I Love a Mystery - Mystery TV Shows (1 Viewer)

[Mysto]

Death in Paradise fans - it's official. Beyond Paradise will debut on Feb. 24 on BBC in the U.K. and BritBox in the U.S. It is rare for the U.S. to get a new release at the same time.

 

[Matt Hough]

Mr. & Mrs. Murder – 2013

There have been some great husband and wife crime solvers. Nick and Nora in the Thin Man. Pam and Jerry as Mr. and Mrs. North, Stuart and Sally as McMillian and Wife, and more recently Jonathan and Jennifer – the Harts. Well we can add a new couple to the list…Nicola and Charlie Buchanan in Mr. & Mrs. Murder.

I’ve already said that we love lighthearted mysteries. This Australian production has some good mysteries along with a lot of fun byplay. The couple, played by Shaun Micallef and Kat Stewart, own a forensic cleaning company. They go in after a crime to clean up the mess left behind when the police are through with the scene. In the process of cleaning they discover clues and “help” the police solve the unsolvable.

The couple’s byplay keeps the story moving along and adds some really funny stuff but the mysteries are really pretty good. Unfortunately this only ran for one 13 episode season.

The series is running on Acorn but currently you can watch it for free on Ovation on the web along with a lot of other mysteries if you quality for Ovation Now. (Apparently you have to have a provider that shows Ovation network)
https://www.ovationtv.com/

Thanks for the tip. I'll check the show out when I get a moment.

 

[Mysto]

I recently caved and purchased the Mill Creek release of "Hart to Hart: The Movie Collection" in spite of having watched the entire series not long ago and feeling it really hasn't held up all that well. My wife and I watched it "first run" and enjoyed it. Rather light, frothy, and "romantically cute" I found I didn't care for it as much as I recalled. It was a bit predictable and too "cute" for its own good with stories that often felt padded, even at an hour. Because of that I'd pretty much written off the movies as I'm normally not a fan of tele-movies but when that set came up for ~$10... well... I made the purchase anyway. After all... there are 8 movies in the set.

I watched the first of them, Hart to Hart Returns, last night.

I felt the series was often padded to fill its meager 60 minute time slot. This thing felt like a 30 minute story padded to movie length. The overall PQ also wasn't very good, being somewhat dark and soft. Lots of gratuitous scenes with Max and a new dog with the same name (really didn't pay attention to where the original "Freeway" went) that were incredible lame just added to my misery watching this "movie." A few of the guest stars were decent enough and made it mostly watchable with Mike Connors (Mannix) being the primary reason to watch this one. The mystery was, like most of the series outings, rather predictable once it finally became the point of the show. I can say for sure I won't be repeat watching this one any time soon, if at all.

Since the disc is still loaded and there are 2 movies on it, I'll be watching the 2nd tonight.

Howie - We used to watch Hart to Hart when it was first run and enjoyed it but...
I like you tried to watch it recently and it just doesn't do it any more. Same thing with Simon and Simon. It was a favorite when it was running and we tried watching some about a year ago and just couldn't get into it.
It's not just age though. Still very much enjoy Perry Mason and Ellery Queen and both are older.

 

[BobO'Link]

Hart to Hart: Home is Where the Hart Is, the second film on the first disc of that Hart to Hart MC set, was a pleasant surprise. It's mostly devoid of the filler that pretty much sank the first entry for me. I got a bit excited to see Maureen O'Sullivan's name in the open credits... but she's in it only briefly as her death sets up the episode. Bummer...

O'Sullivan's character was Jennifer's first editor and mentor at the local newspaper and had left the town to Jennifer in her will, something Jonathan and Jennifer discover only after arriving for the funeral. Some shenanigans involving an early fort and that the town was never incorporated makes it a wholy separate entity - almost its own country - and Ms. Biddlecomb (O'Sullivan) owned it lock and stock. Of course things just aren't "right" in town, a fact that takes little time for the Hart's to discover and, of course, get in the way of the town villain. It's *almost* like it was a script intended for Murder She Wrote in its overall laid back pacing and sea-side location.

It also has a stellar cast on hand with Roddy McDowall, Alan Young (who I know mostly from Mr. Ed and is very good here), Howard Keel, and Jack Kruschen among the guest stars/cast.

This one's a winner - easily as good or better than the better episodes of the series proper. And it looks significantly better than the first movie on the disc sporting a sharper image and bright colors.

 

[BobO'Link]

Howie - We used to watch Hart to Hart when it was first run and enjoyed it but...
I like you tried to watch it recently and it just doesn't do it any more. Same thing with Simon and Simon. It was a favorite when it was running and we tried watching some about a year ago and just couldn't get into it.
It's not just age though. Still very much enjoy Perry Mason and Ellery Queen and both are older.

I really think it's the style of show. I've also recently watched several seasons of Scarecrow & Mrs. King and Remington Steele - both of which my wife and I watched regularly during first run and really enjoyed. They, like Hart to Hart, are still mostly OK but just don't entice like they did back then, also not aging all that well. All three are of that romantic/mystery/spy type series - a common thing in the 80s (and I'd add Moonlighting to that group).

Perry Mason and Ellery Queen don't have that romantic entanglement angle, though there *is* a bit of "Hmmm... Are Perry and Della mixing it up on the side?" aspect of PM.

 

[Mysto]

Death in Paradise fans - it's official. Beyond Paradise will debut on Feb. 24 on BBC in the U.K. and BritBox in the U.S. It is rare for the U.S. to get a new release at the same time.

Here is a link to more info on the new series.
tiny url
I'm particularly excited because they are promising other puzzles besides just murders. That would put it in the style of Banacek and Jonathan Creek - a couple of my top mysteries.

 

[Wiseguy]

Perry Mason – 1957-1966 Series
1985-1995 Made for TV Movies


271 Episodes and the shortest season was Season 3 with only 26 episodes. For comparison, Death in Paradise has a season of 8 shows.

Technically, no season of Perry Mason did fewer than 28 episodes. For whatever reason CBS decided to hold over two episodes for the fourth season. Note that the opening credits of those two episodes don't match the openings of the "true" fourth season episodes. One even features William Talman even though he had been fired before the third season production was finished. The production numbers of those two episodes were #99 and 103. Episodes #104-108 had already been aired in the third season.

The same thing was done the following season when two episodes of the 28-episode fourth season were held over to the fifth season. The true fifth season episodes had a separate writer/director credit while the held over episodes did not. Also actor Wesley Lau appeared in the second of these episodes and then appeared two episodes later as Lt. Anderson when there should have been a summer break between the two appearances.

 

[Mysto]

Technically, no season of Perry Mason did fewer than 28 episodes. For whatever reason CBS decided to hold over two episodes for the fourth season. Note that the opening credits of those two episodes don't match the openings of the "true" fourth season episodes. One even features William Talman even though he had been fired before the third season production was finished. The production numbers of those two episodes were #99 and 103. Episodes #104-108 had already been aired in the third season.

The same thing was done the following season when two episodes of the 28-episode fourth season were held over to the fifth season. The true fifth season episodes had a separate writer/director credit while the held over episodes did not. Also actor Wesley Lau appeared in the second of these episodes and then appeared two episodes later as Lt. Anderson when there should have been a summer break between the two appearances.

Thanks Erich. I bow to your expertise. I have no doubt that you are correct.
I was just trying to point out how many they cranked out back then compared to the wimpy offerings now. Originally they wanted to do the shows live. (Yikes)

 

[Mysto]

Speaking of Perry Mason...
I was watching The Falcon goes West on TCM last Saturday and was reminded just what a hottie Barbara Hale (Della) was.

(this is especially for Jeff)

 

[Matt Hough]

Mr. & Mrs. Murder – 2013

There have been some great husband and wife crime solvers. Nick and Nora in the Thin Man. Pam and Jerry as Mr. and Mrs. North, Stuart and Sally as McMillian and Wife, and more recently Jonathan and Jennifer – the Harts. Well we can add a new couple to the list…Nicola and Charlie Buchanan in Mr. & Mrs. Murder.

I’ve already said that we love lighthearted mysteries. This Australian production has some good mysteries along with a lot of fun byplay. The couple, played by Shaun Micallef and Kat Stewart, own a forensic cleaning company. They go in after a crime to clean up the mess left behind when the police are through with the scene. In the process of cleaning they discover clues and “help” the police solve the unsolvable.

The couple’s byplay keeps the story moving along and adds some really funny stuff but the mysteries are really pretty good. Unfortunately this only ran for one 13 episode season.

The series is running on Acorn but currently you can watch it for free on Ovation on the web along with a lot of other mysteries if you quality for Ovation Now. (Apparently you have to have a provider that shows Ovation network)
https://www.ovationtv.com/

I did check out the show tonight on Ovation. First off, the show is charming and I enjoyed it. But I had to endure the same commercial for Barbados SEVENTEEN times during the show's 42-minute run time. I didn't watch it that many times, but I heard it on the background as I roamed around the house doing other things while it played. Ovation must not be doing very well if it only has a limited number of commercials to run.

 

[Mysto]

I did check out the show tonight on Ovation. First off, the show is charming and I enjoyed it. But I had to endure the same commercial for Barbados SEVENTEEN times during the show's 42-minute run time. I didn't watch it that many times, but I heard it on the background as I roamed around the house doing other things while it played. Ovation must not be doing very well if it only has a limited number of commercials to run.

Welcome to Barbados Matt
I'm not sure if Ovation can use the same advertisers on the web that they do on cable.
I hate commercials but I laud the fact that they are offering mysteries for free on the internet.

The only other suggestions for Mr. & Mrs. Murder- They are streaming on BritBox w/o commercials - Free Trial for 7 days. You can buy the package on Prime $20 or the DVDs are $34 on Amazon (I saw a used set - that's the way I usually go for $13 plus $4 shipping)

I'm glad you enjoyed it. I think you described it well - charming.

 

[Mysto]

Last night I had a chance to view the old ITV Special Britain's Favorite Detective 2020. Spoiler alert: the winner was Sherlock but they grouped all the Sherlock Holmes shows as it was about the detective and not the show.

Anyway - here is a link to the shows that the survey picked. See if your favorite mystery detective is here. (Note these are the 25 that were selected by viewers to vote on and are not in the final order)

tiny url

 

[Jeff Flugel]

That's a pretty comprehensive list, Marv. As is the way with all these kinds of lists, there are things I'd take off (Cagney & Lacey, for one) and replace with my preferences (Campion, Touching Evil)...but overall, most of the big guns that should be on such a list are there. That said: I love me some '80s Magnum P.I., but if that show is on the list, The Rockford Files better be, too.

And tsk tsk to the Daily Mirror editors, who should know how to properly spell Columbo!

 

[Mysto]

That's a pretty comprehensive list, Marv. As is the way with all these kinds of lists, there are things I'd take off (Cagney & Lacey, for one) and replace with my preferences (Campion, Touching Evil)...but overall, most of the big guns that should be on such a list are there. I love me some '80s Magnum P.I., but if that show is on the list, The Rockford Files better be, too.

And tsk tsk to the Daily Mirror editors, who should know how to properly spell Columbo!

I think it was the British spelling Jeff!

There is a love for certain American shows in G.B. I remember my first trip over back in 76 and turned on TV to see my first British TV and watched the current big hit - Kojak.

 

[Jeff Flugel]

There is a love for certain American shows in G.B. I remember my first trip over back in 76 and turned on TV to see my first British TV and watched the current big hit - Kojak.

Yes, it's true. That's why I'm surprised they left Rockford off the list...as that's a show that is very highly regarded across the Pond.

BTW, have you seen Scott & Bailey? It's a good show, and I recommend it, but it doesn't deserve to be on a Top 25 list IMO.

 

[Mysto]

This site allows people to vote on favorites. I can't believe the order but it is a VERY comprehensive list of Brit TV mysteries. Several I have never watched and some I had never heard of.

BestBritDetective

ADDED This list includes U.S. shows

BestDetective

 

[Mysto]

Yes, it's true. That's why I'm surprised they left Rockford off the list...as that's a show that is very highly regarded across the Pond.

BTW, have you seen Scott & Bailey? It's a good show, and I recommend it, but it doesn't deserve to be on a Top 25 list IMO.

I'll have to put Scott & Bailey on my list.
We are mostly watching Midsomer Mysteries. I had watched them sporadically over the years but never gave them the attention they deserve. I picked them up and we are watching in order without commercials and distractions and really enjoying them. Many we never saw.

Also after I did the review - we got stuck on Houdini & Doyle again - so a re-watch is happening.

And then I have to check stuff for reviews for this thread and currently Death in Paradise and NCIS- oh the troubles we are subjected to. So many mysteries - so little time.

 

[BobO'Link]

I finished that Hart to Hart set of movies. Here are condensed comments on each.

"Crimes of the Hart" is kind of a take on "Phantom of the Opera" - the musical, not the silent horror. It's OK but has far too much music for my taste, especially when Jonathan and Jennifer do a number at the end (which I found mostly cringe worthy). I also didn't buy into the conceit that Jennifer didn't recognize a, now famous, former classmate. There's also a smallish side story with Max falling in love and wanting to marry - total filler and not that good. Plus it features Richard Belzer as a Police Inspector - I'm not that fond of him and he played the role a bit too "cheeky" to make it anywhere close to believable.

"Old Friends Never Die" tries to be cute and fails. The mystery isn't much of a mystery and the Harts are far more clueless than you'd believe. Mike Farrell and David Rasche are incredibly lackluster, pushing towards bland, in their roles. Max is left behind in a side story attempting to discover who's trying to take over Hart Industries (something you'd think Jonathan would do personally) and dealing with a character from Paul Williams, yet another actor who causes me to groan when he shows up. In the end, it's a half baked story/episode.

"Secrets of the Hart" is one of the better entries in these tele-movies so far. Has a decent script and good supporting cast featuring Jason Bateman, Marion Ross, Wendie Malick, and Michael Parks with Pat Morita in a cameo. This one plays into Jonathan's history of being an orphan and not knowing any of his family - family he must find and use to figure out what's going on - as he's purchased a locket for Jennifer that has a photo of *him* as a boy along with a photo of an unknown girl inside! Max is barely used and it's obvious that Lionel Stander is in poor health. Look for a cameo by "Yellow Hair" (aka former POTUS) at the end...

"Two Harts in Three Quarter Time" starts with Max's death (Stander had passed in the real world) and the reading of his will. Incredibly cheesy in its attempt to pull heart-strings and takes up far too much screen time. Guest stars Joan Collins, always nice to see, who feels somewhat wasted here. Set in Canada on an "adventure" that'd been set up by Max before he passed, it's mostly a snooze and quite predictable but still not the worst of the lot.

"Harts in High Season" finds James Brolin as the villain in yet another reworking of "The Most Dangerous Game." This time with the Hart's as prey. It's an "OK" version and Brolin does a good job but it's no mystery and just an excuse to make another tele-movie with the Harts. There *are* a couple of newish twists to make it slightly more interesting than just a straight rip off exercise. In the end it's just poorly directed and lazily scripted.

"Till Death Do Us Hart" has George Hamilton doing a royal scam forcing Simone (Stefanie Powers, in a dual role) to marry Dr. Peter Donner who will come into a fortune once he's hitched. Wagner also does a dual role but it's really Powers' show as she's front and center most of the time. It's Hamilton (hamming it up wonderfully) who makes this recycled tale truly worth watching. Otherwise, it's another riff on a "Prisoner of Zenda" type story although the saber duels are woefully bad. The sub-plot (a sick and dying child) is simply horrible and rather maudlin, especially with the use of the dog. Every time it comes up things stop dead still. In spite of that, it's mostly a fun outing with, again, little real mystery on display and a decent enough final film for the Harts.

Overall video is OK but not great. There's *lots* of *white* everywhere - on the sets, furniture, clothing, just about anywhere you look and it *all* has the look of being filmed through gauze - just a bit on the hazy side of things. Color is good as is sound. And, in typical MC form, shows compression issues, especially in darker scenes.

In general, all of these tele-movies were rather generic and predictable reworkings of other, often better, stories. In spite of that, if you're a fan of the series you'll likely enjoy these 8 movies as they're mostly more of the same, though many feel like they are 60 minute episodes padded to movie length.

 

[Mysto]

I finished that Hart to Hart set of movies. Here are condensed comments on each.

"Crimes of the Hart" is kind of a take on "Phantom of the Opera" - the musical, not the silent horror. It's OK but has far too much music for my taste, especially when Jonathan and Jennifer do a number at the end (which I found mostly cringe worthy). I also didn't buy into the conceit that Jennifer didn't recognize a, now famous, former classmate. There's also a smallish side story with Max falling in love and wanting to marry - total filler and not that good. Plus it features Richard Belzer as a Police Inspector - I'm not that fond of him and he played the role a bit too "cheeky" to make it anywhere close to believable.

"Old Friends Never Die" tries to be cute and fails. The mystery isn't much of a mystery and the Harts are far more clueless than you'd believe. Mike Farrell and David Rasche are incredibly lackluster, pushing towards bland, in their roles. Max is left behind in a side story attempting to discover who's trying to take over Hart Industries (something you'd think Jonathan would do personally) and dealing with a character from Paul Williams, yet another actor who causes me to groan when he shows up. In the end, it's a half baked story/episode.

"Secrets of the Hart" is one of the better entries in these tele-movies so far. Has a decent script and good supporting cast featuring Jason Bateman, Marion Ross, Wendie Malick, and Michael Parks with Pat Morita in a cameo. This one plays into Jonathan's history of being an orphan and not knowing any of his family - family he must find and use to figure out what's going on - as he's purchased a locket for Jennifer that has a photo of *him* as a boy along with a photo of an unknown girl inside! Max is barely used and it's obvious that Lionel Stander is in poor health. Look for a cameo by "Yellow Hair" (aka former POTUS) at the end...

"Two Harts in Three Quarter Time" starts with Max's death (Stander had passed in the real world) and the reading of his will. Incredibly cheesy in its attempt to pull heart-strings and takes up far too much screen time. Guest stars Joan Collins, always nice to see, who feels somewhat wasted here. Set in Canada on an "adventure" that'd been set up by Max before he passed, it's mostly a snooze and quite predictable but still not the worst of the lot.

"Harts in High Season" finds James Brolin as the villain in yet another reworking of "The Most Dangerous Game." This time with the Hart's as prey. It's an "OK" version and Brolin does a good job but it's no mystery and just an excuse to make another tele-movie with the Harts. There *are* a couple of newish twists to make it slightly more interesting than just a straight rip off exercise. In the end it's just poorly directed and lazily scripted.

"Till Death Do Us Hart" has George Hamilton doing a royal scam forcing Simone (Stefanie Powers, in a dual role) to marry Dr. Peter Donner who will come into a fortune once he's hitched. Wagner also does a dual role but it's really Powers' show as she's front and center most of the time. It's Hamilton (hamming it up wonderfully) who makes this recycled tale truly worth watching. Otherwise, it's another riff on a "Prisoner of Zenda" type story although the saber duels are woefully bad. The sub-plot (a sick and dying child) is simply horrible and rather maudlin, especially with the use of the dog. Every time it comes up things stop dead still. In spite of that, it's mostly a fun outing with, again, little real mystery on display and a decent enough final film for the Harts.

Overall video is OK but not great. There's *lots* of *white* everywhere - on the sets, furniture, clothing, just about anywhere you look and it *all* has the look of being filmed through gauze - just a bit on the hazy side of things. Color is good as is sound. And, in typical MC form, shows compression issues, especially in darker scenes.

In general, all of these tele-movies were rather generic and predictable reworkings of other, often better, stories. In spite of that, if you're a fan of the series you'll likely enjoy these 8 movies as they're mostly more of the same, though many feel like they are 60 minute episodes padded to movie length.

Thanks Howie. Great informative reviews.

 

[Mysto]

Psych 2006-2014

I already explained that we enjoy lighthearted mysteries. Well Psych is about as lighthearted as you can get. In most of these the mystery takes back seat to the wild madcap comedy. They are a lot of fun, so I’m OK with it but it won’t be everyone’s cup of tea.

The basic premise is that Shawn Spencer (James Roday) has been trained as a child by his father in the art of observation. Shawn is a slacker and is more interested in toys and junk food than work. He gives some tips to the police department and they decide there is no way he could know these things so he must be the perpetrator. Looking for a way out he convinces the Santa Barbara police department that he uses psychic abilities. He becomes a psychic crime consultant and starts working with the police department. In order to get help in his efforts a lot of his time is spent conning his best friend Gus to help as well as furnishing his “Blueberry” a Toyota Yaris.

The cast: Shawn Spencer – James Roday the fake Psychic

Burton (Gus) Guster – his reluctant sidekick, foil and best friend

Henry Spence – Corbin Bernsen – Shawns father a former detective

Juliet (Jules) O’Hara – Junior Detective and love interest

Carlton (Lassie) Lassiter – Tim Omundson – Detective and non-believer

Chief Vic – Kirsten Nelson – Chief of Police

A lot of the humor comes from Shawn trying to keep the belief that he is a psychic, his convincing his buddy Gus to go along with the plans, and dealing with the dangers in murder investigations. Much of the comedy uses current (at the time) references and as a card carrying “old fart” I miss about a third of the references. But there is enough zaniness to go around. The first season is OK but it isn’t until the second season where the cast finally finds their footing and the show really takes off IMHO. We enjoyed all of the shows with the exception of Psych the Musical. YMMV.

There is a fair amount of experimentation with odd titles, music, and inside jokes (the most famous – a pineapple hidden somewhere in every episode). 8.4 on IMDB and 89% on Rotten Tomatoes.