Riot (Quincy, M.E.)

Riot
Series Quincy, M.E. Season 5 Episode 14 Airdate January 31, 1980 Airtime 60 minutes Runtime approx. 60 minutes Production No. S0514 Writer Allan Cole & Chris Bunch Director Rod Holcomb Music by Guest Star(s) Marc Alaimo; John Milford Victim Inmate (activist) Autopsy Findings Blunt trauma; evidence of excessive restraint inconsistent with guard report Network NBC Production Company Universal Television / Glen A. Larson Productions Previous Episode S05E13 – "Diplomatic Immunity" Next Episode Unhappy Hour (Quincy, M.E.) Previous Season Next Season

Screencap from 'Riot' showing Quincy and Sam inside the prison infirmary

Screencap from Riot

Episode Quote

"This isn't a prison guard's breakdown—it's a breakdown of a system." ~ Dr. Quincy, in Riot (Quincy, M.E.)

Episode Overview

Riot is the fourteenth episode of season five of Quincy, M.E., originally aired on NBC on January 31, 1980. Quincy and Sam are called to investigate the death of a politically active inmate, alleged at first to be a suicide or gang beating. Their findings trigger a prison-wide riot during which inmates take Sam hostage and Quincy must balance medical ethics with crisis control. :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}

Application of The QME Episode Laws

✅ **Law 1 – Truth & Justice:** Quincy refuses the guards' suicide theory and uncovers signs of excessive force. ✅ **Law 2 – Social/Ethical Issues:** The episode exposes systemic mistreatment in prison, highlighting abuse of authority. ✅ **Law 3 – Sensitive Topics:** Addresses prisoner rights and health care in incarceration with respect and depth. ✅ **Law 4 – Scientific Accuracy:** Detailed autopsy confirms trauma patterns inconsistent with the official account. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}

Episode Synopsis

Quincy and Sam arrive at a state prison to perform an autopsy on an inmate renowned for activist work. Initial findings suggest suicide, but Quincy observes blunt trauma inconsistent with self-harm. Meanwhile, resentment among the inmate population erupts into a riot. Sam is taken hostage in the infirmary while Quincy negotiates his release and ensures medical care continues. After order is restored, Quincy uses forensic pathology to demonstrate that prison guards likely used lethal restraint on the inmate.

Plot Summary

1. An inmate dies under suspicious circumstances; Quincy called in. 2. Autopsy reveals injuries—ribs, internal hemorrhaging—not consistent with suicide. 3. Tensions ignite a full-scale riot inside the prison. 4. Sam is held hostage; Quincy negotiates medical help. 5. Order is restored; Quincy meticulously documents evidence linking guards to fatal force. 6. His expert testimony leads to inquiries into prison protocols and use of force.

Main Cast

• **Jack Klugman** as Dr. R. Quincy
• **Robert Ito** as Sam Fujiyama
• **Garry Walberg** as Lt. Monahan
• **John S. Ragin** as Dr. Asten
• **Val Bisoglio** as Danny Tovo
• **Joseph Roman** as Sgt. Brill

Guest Cast

• **Marc Alaimo** as Prison Guard
• **John Milford** as Inmate Activist
• Additional prison staff and inmates (*uncredited*) :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}

Case File Summary

Victim: Political-activist inmate Case #: LACC S5E14

The inmate's death is initially ruled self-inflicted, but Quincy’s autopsy indicates use of excessive force leading to fatal injuries. His work sparks a riot and force policy reform.

Additional Victims

• Aside from the target inmate, violent altercations occur during riot causing minor injuries to multiple inmates and guards.

Alleged Perpetrator

• Prison guards implicated in using excessive restraint.

Filming Locations

Filmed on studio sets representing a penitentiary and infirmary, with authentic cell-block corridors and guard towers.

Forensic Science Insight

• Blunt-force injury patterns analyzed against guard restraint methods.
• Hemorrhage analysis pinpointed timing relative to confinement.
• Rigorous documentation of injury mechanics used to hold authority figures accountable.

Themes & Tropes

• **Authority Misuse** – The struggle between prisoner rights and institutional power.
• **Conflict in Confinement** – Medical ethics tested under siege.
• **Forensics as Redemption** – Science restores truth amidst chaos.

Reception & Legacy

Viewers appreciated the high-stakes narrative and focus on forensic intervention during a crisis. Critics highlighted the episode's blend of suspense and social commentary. :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}

Trivia

• Featured actual prison set design to bring realism to the riot scenario.
• Sam Fujiyama briefly held hostage marked a rare plot where a main character is explicitly at risk. :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}

Cultural Impact

Riot spotlighted civil rights within correctional health care and the importance of medical testimony in preventing abuses of power. It prefigured similar plotlines in later prison dramas.

See Also

• Quincy, M.E.
• List of Quincy, M.E. episodes
• Prison riots
• Forensic pathology
• NBC

External Links

• IMDb – Riot
• Riot Episode Guide
• Rotten Tomatoes – Riot
• Quincy Examiner – QME Episode Laws