SHADES OF DARKNESS 11/5/1986. McCall helps a National Guardsman who faces a murder charge and threats from the real killer. THE CUP 12/10/1986. Father Kostmayer hears the confession of a Polish agitator moments before he"s gunned down. The series starred British actor Edward Woodward as Robert McCall, a former CIA agent who tries to atone for past sins by offering, free of charge, his services as a troubleshooter (often literally), a protector, and an investigator. People in need found him through a newspaper ad: "Got a problem? Odds against you? Call the Equalizer." In the pilot episode (as he "opens for business"), we discover that the nickname "Equalizer" was bestowed on him by another operative, played by comedian Jerry Stiller. Many episodes focus on McCall performing assignments for "Control" (played by Robert Lansing), the unnamed head of a secret organization for which McCall used to work.