It's truly amazing this show lasted for nine seasons. Practically every episode followed the same format, with Mason's client being arrested (for most years by an elderly Ray Collins) in what appears to be an open and shot case of murder. Then Mason sends private detective Paul Drake out to dig up dirt on the real killer, which we know will never be the defendant. Drake will barge into the courtroom with new evidence. Mason will then angrily confront several witnesses, with prosecutor Burger raising futile objections, until Mason finally reveals what he already knew. Then the murderer would openly admit to capital murder (Don't you see? I had to kill him!") either on the witness stand or springing up among the spectators, very often on purely circumstantial evidence. This of course negates any chance fir a plea bargain deal saving the killer from the gas chamber. How prosecutor Hamilton Burger managed to keep his job given his dismal record against Mason is one of the mysteries of this series. Another mystery is the apparent absence of any family or social life for Mason, Della Street and Paul Drake. They seem to be available around the clock for any contingency. Many office meetings take place at night.
Review of Perry Mason
