleitner was great and reminded me of what she'd had with Sam Melville in 'The Rookies.' I was thrilled when Sam began playing her ex-husband Joe. When she became ill during Season Four of 'Scarecrow' was when the show fell apart. I think if she hadn't become sick, the show would've continued for at least another one or two seasons. She had one more series after 'Scarecrow, but 'Baby Boom' didn't even last a full season. Since then, she's stuck with made for tv movies and one very memorable appearance on the TV series 'Third Watch' where she plays the mother from hell. I was hoping both she and her co-star in that episode, Henry Winkler, would be nominated for Emmy Awards. They were both that good. I keep hoping she'll make more guest appearances. Oh, and I know she was Emmy nominated for an appearance on 'Ally McBeal' but I didn't see the episode, since I didn't watch the show. Anyway, I'm done rambling for now. Tomorrow, I'm off to discuss Gerald/Eddie Ryker.