Has Anybody Here Seen Quincy? (Quincy, M.E.)
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Episode Quote
"A body that walks—that’s gonna shake up even the most complacent coroner’s office." ~ Dr. Asten
Episode Overview
Has Anybody Here Seen Quincy? aired on **March 18, 1977** on NBC and is notable for being the only episode in which Jack Klugman as Quincy does not appear on-screen—and only via off-screen phone—because he refused to perform in the implausible premise :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}.
Table of Contents
Episode Synopsis
Lt. Monahan asks for help with a suspected smuggling–related death, but Dr. Hiro intervenes when the “corpse” starts breathing during the autopsy. Simultaneously, a young boy, Timmy Taylor, presents strange symptoms. Dr. Hiro consults on both cases: the revived woman and the child’s toxicological mystery :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}.
Plot Summary
- A body is brought in for autopsy, but during the procedure, Dr. Hiro discovers the woman isn’t dead.
- The revived patient is rushed to the hospital for treatment by Dr. Jamison.
- Meanwhile, Timmy Taylor’s strange presentation requires toxicological analysis.
- Quincy is absent (only heard via phone) due to his refusal to appear :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}.
- Both cases are resolved: the woman survives, and the child is diagnosed.
- Episode concludes without Quincy’s involvement in-screen :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}.
Main Cast
- **Yuki Shimoda** as Dr. Hiro
- **Kelly Jean Peters** as Charlene Taylor
- **Anthony De Longis** as Russell
- **Bob Crane** as Dr. Jamison
- Recurring: Joseph Roman (Sgt. Brill), Eddie Garrett (photographer), John Nolan (bartender), Robert Ito, John S. Ragin, Garry Walberg :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}
Cast Note
Jack Klugman appears only via two phone calls—he found the story “ludicrous” and asked not to be filmed :contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6}.
Forensic Science Insight
- Emphasizes the importance of verifying death diagnosis before autopsy.
- Highlights the role of toxicology in diagnosing unexplained illness :contentReference[oaicite:7]{index=7}.
Themes & Tropes
- Mistaken death – challenges standard coronial assumptions
- Technocrat hero – Dr. Hiro fills in for Quincy
- Institutional tension – internal conflicts within medical and police systems
Reception & Trivia
- IMDb rating: **6.6/10** from ~10,200 users :contentReference[oaicite:8]{index=8}
- Klugman’s absence was a protest; the episode was written around his refusal :contentReference[oaicite:9]{index=9}
- Dr. Hiro debuts and exits this episode only :contentReference[oaicite:10]{index=10}
- Bob Crane appears shortly before his real-life death :contentReference[oaicite:11]{index=11}
Quincy Episode Laws at work in This Episode
Despite Quincy’s absence, the episode still aligns partially with the four QME Episode Laws:
✅ **Law 1**: The pursuit of truth remains central—Dr. Hiro must unravel whether the body is really dead and uncover the smuggling operation.
✅ **Law 2**: The social/ethical dimension is subtler—while Quincy is absent, the moral weight of misdiagnosis and smuggling is still framed.
❌ **Law 3**: Without Quincy’s moral voice, the episode drifts from sensitive treatment of controversial topics.
⚠️ **Law 4**: Forensic accuracy is strained—Jack Klugman himself objected to the premise, believing a real medical examiner would not misidentify a live person as deceased :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}.
← The Two Sides of Truth • Has Anybody Here Seen Quincy? • A Good Smack in the Mouth Season 2 Overview: Full Episode List
See Also
- Quincy, M.E.
- List of Quincy, M.E. episodes
- Forensic pathology
- Medical ethics in media
- NBC
- 1977 in television
External Links
- [IMDb – Has Anybody Here Seen Quincy? (tt0681788)]