Booker Episode Summaries

(NOTE: this page is still under construction)

(A one-hour dramatic series produced by Stephen J. Cannell Productions and distributed by Columbia Pictures International Television)

From the moment he appeared as renegade cop Dennis Booker on the hit series "21 Jump Street," Richard Grieco captured the attention of critics and audiences alike. Now Grieco brings his burning intensity to the all-new action drama series, "Booker."

In his very first scene on "21 Jump Street," Richard Grieco found himself facing off against rival cop Tom Hanson (Johnny Depp). With a penchant for saying what’s on his mind, Dennis Booker quickly established himself as a disciplinary nightmare, a hyper-active rock’n’roll renegade who understands that too much by-the-book can get a good cop killed.

In one episode of "21 Jump Street," Booker risks his life and his job to exonerate Hanson of a murder charge. Stripped of his badge, he eventually lands an unlikely job as the sole investigator in a corporate-owned P.I. agency, where his off-beat appearance brands him a renegade in the eyes of his straight laced collegues. Though he’s a fish out of water—a leather clad Romeo in a pin-stripe world—the money’s good, the cases are red hot, and the action is fast and furious.

101 "Booker (The Pilot)"

Special Guest: Peter DeLuise as Doug Penhall

Directed by: David Jackson, Written by: Stephen J. Cannell

 Dennis Booker is hired to head up the new Investigative Operations Department at The Teshima Corp. of America, reporting to Ms. Alicia Rudd, commonly referred to as The Dragon Lady. Elaine Grazzo is assigned to be his secretary. Elaine has just come back to work after serving jury duty on a robbery case. Although she thought the defendant, Willie Seaton, was innocent of robbing the jewelry store, Elaine was pressured by the rest of the jury to vote guilty. Elaine makes little effort to conceal from Dennis that she is disturbed by the outcome of the trial.

Booker’s first case involves a brain surgeon who was struck by a motorist insured by Teshima. When the doctor is rendered a quadriplegic, Bob Hug of the insurance division informs Booker that it’s his job to prove that the doctor is at fault. Bored with the idea of depriving the doctor of hi settlement, Booker decides to help Elaine investigate Willie’s case. After speaking to the arresting officers, Willie, and his attorney Kelly Natwick, Booker Finally convinces Kelly to file a motion in an attempt to let Elaine to change her vote to not guilty, resulting in a hung jury.

Although the motion is denied, Booker watches as a black man leaves the courtroom. Booker follows him to a nightclub owned by "Wide Load" McKenna, learns that his name is John Silk, and that he was arrested just prior to Willie Seaton. Not only that, John installs alarms for a living. It would have been no problem at all for him to rewire the alarm in the jewelry store. Booker learns that the arresting officer woke Willie from his sleep and grabbed a pair of pants from his closet that contained broken glass in the cuffs. The glass and the officer’s positive I.D. was all the D.A. really had to make his case. He also elarns that Willie was a boxer and that Wide Load McKenna was his manager.

Booker uses the computers at Teshima Corp. to gather information on McKenna and learns that he has been selling all his assets and the I.R.S. is about to file a case against him. When he sees that a yacht is the only thing McKenna isn’t selling, Booker realizes that Wide Load is about to leave the country. The I.R.S. has attached most of his possessions, so he’s been robbing jewelry stores and framing innocent people. Booker races to the dock and, with the aid of a huge Teshima security guard, manages to overpower Wide Load before he can flee.

102 "The Pump"

Special Guests: Holly Robinson as Judy Hoffs, and Steven Williams as Capt. Fuller

Directed by: Mark Sobel, Written by: Nicholas Corea and Stephen J. Cannell

 While waiting for Hoffs at a restaurant, Booker learns that she has come upon a gun store robbery, and he rushes to help. Before he can get there, Hoffs is shot in the leg, and Booker gives chase to the three assailants. Although two of them escape, he finds the third, Jersey Nichols, beaten to death in the alley behind the store. Booker identifies one of the assailants as Harmon Lewis of the Third Street Rollers gang. He is warned by Captain Fuller not to pursue the case, since it is a police matter and Booker is no longer on the force.

Meanwhile, Lewis and his partner, David Sand, finger Booker as Jersey’s killer, and the Rollers vow to kill him. Hoffs admits to being worried that in order to get back in action, Booker will do something rash. Convincing her that he will not pursue the suspects, Booker returns to his apartment and is ambushed by tow gang members. When they try to abduct him, Booker runs and narrowly misses being shot.

Needing evidence to convince the Rollers that he did not kill Jersey, Booker contacts Ray Dewey, a juvenile officer with a good file of gang photographs. Dewey resists letting anyone use his files but agrees to bring Lewis in for questioning, during which time he proceeds to rough Lewis up. When Dewey finally agrees to let him see the photos, Booker identifies Sand as the third gang member involved in Hoffs' shooting.

Booker goes directly to the Roller’s headquarters to prove it was either Lewis or Sand who killed Jersey. Using two melons, a flashlight, a lug wrench, and the morgue photos of Jersey’s body, Booker has the gang conduct an experiment which proves that Sand, and not Booker, delivered the fatal blow to Jersey. The gang then turns on Sand who, after admitting his guilt, takes his own life. Cleared by the gang, Booker returns to his new job but doubts whether he will stay much longer.

103 "Raising Arrizola"

Directed by: Rob Bowman, Written by: Gordon Dawson

Ronald "Ronnie" Arrizola, a notoriously violent criminal Booker put away several years earlier, has been released from prison. Resuming his criminal activities with his two brothers, Chester and N.G., Ronnie decides to try and run a smarter, non-violent operation which includes extortion, intimidation and drug dealing. Ronnie and his brothers pressure Ping Pong, a young friend whom Booker has taken under his wing, to join them. After Booker persuades them to leave Ping Pong alone, Chester and N.G. ransack Booker’s loft trying to intimidate him into staying out of their business.

Booker is introduced to Sherry Binford, an attractive new Teshima executive, and begins to spend time with her at the expense of Ping Pong. Deciding he wants Booker out of the way once and for all, Ronnie lures Ping Pong with new clothes and money, convincing the boy to run drugs for him while unknowingly setting a trap for Booker. Learning of Ping Pong’s new association with Ronnie, Booker tries to convince the young boy that he is only being used. However, certain Ronnie has changed since his stay in prison, Ping Pong is hesitant to turn in his new friend and employer, deciding instead to warn Arrizola of Booker’s attempt to have him arrested. Realizing Ping Pong is in danger, Booker breaks an important date with Sherry, jeopardizing their relationship.

Thinking he has been taken in by Ping Pong, Ronnie is convinced by his brothers to return to his violent ways. After being locked in a trunk and nearly set afire by the Arrizola’s, Ping Pong is saved by Booker who learns the brothers are on their way to Sherry’s apartment to track him down. Breaking up a party, Ronnie and his brothers terrorize Sherry and her guests as they look for Booker. Arriving in the nick of time, Booker disables Chester and N.G. before killing Ronnie. Finally, Sherry apologizes to Booker for her behavior, while Ping Pong begins a new job, free of the Arrizola brother’s reign of terror.

104  "High Rise"

Directed by: J. Montesi, Written by: Carleton Eastlake

 Thomas Bourneville, a vice president at Teshima, has been using company couriers to launder the profits of a heroin dealing ring run by the former director of security, Kendall. After Bourneville attempts to steal the money from a shipment, Kendall and a team of gunmen set out to kill him. When Chick calls an emergency meeting to discuss some cutbacks, including the firing of Booker, Bourneville gets nervous about making his escape. As the meeting begins, Kendall and his team storm the Teshima building. Booker tries warning Chick and the other employees, but Kendall takes them hostage, demanding to know the whereabouts of Bourneville.

While Booker and Elaine alert the police to the hostage situation, Bourneville is shot, but not before hiding the money. Certain Kendall intends to kill all his hostages before escaping, Booker demands that police not try anything before he has a chance to attempt a rescue. Using a phony memo which indicates he has been fired from Teshima, Booker convinces Kendall he has no interest in saving Chick and is only out to recover the money for himself. Meanwhile, Kendall orders Booker to give up before the hostages are killed.

With Bourneville’s computerized building plans, Booker and Elaine realize he used the air conditioning system to divert all of the cash to the basement. Upon discovering the money, Booker arranges a trade for the hostages. However, when Kendall and his men bring the hostages to the basement, they are surprised by Booker and the police. Booker uses a land mine to disable the gunmen but Kendall manages to escape, taking Elaine as his new hostage. After convincing her to make a run for it, Booker kills Kendall, saving Chick and the other hostages. When Booker proposes taking on outside clients as part of his security work for Teshima, Chick agrees, giving him a chance to make money for the company.