Ep 21. Songbird - Part 1

Mike Hammer was a popular American crime drama series that aired from September 28, 1984, to January 12, 1989, on CBS. The show was based on the famous literary character Mike Hammer created by Mickey Spillane. This private eye series follows the fictional adventures of Mike Hammer, a hard-boiled detective, as he takes on tough cases in New York City.

Season 1, Episode 21 of Mike Hammer is titled "Songbird - Part 1". The episode follows Mike Hammer as he investigates the murder of a popular nightclub singer named Kelly Torres. Kelly was found dead in her dressing room just before she was supposed to perform a sold-out show. The police suspect foul play, and Mike is called in to find out who killed Kelly and why.

Mike Hammer starts his investigation by visiting the nightclub where Kelly performed. He talks to the owner of the club, Steve Tenelli, who is devastated by Kelly's death. Tenelli tells Mike that Kelly was like family to him and that he had known her since she was a teenager. He also reveals that Kelly had recently received some threatening letters, but he had no idea who sent them.

Mike Hammer also talks to Kelly's ex-husband, Jerry "Guitar" Kelly, who is another suspect in the murder case. Guitar tells Mike that he still loved Kelly and that he had nothing to do with her death. He suggests that the killer might be someone who was jealous of Kelly's success and popularity.

As Mike Hammer delves deeper into the case, he uncovers some surprising information about Kelly's background. He learns that she had grown up in a troubled family and had to fend for herself from a young age. She had started singing in nightclubs to earn a living and had worked hard to make a name for herself in the music industry.

Another person of interest in the case is Frank O'Hara, Kelly's manager. Mike discovers that Frank had been embezzling money from Kelly's earnings and had been using it to fund his gambling addiction. Could Frank have killed Kelly to cover up his crimes?

As Mike Hammer continues his investigation, he also has to deal with the police who are not happy with his interference in their case. Lieutenant Pat Chambers, a longtime friend of Mike's, warns him to stay out of the investigation, but Mike is determined to find out the truth about who killed Kelly Torres.

"Songbird - Part 1" is a tense and gripping episode of Mike Hammer that keeps the viewers on the edge of their seats. The murder of a beloved nightclub singer, the suspects, the secrets, and the backstories add to the intrigue of the story. This episode is a good example of the compelling storytelling and character development that made Mike Hammer such a popular TV series in the 1980s.