Martinex1: You would be hard pressed to convince me that the golden age of television detective shows was not in the 1970s through the early 1980s. In my mind, the best shows of this ilk ran right along the same timeline as the comic book bronze age. Maybe there was something in the air.
Whether police detectives or private investigators, I couldn't get enough of the crime procedural when I had control of the TV set. In a previous post, I shared my admiration for Columbo, so that is a no-brainer to be on my top five list, but how would I rank my favorite detective shows and which did I consider the worst? And how would you order your list?
Today we play Rank And File with crime shows of all kinds... and don't feel you have to leave out comedies or cartoons!
So here are my top five:
1) Columbo - see my post from December 5th, 2016 if you have any questions about my perception of the durability of the rumpled lieutenant.
2) The Rockford Files - James Garner played a very nuanced and complex somewhat down-on-his-luck investigator. He wasn't always politically correct. He often found himself on the wrong side of the law. He had bills to pay. He got annoyed by inconvenience. And he had a heart of gold. The opening theme clinches it for me; every time I hear that music I have to tune in.
3) Quincy, M.E. - He was a Medical Examiner and not a police officer, but he investigated like one digging into clues and searching for scientific evidence long before CSI. Jack Klugman was pivotal in the role; I could not grasp that he and Oscar Madison were the same guy. I actually learned some interesting facts from that show and remember talking about Legionnaire's Disease in the fourth grade because there was an episode about it.
4) Police Squad - On the heels of the movie Airplane!, the creators rolled out this comedy full of slapstick, puns, and site gags. It was very short-lived and existed before the Naked Gun movies. I thought it was hilarious as a kid. And Leslie Nielson was great.
5) Inch High Private Eye - This Hanna-Barbera offering came out just as I was starting to get into my detective fascination as a wee youngster. So it is a nostalgic favorite that most don't even remember.
And here is my "dishonorable" mention:
Mrs. Columbo - what were they thinking? This was a train wreck. It was like something out of Bizarro's world. In 1979, following the end of the detective's series, the network cast Kate Mulgrew as the never before seen wife. And that was mistake number one as she was way too young and not at all the character hinted at in the original great series. She was suddenly depicted as a columnist with an eye for crime. Between doing laundry, taking care of the children, and working at the paper, she solved mysteries. Huh? Detective Columbo's car and rumpled clothing could be seen in the opening credits, but other than that there was no real connection. If fact, in the subsequent season there were inferences to divorce and the title character's name was changed to Mrs. Callahan. It was horrible in so many ways.
Redartz: In all the cop shows and movies, the hero's partner always backs him up. No difference here; I'm backing up my buddy Marti! Backing him up with my picks, that is...
1) Barnaby Jones - My dad always watched the detectives, and he got me hooked on this one. How can you resist Buddy Ebsen's homey drawl? An excellent theme song too.
2) Columbo - can't add anything to what Marti already said about the show. Brilliant.
3) Scooby-Doo - Hey, the gang were detectives, weren't they? After all, "if it weren't for those blasted kids... "
4) Charlie's Angels - Never missed the show, at least for the first two seasons. Perfect representative of 70's pop culture. And I had such a crush on Kate Jackson.
5) Police Squad - I'd almost forgotten about the show. A crime, as it was hilarious!
So now it is your turn. How would you rank these types of shows? See the below photos for some ideas - but there are plenty beyond even this lengthy list to choose from. Share your thoughts and let's have some fun!
