Who knows? (see the Wacky sticker card) But it rhymes!
I always loved the initial episode of the '60s Dragnet (“The LSD Story”), particularly when Joe Friday tries to speak in teen slang to Blue Boy (“You’re pretty high and far out; what kind of kick are you on?”). The acid test party that he and Gannon break up later in that episode is unintentionally hilarious.
Michael Burns, who played Blue Boy in that episode, was also in another episode where he played a teen delinquent who stole cars and joyrode. At the end of the episode, he and his buddies raid a party, he steals one of the homeowner’s shotguns and then blows a guy’s head off in cold blood. Definitely a big swerve in the third act!
One of my favorite lines with one of my favorite actresses, Jill Banner. Probably as close as he could get to a risque insult.
Webb was one of those actors who, no matter the role or the script, was simply playing himself. Humphrey Bogart, John Wayne, and William Shatner were / are similar in that regard.
That also infected his writing and directing. A lot!
Sounds like Rod Serling. When he’s get behind in scripts, all of a sudden. every character in the TZ episode talked like… Rod Serling!
That one is on on MeTV right now as I type this.
That music cue really sells it