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Updated: 28 January 2002 403 Kilobytes 29 hotlinks
TELEVISION: Mystery/Detective Series with their own Pages
Pioneering Web Sites in Operation by mid 1996: Granada Sherlock Holmes--An Episode Guide In Search Of Lazarus Man Moonlighting Mystery (TV show) Perry Mason Australian site Perry Mason by Mick Anger Rumpole StreetBeat: Crime Prevention Television Townsend Detective Agency (Charlie's Angels) Unsolved Mysteries
TELEVISION: 606 Other Mystery/Detective Series
[New format: all the show titles are real, but "R" and "S" data between "Remington Steele" and "Taggart" are not yet valid] |A: 34: Acapulco -- Automan |B: 46: B.A.D. Cats -- Burke's Law |C: 61: Cade's Country -- Crime With Father |D: 33: The D.A.'s Man -- The Duke |E: 13: Echo Four-Two -- Eye to Eye |F: 23: Fabian of the Yard -- The Fuzz |G: 15: The Gallery of Mme Lui-Tsong -- The Growing Pains of PC Penrose |H: 38: Hagen-Hunter's Walk |I: 13: I Had Three Wives -- It's Dark Outside |J: 17: Jacks and Knaves -- Juliet Bravo |K: 7: Katts and Dog -- Kolchak: the Night Stalker |L: 17: Lady Blue -- Lord Peter Wimsey |M: 80: MacGruder and Loud -- Mysteries of Chinatown |N: 17: Naked City -- N.Y.P.D. |O: 6: The Odd Man -- Over My Dead Body |P: 34: Paris -- The Pursuers |Q: 1: Quincy, M.E. |R: 25: The Racing Game -- The Ruth Rendell Mysteries |S: 70: The Saint -- Switch |T: 32: Taggart -- Twin Peaks |U: 3: The Untouchables |V: 4: Van Der Valk -- Vendetta |W: 12: Walking Tall -- World Crime Hunt |X,Y,Z: 5: Yellowthread Street -- Zero One
Facts checked against references including:
- The Boxtree Encyclopedia of TV Detectives, by Geoff Tibballs [London: Boxtree, 1992]
- Detectionary: a biographical dictionary of leading characters in mystery fiction, conceived and produced by Mill Roseman; writers Otto Penzler, Chris Steinbrunner, Marvin Lachman, Charles Shibuk, Francis M. Nevins, Jr. [Hammermill Paper Co., 1971; Woodstock, NY: Overlook Press, 1977]
- Encyclopedia Mysteriosa, by William L. DeAndrea, [New York: Prentice Hall: 1991]
- TV Chronicles [web site]
- {to be done}
A: Mystery/Detective Television Series
Return to Mystery/Detective TV Table of Contents
- Acapulco 27 Feb 1961-24 Apr 1961 (NBC-UA-Libra) 8 30-minute episodes, black and white, Mystery/Detective Action- Adventure; Patrick Malone and Gregg Miles, a pair of Korean war vets based in Acapulco, are bodyguards for attorney Mr.Carver. Starring:- JAMES COBURN as Gregg Miles; RALPH TAEGER as Patrick Malone; ALLISON HAYES as Chloe; TELLY SAVALAS as Mr. Carver; BOBBY TROUP as Bobby; and JASON ROBARDS, Sr. as Max
- Acapulco H.E.A.T 1993-94 and 1996-97 (Syndicated) 48 60-minute episodes; Espionage/Mystery/Detective Action Adventure; From a hotel base in Acapulco, our heroes from Hemisphere Emergency Action Team are the best anti-terrorist team fighting crime. They pose as photographers.Filmed in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Starring: CATHERINE OXENBERG as Ashley Hunter-Coddington (1993-94); BRENDAN KELLY as Mike Savage (1993-94); ALISON ARMITAGE as Cat-Catherine Avery Pascal; SPENCER ROCHFORT as Brett (1993-94); HOLLY FLORIA as Krissie Valentine (1993-94);MICHAEL WORTH as Tommy Chase; RANDY VASQUEZ as Marcos (1993-94); GRAHAM HEYWOOD as Arthur Small (1993-94); FABIO as Claudio (1993-94); JOHN VERNON as Mr Smith (1993-94); LYDIE DENIER as Nicole Bernard (1996-97); CHRISTA SAULS as Joanna Barnes (1996-97); Theme Music by: Michael Lloyd, Tommy Oliver, Jim Ervin; Performed by Pepper Mashay.
- Ace Crawford, Private Eye 15 Mar 1983-12 Apr 1983 (CBS/Conway); 7 Apr 1984-? (UK: ITV Yorkshire TV); 5 30-minute episodes; Mystery/Detective Sitcom; lucky but bumbling private detective; starring TIM CONWAY as Ace Crawford; Producers: Philip Weltman, Ron Clark; JOE REGALBUTO as Toomey; BILLY BARTY as Inch; SHERA DANESE as Luana; BILL HENDERSON as Mello; DICK CHRISTIE as Lt Fanning. Ace Crawford, Private Eye on Geocities Ace Crawford, Private Eye on about.com Ace Crawford, Private Eye on E! Online
- AD Police Files (Japan) (Animated) Set in "MegaTokyo" in 2027 AD, relentless technological development has resulted in the creation of Boomers, artificially intelligent androids with the potential to free mankind from physical labor. But anything that can be used can also be misused... AD Police Files: CD-ROMs Content Warning: Contains Nudity, Violence, Adult Situations. Recommended for Mature Audiences ONLY.
- Adam-12 21 Sep 1968-20 May 1975 (NBC/Universal/Jack Webb) 150 30-minute episodes; starring: MARTIN MILNER as Officer Pete Molloy; KENT McCORD as Officer Jim Reed; WILLIAM BOYETT as Sgt McDonald; GARY CROSBY as Officer Ed Wells; SHARON CLARIDGE as Dispatcher's Voice; WILLIAM STEVENS as Officer Jerry Walters (1968-69); JACK HOGAN as Sgt Jerry Miller (1969); MIKKI JAMISON as Jean Reed (1969); CLAUDE JOHNSON as Officer Norm Green (1970-71); FRED STROMSOE as Officer Woods (1974-75); WILLIAM ELLIOTT as Officer Grant (1974-75). New Adam-12 4 Oct 1989 (Syndicated), 52 60-minute episodes; starring Peter Parros as Officer Gus Grant, Ethan Wayne as Officer Matt Doyle, Miguel Fernandes as Santos {more cast: to be done} adam-12.com Adam-12 episode list at desiluweb.com Adam-12 at tvwav.com Adam-12 at Open Directory
- The Adventure of Ellery Queen 1950-52 (Dumont-ABC) black and white Creators: Frederic Dannay, Manfred Bennington Lee [see: Authors Q: Ellery Queen] Mystery/Detective drama series. Ellery Queen, a Mystery writer, keeps solving murders, while his father is an Inspector with the NYPD. December 1951: show switched from Dumont to ABC; January 1951, Lee Bowman became Ellery Queen, after the sudden death of Richard Hart. See also: Ellery Queen [1954]; The Further Adventures of Ellery Queen [1958]; Ellery Queen [1975]. Starring: RICHARD HART as Ellery Queen (1950-51); LEE BOWMAN as Ellery Queen (1951-52); FLORENZ AMES as Inspector Richard Queen.
- The Adventures of Fu Manchu 1956 (Syndicated) 39 30-minute episodes; Characters created by Sax Rohmer [see AuthorsR]; Mystery/Detective drama series. Evil Fu Manchu battles with Sir Dennis Nayland-Smith of Scotland Yard. Uniquely, for its day, featured a villain as anti-hero. Unshown pilot made in 1952 with Cedric Hardwicke. Starring: GLEN GORDON as Fu Manchu; SIR DENNIS NAYLAND-SMITH as Lester Matthews; CLARK HOWAT as Dr John Petrie; CARLA BALENDEN as Betty Leonard; LAURETTE LUEZ as Karamanch; JOHN GEORGE as Kolb.
- The Adventures of McGraw 2 July 1957-1 Apr 1958 (NBC/MM/Sharpe-Lewis); see: Meet McGraw.
- The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes [USA title] 1955 (Sheldon Reynolds) black and white; 39 30-minute episodes; Starring: RONALD HOWARD as Sherlock Holmes; HOWARD MARION CRAWFORD as Dr Watson {more cast: to be done}
- The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes 24 Apr 1984-5 June 1984 (UK: ITV); 25 Aug 1985-29 Sep 1985 (season 2, UK: ITV); 14 Mar 1985-25 Apr 1985 (US: WGBH Boston "Mystery"); 6 Feb 1986-13 Mar 1986 (season 2, US: WGBH Boston "Mystery") starring Jeremy Brett as Sherlock Holmes {more cast: to be done}
- The Return of Sherlock Holmes {to be done}
- The Hound of the Baskervilles {to be done}
- The Casebook of Sherlock Holmes {to be done}
- The Adventures of the Falcon 1955 (Syndicated-Federal-Bernard Schubert) black and white; 39 30-minute episodes; Mystery/Detective drama series. Mike Waring (also known as The Falcon) is a freelance investigator. Adapted from a long running film series. Starring: CHARLES McGRAW as Mike Waring (The Falcon)
- Affairs of the Heart (1998-in production) {to be done} according to cached copy of TV Eyes-The Series
- African Patrol 15 Apr 1958-6 Feb 1959 (UK: ITV/Kenya Production Ltd.); 1957 (US: Syndicated); British Patrol Inspector Paul Derek roams the jungles of East Africa, battling gun-runners, ivory poachers, smugglers, and vapid teleplays. The on-location filming was high-quality. John Bentley later starred in the British soap opera Crossroads, where he played Meg's unlucky husband Hugh Mortimer. Producer: Michael Sadler (M.E. Productions); Music: Phil Green; starring JOHN BENTLEY as Inspector Paul Derek.
- Agatha Christie's Poirot 8 Jan 1989-19 Mar 1989 (UK: ITV), starring DAVID SUCHET as Hercule Poirot; HUGH FRASER as Captain Hastings; PHILIP JACKSON as Inp. Japp (later Chief Insp.).
- Alfred Hitchcock Presents (CBS/NBC/Shamley) 1955-62; 268 30-minute episodes; plus 93 60-minute episodes; Creator: Alfred Hitchcock; Theme Music: Gounod's "Funeral March of a Marionette." Anthology series of Mystery/Detective stories, usually with twist endings. Introduced by Hitchcock, who personally directed 20 episodes. Literally hundreds of stars appeared in front of or behind the camera. See: The New Alfred Hitchcock Presents.
- Alien Nation 18 Sep 1989-17 Sep 1990 (Fox, TCF, Kenneth Johnson Prod.); 3 Oct 1990-? (UK: BSB); 1 120-minute episode; 21 60-minute episodes; Created by: Kenneth Johnson, Rockne O' Bannon; Music by: Steve Dorff, David Kuntz, Larry Herbstritt; Executive Producer: Kenneth John; Science Fiction/Mystery/Detective drama series. 250,000 aliens from the planet Tenkton land in 1995 USA. The show focusses on one of them, and his family, trying to assimilate into human society. The husband (renamed George Francisco) becomes a cop. Adapted from the film of the same name. Since the series ended, there have been occasional 120-minute TV Movies: "Dark Horizon" [1994], "Body and Soul" [1995], "Millennium" [1996], "The Enemy Within" [1996], "The Udara Legacy" [1997]. starring: GARY GRAHAM as Ace Detective Matthew Sikes; ERIC PIERPOINT as Detective George Francisco; MICHELLE SCARABELLI as Susan Francisco; LAUREN WOODLAND as Emily Francisco; SEAN SIX as Buck Francisco; TERRI TREAS as Cathi; JEFF MARCUS as Albert Einstein.
- The Amazing Chan and the Chan Clan 9 Sep 1972-22 Sep 1974 (CBS); Hanna Barbera animation, Key Luke as the Voice of Chan
- The Amazing Mr.Malone 24 Sep 1951-10 Mar 1952 (ABC); Mondays 8:00 p.m.; __ 60-minute episodes; starring Lee Tracy as John J. Malone Mystery/Detective drama series about criminal lawyer John J. Malone, who solves many mysteries. Adapted from a radio series of the same name.
- Amy Prentice 1 Dec 1974-2 Feb 1975 (CBS); Sundays 8:30 p.m.; (to 6 July 75 on NBC: Mystery Movie); 20 May 1976-? (UK: ITV), __ 120-minute episodes; Mystery/Detective drama series. Widowed 30-something Amy Prentiss is promoted to Chief of Detectives, San Francisco Police Department. Starring: JESSICA WALTER as Amy Prentiss; STEVE SANDOR as Detective Tony Russell; ARTHUR METRANO as Detective Rod Pena; JOHNNY SEVEN as Detective Contreras; HELEN HUNT as Jill Prentiss; GWENN MITCHELL as Joan Carter.
- The Andy Griffith Show/Andy of Mayberry 3 Oct 1960-16 Sep 1968 (CBS); 249 30-minute episodes; Police Sitcom. Sheriff Andy Taylor of small town Mayberry, North Carolina; a widower with a young son called Opie. "Gomer Pyle USMC" was a spin off when that character left Mayberry for the marines. The show was later retitled "Mayberry RFD" when Andy Griffith left the show. Reunion TV Movie "Return to Mayberry" [April 1986]. Starring: ANDY GRIFFITH as Andy Taylor; DON KNOTTS as Barney Fife (1960-65); RONNY HOWARD (later a major producer/director) as Opie Taylor; ELINOR DONAHUE as Ellie Walker (1960-61); FRANCIS BAVIER as Aunt Bee Taylor; HOPE SUMMERS as Clara Edwards; JIM NABORS as Gomer Pyle (1963-64); ANETA CORSAUT as Helen Crump (1964-68); GEORGE LINDSEY as Goober Pyle (1963-64); HOWARD McNEAR as Floyd Lawson; HAL SMITH as Otis Campbell (1960-67); JACK DODSON as Howard Sprague (1966-68); PAUL HARTMAN as Emmett Clark (1967-68); BETTY LYNN as Thelma Lou (1960-65); JACK BURNS as Warren Ferguson (1965-66); PARLEY BAER as Mayor Stoner (1962-63); KEN BERRY as Sam Jones (1968); BURT MUSTIN as Jud Crowley (1961-66).
- Angel 1999 (WB); {to be done} according to cached copy of TV Eyes-The Series
- Angel Street 1992 (CBS) 1 pilot 120-minute episode; 8 60-minute episodes; Mystery/Detective drama series revolving around two female detectives, Anita (African-American college grad) and Caucasian street-wise Dorothy. Cancelled after 3 episodes. The 120 minute episode is a pilot TV Movie. Starring ROBIN GIVENS as Detective Anita King; PAMELA GIDLEY as Detective Dorothy Paretsky; JOE GUZALDO as Sgt Ciamaccio; RON DEAN as Detetcive Kenny Branigan; RICK SNYDER as Detective Kanaskie; DANNY GOLDRING as Detective Delaney; LURAY COOPER as Detective Llewellyn.
- Anna Lee 1993-1994 (UK: ITV); {to be done} according to cached copy of TV Eyes-The Series
- Archer 30 Jan 1975-13 Mar 1975 (NBC/Paramount); 1 90-minute episode; 7 60-minute episodes; Mystery/Detective drama series about private detective Lew Archer. TV Movie pilot: "The Underground Man." Starring: Brian Keith as Lew Archer / John S. Ryan
- Armchair Detective 6 July 1949-28 Sep 1949 (CBS); starring: John Milton Kennedy as Mr.Crime Interrogator, and H. Allen Smith as Mr.Crime Authority {more cast: to be done}
- Arrest and Trial 15 Sep 1963-19 Apr 1964 (ABC/Universal/Revue); 24 Apr 1964-3 Nov 1964 (UK: BBC); Producer: Frank P. Rosenberg; 30 90-minute episodes; Mystery/Detective drama series. A show in two parts: in the first half, Detective Sergeant Nick Anderson captures a criminal. In the second half, attorney John Egan tries to set him free. starring: BEN GAZZARA as Det Sgt Nick Anderson; CHUCK NORRIS as Attorney John Egan.
- Arresting Behavior 18 Aug 1992-9 Sep 1992 (ABC) 5 30-minute episodes; Police sitcom. Two mismatched cops are followed on duty by a TV crew; crudely parodying the many "reality" shows (i.e. "Cops") on contemporary American TV. starring: LEO BURMESTER as Officer Bill Ruskin; CHRIS MULKEY as Officer Pete Walsh; RON ELDARD as Officer Donny Walsh; JOEY SIMMRIN as Seth Ruskin; LEE GARLINGTON as Connie Ruskin; AMY HATHAWAY as Rhoada Ruskin; ERIC BALFOUR as Billy Ruskin.
- Aspen 1977 (Universal/Roy Huggins "Best Sellers") 6 95-minute episodes; Writer/Director: Douglas Heyes adapted from the Novels: "Aspen" by Bert Hirschfield and "The Adversary" by Bart Spicer; Music: Tom Scott, Mike Melvoir; Producer: Jo Swerling, Jr.; Mystery/Detective drama serial. Lawyer investigates a murder within the exclusive ski resort 's jet set. starring: SAM ELLIOTT; PERRY KING; MICHELLE PHILLIPS; JOHN McINTYRE; GENE BARRY; BO HOPKINS; TONY FRANCIOSA; JOSEPH COTTON; JOHN HOUSEMAN.
- The Asphalt Jungle 2 Apr 1961-24 Sep 1961 (ABC-MGM); Sundays 9:30 p.m.; 13 60-minute episodes; black and white Mystery/Detective drama series. Tough cops headed by Deputy Commissioner Matthew Gower; adapted from 1950 film of the same name. Music: Duke Ellington; starring: JACK WARDEN as Matthew Gower; ARCH JOHNSON as Captain Gus Honochek; BILL SMITH as Sergeant Danny Keller.
- Assignment Vienna 28 Sep 1972-9 June 1973 (ABC-MGM); Thursdays 9:00 p.m., moved to Saturdays 10:00 p.m.; 1 96-minute episode; plus 8 60-minute episode; Mystery/Detective/Espionage drama series. In Vienna, Austria, Bar owner Jake Webster helps the U.S. Army track down valuables looted by the Nazis in World War II, and becomes involved in other spy situations. TV Movie pilot (starring Roy Schieder): "Assignment Munich"; the show rotated with two other series: "The Delphi Bureau" and "Jigsaw." The three series together were called "The Men." Starring: ROBERT CONRAD as Jake Webster; CHARLES CIOFFI as Major Caldwell; ANTON DIFFRING as Inspector Hoffman.
- The Automan 15 Dec 1983-2 Apr 1984 (ABC); 12 May 1984-28 Aug 1984 (UK: BBC1); Glen A. Larson; 1 70-minute episode; 12 60-minute episode; Thursday 8:00 p.m., moved to Mondays 8:00 p.m.; Creator/Producer: Glen A. Larson; Music: J.A.C. Radford, Morton Stevens; Science Fiction/Mystery/Detective drama series. Computer genius cop creates a three-dimensional super-cop. starring CHUCK WAGNER as Automan; DESI ARNAZ, Jr., as Walter Nebicher; ROBERT LANSING as Lt Jack Curtis; HEATHER McNAIR as Roxanne Caldwell; GERALD S. O'LOUGHLIN as Capt E.G. Boyd
B: Mystery/Detective Television Series
Return to Mystery/Detective TV Table of Contents
- B.A.D. Cats 4 Jan 1980-8 Feb 1980 (ABC/Spelling-Cramer); 11 Dec 1980-? (UK: ITV); 6 60-minute episodes; Executive Producers: Aaron Spelling, Douglas S. Cramer Producer: Everett Chambers; Mystery/Detective drama series. Two cops work for the Burglary Auto Detail, Commercial Auto Thefts department. Starring: STEVEN HANKS as Ocee James; ASHER BRAUNER as Nik Donovan; MICHELLE PFEIFFER as Samantha Jensen; VIC MORROW as Capt Skip Nathan; JIMMIE WALKER as Rodney Washington.
- B.L. Stryker 13 Feb 1989-? 1990 (ABC/TWS/Universal); 27 Apr 1991-25 May 1991 (UK: ITV); 12 120-minute episodes; Executive Producers: Tom Selleck, Burt Reynolds; Producer: Alan Barnette Mystery/Detective drama series. One of ABC's Mystery Movie rotating series. B.L. Stryker, Vietnam Vet, is a private detective working in Palm Beach, Florida, while living on a houseboat. starring BURT REYNOLDS as B.L. Stryker; Ossie OSSIE DAVIS as Oz Jackson; RITA MORENO as Kimberly Baskin; DANA KAMINSKI as Lynda Lennox; MICHAEL O'SMITH as Chief McGee; ALFIE WISE as Oliver.
- Bakersfield PD 1993-94 (Fox/Rock Island/ Touchstone) 17 30-minute episodes; Crime sitcom about dumb cops in semi-rural California town's police department; Creator/Executive Producer: Larry Levin / Producer: Paul Mazur; Director: Dean Parisot; Starring: RON ELDARD as Det. Wade Preston; GIANCARLO ESPOSITO as Det. Paul Gigante; CHRIS MULKEY as Officer Denny Boyer; TONY PLANA as Officer Luke Ramirez; BRIAN DOYLE-MURRAY as Sgt. Phil Hampton; JACK HALLETT as Capt. Aldo Stiles.
- Banacek 13 Sep 1972-3 Sep 1974 (NBC/Universal "Mystery Movie"); 8 July 1975-23 Dec 1977 (UK: ITV) 17 90-minute episodes (including pilot); Creators: Richard Levinson, William Link; Music: Billy Goldenberg; Executive Producer: George Eckstein; Producer: Howie Horowitz; Mystery/Detective drama series. Polish-American Thomas Banacek is a freelancer for insurance companies; he tracks down stolen goods. Starring GEORGE PEPPARD as Thomas Banacek; RALPH MANZA as Jay Drury; MURRAY MATHESON as Felix Mulholland; CHRISTINE BELFORD as Carlie Kirkland; LINDEN CHILES as Penniman.
- Banyon 15 Sep 1972-12 Jan 1973 (NBC/Warner/Quinn Martin); 26 Aug 1975-? (UK: ITV); 1 96-minute episode; plus 13 60-minute episodes; Period Mystery/Detective drama series. Los Angeles-based private detective in the 1930s. Miles C. Banyon was provided a new secretary each week,free, by Peggy Revere, who owned a secretarial school. Executive Producer: Quinn Martin Producer: Richard Alan Simmons; Starring: ROBERT FORSTER as Miles C. Banyon; JOAN BLONDELL as Peggy Revere; JULIE GREGG as Abby Graham; RICHARD JAECKEL as Lt. Pete McNeil; JOSE FERRER; DARREN McGAVIN; HERB EDELMAN.
- Baretta 17 Jan 1975-18 May 1978 (ABC/Universal/ Roy Huggins/Public Arts); 6 Jan 1978-3 Mar 1979 (UK: ITV), 80 60-minute episodes; Creator: Stephen J. Cannell; Theme Music ("Keep Your Eye on the Sparrow" sung by Sammy Davis, Jr.; Music by: Dave Grusin, Tom Scott; Executive Producers: Roy Huggins, Bernard L. Kowalski, Anthony Spinner; Producer: Jo Swerling, Jr.; Mystery/Detective drama series. Streetwise Italian-American cop. Revamp of Toma [1973]. Starring: ROBERT BLAKE as Detective Tony Baretta; EDWARD GROVER as Lt. Hal Brubaker; MICHAEL D. ROBERTS as Rooster; DANA ELCAR as Inspector Schiller; TOM EWELL as Billy Truman; CHINO WILLIAMS as Fats.
- Barlow at Large 23 Jan 1974-26 Feb 1975 (UK: BBC1); 16 50-minute episodes; Spinoff from The Days of Vengeance and Z Cars; but without Barlow's former sidekick John Watt, who stayed with Softly, Softly; starring Stratford Johns as Det. Chief Supt. Charlie Barlow; Neil Stacy as A.G. Fenton; Norman Crner as Det. Sgt. Rees; Derek Newark as Det. Insp. Tucker
- Barnaby Jones 28 Jan 1973-3 Apr 1980 (CBS/Quinn Martin Prod.); 4 Apr 1974-? (UK: ITV); 174 60-minute episodes; Creator/Executive Producer: Quinn Martin; Music: Jerry Goldsmith; Mystery/Detective drama series. Retired private detective Barnaby Jones, when his son is murdered, has to run the family detective business again. Starring: BUDDY EDSON as Barnaby Jones; LEE MERIWEATHER as Betty Jones; MARK SHERA as Jebidiah Roman "JR" Jones; JOHN CARTER as Lt.Biddle.
- Barney Blake: Police Reporter 22 Apr 1948-8 July 1948 (NBC); 13 30-minute episodes; black and white; starring Gene O'Donnell as Barney Blake; Judy Parrish as Jennifer Allen; The very first regularly scheduled mystery/detective series on television! Broadcast live, this featured a newspaper reporter and his secretary solving crimes, mostly murder. Sponsor pulled plug after 13 weeks (American Tobacco Co.).
- Barney Miller Pilot: 22 Aug 1974; show 1975-82 (ABC/Four D); 168 30-minute episodes; 1 60-minute episode; Creators: Danny Arnold, Theodore J. Flicker; Executive Producers: Danny Arnold, Roland Kibbee; Producer: Chris Hayward; Police Sitcom. Cops of Greenwich Village, New York City's Twelve Precinct. Great ensemble acting, clever scripts. Pilot episode "The Life and Times of Barney Miller." Spin Off Fish; Starring: HAL LINDEN as Capt. Barney Miller; MAXWELL GAIL as Det. Stan "Wojo" Wojciehowicz; ABE VIGODA as D.S. Phillip Fish (1975-77); GREGORY SIERRA as D.S. Chano Amenguale (1975-76); JACK SOO as D.S. Nick Yemana (1975-78); RON GLASS as D.S. Ron Harris; JAMES GREGORY as Inspector Frank Luger; STEVE LANDESBERG as D.S. Arthur Dietrich (1976-82); RON CAREY as Off. Carl Levitt (1976-82); LINDA LAVIN as Det. Janice Wentworth (1975-76); BARBARA BARRIE as Elizabeth Miller(75-76).
- Batman 1965-69 (Fox/Greenaway); 120 30-minute episodes; Creator: Bob Kane; Theme Music: Neal Hefti (theme), Nelson Riddle; Producer: Howie Horowitz; Executive Producer: William Dozier; Science Fiction/mystery/detective comedy/drama series. Bruce Wayne and Dick Grayson (as superheroes Batman and Robin) try to eliminate evil from the comic/noir streets of Gotham City. Starring: ADAM WEST as Batman/Bruce Wayne; BURT WARD as Robin/Dick Grayson; ALAN NAPIER as Alfred; MADGE BLAKE as Aunt Harriet; NEIL HAMILTON as Commissioner Gordon; STAFFORD REPP as Chief O'Hara; YVONNE CRAIG as Batgirl; CESAR ROMERO as The Joker; BURGESS MEREDITH as The Penguin; GEORGE SANDERS as Mr Freeze; FRANK GORSHIN as the Riddler; a very sexy JULIE NEWMAR as Catwoman; VICTOR BUONO as King Tut.
- Battery Park 23 March 2000-? (NBC); __ 30-minute episodes; Creators: Garry Goldberg, Chris Henchy; Executive Producer: Garry David Goldberg Mystery/detective comedy/drama series. Cops versus mobsters. Starring: ELIZABETH PERKINS as Captain Madeleine Dunlevy; JUSTIN LOUIS as Detective Ben Nolin; JACQUELINE OBRADORS as Detective Elena Vera; BOKEEM WOODBINE as Detective Derek Finley; FRANK GRILLO as Detective Anthony 'Stig' Stigliano; ROBERT MAILHOUSE as Detective Kevin Strain; JAY PAULSON as Detective Carl Zerrinal; SAM LLOYD as Ray Giddeon.
- Bearcats! 1971 (CBS); {to be done} according to cached copy of TV Eyes-The Series
- The Beat 2000 (UPN) __ 60-minute episodes; Creator: Tom Fontana; Executive Producers: Barry Levinson, Tom Fontana, Jim Finnerty; Mystery/detective drama series. Two cops as partners: Mike Dorigan and Zane Marinelli. Starring: DEREK CECIL as Mike Dorigan; MARK RUFFALO as Zane Marinelli; HEATHER BURNS as Beatrice Felsen; POPPY MONTGOMERY as Elizabeth Waclawek; TOM NOONAN as Captain Howard Schmidt; LEA DELARIA as Officer Kathy Speck; PAT McNAMARA as Uncle Connie Dorigan; DAVID ZAYAS as Officer Ray; LEE TERGESEN as Steve Dorigan; JEFFREY DONOVAN as Officer Brad Ulrich.
- The Beiderbecke Affair 6 Jan 1985-10 Feb 1985 (UK: ITV); Creator: Alan Plater; Music: Frank Ricotti; Executive Producer: David Cunliffe; Producer: Anne W. Gibbons; Director: David Reynolds; Starring: JAMES BOLAM as Trevor Chaplin; other cast {to be done} 6 60-minute episodes; Sequel: The Beiderbecke Tapes 13 Dec 1987-20 Dec 1987 (UK: ITV); 2 90-minute episodes; Sequel: The Beiderbecke Connection 27 Nov 1988-18 Dec 1988 (UK: ITV); 4 60-minute episodes;
- Bellamy 26 June 1981-? (Australia: Ten Network/Grundy); 1 Sep 1984-4 Apr 1987 (UK: ITV); 26 60-minute episodes; Executive Producer: Don Battye (see: Bluey); Based on Special Crime Squad in Australia; Starring: JOHN STANTON as Bellamy; TIM ELSTON as Mitchell.
- Bergerac 18 Oct 1981-9 Mar 1991 (UK: BBC/Australia: Seven Network); Creator: Robert Banks Stewart; Title Music: George Fenton; Producers: Robert Banks Stewart, Jonathan Alwyn, George Galaccio; Alcoholic Jim Bergerac starts as Detective Sergeant of the Channel Islands' Bureau des Etrangers, the local cops of the exclusive British island of Jersey. He has a rocky marriage to Deborah, and millionnaire father-in-law Charlie Hungerford is linked to all 84 crimes that Bergerac investigates. Starring: JOHN NETTLES as Detective Sergeant Jim Bergerac; TERRENCE ALEXANDER as Charlie Hungerford; SEAN ARNOLD as Chief Insp. Barney Crozier; DEBORAH GRANT as Deborah Bergerac; CECILE PAOLI as Francine; other cast {to be done}
- Bert D'Angelo, Superstar 1976 (Quinn Martin); 13 60-minute episodes; Producer: Mort Fine; Mystery/detective drama series, spun off from The Streets of San Francisco, but set in New York. Starring: PAUL SORVINO as Bert D'Angelo.
- Beverly Hills Buntz 17 Mar 1988-7 Apr 1988 (NBC); Spinoff from Hill Street Blues; Starring: DENNIS FRANZ as Norm Buntz; PETER DURASIK as Sid; {to be done}
- Biff Baker USA 1953 (Universal) 26 30-minute episodes; black and white; Espionage drama series. American couple spying behind the Iron Curtain. Starring: ALAN HALE, Jr.; and RANDY STUART.
- Big Guns see Charlesworth
- Big Shamus, Little Shamus 29 Sep 1979-6 Oct 1979 (CBS); 13 60-minute episodes (2 aired); Saturdays 9:00 p.m.; Mystery/detective drama series. Arnie Sutter is "house detective" in the bustling Atlantic City, New Jersey, Ansonia Hotel. The "Little Shamus" is Arnie's 13 year old son, Max, who gets involved in his father's exploits. Promising, yet cancelled after 2 episodes. Starring: BRIAN DENNEHY as Arnie Sutter; DOUG McKEON as Max Sutter; GEORGE WYNER as George Korman; KATHRYN LEIGH SCOTT as Stephanie Marsh; TY HENDERSON as Jerry Wilson; CYNTHIA SIKES as Jingles Lodestar.
- The Bill 16 Oct 1984-7 Dec 1987 (UK: ITV); 35 60-minute episodes; plus 315 30-minute episodes; Creator: Geoff McQueen; Title Music: Andy Pask, Charlie Morgan; Executive Producers: Michael Chapman, Lloyd Shirley; Producers: Michael Chapman, Peter Creegan, Pat Sandys, Tony Virgo, Peter Wolfes; Starring: PETER ELLIS as Chief Supt. Charles Brownlow; rest of cast: {to be done}
- Black Tie Affair 1993, (NBC); {to be done} according to cached copy of TV Eyes-The Series
- Blacke's Magic 5 Jan 1986-8 May 1986 (MCA/Universal); 7 Apr 1987-23 June 1987 (UK: ITV); 13 60-minute episodes; Retired stage magician Hal Linden (Barney Miller) becomes private eye, aided by witty father-in-law Harry Morgan (M*A*S*H); Creators: Peter S. Fischer, Richard Levinson, William Link; Executive Producers: Peter S. Fischer; Producer: Robert F. O'Neill; Tech Adviser: Jim Steinmeyer (asst. to Doug Henning); Starring: HAL LINDEN as Alexander Blacke; HARRY MORGAN as Leonard Blacke; {to be done}
- Blood and Orchids 1987; 2 120-minute episodes; Mystery/detective drama serial. Hawaiian Captain Maddox investigates four youths who purportedly raped the wife of a Lieutenant. Starring KRIS KRISTOFFERSON as Captain Maddox.
- Blood Money 6 Sep 1981-11 Oct 1981 (UK: BBC1); 6 30-minute episodes; German terrorist Irene Kohl kidnaps son of UN official. Original script had kidnapping victim as 10-year-old Earl, 17th-in-line to the throne, but Buckingham Palace forced changes. Writer: Arden Winch; Producer: Gerard Glaister; Director: Michael E. Briant; Starring: BERNARD HEPTON as Chief Supt. Meadows; MICHAEL DENNISON as Capt. Percival; JULIET HAMMOND-HILL as Irene Kohl; {to be done}
- Blood Rights 24 Oct 1990-7 Nov 1990 (UK: BBC2); 3 55-minute episodes; realistic black P.I.; Creator/Writer: Mike Phillips (black journalist); Producer: Caroline Oulton; Director: Lesley Manning; starring BRIAN BOVELL as Sammy Dean; {to be done}
- The Blue Knight 17 Dec 1975-27 Oct 1976 (CBS/Lorimar); 5 Jan 1985-? (UK: ITV); 1 90-minute episodes; 13 60-minute episodes; Music: Henry Mancini; Producer: Joel Rogosin; Mystery/detective drama series about a Los Angeles cop. Adapted from novel by Joseph Wambaugh (best-selling author and former LAPD member, who'd consulted on POLICE STORY); Before the TV Movie pilot for the series, there'd been a previous TV Movie (1973) with the same title and theme, which won an Emmy for William Holden (as Bumper); Starring: GEORGE KENNEDY as Bumper Morgan (AKA The Blue Knight); PHILLIP PINE as Sgt. Newman; JOHN STEADMAN as Wimpy; CHARLES SIEBERT as Sgt.Cabe; LIN McCARTHY as Lt.Hauser.
- The Blue Light 1965 (ABC/TCF); 17 30-minute episodes; Espionage drama series. World War II US agent undercover in Nazi Germany. Starring: ROBERT GOULET.
- Blue Thunder 6 Jan 1984-7 Sep 1984 (ABC/Rastar/Public Arts/Columbia); 6 Feb 1984-16 Apr 1984 (UK: BBC1); 11 60-minute episodes; Adapted from movie of same name (1984) starring Roy Scheider, about super-helicopter for crime fighting with the mythical APEX government agency, in Los Angeles, sometimes assigned to FBI or Treasury. Executive Producers: Roy Huggins, David Moessinger; Producers: Jeri Taylor, Donald A. Baer; Music: Frank Denson; Starring: JAMES FARENTINO as Frank Chaney; DANA CARVEY as computer nerd Clinton C. Wonderlove; SANDY McPEAK as Ed Braddock; Football star DICK BUTKUS as Richard "Ski" Butkowski; BUBBA SMITH as driver/nerd Lyman "Bubba" Kelsey; {to be done}
- Bluey 2 Aug 1976-? (Australia: Seven Network/Crawford); 9 Feb 1978-19 July 1979 (UK: ITV/Granada); 1 90-minute episode; plus 38 60-minute episodes; Tough, iconoclastic Australian cop. Producers: Don Battye (see Bellamy), Tom Hegarty, Julian Pringle; Starring: LUCKY GRILLS as "Bluey" Hills; {to be done}
- Bognor 10 Feb 1981-9 Apr 1981 (UK: ITV/Thames Television Network Prod.); 18 30-minute episodes; Mystery/detective comedy/drama series about a Department of Trade special investigator and sidekick looking into peculiar crimes. Executive Producer: John Frankau; Producer: Bernard Krichefski; Music: Mike Steer; Starring: DAVID HOROVITCH as Bognor of D.O.T.; JOANNA McCALLUM as [sidekick] Monica; EWAN ROBERTS as Parkinson [Head of Special Investigations].
- Boney 21 Jan 1972 (Australia/Norfolk); 2 Jan 1975-? (UK: ITV); 26 60-minute episodes; Top of the ratings in Scotland, produced in Australia, starring a heavily made-up white New Zealander as an Australian Aborigine, and adapted from the novels of Arthur Upfield. Executive Producers: Bob Austin, Lee Robinson; Producer: John McCallum; Starring JAMES LAURENSON as Det.Insp. Napoleon Bonaparte.
- Booker 1989-90 (Fox); {to be done} according to cached copy of TV Eyes-The Series
- Boon 14 Jan 1986-? 1991 (UK: ITV/Central Independent); 78 60-minute episodes; Ex-fireman motoryclist freelance investigator Ken Boon is so unexpectedly successful that, in the 2nd season, he has an entire team of bikers "The Texas Rangers." The heavy-drinking star was charismatic, getting over 1,000 letters per week from fans, and the theme song "Hi Ho Silver" (sung by Jim Diamond) climbed to #5 on British charts. Creators: Jim Hill, Bill Stair; Executive Producers: Ted Childs (seasons 1-7), William Smethurst (season 4); Producers: Kenny McBain (season 1); Esta Charkman (seasons 2-4), Michele Buck (season 5), Simon Lewis (seasons 6-7); Music: Dean Friedman; Starring: MICHAEL as Ken Boon; DAVID DAKER as Harry Crawford; NEIL MORRISSEY as Rocky Cassidy; LESLEY-ANNE SHARPE as Debbie Yates; ELIZABETH CARLING as Laura Marsh.
- Boston Blackie 1951-52 (United Artists); 58 30-minute episodes; black and white; Mystery/detective drama series. Kind hearted gangster Boston Blackie. Adapted from a long running film series of the 1940s. Starring KENT TAYLOR as Boston Blackie; LOIS COLLIER; FRANK ORTH.
- Bourbon Street Beat 1959 (ABC/Warner); 39 60-minute episodes; black and white; Mystery/detective drama series. Pair of New Orleans-based Private Investigators. Starring: RICHARD LONG; ANDREW DUGGAN; VAN WILLIAMS.
- The Boys from the Bush 19 Jan 1991-5 Apr 1991 (UK: BBC1/ Cinema Verity/Entertainment Media/Seven Network Australia); 10 50-minute episodes; Bouncing between Melbourne, Australia, and London, England, Reg Toomer combines detective, marriage counselor, and anything else that generates cash flow legally. An idiosyncratic show with interesting people. Creator: Douglas Livingstone; Producer: Verity Lambert; Music: Dean Friedman; Starring: TIM HEALY as Reg Toomer; CHRIS HAYWOOD as Dennis Tontine; MARK HADDIGAN as Leslie; NADINE GARNER as Arlene; PAT THOMSON as Doris.
- Brenner 6 June 1959-13 Sep 1964 (CBS); 26 30-minute episodes; black and white; Controversial show about flawed NYPD cops; show nearly killed when sponsor Lever Brothers pulled out, but CBS eventually aired 10 episodes some five years after the initial 16 episodes. Ernie Brenner was supposed to be the son of Roy Brenner. This was one of my father's favorite shows of its day (along with "Gunsmoke"). Creator: Herb Brodkin; Starring: EDWARD BINNS as Det.Lt. Roy Brenner; JAMES BRODERICK as Officer Ernie Brenner.
- Brimstone 1998 (Fox); {to be done} according to cached copy of TV Eyes-The Series
- Bronk 21 Sep 1975-18 July 1976 (MGM); 1 90-minute episode; 24 60-minute episodes; Creator: Carroll O'Connor; Executive Producers: Carroll O'Connor, Bruce Geller; Producer: Leigh Vance; Mystery/detective drama series. Homicide cop Lt.Alex Bronkov. Starring: JACK PALANCE as Bronk; JOSEPH MASCOLO as Mayor Pete Santori; TONY KING as Sgt. John Webber; HENRY BECKMAN as Harry Mark; DINA OUSLEY as Ellen Bronkov.
- The Brothers Brannagan 1960 (CBS/Wilbur Stark); 39 30-minute episodes; black and white; Mystery/detective drama series. Pair of Phoenix based private detectives. Starring STEVE DUNNE; MARK ROBERTS.
- Buddy Faro 1998 (CBS); {to be done} according to cached copy of TV Eyes-The Series
- Bulman 5 June 1985-8 Aug 1987 (UK: ITV/Grenada); 20 60-minute episodes; Adapted from Kenneth Royce's characters. Clock repairman who quotes Shakespeare, George Bulman, is said to have a perpetual cold -- because the star actor, a former Essex CID, was being treated for (now cured) throat cancer. Writer: Murray Smith; Music: Dick Walter; Executive Producer: Richard Everitt; Producer: Steve Hawes (season 1), Sita Williams (season 2); Starring: DON HENDERSON as George Bulman; SIOBHAN REDMOND as Lucy McGinty; THORLEY WALTERS as William Dugdale.
- Burke's Law 1963-65 (ABC/Four Star); 94 60-minute episodes; black and white; Mystery/detective/espionage drama series. Rolls Royce owner L.A. Police Chief Captain Amos Burke investigates murders. Near the final shows, Burke quit the force to enter espionage. Each episode began with the words "Who Killed...?" Creator: Ivan Goff, Ben Roberts, Ernest Kinoy; Producer: Arnold [Aaron??] Spelling; Starring: GENE BARRY as Captain Amos Burke; GARY CONWAY as Det. Tim Tilson; REGIS TOOMEY as DS Lester Hart; LEON LONTOL as Henry; CARL BENTON REID as "The Man."
C: Mystery/Detective Television Series
Return to Mystery/Detective TV Table of Contents
- Cade's Country 19 Sep 1971-9 Apr 1972 (CBS/Twentieth Century Fox); 1 Mar 1972-6 Sep 1972 (UK: ITV); 24 60-minute episodes; New West (as opposed to Old West) Police/Mystery/detective drama series. Madrid County, California, Sheriff Sam Cade is backed by elderly Deputy J.J. Jackson and 3 younger deputies. Pete is played by the son of film star Glenn Ford. Joannie Little Bird was the first dispatcher, later replaced by Betty Ann Sundown -- both women are true Native Americans. Producer: Charles Larson; Executive Producer: David Gerber; Music: Henry Mancini Starring GLENN FORD as Sam Cade; EDGAR BUCHANAN as Dep. J.J. Jackson; TAYLOR LACHER as Arlo; VICTOR CAMPOS as Rudy; PETER FORD as Pete; SANDRA EGO as Joannie Little Bird; BETTY ANN CARR as Betty Ann Sundown.
- Cagney and Lacey 25 Mar 1982-3 Aug 1988 (CBS); 125 60-minute episodes; the breakthrough woman detective series. starring TYNE DALY as Det. Mary Beth Lacey; LORETTA SWIT as Det. Christine Cagney (in the pilot); MEG FOSTER as Det. Christine Cagney (in season 1); SHARON GLESS as Det. Christine Cagney (after season 1); JOHN KARLEN as Harvey Lacey; AL WAXMAN as Lt.Samuels; MARTIN KOVE as Det. Isbecki; SIDNEY CLUTE as Det. LaGuardia; CARL LUMBLY as Det. Petrie; ROBERT HEGYES as Det. Esposito; BARRY PRIMUS as Sgt. Dory McKenna; TONY LA TORRE as Harvey Lacey, Jr.; TROY SLATEN as Michael Lacey; HARVEY ATKIN as Desk Sergeant; DICK O'NEILL as Charlie Cagney.
- Cain's Hundred 19 Sep 1961-15 May 1962 (NBC/MGM); 30 60-minute episodes; Producer: Paul Monash; Music: Jerry Goldsmith, Morton Stevens; Supposedly based on actual cases, Nick Cain was a gangland attorney who changed sides to prosecute the 100 key men behind U.S. organized crime. starring : PETER MARK RICHMAN as Nick Cain.
- Call the Gun Expert 2 July 1964-6 Aug 1964 (UK: BBC1); 6 25-minute episodes; black and white; Reconstructions of genuine cases solved by Robert Churchill and his famous London gunsmiths, starting with the murder of PC Gutteridge (Essex, 1927). Producer/Director: Jack Gold; Starring: WENSLEY PITHEY as Robert Churchill; MACDONALD HASTINGS as on-camera narrator.
- Campion 22 Jan 1989-12 Mar 1989 (UK: BBC1/US: WGBH); Producer: Ken Riddington (season 1), Jonathyn Alwyn (season 2); 16 55-minute episodes; Adaptations from the 26 novels of Margery Allingham about the amateur gentleman detective, whom she said was partly based on King George VI while he was still just Duke of York. Albert Campion tools about 1930s East Anglia in his classic Lagonda, helped by his ex-burgler manservant Magersfontaine Lugg, played by ex-pro wrestler Brian Glover. Starring: PETER DAVISON as Albert Campion; BRIAN GLOVER as Magersfontaine Lugg; ANDREW BURT as Chief Inspector Stanislaus Oates.
- Cannon 14 Sep 1971-3 Mar 1976 (CBS/Quinn Martin); 27 Oct 1972-30 Sep 1978 (UK: BBC1); TV's fattest PI. 121 60-minute episodes; Executive Producer: Quinn Martin; Producer: Anthony Spinner; Music: John Parker, John Cannon; TV Movie: The Return of Frank Cannon (1980) Starring: WILLIAM CONRAD as Frank Cannon.
- Captain Zep - Space Detective 5 Jan 1983-13 Apr 1984 (UK: BBC1); children's Science Fiction/Mystery/Detective series, with super-sleuth Captain Zep in his spacship Zep One, aided by the kids of the SOLVE Academy, in the year 2095. Writer: Dick Hills (season 1), Colin Benet (season 2); Producer: Christopher Pilkington; Director: Christopher Pilkington (season 1), Michael Forte (season 2); Starring: PAUL GREENWOOD as Captain Zep (season 1); RICHARD MORANT as Captain Zep (season 2); BEN ELLISON as Jason Brown; HARRIET KEEVIL as Professor Spiro (season 1); TRACEY CHILDS as Professor Vana (season 2).
- Car 54, Where Are You 17 Sep 1961-8 Sep 1963 (NBC/Euopolis); 9 July 1964-6 Nov 1965 (UK: ITV); 14 Feb 1986-13 Mar 1987 (UK: Channel 4); 60 30-minute episodes; black and white; Creator: Nat Hiken; Producer: Nat Hiken (The Phil Silvers Show); Music: John Strauss; Police/Mystery/Detective slapstick series; shot on location in New York; Starring: JOE E. ROSS as Officer Gunther; FRED GWYNNE (later Herman Munster of The Munsters) as Officer Francis Muldoon; BEA PONS as Lucille Toody; PAUL REED as Capt. Martin Block; AL LEWIS (later Grandpa of The Munsters) as Officer Leo Schnauser; JOE WARREN as Officer Steinmetz; BRUCE KIRBY as Officer Kissel; HANK GARRETT as Officer Ed Nicholson; NATANIEL FREY as Desk Sgt. Abrams.
- Caribe 17 Feb 1975-11 Aug 1975 (ABC/Quinn Martin); 3 Apr 1975-? (UK: ITV); 13 60-minute episodes; Caribbean nautical setting, involving an imaginary pro-US agency Caribbean Force; Starring: STACY KEACH as Lt. Ben Logan; CARL FRANKLIN as Sgt. Mark Walters; ROBERT MANDAN as Deputy Commissioner Ed Rawlings of Miami PD.
- Carter Country 15 Sep 1977-23 Aug 1979 (ABC); 12 30-minute episodes; Producers: Douglas Arango, Phil Doran; Executive Producers: Bud Yorkin, Saul Turtletaub, Bernie Orenstein; Music: Pete Rugolo; During the presidency of Jimmy Carter, this ill-conceived show was set in (ironically) Clinton Corners, purportedly near Jimmy Carter's hometown of Plains, Georgia. Kindly redneck Police Chief Roy Mobey is backed-up by a slick New York-trained African-American deputy, Curtis Baker. There are other cardboard characters: butch policewoman Cloris, idiot mayor Teddy, and the mayor's sexy secretary Lucille (over whom Curtis is smitten). Neither interesting in police procedure, credible in plot, realistic in treatment of race, nor funny. Starring: VICTOR FRENCH as Police Chief Roy Mobey; KENE HOLLIDAY as Sgt. Curtis Baker; RICHARD PAUL as Mayor Teddy Burnside; BARABARA CASON as Cloris Phebus; VERNEE WATSON as Lucille Banks; MELANIE GRIFFITH (later an Oscar nominee for a better role) as a newspaper reporter (2 episodes).
- The Casebook of Sherlock Holmes see: The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes.
- Case Histories of Scotland Yard 1955 (UK: Anglo Amalgamated Productions/Syndicated); Based on real cases. 17 Nov 1957--6 Apr 1958 USA title: Scotland Yard (ABC); 39 30-minute episodes; black and white; Producer: Jack Greenwood; Starring: RUSSELL NAPIER as Inspector Duggan; EDGAR LUSTGARTEN (real criminologist/journalist) as presenter.
- The Case of the Dangerous Robin 1961 (Ziv Productions/ Syndicated); 38 30-minute episodes; black and white; First try at presenting insurance investigators, as later done so much better in the novels of Sue Grafton. Robin Scott was a karate champion, sidekick Phyllis was the smart one. Music: David Rose; Starring: RICK JASON as Robin Scott; JEAN BLAKE as Phyllis Collier.
- The Cases of Eddie Drake 1949 (CBS); 1952 (Syndicated); 13 30-minute episodes; black and white; New York private dick Eddie Drake researches cases for psychologist Karen Gayle, who wants to write a book about the criminal mind. Running 9 episodes on CBS as one of the very first Mystery/Detective television series, it drew better ratings 3 years later when syndicated. Producers: Harlan Thompson, Linsley Parsons; Starring: DON HAGGERTY as Eddie Drake; PATRICIA MORRISON as Karen Gayle.
- The Cases of Sherlock Holmes 9 Sep 1968-23 Dec 1968 (UK: BBC1); 16 50-minute episodes; black and white; Producer: William Sterling; Starring: PETER CUSHING as Sherlock Holmes; NIGEL STOCK as Dr.Watson; WILLIAM LUCAS as Insp. Lestrade; GRACE ARNOLD as Mrs.Hudson; RONALD ADAMS as Mycroft Holmes.
- Cassie and Company 29 Jan 1982-20 Aug 1982 (NBC/ Carson Productions/Columbia Pictures Television); 13 60-minute episodes; Ex-cop Cassie Holland turned private detective, assisted by ex-con secretary Meryl, and muscleman Benny. Cassie's ex-husband was District Attorney. Angie Dickenson's follow-up to Police Woman. Starring: ANGIE DICKENSON as Cassie Holland; JOHN IRELAND as Lyman "Shack" Shackelford; DORI BRENNER as Meryl; A. MARTINEZ as Benny; ALEX CORD as D.A. Mike Holland.
- C.A.T.S. Eyes 12 Apr 1985-6 June 1987 (UK: ITV/TVS); 1 90-minute episode; 30 60-minute episodes; Creator: Terence Feely; Executive Producer: Rex Firkin; Producers: Dickie Bamber, Frank Cox (season 1), Raymond Menmuir (seasons 2-3); Music: John Kongos (season 1), Barbara Thompson (seasons 2-3); The equally stupid British equivalent of Charley's Angels. C.A.T.S. (Covert Activities, Thames Section) had a cover-identity as Eyes Enquiry Agency. This was the basis for 3 female crime-fighters vaguely supervised by "the man from the Ministry" while they did location shots close to TVS' Maidstone studio (Rochester, Gillingham, Chatham). Starring: ROSALYN LANDOR as Pru Standfast; JILL GASCOINE as Maggie Forbes; LESLIE ASH as Fred Smith; DON WARRINGTON as Nigel Beaumont, ("the man from the Ministry"); TRACY-LOUISE WARD as Tessa Robinson.
- Chandler and Co. 1996 (UK: BBC) ; {to be done} according to cached copy of TV Eyes-The Series
- Charlesworth 21 Jan 1956-3 Mar 1956 (UK: BBC); Started under title Tales from Soho (7 30-minute episodes); then the Chief Inspector was promoted to Superintendant and the show was renamed Big Guns 1 Jan 1958-5 Feb 1958 (6 30-minute episodes); all epsiodes were black and white. Creator: Berkely Mather; Producers: Tony Richardson (Tales from Soho), Gerard Glaster (Big Guns); Starring: JOHN WELSH as Chief Detective Inspector Charlesworth (Tales from Soho); WENSLEY PITHEY as Detective Superintendant Charlesworth (Big Guns); WALTER FITZGERALD as J. Philmore Sparkes (Big Guns); NIGEL DAVENPORT as Sgt. Spence (Big Guns).
- Charlie 26 Mar-4 Apr 1984 (UK: ITV/Central Television); 4 60-minute episodes; Private Detective obtains an address book from a dying man, and, while investigating it, is drawn into a tangled web of murder. Creator: Nigel Williams; Producer: Graham Benson; Director: Martin Campbell; Starring: DAVID WARNER as Charlie Alexander; FRANK WINDSOR as Harry Ainsworth; MARION BAILEY as Susan Alexander.
- Charlie Grace 1995 (ABC); {to be done} according to cached copy of TV Eyes-The Series
- Charley Wild, Private Detective 22 Dec 1950-19 June 1952 (CBS/ABC/Dumont); 60+ 30-minute episodes; black and white; Based on Dashiell Hammett's character Sam Spade, but that name was changed when Senator McCarthy branded Dashiell Hammett a communist. The renamed Charley Wild, Private Detective became a hit on radio in the late 1940s, and then was adapted to live television in 1950. The show migrated between 3 competing networks. Producers: Carlo De Angelo, Herbert Brodkin; Starring: KEVIN O'MORRISON as Charley Wild (1950-51); JOHN McQUADE as Charley Wild (1951-52); CLORIS LEACHMAN as Effie Perrine.
- Charley's Angels 22 Sep 1976-8 May 1982 (ABC/ Twentieth Century Fox); 3 Jan 1977-8 May 1982 (UK: ITV); 109 60-minute episodes; I can't believe they're making a feature film of this in the year 2000... Executive Producers: Aaron Spelling, Leonard Goldberg; Producers: Rick Huskey, David Levinson, Barney Rosenzweig; Music: Jack Elliot, Allyn Ferguson; Starring: KATE JACKSON as Sabrina Duncan; FARRAH FAWCETT-MAJORS as Jill Munroe; CHERYL LADD as Kris Munroe; JACLYN SMITH as Kelly Garrett; SHELLY HACK as Tiffany Wells; TANYA ROBERTS as Julie Rogers; DAVID DOYLE as John Bosley; JOHN FORSYTHE as the voice of Charlie Townsend.
- Charters and Caldicott 10 Jan 1985-14 Feb 1985 (UK: BBC1/ Network Seven Australia) Thursdays 9:25 p.m.; 20 Mar 1986-24 Apr 1986 (USA: WGBH "Mystery"); 6 50-minute episodes; These characters originated in the classic [1938] thriller/comedy by Hitchcock: The Lady Vanishes. They were first played by Basil Radford and Naunton Wayne. 2 sequels: Night Train to Munich (1940); Crook's Tour (1940). TV Chronicles adds It's Not Cricket. They were two old duffers whose lives revolved around Cricket. As adapted for television, they were updated, more elderly, and both newly retired from the Diplomatic corps. Charters' wife had passed away; he lived in Surrey. Caldicott resided in Viceroy Court, Kensington. Each month, on the First Friday, Charters took a bus to London, to lunch with his best friend at their club, the Pall Mall. They always meant to go to a movie afterwards, but invariably became involved in amateur crime-solving. Creators: Frank Launder, Sidney Gilliat; Writer: Keith Waterhouse; Producer: Ron Craddock; Director: Julian Amyes; Starring: ROBIN BAILEY as Charters; MICHAEL ALDRIDGE as Caldicott; TESSA PEAKE-JONES as Jenny; CAROLINE BLAKISTON as Margaret Mottram.
- Chase 11 Sep 1973-28 Aug 1974 (NBC/Universal/Mark VII Ltd); 23 60-minute episodes; LAPD plainclothes squad for solving unique cases. Sam MacCray handled police dogs; Steve Baker was a high-speed driver; Fred Sing could work wonders with motorcycles; and Norm Hamilton brought home his Vietnam helicopter expertise. Executive Producer: Robert A. Cinader; Producer: James Schmerer; Music: Oliver Nelson; Starring: MITCHELL RYAN as Capt. Chase Reddick; REID SMITH as Officer Norm Hamilton; MICHAEL RICHARDSON as Officer Steve Baker; BRIAN FONG as Officer Fred Sing; WAYNE MAUNDER as Sgt. Sam MacCray; ALBERT REED as Chief Frank Dawson; FAROUK (German Shepherd) as Fuzz (this talented pooch had previously appeared on Ironside, Mission Impossible, and The Mod Squad!).
- The Cheaters 10 Dec 1960-23 June 1962 (UK: ITV/Danzinger); 1960 (USA: Syndicated); 39 30-minute episodes; black and white; Mystery/Detective drama series about 2 claims investigators for Eastern Insurance Company. Their cases were never routine, but always involved murder, suicide, arson, or grand theft. Starring: JOHN IRELAND as John Hunter; ROBERT AYRES as Walter.
- Checkmate 17 Sep 1960-24 June 1961 (CBS/A Revue/J and M); 29 June 1963-27 Nov 1963 (UK: ITV); Mystery/Detective drama series; 70 60-minute episodes; black and white; Checkmate Inc., in San Francisco, existed to prevent crime, not to solve it. Don Corey and Jed Sills ran this unusual investigative agency; Jed Sills being played by Doug McClure before McClure starred as The Virginian. The name meant that they wanted to "checkmate" criminals before the next move. A show as clever as a good game of chess! Creator: Eric Ambler [see Authors "A"]; Producers: Dock Berg, Herb Coleman, Maxwell Shane; Consultant: Carl Hyatt (ex-Oxford Professor of Criminology); Starring: ANTHONY GEORGE as Don Corey; DOUG McCLURE as Jed Sills; SEBASTIAN CABOT as Carl Hyatt; JACK BETTS as Chris Devlin (season 2).
- Chicagoland Mystery Players 18 Sep 1949-30 July 1950 (DuMont); 26 30-minute episodes; black and white; This series was originally a local Chicago broadcast, before the Dumont Networked picked it up. In Chicago, the twist ending was never broadcast: viewers had to buy the next day's Chicago Tribune to discover the ending! Is that an early version of interactive TV, or what? Starring: GORDON URQUHART as Jeffrey Hall; BOB SMITH as Sgt.Holland;
- The Chief 20 Apr 1990-10 May 1991 (UK: ITV/Anglia Films); 12 60-minute episodes; Played by Tim Pigott-Smith (Jewel in the Crown). Chief Constable John Stafford has recently been appointed in rural East Anglia, bringing Anne Stewart with him from their previous positions at Nottinghamshire, where she was CID. John Stafford is tough, no-nonsense, politically liberal, applies discipline, and generally becomes disliked by his underlings, who also resent Anne Stewart's promotion to head of Crime and Operations. She fights gender-prejudice both at work and with her house-husband, Martin; John fights his men, who force the Home Office to pressure him, and eventually suspend him. The show reeks of authenticity, perhaps provided by their experienced Technical Advisor and good writing and direction. Creators: Jeffrey Caine; Executive Producer: Brenda Reid Producer: Ruth Boswell; Directors: Brian Farnham (season 1), Desmond Davis (season 2); Music: Nigel Beaham-Powell, Bella Russell; Technical Advisor: John Alderson, ex-Chief Constable of Devon and Cornwall; Starring: TIM PIGOTT-SMITH as Chief Constable John Stafford; KAREN ARCHER as Assistant Chief Constable Anne Stewart; JUDY LOE as Dr. Elizabeth Stafford; EAMON BOLANS and Det. Chief Supt. Jim Gray; SARA GRIFFITHS as Emma Stafford (season 1); ROSS LIVINGSTONE as Tim Stafford (season 1); DAVID CARDY as Martin Stewart; INGRID LACEY as Alison Dell; JULIAN GLOVER as Andrew Blake.
- Chief of Detectives 21 Sep 1979-29 Aug 1980 under the USA title Eischied (NBC/Gerber Productions/Columbia Pictures TV); 17 Jan 1980-10 Apr 1980 (UK: ITV) 13 60-minute episodes; Tough southerner Earl Eischied is strict NYPD Chief of Detectives. He clashed with Deputy Commissioner Kimbrough, who had a political agenda. Earl Eischied's friend Chief Inspector Ed Parks kept the conflict from boiling over. Earl Eischied, a bachelor with a cat "P.C." who commuted to work with his master, ran a special squad. The characters were spun-off from the powerful miniseries To Kill a Cop, and deserved to do better in the ratings... Executive Producer: David Gerber; Producers: Matthew Rapf, Jay Daniel; Starring: JOE DON BAKER as Chief of Detectives Earl Eischied; EDDIE EGAN (in real life, he;d been NYPD Detective First Grade) as Chief Inspector Ed Parks; ALAN OPPENHEIMER as Capt. Finnerty; ALAN FUDGE as Deputy Commissioner Kimbrough; SUZANNE LEDERER as Carol Wright; VINCENT BUFANO as Rick Alessi.
- China Smith 1952-53 (Syndicated); {to be done} according to cached copy of TV Eyes-The Series
- The Chinese Detective {30 Apr 1981-4 June 1981 (UK: BBC1); 14 50-minute episodes; Great Britain's first ethnic Mystery/Detective television series. Star David Yip was born in Liverpool, with a Chinese father. Yip played the rough-cut loner Det. Sgt. Johnny Ho, too short to be accepted by the Metropolitan Police, fighting racism, and trying to clear the tainted reputation of his father. Det. Chief Inspector Berwick teamed him with Detective Sergeant Donald Chegwyn, hoping that Johnny would clean up his scruffy act. This was a long way more evolved than Charlie Chan, in realism and hard-boiled action. Creator: Ian Kennedy Martin (The Sweeney); Producer: Terrence Williams; Starring: DAVID YIP as Det. Sgt. Johnny Ho; DEREK MARTIN as Det. Chief Inspector Berwick; ARTHUR KELLY as Det. Sgt. Donald Chegwyn.
- CHiPS 15 Sep 1977-17 July 1983 (NBC/MGM); 138 60-minute episodes; "CHiPS" is an acronym for the California Highway Patrol, suddenly thrust into national prominence by the star-value of Larry Wilcox and Erik Estrada (who were not friends at all, off-screen), the gorgeous women and male-model handsome men, and the huge teenage audience looking for attractive role models. I've been ticketed by real CHiPS, and could not help but notice that the officer who stopped me was similarly handsome in a clean-scrubbed Aryan beach-blond sunglass-and-pressed-suit way. This show was startlingly dumb, but startlingly successful, as television (and American politics) depends more and more on looks, and less and less on brains. I asked a California Highway Patrol officer what he thought of the show. He sighed, and said "I've seen it. It is entertaining. At least it was accurate in never showing an officer use a gun. On the other hand, it never showed anyone spending as much time on paperwork as I do!" Creator: Rick Rosnor; Producers: Cy Chermak, Rick Rosnor, Ric Randall; Music: Mike Post; Theme: John Parker; Starring: LARRY WILCOX as Officer John Baker; ERIK ESTRADA as Officer Frank "Ponch" Poncherello; ROBERT PINE as Sgt. Joe Getraer; BRIANNE LEARY as Officer Sindy Cahill; LOU WAGNER as Harlan; RANDI OAKES as Officer Bonnie Clark; TOM REILLY as Officer Bobby Nelson; BRUCE PENHALL as Cadet Bruce Nelson; Olympic Decathlon champion BRUCE JENNER as Officer Steve LcLeish (autumn 1981).
- Chopper One 17 Jan 1974-11 July 1974 (ABC)/Aaron Spelling); 13 30-minute episodes; Executive Producer: Aaron Spelling; Producers: Ronald Austin, James Buchanan; Music: Dominic Frontiere; Starring: JIM McMULLAN as Officer Don Burdick; DIRK BENEDICT as Officer Gil Foley; TED HARTLEY as Captain McKeegan; LOU FRIZZEL as Mitch.
- Christine Cromwell 11 Nov 1989-? (ABC/Wolf Films/Universal); 4 120-minute episodes; rotated with B.L. Stryker, Kojak, and New Columbo as ABC's new Mystery Movie series. The Christine Cromwell character was a graduate of Harvard Law School, a big stretch for Jaclyn Smith after her role on Charlie's Angels. Christine is a partner at the swank San Francisco management firm of Blain and Knapp, whose barrier to entry for new clients is $15,000,000 net worth. For some reason, every such rich client is entangled in a murder case, which seems to promote an odd anti-Capitalist message. The strength of the series was in its poweerful supporting cast and guest stars. Why, then, did the show fail? Have Americans soured on the "light English country-house style mystery", or do they merely thirst for more graphic violence? I've had the honor of Celeste Holm having me as a guest in her New York apartment, and her even cooking dinner for me. Celeste Holm has specialized in film and television roles as independent, intelligent women -- and she is both. Creator: Dick Wolf; Executive Producer: Dick Wolf; Starring: JACLYN SMITH as Christine Cromwell; CELESTE HOLM as Samantha Cromwell; RALPH BELLAMY as Cyrus Blain; Guest Stars include: Dennis Franz (Norm Buntz on Hill Street Blues); Mel Ferrer; Bradford Dillman.
- Christine Carmichael: Physics Detective 14 Feb 1985-24 Jan 1989 (Syndicated); This appealing but little-known series starred a gorgeous blonde actress with a Scottish/Australian accent. Christine Carmichael was a former schoolteacher turned Ph.D. in Physics, who toured exotic destinations on contracts with NASA, the Pentagon, and various high-tech firms. Whether at an international Magnetism conference in Kyoto, challenging the tradition of women walking several paces behind the men; or explaining the properties of Dysprosium in Woolongong, or deep in the Strategic Defense Initiative technology, she always solved crimes by applying scientific methodology coupled with keen analytical knowledge and folksy common sense. For example, she figured out that stolen diamonds were actually intended to be used as sensor windows in a spacecraft, from their optical properties; or she recognized the lines in a victim's fingernails as a sign of Arenic poisoning, which she confirmed by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Creator: Wilson Murray; Producers: Marion Todd, Cindy Todd; Music: Mike Post Starring: CHRISSIE FETTES as Christine Carmichael; PAT SAVOT JOHNSON as Vincent "Braniac" Vos; ANDREW WILLIAM as PR Director Philly; NIK CHARLES as Mike MacIntosh; JULIA HART as QA Engineer; JOSHUA STUART as Jock "Mailman" Navy; MARENGO NORTH as Catalina.
- City Detective 1953-1955 (Syndicated/Universal/MCA); 65 30-minute episodes; black and white; Rod Cameron was the top American sydicated television actor of the entire decade of the 1950s, in shows including (first) City Detective, then State Trooper, and Coronado 9. Other actors had secure network series, but Cameron earned over $200,000 per year (in 1950 dollars) from the residuals of overseas sales. At clever yet tough Bart Grant, a crime-fighting cop who roved the country, he had a knack for finding a romantic interest in every episode. Producer: Richard Irving; Writer/Associate Producer: Blake Edwards (the Pink Panther films); Starring: ROD CAMERON as Det. Lt. Bart Grant.
- City of Angels 3 Feb 1976-10 Aug 1976 (NBC/Universal/Public Arts); 1 Sep 1981-6 Oct 1981 (UK: ITV); 20 July 1982-31 Aug 1982 (UK: Thames). 13 60-minute episodes; Seemingly derived from the wonderfully noir movie Chinatown, City of Angels probed the corrupt underbelly of 1930s Los Angeles, where (in real life) the police operated the offshore gambling and prostitution boats. The show was serious Mystery/Detective themes, with humor from Wayne Rogers and his goofy secretary Marsha, who simultanously operated a switchboard for call girls. The show should have worked -- it had all the know-how of Stephen J. Cannell behind it, plus fine period settings, but the productions were said to be always behind schedule, sometimes with scripts literally being written between takes. Creators: Roy Huggins, Stephen J. Cannell; Executive Producers: Producer: Jo Swerling, Jr.; Music: Nelson Riddle, Hal Mooney; Starring: WAYNE ROGERS (Trapper John of M*A*S*H) as Jake Axminster; CLIFTON JAMES as Lt.Quint; ELAINE JOYCE as Marsha; PHILIP STERLING as Michael Brimm.
- Claxon 1990 (Portugal); {to be done} according to cached copy of TV Eyes-The Series
- Cluedo 25 July 1990-5 June 1991 (UK: ITV/Granada/Waddingtons/Action Time); 12 30-minute episodes; one 45-minute episode; Explicitly based on the best-selling Mystery/Detective board game Clue, this unusual celebrity quiz show featured a short teleplay, followed by the celebrities questioning the 6 suspects, to solve the crime. Creator: "Clue" was created by Anthony Pratt, solicitor's clerk, 1944. Executive Producer: Dianne Nelmes Producer: Stephen Leahy (season 1), Brian Park (season 2); Director: John Kaye Cooper; Starring: KATE O'MARA as Mrs. Peacock (season 1); RULA LENSKA as Mrs. Peacock (season 2); JUNE WHITFIELD as Mrs. White (season 1); MOLLIE SUGDEN as Mrs. White (season 2); TRACY-LOUISE WARD as Mrs. Scarlett (season 1); KOO STARK as Mrs. Scarlett (season 2); ROBIN ELLIS as Colonel Mustard (season 1); MICHAEL JAYSTON as Colonel Mustard (season 2); ROBIN NEDWELL as Rev.Green (season 1);RICHARD WILSON as Rev.Green (season 2); KRISTOPHER TABORI as Professor Plum (season 1); DAVID McCALLUM (Ilya Kuryakin on The Man from U.N.C.L.E.) as Professor Plum (season 2); JAMES BELLINI as Host (season 1); CHRIS TARRANT as Host (season 2).
- Cluff 3 Aug 1964-7 Sep 1964 (UK: BBC1); 19 50-minute episodes; black and white; Detective Sergeant Caleb Cluff, tweed-suited, brown-booted, chestnut walking-stick in hand, pipe clenched between his teeth, broad-brimmed tweed hat on head, spent his life in the fictional Yorkshire town of Gunnarshaw, living alone with his dog Clive, visited daily by Annie Croft to clean and cook, and moved at a slower pace than his boss Inspector Mole would like. The character spun off from an episode of Detective, and starred Leslie Sands, who had previously played Superintendant Miller in Z Cars. Creator: Gil North; Producer: Terence Dudley; Director: Terence Dudley; Music: Harry Dexter; Starring: LESLIE SANDS as Detective Sergeant Caleb Cluff; ERIC BARKER as Insp. Mole (season 1); MICHAEL BATES as Insp. Mole (season 2); JOHN ROLFE as Dt. Con. Barker; JOHN McKELVEY as PC Harry Bullock; OLIVE MILBOURNE as Annie Croft.
- Code Three 1957 (Syndicated); 39 30-minute episodes; black and white; 1950s Mystery/Detective/Caper series based on genuine files of Los Angeles County Assistant Sheriff Barrett. "Code Three" meant murder, robbery, or kidnapping. There was a guest appearance by the actual Los Angeles County Sheriff, Eugene W. Bissculuce. Executive Producer: Hal Roach; Starring: RICHARD TRAVIS as Assistant Sheriff Barrett; FRED WYNN as Lt. Bill Hollis; DENVER PYLE as Sgt. Murchison.
- Colonel March of Scotland Yard 22 Feb 1956-11 Apr 1957 (UK: ITV/Sapphire Films); 1957 (USA: Syndicated); 26 30-minute episodes; black and white; This was the British X-Files of the 1950s. Boris Karloff played the Chief Investigator for "Scotland Yard's Department of Queer Complaints." That included the Missing Link and the Abominable Snowman. Karloff gave this a sense of potential Horror, without seriously deviating from the Mystery/Detective genre. Producer: Hannah Weinstein; Starring: BORIS KARLOFF as Colonel March; EWAN WILLIAMS as Insp. Ames.
- Columbo 15 Sep 1971-4 Sep 1977 (NBC/Universal); 14 Oct 1972-10 June 1979 (UK: ITV); 27 90-minute episodes; plus 18 120-minute episodes; One-eyed scruffy raincoated Philip Columbo (his first name was used only in the play (Prescription: Murder) from which the TV series was spun-off) is a cigar-chomping loner on the LAPD Homicide; yet was actually based on Porfiry Petrovich, the police inspector in Crime and Punishment by Dostoyevski. For TV, they first cast Bing Crosby, but he turned down the part -- preferring to play golf! The series rotated in NBC's Sunday Mystery Movie, with McMillan and Wife and McCloud. Each episode begins with a murder, so we know right away whodunnit. The fun is in watching Peter Falk grimace, scratch, stare at the ceiling, and wear down the culprits with apparently obvious questioning, usually turning on his way out the door with one zinger question, and then nailing the suspect cold with implacable logic. He is always underestimated. He became arguably the greatest detective of the television universe. Creators: Richard Levinson, William Link; Executive Producers: Roland Kibbee (1971-1977), Dean Hargrove (1971-77) Richard Alan Simmons (1989); Producers: Edward K. Dodds (1971-1977), Everett Chambers (1971-1977), Richard Alan Simmons (1971-1977), Stanley Kallis (1989); Director: Steven Spielberg (episode 1); New Columbo: 27 Feb 1989-? (ABC); 23 Feb 1991-16 Mar 1991 (UK: ITV); 18 120-minute episodes; Starring: PETER FALK as Lt.Columbo.
- Cool and Lam early 1950's (CBS); {to be done} according to cached copy of TV Eyes-The Series
- Cool Million 25 Oct 1972-11 July 1973 (NBC/Universal); 6 Feb 1973-13 July 1976 (UK: ITV); 4 90-minute episodes; Based in the home of his friend Elena, in Lincoln, Nebraska, ex-CIA agent Jefferson Keyes charged $1,000,000 per case as a Private Eye -- in advance -- and refunded the cool million if he failed to solve the case. He flew his own executive jet, and flew to meet the client when they phone "30-30100" and Elena relayed the message to him. Unfortunately, money can't buy you ratings. Executive Producer: Roy Huggins; Producers: Jo Swerling, Jr., Gene Levitt; Starring: JAMES FARENTINO as Jefferson Keyes; ADELE MARA as Elena.
- The Cop and the Kid 4 Dec 1975-4 Mar 1976 (NBC/Playboy/ Paramount); 6 30-minute episodes; Saccharine Mystery/Detective Sit-com series, about asthmatic aging cop nabbing an African-American orphan, who blackmails the cop (whose medical condition could end his career) into making the cop the legal guardian of the kid. Creator: Jerry Davis; Executive Producer: Jerry Davis; Music: Jerry Fielding Starring: CHARLES DURNING as Officer Frank Murphy; TIERRE TURNER as Lucas Adams; PATSY KELLY as Mrs. Brigid Murphy.
- Cop Rock 1 Sep 1990-26 Dec 1990 (ABC/Steven Bochco/ Twentieth Century Fox); 30 Sep 1991-? (UK: BBC1); 11 60-minute episodes; America's only singing, dancing Mystery/Detective police procedural series; perhaps the USA answer to UK's Dennis Potter's The Singing Detective. I liked it. Of course, I also like Heaven's Gate. Creators: Steven Bochco, William M. Finkelstein; Executive Producer: Steven Bochco Producer: Gregory Holblit; Theme Song: "Under the Gun", by Randy Newman; Starring: DAVID GIANOPOULOS as Officer Andy Campo; ANNE BOBBY as Officer Vicki Quinn; RONNY COX as Chief Roger Kendrik; LARRY JOSHUA as Capt. John Hollander; RON McLARTY as as Ralph Ruskin; MICK MURRAY as Det. Josph Gaines; BARBARA BOSSON as Mayor Louise Plank.
- Coppers End 19 Feb 1971-14 May 1971 (UK: ITV/ATV Network); 13 30-minute episodes; Mystery/Detective/Police Sit-com series. The most laid-back police station in Great Britain, where squad cars were hired out for car races, funerals, weddings, and driving lessons. Not funny enough. Creator: Ted Willis (Dixon of Dock Green); Producer: Shaun O'Riordan; Starring: BILL OWEN as Sgt. Sam Short; RICHARD WATTIS as PC Eddie Edwards; JOSEPHINE TEWSON as WPC Penny Pringle; GEORGE MOON as PC Chipper Collins; ROYCE MILLS as PC Dinckie Dinkworth; KEVIN BRENNAN as Chief Superintendant Ripper.
- Coronado 9 1959-1960 (Syndicated/Revue Productions/ Universal Television); 39 30-minute episodes; black and white; Ex-Naval Intelligence agent becomes Private Eye, and works from the Coronado peninsula near San Diego, California, where the telephone exchange is "Coronado 9." My wife and I once contracted for a condominium on Coronado, but cancelled it during the 3-day waiting period. Nice neighborhood, but pricey. Producer: Richard Irving; Starring: ROD CAMERON (City Detective; State Trooper) as Dan Adams.
- The Corridor People 26 Aug 1966-16 Sep 1966 (UK: ITV/Granada); 4 60-minute episodes; black and white; Surrealistic Mystery/Detective/Thriller series, somewhere between The Avengers and The Prisoner. Bogart-obsessed PI Scrotty and Krock of CID sought the millionnaire owner of a giant cosmetics corporation, whose new product struck people senseless for 24 hours. Vixen-Villainess Syrie Van Epp kidnapped that owner, to get his secret formula and rule the world. Rule the world? Why, the paperwork alone would kill you... Creator: Edward Boyd; Producer: Richard Everitt; Director: David Boisseau; Starring: GARY COCKRELL as Phil Scrotty; JOHN SHARP as Krock; ALAN CURTIS as Inspector Blood; WILLIAM MAXWELL as Sgt. Hound; [get it? Blood-Hound]; ELIZABETH SHEPHERD as Syrie Van Epp.
- The Cosby Mysteries 1994 (CBS); {to be done} according to cached copy of TV Eyes-The Series
- The Court of Last Resort 4 Oct 1957-17 Feb 1960 (NBC/Paisano); 26 30-minute episodes; Mystery/Detective series based in the early 1950s creation of Erle Stanley Gardner (Perry Mason), who put together an actual committee of American crime experts, called "The Court of Last Resort," to investgate cases where the convicted and imprisoned man or woman might actually be innocent. Producers: Elliott Lewis, Jules Goldstone; Starring: LYLE BETTGER as Sam Larson; PAUL BIRCH as Erle Stanley Gardner.
- Craig Kennedy, Criminologist 1952 (Syndicated); 26 30-minute episodes; Based on the scientific detective from Arthur B. Reeve's novel The Silent Bullet (1912). The series of novels became hits, finishing with The Stars Scream Murder (1936). Craig Kennedy was considered "The American Sherlock Holmes), and was featured in 6 movies (1915-1936), finally being adapted for television, as a Columbia University criminologist, fighting New York organized crime. This was the first TV series ever shown in overseas U.S. Army Hospitals, where it promoted healing by sympathetic magic, or something like that. Producer: Adrian Weiss; Starring: DONALD WOODS as Craig Kennedy.
- Crawford Mystery Theatre: see Public Prosecutor
- Crazy Like a Fox 16 Dec 1984-3 May 1986 (CBS/Columbia); 19 Jan 1986-9 Mar 1986 (UK: ITV/Thames); 35 60-minute episodes; Mystery/Detective/Caper series, about father-and-son PI team in San Francisco. Creators: Roger Shulman, John Baskin, George Schenck, Frank Cardena; Executive Producers: George Schenck, Frank Cardena; Producers: Starring: JACK WARDEN as Harry Fox; JOHN RUBENSTEIN (son of concert pianist Arthur Rubestein) as Harrison K. Fox; PENNY PEYSER as Cindy; ROBBY KIGER as Josh.
- Cribb 13 Apr 1980-10 May 1981 (UK: ITV/Granada); 6 May 1980-10 Feb 1983 (USA: WGBH "Mystery"); 1 90-minute episode; 13 60-minute episodes; Creator: Peter Lovesey, in the 1960s, won a publisher's contest and won 1,000 Pounds for the best submitted first crime novel. It appeared as Wobble to Death, and starred Sergeant Cribb. Set in Victorian London, near the start of the CID (Criminal Investigation Department), this was the era of Jack the Ripper. The gas-lit times were marvellously captured by both novels and television series. Executive Producer: Peter Eckersley; Producer: John Wyndham Davies; Starring: ALAN DOBIE as Sergeant Cribb; WILLIAM SIMONS as Constable Thackeray (Cribb's sidekick); DAVID WALLER as Inspector Jowett of Scotland Yard.
- Crime Photographer 19 Apr 1951-5 June 1952 (CBS); 40 30-minute episodes; black and white; Adapted from George Harmon Coxe's novels about Casey, Crime Photographer, this lived next as a 1940s radio series, and later migrated to television. Set in New York City, the live television series centered on Casey of the fictional newspaper: The Morning Express. He hung out at the Blue Note Cafe, listening to jazz, and recounting his adventures to the barkeep, Ethelbert. He had a girlfriend, Ann Williams, and had his exploits penned by cub reporter Jack Lipman. Announcer: Ken Roberts; Producers: Charles Russell, Martin Manulis; Director: Sidney Lumet (now a hugely successful film-maker); Music: Morton Gould, and The Tony Mottola Trio playing the Blue Note Cafe musicians; Starring: RICHARD CARLYLE as Casey (Apr 1951-June 1951); DARREN McGAVIN as Casey (June 1951-June 1952); JOHN GIBSON as Ethelbert (Apr 1951-June 1951); CLIFF HALL as Ethelbert (June 1951-June 1952); JAN MINER as Ann Williams; DONALD McCLELLAND as Captain Bill Logan; ARCHIE SMITH as Jack Lipman.
- Crime Sheet 8 Apr 1959-9 Sep 1959 (UK: ITV/Associated Rediffusion Network Productions); 17 30-minute episodes; black and white; This was the 2nd of the 3 fine British Mystery/Detective/Police series starring Raymond Francis as Tom Lockhart (the first was Murder Bag; the last was No Hiding Place). Creator: Glyn Davies; Producer: Barry Baker; Starring: RAYMOND FRANCIS as Chief Det. Supt. Tom Lockhart.
- Crime Story 18 Sep 1986-23 Apr 1988 (NBC); 4 May 1989-20 Sep 1989 (UK: ITV/Anglia); 48 60-minute episodes; Cult series set in Chicago, and then Las Vegas, about straight cops versus a murderous gangster with charisma, Ray Luca. Sort of The Untouchables set to early Rock and Roll, it included moral grays, such as when attorney David Abrams switches from the side of the cops to the side of Luca (in season 2). Creators: Chuck Adamson (17 years with Chicago PD), Gustave Reininger; Producer: Michael Mann (later to produce Miami Vice); Theme Song: "Runaway" (Del Shannon); Starring: DENNIS FARINA (actual ex-cop in the real Torello's unit) as Lt. Michael Torello; ANTHONY DENISON (ex-pro gambler) as Ray Luca; JOHN SANTUCI as Paul Taglia; STEPHEN LANG as David Abrams.
- Crime Syndicated 18 Sep 1951-23 June 1953 (CBS); 45 (?) 30-minute episodes; black and white; Live dramatizations of actual cases from the FBI, the Senate Crime Investigating Committee, and various police departments. Producer: Jerry Danzig; Narrator/Host: Rudolph Halley (ex-Chief Counsel to Senate Crime Investigating Committee, then appointed President of the New York City Council), thereafter alternating with Herbert R. O'Connor (ex-chairman of Senate Crime Investigating Committee).
- Crime With Father 31 Aug 1951-18 Jan 1952 (ABC); 16 30-minute episodes; black and white; Dad-and-daughter detective team. Producer: Wilbur Stark; Starring: RUSTY LANE as Capt. Jim Riland; PEGGY LOBBIN as Chris Riland.
D: Mystery/Detective Television Series
Return to Mystery/Detective TV Table of Contents
- The D.A.'s Man 3 Jan 1959-29 Aug 1959 (NBC/Universal); 26 30-minute episodes; black and white; Ex-Private Eye Shannon is hired by the New York City District Attorney to work undercover. He succesfully penetrated the Mob, obtaining key evidence about drug-pushing and prostitution, and kept in contact with the D.A.'s office through First Assistant D.A. Al Bonacorsi. Executive Producer: Jack Webb; Music: Frank Comstock; Starring: JOHN COMPTON as Shannon; RALPH MANZA as Al Bonacorsi.
- Dan August 23 Sep 1970-8 Apr 1971 (ABC/Quinn Martin); 9 June 1976-13 June 1978 (UK: ITV); 26 60-minute episodes; Detective Lieutenant Dan August protects his home turf of mythical Santa Luisa, California. He knows everybody in town, and so can "home town" a suspect to the point of confession. This show first aired as a pilot, The House on Greenapple Road, where Dan August was played by Christopher George. Not long after the show was yanked from the air for poor ratings, Burt Reynolds became a bigger star than ever, and ABC ran re-runs, which had higher ratings than the original show. Executive Producer: Quinn Martin; Producer: Adrian Samish; Music: Dave Grusin; starring BURT REYNOLDS as Detective Lieutenant Dan August; NORMAN FELL as Sgt. Charles Wilentz; NED ROMERO as Sgt. Joe Rivera; RICHARD ANDERSON as Chief George Untermeyer; ENA HARTMANN as Katy Grant.
- Dan Raven 23 Sep 1960-6 Jan 1961 (NBC/Columbia); 13 60-minute episodes; Dan Raven and his sidekick, Sergeant Burke, patrolled the Sunset Strip for the West Hollywood Division of the Los Angeles County Sheriffs. Same place, same era as 77 Sunset Strip. Cops always look out-of-place in beatnik coffee houses and strip clubs, but very much in-place were guest appearances by the likes of Paul Anka and Bobby Darin. Their nemesis was ubiquitous magazine paparazzi Perry Levitt, who was often more than than photographically involved. Starring: SKIP HOMEIER as Dan Raven; DAN BARTON as Sergeant Burke; QUINN REDEKER as Perry Levitt.
- David Cassidy, Man Undercover 2 Nov 1978-2 Aug 1979 (NBC/Columbia); 4 60-minute episodes; Spun-off from an episode of Police Story, this show was a pathetic attempt to cash in on a teenybopper poster boy. He was miscast as part of an undercover team in Los Angeles run by Sergeant Abrams, ludicrously infiltrating student groups, teenage bank-robbery gangs, or anything else that allowed for hordes of well-scrubbed teenager. Of course, Shay was allegedly almost 30 years old, and was married and a parent, but not even his fans could accept the absurd premises and shoddy acting. Creator: Richard Fielder; Executive Producer: David Gerber; Producers: Mark Rogers, Mel Swope; Starring: DAVID CASSIDY as Officer Dan Shay; WENDY RASTATTER as Joanne Shay; ELIZABETH REDDIN as Cindy Shay; SIMON OAKLAND as Sgt. Abrams.
- Deadline 2000 {to be done} Newspaper reporter confronts crime scenes and editors...
- Dear Detective 28 Mar 1979-18 Apr 1979 (CBS/Viacom); 4 60-minute episodes; Adapted from the French Thriller/Comedy Tendre Poulet (British title: Dear Inspector), the focus was on LAPD Detective Sergeant Kate Hudson. On top of her police duties, she was a divorced mother of daughter Lisa, in a problematic romance with English Literature Professor Richard Weyland, who disliked her hours and the very nature of her employment. Well-done, in terms of making a complex life accessible, but kept falling off the tightrope between drama and comedy. Executive Producers: Dean Hargrove, Roland Kibbee; Music: Dick de Benedictis, Dean de Benedictis; Starring: BRENDA VACCARO as Detective Sergeant Kate Hudson; ARLEN DEAN SNYDER as Professor Richard Weyland; MICHAEL McRAE as Det. Brock; RON SILVER as Det. Schwartz; JET YARDUM as Lisa.
- Decoy 1957 (Syndicated/Official Films/Pyramid); 39 30-minute episodes; black and white; also known as Police Woman Decoy; Casey Jones was an undercover NYPD officer in a violent New York City. Producer: David Alexander; Starring: BEVERLY GARLAND as Casey Jones; ED ASNER (later played Lou Grant).
- Delvecchio 9 Sep 1976-17 July 1977 (NBC/Universal); 20 60-minute episodes; Sergeant Dominick Delvecchio graduated law school and then, against the advice of his Italian barber shop owner dad Tomaso, became a police detective. He and his partner Paul Shonski, under Lieutenant Macavan, patrolled LAPD's Washington Heights division. It is inexplicable that a show so well-written, created by Steven Bochco, and starring actors who were later stars in other police roles, did not last longer on the air. Creators: Sam Rolfe, Joseph Polizzi, Steven Bochco (Hill Street Blues); Executive Producers: William Sackheim, Lane Slate; Producers: Michael Rhodes; Music: Billy Goldenberg, Richard Clements; Starring: JUDD HIRSCH (later star of Taxi) as Sgt. Dominick Delvecchio; CHARLES HAID (later a star of Hill Street Blues) as Sgt. Paul Shonski; MICHAEL CONRAD (later a star of Hill Street Blues) as Lt. Macavan; MARIO GALLO as Tomaso Delvecchio; GEORGE WYNER (later a star of Hill Street Blues) as Assistant D.A. Dorfman.
- Dellaventura 1997 (CBS); {to be done} according to cached copy of TV Eyes-The Series
- Dempsey and Makepeace 11 Jan 1985-1 Nov 1986 (UK: ITV/Golden Eagle Films/London Weekend Television); 1 105-minute episode; 29 60-minute episodes; Actor Michael Brandon had been a real-life gang member in Brooklyn, New York, and so brought an authenticity to a role in an otherwise painfully inauthentic series. The character he played, Lieutenant James Dempsey, was a cop from the corrupt 9th Precinct of Manhattan who was reassigned to Great Britain after fatally shooting his partner. Now in an imaginary undercover unit called SI 10 (for Special Intelligence), was teamed with an upper-crust Detective Sergeant Harriet Makepeace. In real life, actor and actress had a steamy affair. But the chemistry was lacking onscreen, where they were supposed to go from a mutual dislike to grudging professional acknowledgment to -- who knows what? Whenever the goofy plots or inadequate relationship hit a slow point, SI 10's boss, Chief Superintendant Gordon Spikings, would yell at someone. Creator: Tony Wharmby; Executive Producer: Nick Elliott; Producer: Tony Wharmby; Music:Alan Parker; Starring: MICHAEL BRANDON as Lt. James Dempsey; GLYNIS BARBER as Det. Sgt. Harriet Makepeace; RAY SMITH as Ch. Supt. Gordon Spikings; TONY OSOBA as Det. Sgt. Chas Jarvis.
- Department S 9 Mar 1969-4 Mar 1970 (UK: ITV/ITC); 1971 (USA: Syndicated); 28 60-minute episodes; The hippie X-Files, this show featured mustachioed Peter Wyngard dressed in full flower-power/Beatles/head-shop regalia, globetrotting to location shots in Beirut, Naples, Paris, and the like for the imaginary "Department S" -- a high-tech Interpol department. Peter played Jason King, a best-selling Mystery/Detective writer, and senior investigator for "Department S." His less flamboyant partner was Stewart Sullivan, who was perpetually sceptical of Jason's far-out theories as to why, for example, an aircraft had flown without a pilot, or a car crash had a tailor's dummy as apparent driver. The stories were inherently outre and interesting, making the X-Files parallel plausible. Annabelle Hurst was the technologically sophisticated analyst, a scientific role similar to that of Christine Carmichael: Physics Detective. Starring: PETER WYNGARDE as Jason King; JOEL FABIANI as Stewart Sullivan; ROSEMARY NICOLS as Annabelle Hurst; _______ as Department Head Sir Curtis Seretse. Guest stars included: ALEXANDRA BASTEDO, ANTHONY HOPKINS, STRATFORD JOHNS, SUE LLOYD, KATE O'MARA.
- Derrick 15 Jan 1987-? 1991 (UK: ITV/Yorkshire TV/ZDF); 140 60-minute episodes; Chief Inspector Derrick is a 50-something German detective who prowls Europe solving cases of murder, terrorism, armed robbery, and the like. He is parallel in several ways to Van der Valk, and has top ratings in Holland and Italy. Creator: Herbert Reinecker; Starring: HORST TAPPERT as Chief Inspector Derrick.
- Detective 30 Mar 1964-9 Nov 1969 (UK: BBC1); The most comprehensive and excellent anthology series in British Mystery/Detective television history. {to be done}
- The Detective 10 May 1985-7 June 1985 (UK: BBC1); 5 50-minute episodes; Commander Ken Crocker of the Special Intelligence Branch of Scotland Yard mercilessly sought out and crushed corruption in various police departments, exacting a high price for his politically inopportune shake-ups. Writer: Ted Whitehead, apatation from the novel by Paul Ferris; Director: Don Leaver; Producer: Sally Head; Starring: TOM BELL as Ken Crocker; MARK EDEN as Supt. Wilf Penfold; VIVIENNE RITCHIE as Det. Insp. Vera Harris.
- Detective in the House 15 Mar 1985-26 Apr 1985 (CBS/Lorimar); 7 50-minute episodes; Judd Hirsch was the often-divorced engineer who switched tracks to private detective. Daily Variety said: "a mix of Father Knows Best and the private eye genre. It offers the worst elements of each." Creators: Judy Merl, Paul Eric Myers; Executive Producers: Gary Adelson, Gil Grant; Producer: William L. Young Starring: JUDD HIRSCH (Taxi); CASSIE YATES; CONNIE STEVENS.
- Detective School 31 July 1979-24 Nov 1979 (ABC); 10 30-minute episodes; Nick Hannigan's night-school students, including an old man named Robert Redford (not the actor of the same name), applied their lessons outside the classroom, and almost always got in over their heads, needing Nick to wrap things up. Sometimes it was Nick being bailed out by his students. Executive Producers: Bernie Kukoff, Jeff Harris, Caryn Sneider; Producer: Hank Bradford; Music: Peter Matz; Starring: JAMES GREGORY as Nick Hannigan; RANDOLPH MANTOOTH as Eddie Dawkins; LAWANDA PAGE as Charlene Jenkins; DOUGLAS V. FOWLEY as Robert Redford; PAT PROFT as Leo Frick; TAYLOR NEGRON as Silvio Galindez.
- Detective's Diary 1957-60 (NBC); {to be done} according to cached copy of TV Eyes-The Series
- Detective's Wife 7 July 1950-29 Sep 1950 (CBS); 13 30-minute episodes; black and white; Adam Conway was a private detective on low-profile domestic cases, until thrust into the limelight when he solved a homicide. After that, he was in constant demand for murder investigations, and his wife Connie often got involved as well. This was a live show, appearing as the summer replacement for Man Against Crime. Starring: DONALD CURTIS as Adam Conway; LYNN BARI as Connie Conway.
- The Detectives 16 Oct 1959-18 May 1962 (ABC/Hastings/ Four Star); 3rd season (NBC); 11 Aug 1964-16 Feb 1965 (UK: ITV/Anglia), 67 30-minute episodes; 30 60-minute episodes; black and white; Moral widower cop Capt. Matt Holbrook had three plainclothes detectives reporting to him: Lt. Otto Lindstrom was expert in catching con men; Lt. John Russo chomped on cigars while nabbing burglers; playboy Lt. James Conway had talent in solving murders. In the 3rd (final) season, the show moved to NBC, and was retitled: Robert Taylor's Detectives. Music: Herschel Burke Gilbert; Starring: ROBERT TAYLOR as Capt. Matt Holbrook; RUSSELL THORSON as Lt. Otto Lindstrom; TIGE ANDREWS as Lt. John Russo; LEE FARR as Lt. James Conway; ADAM WEST (later star of Batman) as Sgt. Steve Nelson; MARK GODDARD as Sgt. Chris Ballard; URSULA THIESS (Mrs. Robert Taylor) as Lisa Bonay.
- The Devlin Connection 1982 (NBC); {to be done} according to cached copy of TV Eyes-The Series
- Dial 999 8 June 1958-13 June 1959 (ITV/Towers of London/ Ziv Productions); 1959 (USA: Syndicated); 39 30-minute episodes; black and white; Canadian Mountie Mike Maguire was studying the police procedures of Great Britain at Scotland Yard. Assigned the acting rank of Detective Inspector, he was placed in a team with Detective Inspector Winter and Detective Sergeant West. This on-location, highly realistic Mystery/Detective series was an American co-production, with format and target audience similar to Highway Patrol, including each episode climaxing with a chase scene. It had difficult stunts, and avoided humor. Producer: Harry Alan Towers; British Police Consultant: Tom Fallon (ex-Superintendent of Scotland Yard) Music: Sidney Torch; Starring: ROBERT BEATTY as Mike Maguire; DUNCAN LAMONT as Det. Insp. Winter; JOHN WITTY as Det. Sgt. West.
- Diagnosis: Murder 1998?-present {to be done} __ 60-minute episodes; Starring: DICK VAN DYKE...
- The Diamond Brothers 26 Mar 1991-30 Apr 1991 (UK: ITV/ Red Rooster/TVS); 6 30-minute episodes; Mystery/Detective/Thriller/Comedy series. Characteristic of Thrillers, a rather ordinary man is thrust into a paranoid world of murder, secret agents, pursuing police, and hair-raising tension. In this case, Camden Town's lowest-ranking detective, Tim Diamond, overheard the last words of dying secret agent "Jake McGuffin": "South by South East." Sounds like a spoof of Alfred Hitchock, with film North by Northwest and his theory of the McGuffin. Tim Diamond was aided by, and endangered, the even more innocent younger brother Nick Diamond. They were chased by shadowy Snape and Boyle. Creator: Anthony Horowitz; Adapted from: Anthony Horowitz' novel South by South East, and film Just Ask for Diamond. Executive Producers: J. Nigel Pickard; Linda James; Stephen Bayly; Producer: Richard Turner; Director: Anthony Horowitz; Starring: DURSLEY McLINDEN as Tim Diamond; COLIN DALE as Nick Diamond; MICHAEL FEAST as Snape; GORDON WINTER as Boyle.
- Dick and the Duchess 21 May 1959-8 July 1960 (UK: ITV/ Sheldon Reynolds); 28 Sep 1957-16 May 1958 (USA: NBC); 26 30-minute episodes; black and white; Mystery/Detective/Comedy/Adventure series. Insurance investigator Dick Starrett was an American, residing in London with his wife Jane. Jane was the daughter of an Earl, so Dick called her "Duchess." Dick had to get adjusted to the aristocratic in-laws. Jane had to get adjusted to not interfering with Dick's work, though her instinct tended in the opposite direction. Dick had to get adjusted to the procedures of his some-time boss Peter Jamison, whose methods differed from those of Inspector Stark of Scotland Yard. Executive Producer: Nicole Milinair; Starring: PATRICK O'NEAL as Dick Starrett; HAZEL COURT as Jane Starrett; RICHARD WATTIS as Peter Jamison; MICHAEL SHEPLEY as Inspector Stark.
- Dick Barton - Special Agent 6 Jan 1979-8 Apr 1979 (UK: ITV/Southern Television Network Productions); 26 15-minute episodes; Adapted from: 1946-1951 British radio drama series; Executive Producers: Terence Baker, Lewis Rudd; Producer: John Scoffield; Starring: TONY VOGEL as Dick Barton; ANTHONY HEATON as Snowey White; JAMES COSMO as Jock Anderson.
- Dick Tracy 11 Sep 1950-12 Feb 1951 (ABC); 23 30-minute episodes; black and white; 1961 (USA: Syndicated/UPA); 30 June 1980-30 July 1982 (UK: ITV/Thames); 130 50-minute episodes; color; Creators: Chester Gould created the comic-strip Dick Tracy (1931), RALPH BYRD starred in 15 black and white film episodes of the Dick Tracy serial for Republic Pictures (1937-1941), Ralph Byrd starred in the live TV series (1950-51), and would surely have gone to more seasons had he not died in 1952. There was also an animated series in which Dick Tracy is assisted by "Hemlock Holmes" and "The Retouchables Squad." Producers: Dick Moore, Keith Kalmer; Starring: RALPH BYRD as Dick Tracy; JOE DEVLIN as Sam Catchem; DICK ELLIOTT as Police Chief Murphy.
- Die Kinder 1990 (UK: BBC/ USA:PBS); {to be done} according to cached copy of TV Eyes-The Series
- Dixon of Dock Green 9 July 1955-1 May 1976 (UK: BBC1); 367 25-minute and 45-minute episodes; Jack Warner was the brother of Elsie and Doris Waters, music-hall stars. Jack Warner was the second to play PC George Dixon. First, Dirk Bogarde murdered him in the film The Blue Lamp (1950). Resurrected by Ted Willis for television, PC George Dixon became the longest-running TV cop in history: lasting 21 years and an amazing 367 episodes, becoming a British institution. The series (and film) were based on an actual officer, whose beat was Leman Street in London's East End. He was a Constable who was promoted (with much celebration) to Sergeant on 19 Sep 1964. In the series, as he aged, the action shifted to son-in-law Andy Crawford, head of CID. Andy's wife was George's daughter Mary, and they had twins. The show was rather non-violent, in clear contrast to the later Z Cars and The Sweeney, for example. PC George Dixon retired in 1976. Jack Warner died in 1981, age 85. His funeral coffin was carried by officers from Paddington Green, site of Ted Willis' original research. There was a special tribute at Scotland Yard. Creator: Ted Willis; Writer: Ted Willis; Producers: Douglas Moodie, Ronald Marsh, Philip Barker, Joe Waters; Theme Song: "An Ordinary Copper"; Starring: JACK WARNER as PC George Dixon; PETER BYRNE as Det. Sgt. Andy Crawford; BILLIE WHITELAW as Mary Crawford (1955); JEANETTE HUTCHINSON as Mary Crawford (1956-1976); GEOFFREY ADAMS as PC "Laudy" Lauderdale; ARTHUR RIGBY as Desk Sgt. Flint; NICHOLAS DONNELLY as PC Willis; NEIL WILSON as PC Tubb Barrell; MOIRA MANNION as Sgt. Grace Millard; DAVID WEBSTER as Cadet Jamie MacPherson; ANTHONY PARKER as PC Bob Penney; JOCELYNE RHODES as WPC Kay Shaw.
- Dog and Cat 5 Mar 1977-14 May 1977 (ABC/Paramount); 10 60-minute episodes; "Dog and Cat" was the slang term for "men and women's police teams." This lightweight Mystery/Detective/Police drama series starred Kim Bassinger, before she became a hot movie star, as gorgeous, hip, Officer J.Z. Kane, graduate of an unspecified college in the South. Plainclothes vet Jack Ramsey was the "dog." This odd couple patrolled LAPD's 42nd Division. Creator: Walter Hill; Executive Producer: Lawrence Gordon; Producer: Robert Singer; Music: Barry De Vorzon; Starring: LOU ANTONIO as Det. Sgt. Jack Ramsey; KIM BASINGER as Officer J.Z. Kane; MATT CLARK as Lt. Arthur Kipling.
- Dog City 1992-93 (Fox); Animated; {to be done} according to cached copy of TV Eyes-The Series
- Dorothy L. Sayers Mystery 25 Mar 1987-27 May 1987 (UK: BBC2); 1 Oct 1987-3 Dec 1987 (USA: WGBH Boston "Mystery"); 10 55-minute episodes; 15 years earlier, Ian Carmichael had starred in Lord Peter Wimsey. Novelist Dorothy L. Sayers' character was resurrected for further very faithful adaptations. Dramatizations: Philip Broadley; Producer: Michael Chapman; Director: Michael Simpson; Music: Joseph Horowitz; Starring: EDWARD PETHER BRIDGE as Lord Peter Death Bredon Wimsey, second son of the Duke of Denver; RICHARD MORANT as Bunter; HARRIET WALTER as Harriet Vane.
- Dragnet 16 Dec 1951-24 Mar 1959 (NBC/MCA); 263 30-minute black and white episodes; 12 Jan 1967-16 Apr 1970 (NBC/MCA); 15 Sep 1961-23 Aug 1968 (UK: ITV); 98 30-minute color episodes; Syndicated release ran under title Badge 714. The color revival was titled Dragnet 67. Just the facts, Ma'am: As Sergeant Joe Friday said in voice-over each episode: "This is the city. Los Angeles, California. I work here. I carry a badge." Cue the theme music. Then cue the announcer: "Ladies and gentlemen, the story you are about to see is true. Only the names have been changed, to protect the innocent." This most famous and successful of all American television Mystery/Detective/Police series began as a pseudo-documentary He Walked by Night (1948), in which Jack Webb appeared as a lab technician. Then, it spawned a radio series (1949), which achieved #1 ratings, and so the TV version began in December 1951 on a show called Chesterfield Sound Off Time, with Sgt.Friday's partner Sergeant Ben Romero played by Barton Yarborough. But Barton died (heart attack) after only 3 episodes had been filmed, so the role was played by various actors subsequently. Creators: Jack Webb, Richard Breen; Producer: Jack Webb; Narrator: Jack Webb; Director (of most episodes): Jack Webb; Technical Advisor: Marty Wynn, LAPD Sergeant; Theme Music: (dum de dum dum, daaaah!) Walter Schumann (a record of this was a hit, as was the later parody album by Stan Freberg); Starring: JACK WEBB as Sergeant Joe Friday; BARTON YARBOROUGH as Sergeant Ben Romero; BARNEY PHILLIPS as Sgt. Ed Jacobs; HERB ELLIS as Officer Frank Smith (1952); BEN ALEXANDER as Officer Frank Smith (1953-1959); HARRY MORGAN as Officer Bill Gannon (1967-1970); GEORGE FENNEMAN and HAL GIBNEY as Announcer. Then there was the loving parody film (1987) starring DAN AYKROYD. And then there was the new TV series, with younger characters: 4 Oct 1989-? (Syndicated/Arthur Company/WWOR-TV); 78 30-minute color episodes; Executive Producer: Arthur L. Annecarico; Co-Executive Producers: Burton Amos, Craig Kellem Starring: JEFFREY OSTERHAGE as Sgt. Vic Daniels; BERNARD WHITE as Det. Carl Molina; DON STROUD as Capt. Lussen; THALMUS RASSULALA as Capt. Bolz.
- The Duke 5 Apr 1979-18 May 1979 (NBC/ Stephen J. Cannell/Universal); 1 120-minute episode; 3 60-minute episodes; Oscar "Duke" Ramsey was a pugilist who quit as he grew old and tired, hoping to quietly operate the Chicago bar "Duke and Benny's Corner." But Benny was murdered, and Duke became a private detective to find his would-be partner's murderer. All his boxing buddies would pitch in to help. The could not help enough to keep this in the ring more than 4 rounds. Executive Producer: Stephen J. Cannell; Producers: Alex Beaton, Don Carlos Dunaway; Music: Mike Post, Pete Carpenter; Starring: ROBERT CONRAD as Oscar "Duke" Ramsey; LARRY MANETTI as Joe Cadillac; RED WEST as Sgt. Mick O'Brien; PATRICIA CONWELL as Dedra Smith.
E: Mystery/Detective Television Series
Return to Mystery/Detective TV Table of Contents
- Echo Four-Two 24 Aug 1961-25 Oct 1961 (UK: ITV/ Associated Rediffusion); 10 50-minute episodes; The show No Hiding Place, featuring Detective Sergeant Harry Baxter, was so popular with the ladies, that ITV spun-off a show of his own. Promoted to Detective Inspector, Harry Baxter commanded the E Division squad of undercover "Q-cars" in London. His assistant, Detective Sergeant York, and he policed the center of London. Problem outside their control, production was cut short by an actors' strike after 10 of the originally planned 13 episodes were shot. ITV executives sighed, and sent Harry Baxter back to No Hiding Place. Producer: Richard Matthews; Music: Laurie Johnson; Starring: ERIC LANDER as Detective Inspector Harry Baxter; GEOFFREY RUSSELL as Detective Sergeant York; GEOFFREY CHATER as Acting Superintendent Dean
- The Eddie Capra Mysteries 8 Sep 1978-7 Sep 1979 (NBC/ Universal Television); 8 Feb 1980-30 Apr 1980 (UK: BBC1); 11 60-minute episodes; 2 120-minute episodes; Eddie Capra was both lawyer and detective. At the powerful, but imaginary, law firm Devlin, Linkman and O'Brien, he was the junior partner who wrestled with the who-done-it that (each hour) began with our seeing a murder, and proceeded with him methodically assembling the clues. Harvey Winchell was his enthusiastic legman, and romantic interest Lacey Brown was his secretary. Lacey had a too-smart-for-her- own-good daughter Jennie. He also had a not-as-smart-as-he-thinks senior partner to contend with: J.J. Devlin. Creator: Peter S. Fischer; Executive Producer: Peter S. Fischer; Producer: James McAdams; Starring: VINCENT BAGGETTA as Eddie Capra; WENDY PHILIPS as Lacey Brown; KEN SWOFFORD as J.J. Devlin; MICHAEL HORTON as Harvey Winchell; SEVEN ANN McDONALD as Jennie Brown.
- Edge of Darkness 4 Nov 1985-9Dec 1985 (UK: BBC2); 6 55-minute episodes; Ronald Craven's daughter Jennie was murdered in Yorkshire. As he investigated, he stepped deeper and deeper into political Thriller territory, with involvement by CIA, NASA, and NATO. The star drew on his real-life brother, a Yorkshire policeman. Darius Jedburgh was a rogue CIA agent, played by an American actor who was paid more than the Brits, but helped land American investors for the series. Bad PR stemmed from the fact that the imaginary terrorist group GAIA shared the name of the actual ecological publisher with principal investor Prince Philip. MI5 reportedly bristled at actual security codes being exposed. Could these be why the series died young? Or are there more covert political reasons, heh heh heh? Creator: Troy Kennedy Martin; Producer: Michael Wearing; Director: Martin Campbell; Music: Eric Clapton, Michael Kamen; Starring: BOB PECK as Det. Ronald Craven; JOE DON BAKER as Darius Jedburgh; JOANNE WHALLEY as Emma Craven; JOHN WOODVINE as Det. Chief Supt. Ross
- 87th Precinct 25 Sep 1961-10 Sep 1962 (NBC/Hubbell Robinson/MCA TV); 5 Jan 1962-30 Aug 1962 (UK: ITV/Anglia); 30 60-minute episodes; black and white; Detective Steve Carella's beat was the inner-city 87th Precinct of Manhattan. He was backed by gung-ho youngster Bert Kling and two seasoned professionals: sarcastic Meyer Meyer, and stolid Roger Havilland. Many a scene was stolen by Norman fell as Meyer Meyer, and many more by Gena Rowlands as Teddy, the deaf-mute wife of introspective Steve Carella. I particularly liked the scenes between Mr. and Mrs. Carella, and not just because of my own brother Nicky being profoundly deaf. This was just plain good acting, based on a superlatively good series of Ed McBain novels. Creator: Ed McBain [pseudonym of Evan Hunter], from his novels; Music: Morton Stevens; Starring: ROBERT LANSING as Detective Steve Carella; NORMAN FELL as Detective Meyer Meyer; RON HARPER as Detective Bert Kling; GREGORY WALCOTT as Detective Roger Havilland; GENE ROWLANDS as Teddy Carella.
- Eischied 21 Sep 1979-29 Aug 1980 (NBC/Gerber Productions/Columbia Pictures TV); 17 Jan 1980-10 Apr 1980 (UK: ITV) under the British title Chief of Detectives; 13 60-minute episodes; Tough southerner Earl Eischied is strict NYPD Chief of Detectives. He clashed with Deputy Commissioner Kimbrough, who had a political agenda. Earl Eischied's friend Chief Inspector Ed Parks kept the conflict from boiling over. Earl Eischied, a bachelor with a cat "P.C." who commuted to work with his master, ran a special squad. The characters were spun-off from the powerful miniseries To Kill a Cop, and deserved to do better in the ratings... Executive Producer: David Gerber; Producers: Matthew Rapf, Jay Daniel; Starring: JOE DON BAKER as Chief of Detectives Earl Eischied; EDDIE EGAN (in real life, he;d been NYPD Detective First Grade) as Chief Inspector Ed Parks; ALAN OPPENHEIMER as Capt. Finnerty; ALAN FUDGE as Deputy Commissioner Kimbrough; SUZANNE LEDERER as Carol Wright; VINCENT BUFANO as Rick Alessi.
- El C.I.D. 7 Feb 1990-12 Feb 1991 (UK: ITV/Granada) 13 60-minute episodes; Bromley and Blake, in this Mystery/Detective/Drama/Comedy series, retire to Spain from Scotland Yard. Blake was the man of action, often hospitalized; Bromley was cerebral. With their boat, named "El C.I.D.", they sail for Costa del Sol, only to discover it a high-crime district. They team with Delgado and his daughter Mercedes, both private eyes. Metcalf is a pretentious owner of a marina; Frank owns a restaurant; both are fellow British ex-patriates. Creators: Chris Kelly, Iain Roy; Executive Producer: Sally Head; Producer: Matthew Head Director: Music: Starring: ALFRED MOLINA as Bernard Blake; JOHN BIRD as Douglas Bromley; TONY HAYGARTH as Frank; DONALD CHURCHILL as Metcalf; SIMON ANDREU as Delgado; VIVIANE VIVES as Mercedes; ROBERT REYNOLDS as Stevie (season 2).
- Ellery Queen {to be done} 6 50-minute episodes; Ellery Queen is the first writer/detective character, a concept copied as Fletcher in Murder She Wrote, and Max Beckett in Over My Dead Body. Creators: The character 'Ellery Queen" was created in a novel (1929) by Frederic Dannay and Manfred Bennington Lee (see "Authors Q"). He was in 9 movies, a CBS Radio series (1939-?), and has been 5 times on television series: (1) RICHARD HART, The Adventures of Ellery Queen 14 Oct 1950-Dec 1952 (DuMont/ABC); 50(?) 30-minute episodes; black and white; Producers:Norman Pincus, Irving Pincus; (2) LEE BOWMAN replaced Hart when Hart died of a heart attack; (3) HUGH MARLOWE (who'd played the part on radio) in a syndicated (Norvin/Arrow) series (1954), also called The Adventures of Ellery Queen, then re-released as Mystery is My Business; also Starring FLORENZ AMES as NYPD Inspector Richard Queen; 32 30-minute episodes; black and white; (4) GEORGE NADER as Ellery Queen, and LES TEMAYNE as his father, NYPD Inspector Richard Queen, initially with title The Further Adventures of Ellery Queen (1958), then retitled Ellery Queen. When production moved to New York, from Hollywood, both Nader and Tremayne quit, so LEE PHILIPS starred as Ellery Queen, and the father was written out of the script; 26 60-minute episodes; black and white; 26 Sep 1958-5 June 1959 (NBC); Producer: Albert McCleery; (5) JIM HUTTON, Ellery Queen, 11 Sep 1975-4 Apr 1976 (NBC/ Fairmont-Foxcroft/Universal); 6 Jan 1976-23 Aug 1976 (UK: BBC1); 1 120-minute episode; 22 60-minute episodes; set in 1940s New York; Creators: Richard Levinson, William Link; Executive Producers: Richard Levinson, William Link; Producers: Peter S. Fischer, Michael Rhodes; Music: Elmer Bernstein; Also Starring: DAVID WAYNE as NYPD Inspector Richard Queen; TOM REESE as Sgt. Velie; JOHN HILLERMAN as Simon Brimmer; KEN SWOFFORD as Frank Flannigan.
- The Enigma Files 15 Apr 1980-22 July 1980 (UK: BBC2); 15 50-minute episodes; Detective Chief Inspector Nick Lewis is essentially demoted to Prisoners Property Office, but keeps finding clues to unsolved cases there, to the annoyance of executive officer Kate Burton. He is backed by Phil Strong, a lab technician played by a stand-up comic. Creator: Derek Ingrey; Producer: Joe Waters; Music: Anthony Isaac; Starring: TOM ADAMS (previously starred as heartthrob doctor on soap General Hospital) as Detective Chief Inspector Nick Lewis; SHARON MAUGHAN as Kate Burton; DUGGIE BROWN as Phil Strong.
- Enos 5 Nov 1980-19 Sep 1981 (CBS/Warner Bros.); 17 60-minute episodes; Spin-off from Dukes of Hazzard. Bumbling hick cop Enos Strate accidently captures two big-name criminals, and LAPD teams him with hip African-American Turk Adams in the Metro Squad's new Special Branch. The frame story is that each episode is a letter that Enos writes to his girl back home, Daisy Duke. Inexplicably -- this is comedy, after all -- the dumb redneck always triumphs in the big city. Creator: Gy Waldron; Executive Producer: Gy Waldron; Starring: SONNY SHROYER as Officer Enos Strate; SAMUEL E. WRIGHT as Officer Turk Adams; JOHN DEHNER as Lt. Jacob Broggi.
- The Equalizer 11 Sep 1985-24 Aug 1989 (CBS/Universal); 29 Oct 1986-? (UK: ITV); 88 60-minute episodes; Super-tough, super-skeptical ex-FBI offers (in classified ad in newspaper) to "equalize" the situation for people opposed by overwhelming opposition. He typically used his gun as the equalizer, in a hail of vigilante bullets against low-life creeps. The violence produced storms of protest in America and Great Britain alike, but Woodward explained: "McCall is hard and ruthless, but he's also very gentle, soft-hearted, and compassionate. And I think that's what makes him an interesting character--he's full on contradictions. And I cut an awful lot of violence out if I think it's gratuitous." Creators: Michael Sloan; Executive Producer: James McAdams; Producer: Alan Barnette; Music: Stewart Copeland; Starring: EDWARD WOODWARD as Robert McCall; ROBERT LANSING as Control.
- Eurocops 8 Nov 1988-5 Mar 1991 (UK: Channel 4); 19 60-minute episodes; Rotates between 7 countries, each in its native language; Producers: Austria: ORF; France: Antenne 2; Germany: ZDF; Italy: RAI; Spain: RTVE; Switzerland: SRG Zurich; United Kingdom: Picture Palace Productions/Channel 4; Starring: Austria: BERND JESCHEK as as Inspector Peter Brucker; France: BERTRAND LACY as Luc; PATRICK RAYNAL as Nicholas; Germany: HEINER LAUTERBACH as Inspector Dorn; Italy: DIEGO ABATANTUONO as Commissioner Corso; Spain: ALBERTO CLOSAS as Inspector Crespo; Switzerland: WOLFRAM BERGER as Inspector Peter Brodbeck; United Kingdom: JOHN BENFIELD as Det. Con. George Jackson.
- The Expert 5 July 1968-28 Mar 1971 (UK: BBC2); 52 50-minute episodes; In real life, Glasgow University's Professor of Forensic Medicine John Glaister inspired his nephew Gerard Glaister, a BBC drama producer known for the Charlesworth series, and later for Howard's Way. He invented the very authentic Warwickshire pathologist Dr. John Hardy, whose wife Jo Hardy was also a doctor. They were friends with Detective Chief Inspector Fleming, and often helped him solve cases by realistic application of Forensic Medicine. Too bad that Quincy, M.E. replaced the carefully-researched image of the pathologist with blathering, blustering Jack Klugman. Creators: Gerard Glaister, N. J. Crisp; Producer: Gerard Glaister; Starring: MARIUS GORING as Dr. John Hardy; ANN MORRISH as Jo Hardy; VICTOR WINDING as Detective Chief Inspector Fleming; SALLY NESBITT as Jane Carter.
- Eye to Eye 21 Mar 1984-25 Apr 1984 (ABC/Skorpios/Warner Bros.); 6 60-minute episodes; Oscar Poole had effectively retired from the private eye bsuiness to a barstool at O'Malley's. Then ex-partner's spunky daughter Tracy Doyle dragged him into investigating the death of her father. Again and again, after that, the old beer-belly PI and the young blonde stumbled into, and solved, other cases. Creators: Rick Eustis, Michael Elias; Producer: Steven A. Vail; Starring: CHARLES DURNING as Oscar Poole; STEPHANIE FARACY as Tracy Doyle
F: Mystery/Detective Television Series
- Fabian of the Yard 13 Nov 1954-26 Sep 1956 (UK: BBC); 1956 (USA: Syndicated) under title Patrol Car; 39 30-minute episodes; black and white; There was a real Robert Fabian of Scotland Yard, and his cases are fictionalized in this popular series. The real Robert Fabian became the first ex-Scotland Yard celebrity on TV, ironically as Custodian of Questions on quiz show The $64,000 Question. Starring: BRUCE SETON as Detective Inspector Robert Fabian.
- Falcon see: Adventures of The Falcon
- Fallen Angels 1993-95 (Showtime); Animated; {to be done} according to cached copy of TV Eyes-The Series
- Faraday and Company 26 Sep 1973-13 Aug 1974 (NBC/Universal); 4 90-minute episodes; This was the first starring role for Sharon Gless (Cagney and Lacey). Frank Faraday was a private detective who had been falsely imprisoned in South America for 25 years. Once out, he sought the real criminals who should have been in jail instead. Meanwhile, he'd had a son Steve by his secretary, Lou Carson. Steve had continued the family tr