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The Best Episodes of Checkmate Season 2

Every episode of Checkmate Season 2 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of Checkmate Season 2!

The Best Episodes of Checkmate Season 2

Checkmate is an American detective television series starring Anthony George, Sebastian Cabot, and Doug McClure. The show aired on CBS Television from 1960 to 1962...
  1. 7.7/10(18 votes)

    #1 - To the Best of My Recollection

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    S2:E11

    An amnesiac woman is taken home from the hospital by a man claiming to be her husband, but the woman doesn't believe that she could be his wife, and despite her memory lapse believes she has reason to fear for her life. Checkmate investigates.

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    Director:N/A
    Writer:N/A
  2. 7.6/10(20 votes)

    #2 - Portrait of a Man Running

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    S2:E1

    A fictional state governor running for re-election stages a phony assassination attempt to boost his chances for victory, and hires Checkmate, ostensibly for protection, but in reality to provide an appearance of credibility. The governor's son is vocal in opposing his father's tactics, but dutifully goes along, mindful of a future political career of his own. Meanwhile, as the campaign winds down, a real threat to the governor's life emerges from within his own campaign.

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    Director:N/A
    Writer:N/A
  3. 7.5/10(14 votes)

    #3 - Referendum on Murder

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    S2:E28

    Checkmate is hired by a woman to protect her husband, Stephen Jordan, who publishes a newspaper opposed to a referendum on legalized gambling in the city of Midvale. He has been receiving death threats and, thanks to Dr. Hyatt, survived an attempt to kill him by poisoning. The culprit at first is thought to be a supporter of the referendum, but there may be something in Jordan's past that could shed light on a different motive.

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    Director:N/A
    Writer:N/A
  4. 7.3/10(15 votes)

    #4 - The Button Down Break

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    S2:E2

    Luther Gage, an egomaniacal, methodical killer whom Dr. Hyatt helped send to prison, vows revenge and conducts a plot planned to the last detail to carry it out. Checkmate employs the services of Chris Devlin, seen here for the first time, to enter the prison posing as a new inmate to figure out and thwart Gage's plan.

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    Director:N/A
    Writer:N/A
  5. 7.2/10(25 votes)

    #5 - Waiting for Jocko

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    S2:E4

    Jocko, a man whom Dr. Hyatt recommended be remanded to a psychiatric facility for treatment at his parole hearing five years earlier, still holds a grudge, believing that Hyatt wanted him confined for life as a psychopath. On his birthday, Hyatt gets a surprise visit from Jocko, who holds him at gunpoint with the intention of forcing him to concoct nitro for deadly use.

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    Director:Don Taylor
  6. 7.2/10(16 votes)

    #6 - Through a Dark Glass

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    S2:E5

    Gina Burton is a photo-journalist who has pictures that prove sensitive to a prominent men's club. In an effort to fend off an intruder trying to gain possession of the pictures while she's developing them, she accidentally gets acid in her eyes, resulting in permanent blindness. Hired to provide protection, Corey also helps her cope with her blindness.

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  8. 7.2/10(17 votes)

    #7 - The Star System

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    S2:E13

    Jed poses as a publicity man on a movie set to keep a close watch on suicidal actress Vicky Page, accused of trying to kill another actress who she suspects is having an affair with her boyfriend, director Ernie Chapin.

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    Writer:N/A
  9. 7.2/10(16 votes)

    #8 - Remembrance of Crimes Past

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    S2:E20

    Karen Vale, who served five years for acting as a courier for enemy agents, is staying at a halfway house for women run by a senator's widow, Mrs. Creighton, and faces the hostility of her fellow citizens and from protesters outside the house. Mrs. Creighton hires Checkmate to protect her. In the course of their services, the Checkmate team finds Karen's greatest threat is from her former comrades who have infiltrated the protesters and even the house itself to try and bring her back into their circle, or eliminate her.

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    Director:N/A
    Writer:N/A
  10. 7.1/10(22 votes)

    #9 - The Heat of Passion

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    S2:E3

    At Corey's urging, a reluctant Dr. Hyatt is staying at a lodge for some much needed rest and recreation. The lodge's handyman is plotting the death of the owner, with the help of an escaped convict. The owner's wife, who is also the handyman's ex-lover, is in on the plot, but is ambivalent. When Hyatt's suspicions are aroused, he calls the Checkmate headquarters, and Jed arrives at the lodge, posing as a guest.

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    Director:Ron Winston
    Writer:N/A
  11. 7.1/10(18 votes)

    #10 - A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Game

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    S2:E12

    In a mostly comedic episode, Jack Benny guest stars as Jack Bowen, a beloved TV comedian much like Benny himself, who is serving as the Grand Marshal of the Pioneer Bowl Parade and football game. Also in town for the big game is the Checkmate team, and while there they end up mixing business with pleasure after Jack becomes the apparent target of a would-be assassin.

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    Director:Don Taylor
    Writer:N/A
  12. 7.1/10(14 votes)

    #11 - So Beats My Plastic Heart

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    S2:E26

    A woman who runs a home for struggling artists has been receiving death threats, and suspicion falls on her boarders, including a pretty young poet who is the object of Jed's affections.

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    Director:N/A
    Writer:N/A
  13. 7.1/10(14 votes)

    #12 - Will the Real Killer Please Stand Up?

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    S2:E32

    When a powerful millionaire dies, his three sons suddenly start to suspect everyone as potential threats to stealing the old man's fortune, including each other. They hire the Checkmate agency to keep them alive until the reading of the will. Only there may be another threat to the fortune that comes from outside the family.

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    Director:N/A
    Writer:N/A
  14. 7.0/10(18 votes)

    #13 - The Sound of Nervous Laughter

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    S2:E18

    Aging theater star Richard Gilmore is nearly killed in an apparent accident during a rehearsal. His wife, actress Beatrice Lawlor, suspects it was no accident, and consults Checkmate. A subsequent attempt on his life confirms her suspicions, but the culprit turns out to be an unlikely suspect.

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    Director:Paul Stewart
    Writer:N/A
  15. 7.0/10(23 votes)

    #14 - Heart Is a Handout

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    S2:E21

    Jed and Dr. Hyatt go undercover as members of a hobo community to protect a man known as Doc, acknowledged leader of the community. Years ago Doc was disinherited by his wealthy father for behaving irresponsibly with money, but now his dying father wants him back, and others in his family want him dead so they won't have to pay him an allowance. When Doc winds up inheriting the entire estate, he goes to town with it, making Checkmate's job more difficult.

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    Director:Tom Gries
    Writer:N/A
  16. 6.9/10(16 votes)

    #15 - The Two of Us

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    S2:E9

    Highly successful construction engineer Howard Gentry calls on Checkmate after an apparent attempt on his life. Checkmate suspects his identical twin brother Robert, but Howard does everything he can to dissuade them of that suspicion. His reasons for doing so lead to an intriguing conclusion.

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    Director:N/A
    Writer:N/A
  17. 6.9/10(13 votes)

    #16 - The Renaissance of Gussie Hill

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    S2:E14

    Checkmate is called to investigate the disappearance of an employee at Venus West, a beauty farm for women. Don finds himself falling for the beauty center's manager, who is not all she seems.

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    Director:Ron Winston
    Writer:N/A
  18. 6.8/10(19 votes)

    #17 - A Very Rough Sketch

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    S2:E15

    Eddie Phillips is a gifted but troubled young art student with an anger management problem. After being informed of his father's arrest on embezzlement charges, he attacks Dr. Hyatt and is put on a year's probation. Laura Hammond, an art teacher, takes an interest in Eddie and tries to help him with his anger problem by encouraging his painting, but must take care he doesn't misunderstand their relationship.

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    Director:N/A
    Writer:N/A
  19. 6.7/10(25 votes)

    #18 - Nice Guys Finish Last

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    S2:E10

    Police Lieutenant Dave Harker, a friend of Don's, is bitter after being denied a promotion to Captain, and decides to frame nightclub owner and high school rival Nick Culley, whom he blames for the pass over, for murder. Harker in turn is being blackmailed by a man who knows the truth. Devlin goes undercover as a rookie cop to keep an eye on Harker.

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    Director:N/A
  20. 6.7/10(15 votes)

    #19 - The Yacht Club Gang

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    S2:E16

    A widow who runs a yacht club hires the Checkmate agency to investigate an apparent attempt on the life of a married man she is having an affair with, who happens to be a member of the club.

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  21. 6.6/10(15 votes)

    #20 - Kill the Sound

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    S2:E7

    Sid Caesar appears as Johnny Wilder, a highly popular but guilt-ridden, somewhat neurotic San Francisco disk jockey who believes that a former rival whose own career went on the skids blames Johnny and wants to kill him. The station's owner hires Checkmate to protect Johnny- maybe from himself.

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    Writer:N/A
  22. 6.6/10(14 votes)

    #21 - Death Beyond Recall

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    S2:E17

    John Baker, a lawyer friend of Dr. Hyatt's with a mysterious past, is threatened with disbarment. He decides he wants to die, and asks a friend to arrange for his death, then changes his mind. When his friend is found murdered, he fears his death has already been arranged, and goes to Checkmate for protection.

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  23. 6.6/10(11 votes)

    #22 - The Someday Man

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    S2:E29

    In a tour-de-force performance, Don Taylor guest stars as an ex-pro football player, now fronting a cheap health club and always on the make for one big score. Wealthy thrill seekers enlist him in an elaborate conspiracy to convince his college football protege to throw the big game. The detectives at Checkmate attempt to untangle the deceptions and restore Taylor's pride.

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    Director:N/A
    Writer:N/A
  24. 6.6/10(15 votes)

    #23 - Down the Gardenia Path

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    S2:E33

    A young hotel convention hostess is being used to escort businessmen attending the convention to their rooms, and then have her picture taken with them for the purpose of blackmail. The proprietress, Mary Reed, is suspicious and asks the men from Checkmate to investigate.

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    Director:N/A
    Writer:N/A
  25. 6.5/10(15 votes)

    #24 - A Brooding Fixation

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    S2:E22

    The death of powerful business magnate Arnold Brack from an apparent gun accident, and his widow's and brother's apparent lack of emotion, leaves his grieving son, Daniel, to suspect it was no accident. His father recorded all of his dealings on tape, and Daniel searches for a recording of the moment of his father's death to find out what really happened. Checkmate is hired to aid in the investigation.

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  26. 6.5/10(19 votes)

    #25 - A Chant of Silence

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    S2:E23

    Two convicts, both former Catholic schoolboys, escape by shooting a policeman, then hole up in a monastery while Dr. Hyatt is visiting and hold the Father Abbot and Dr. Hyatt hostage. Dr. Hyatt appeals to the penitential instincts of one of the men in an effort to end the situation.

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    Writer:N/A

Season 2 Ratings Summary

"To the Best of My Recollection" is the best rated episode of "Checkmate" season 2. It scored 7.7/10 based on 18 votes. Directed by N/A and written by N/A, it aired on 12/27/1961. This episode is rated 0.1 points higher than the second-best, "Portrait of a Man Running".