Few actors bring genuine lunacy to the screen better than Kenneth Tigar. The first time I ever saw him was in Barney Miller's "The Werewolf" where again he played the title character. This episode, like others in this particular motif (the time traveler in "The Child Stealers" comes to mind), the humor hinges on the fact that everyone is skeptical at first and gradually he proves he's the real deal. Suspension of disbelief.
The other actors and story lines in the episode are excellent as well, but interactions with the psychic enhance them beautifully. Tigar knits the ensemble together perfectly, which is a neat trick for a guest actor. The script is quite excellent, but without Tigar's timing I don't think it would have been so satisfying. Few other actors could have pulled it off and made it believable.
Side note (I'm not sure if you'd call this a spoiler): I long ago tired of Inspector Luger. More often than not he's merely annoying. But he got his comeuppance in this one and I had to cheer.
The other actors and story lines in the episode are excellent as well, but interactions with the psychic enhance them beautifully. Tigar knits the ensemble together perfectly, which is a neat trick for a guest actor. The script is quite excellent, but without Tigar's timing I don't think it would have been so satisfying. Few other actors could have pulled it off and made it believable.
Side note (I'm not sure if you'd call this a spoiler): I long ago tired of Inspector Luger. More often than not he's merely annoying. But he got his comeuppance in this one and I had to cheer.
