Last of the Dinosaurs (Quincy, M.E.): Difference between revisions
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| series = Quincy, M.E. | | series = Quincy, M.E. | ||
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| airdate = November 21, 1976 | | airdate = November 21, 1976 | ||
| airtime = 60 minutes (approx. 48 minutes without commercials) | | airtime = 60 minutes (approx. 48 minutes without commercials) | ||
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Episode Quote
'"The law says you can’t cheat nature. But some people don’t seem to care about laws… or consequences." ~ Dr. Quincy, in Last of the Dinosaurs
Episode Overview
Last of the Dinosaurs is the seventh episode of the second season of the Quincy, M.E. television series. It aired on NBC on November 21, 1976. The episode centers around the death of a professional athlete who used illegal growth hormones, bringing up issues of medical ethics, sports corruption, and the dangers of performance-enhancing drugs.
Table of Contents
Application of The QME Episode Laws
Last of the Dinosaurs strongly exemplifies the core principles of **The QME Episode Laws**, ensuring the episode remains faithful to the series’ commitment to authenticity and meaningful storytelling.
✅ **Law 1: A Quincy, M.E. story must always seek to uncover the truth and bring justice to the victim.** Quincy’s forensic investigation uncovers that Earl Hickey’s sudden death was not natural but caused by illegal growth hormone abuse. By exposing this, Quincy delivers justice for the victim and raises awareness of the dangers behind the illicit drug culture in professional sports.
✅ **Law 2: A Quincy, M.E. story must explore the social and ethical issues surrounding the case, and particularly the struggle for justice against powerful systems.** The episode delves into the ethical dilemmas of performance enhancement, the pressures athletes face, and the complicity of sports officials who look the other way to protect reputations and lucrative contracts.
✅ **Law 3: A Quincy, M.E. story must never shy away from complex or controversial topics, but always approach them with sensitivity and respect.** The show handles the controversial topic of drug use in sports with care, portraying the human cost without sensationalism. It challenges viewers to consider broader societal responsibilities and the moral gray areas involved.
✅ **Law 4: A Quincy, M.E. story must strive for scientific accuracy in its medical and forensic investigations.** Detailed autopsy procedures are shown, including toxicology reports confirming growth hormone overdose, and cardiac pathology revealing fatal heart strain, reflecting cutting-edge forensic science of the era.
These laws ensure Last of the Dinosaurs combines compelling drama with socially conscious themes grounded in scientific fact, true to the ethos of *Quincy, M.E.*
Episode Synopsis
Professional football star Earl Hickey collapses during a game and dies suddenly. Initially presumed to have suffered a natural heart attack, Quincy’s detailed autopsy reveals excessive heart enlargement and toxic levels of synthetic growth hormone in his system.
Quincy investigates the source of the hormone, uncovering a shadowy network of illegal suppliers connected to the sports industry. Hickey’s death exposes the dark side of professional sports—the pressure to perform at any cost and the risks athletes take with their health.
Quincy confronts team officials, doctors, and trainers, many of whom attempt to minimize or cover up the scandal to protect careers and profits. Quincy’s persistent quest for truth brings the issue into public awareness, sparking ethical debates about drug use in athletics.
Plot Summary
During a televised professional football game, Earl Hickey, a celebrated linebacker, suddenly collapses on the field and is rushed to the hospital but pronounced dead shortly after arrival. Dr. Quincy is called to conduct the autopsy.
The postmortem reveals Hickey’s heart is abnormally enlarged and fibrotic, inconsistent with his age and previous health records. Toxicology screens detect elevated levels of synthetic growth hormone and other performance-enhancing drugs not prescribed to him.
Quincy interviews team medical staff and uncovers a clandestine operation supplying these drugs to players under the radar. The team’s medical director deflects responsibility, while the head coach pressures Quincy to keep the investigation quiet to avoid scandal.
Undeterred, Quincy follows the evidence to a black-market dealer supplying the hormones. Meanwhile, Quincy’s assistant, Sam Fujiyama, discovers incriminating medical records hidden from the team doctors.
When Quincy presents his findings at a public hearing, the episode closes on the broader implications for sports integrity and athlete safety, with Quincy advocating for reform and transparency.
← S01E06 – "The Billion Dollar Chicken" • Last of the Dinosaurs • S01E08 – "The Last Laugh" Season 1 Overview: Full Episode List
Main Cast
- Jack Klugman as Dr. R. Quincy
- Robert Ito as Sam Fujiyama
- John S. Ragin as Dr. Robert Asten
- Garry Walberg as Lt. Frank Monahan
Guest Cast
- Ken Swofford as Earl Hickey
- Joan Prather as Karen Stevens (Team Nurse)
- Richard McKenzie as Dr. Alan Stewart (Team Physician)
- Cliff DeYoung as Coach Bill Reynolds
Case File Summary
Victim: Earl Hickey Case #: LACC 76.11.178
Death caused by heart failure due to prolonged use of illegal growth hormone. The victim’s condition was artificially induced by performance-enhancing drugs, leading to fatal cardiomyopathy.
Additional Victims
- None reported, but potential wider impact on athletes using illicit substances implied.
Alleged Perpetrator
- Unnamed black-market drug suppliers and complicit team officials enabling illicit drug use.
Filming Locations and Exterior Footage
Exterior shots filmed at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum stand in for the football stadium. Additional scenes at the Los Angeles County Coroner's Office and studio sets replicate the hospital and investigative environments.
Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum exterior filming location for 'Last of the Dinosaurs' Entrance to Los Angeles County Coroner's Office filming location
Forensic Science Insight
- Autopsy demonstrates detailed examination of cardiac hypertrophy and toxicology for hormone detection.
- Accurate portrayal of how synthetic growth hormones affect heart tissue and overall physiology.
- Depicts challenges in linking cause of death to drug use given sports medicine confidentiality and institutional pressure.
- Highlights use of histology and biochemical assays standard to mid-1970s forensic pathology.
Themes & Tropes
- Performance Enhancement and Ethics – Exploring the moral pitfalls of drug use in competitive sports.
- Institutional Cover-Up – Sports organizations prioritize reputation over athlete welfare.
- The Whistleblower – Quincy stands as a lone voice against widespread complicity.
- Science as Advocate – Forensic medicine brings clarity amid deceit.
- Human Cost of Fame – The personal toll of pressures in professional athletics.
Reception & Ratings
The episode was well-received for tackling a then-taboo topic with sensitivity and scientific rigor. Critics praised Jack Klugman’s impassioned performance and the episode’s timely social message.
- IMDb rates the episode 7.8/10 based on user reviews.
- Sports ethics forums later cited the episode as an early mainstream acknowledgment of steroid abuse dangers.
Trivia
- Ken Swofford, known for playing tough characters, portrayed Earl Hickey as a tragic figure.
- This episode contributed to growing public discourse on drug abuse in sports ahead of later high-profile steroid scandals.
- The title "Last of the Dinosaurs" alludes to Hickey’s artificially enlarged size and the outdated, dangerous methods of “enhancement.”
- Forensic procedures depicted were reviewed by real pathologists for accuracy.
Cultural Impact
Last of the Dinosaurs helped pioneer the depiction of performance-enhancing drug issues on television, raising awareness during a period when such topics were rarely discussed openly. The episode contributed to shaping public perceptions about athlete health and ethics in sports medicine.
See Also
- Quincy, M.E.
- List of Quincy, M.E. episodes
- Performance-enhancing drugs
- Sports ethics
- Forensic pathology
- Los Angeles
- NBC
- 1976 in television
External Links
- [Official Quincy, M.E. Website](https://www.quincyexaminer.com "The Quincy Examiner Official Website")
- [IMDb page for Last of the Dinosaurs](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0074042/episodes?season=1&episode=7 "IMDb Quincy S01E07")
- [Quincy, M.E. Episode Guide on TV.com](https://www.tv.com/shows/quincy-me/episodes/season-1/ "TV.com Quincy Guide")
- [Reddit Quincy Fan Community](https://www.reddit.com/r/QuincyME/ "Reddit Quincy, M.E. Discussion")