M Squad
The Black Mermaid
TV Flash files “The Black Mermaid” as hour 23 of 117 in the TV Flash guide — M Squad (1957–1960) on NBC, season 1, episode 23, aired 1958-02-28, 30 min.
From the desk
How this hour is filed
This leaf is S01E23: listed hour 23 of 117 in the M Squad guide, hour 23 of 38 in season 1. It aired 1958-02-28 (30 min). The listed hour before it is “The Frightened Wife” (S01E22). Next is “The Man in Hiding” (S01E24).
Viewer FAQ
Where does The Black Mermaid sit in the M Squad guide?
S01E23 is listed hour 23 of 117 — hour 23 of 38 in season 1, season 1 episode 23.
When did M Squad S01E23 air?
The Black Mermaid aired 1958-02-28 and is listed at 30 minutes.
Where should I start?
Start with Marvin's Ballinger on the Chicago squad. Minimal smiles, noir half-hours; the jazz bite is the extra.
In the series
Why this series still plays
M Squad is Lee Marvin's hard cop in a hard Chicago: noir procedural with a jazz bite, later meaner when Count Basie got a theme. Tough urban police drama before Marvin's film cool peaked. Watch it now as badge television with bruise — jazz, alleys, and a star practicing lethality in half-hour form.
The bruise is already on the badge. Lee Marvin as Detective Lieutenant Frank Ballinger, NBC 1957–1960, a special plainclothes squad cleaning up Chicago crime with minimal smiles: M Squad, noir procedural with a jazz bite, 117 episodes, three seasons, Latimer Productions and Revue Studios. Paul Newlan as Capt. Grey holding the office while Marvin walked the alleys. Tougher than earlier badge shows. Later meaner in memory when Count Basie recorded a well-known version of the theme. Marvin practicing lethality in…
Filed against
- Lee Marvin as Det. Lt. Frank Ballinger
Lee Marvin's Det. Lt. Frank Ballinger made M Squad a hard cop in a hard Chicago — noir procedural with a jazz bite, later meaner when Count Basie got a theme, badge television with bruise. Tough urban police drama before film cool peaked.…
- Paul Newlan as Capt. Grey
Paul Newlan played Capt. Grey on M Squad, Lee Marvin’s 1950s hard cop in a hard Chicago — noir procedural with a jazz bite, later meaner when Count Basie got a theme. Tough urban police drama before Marvin’s film cool peaked. TV Flash…