Rex Rivetter

Created by Greg and Rhiannon McAfee

“Some folks call it noir or pulp fiction. But for a private eye named Rex Rivetter, it’s home.”

In-mid 2015, San Diego’s Greg and Rhiannon McAfee approached old pal Dave Rivas with the idea of producing  a new weekly podcast, along the lines of the old time radio detective shows.

The hero of this obvious labour of love (Greg had been thinking about it for years) would be REX RIVETTER, a tough-talking, mean street walking Los Angeles dick, working the “seedier side to the City of Angels, the shadows where pimps and narcotics pushers live, where organized crime stands just around every corner with one hand out, and the other wrapped around a roscoe” in a “a city full of fancy dames and slick cons, where bookies know the vig, so you better, too.”

So… a 21st century take on OTR, that allows some self-conscious “noir” into the mix, though it’s more lip service than actual noir. If you were expecting James Ellroy, you came to the wrong place.

In truth, despite the promotional build-up, they seemed to have been aiming less for noir and more for some of the lighthearted breeziness of super-popular OTR shows like Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar or Richard Diamond, even giving Rex a Girl Friday (Jenny McIntosh, played by series co-creator Rhiannon McAfee) with whom to swap banter, wisecracks and exposition with.

Helping with those chores are a couple of 0ther regulars: police contact Lieutenant Burke, and “accountant to the stars” Abe Breslow, who may be the closest thing Rex has to a friend.

Naturally, Rex (P.I. license #698753) narrates it all, offering plenty of the expected snappy patter you’d expect from OTR, but allowing a little room for oh-so-modern wink-wink musings on being called a “private dick” and the like. He operates out of a small office in downtown LA on Third and Grand, right above the delicatessen. “My office isn’t much,” he says, “but I’m my own boss and I make my own hours… usually.”

Rex Rivetter: Private Eye ran for four season as a podcast, and was  just merrily rolling along when COVID hit. “Rex will be back for Season 5!” they promised.

So far, however… radio silence. Ot, I guess, podcast science.

Fortunately, you can still catch the first four seasons on iTunes, Google Play, Twitter, Stitcher, iheart Radio, YouTube, tumblr, and Otto Radio, or you can go directly to the source on the Downstairs Entertainment website.

PODCASTS

• REX RIVETTER: PRIVATE EYE
  (2015-20, Downstairs Entertainment)
  47 episodes
  Created by Greg McAfee
  Directed by Rhiannon McAfee
  Vocal, sound, and technical director: Dave Rivas
  Editing and sound design by Steve Murdock.
  Produced in San Diego, CA by Downstairs Entertainment with
  Theme song, “Nightmare,” by the Artie Shaw Orchestra
  Starring Randy Coull  as REX RIVETTER
  and Rhiannon McAfee as Jenny McIntosh
  Also starring Nick Young as  Lieutenant Burke,
  Frank Remiatte as Abe Breslow
  Steve Murdock as Anthony Solerno
  and Jennifer M. McKenna as Antoinette (Jenny’s sister)
  Guest stars: Alex Guzman, Adam Sheldon, James Steinberg, Robin Boyington, Christopher Louis Szabo,  Tom Raftery.

• • SEASON ONE
  • “The Case of the Farmer’s Wife – Part 1” (August 1, 2016)
  • “The Case of the Farmer’s Wife – Part 2” (August 8, 2016)
  • “The Case of the Farmer’s Wife – Conclusion” (August 15, 2016)
  • “The Case of the Poisoned Parakeet – Part 1” (August 22, 2016)
  • “The Case of the Poisoned Parakeet – Part 2” (August 29, 2016)
  • “The Case of the Poisoned Parakeet – Part 2” (September 5, 2016)
  • “A Case of Triple Indemnity – Part 1” (September 12, 2016)
  • “A Case of Triple Indemnity – Part 2” (September 19, 2016)
  • “A Case of Triple Indemnity – Part 3” (September 26, 2016)
  • “A Case of Triple Indemnity – Part 4” (October 3, 2016)
  • “A Case of Triple Indemnity – Part 5” (October 10, 2016)
  • “The Case of the Missing Ending – Part 1” (October 17, 2016)
  • “The Case of the Missing Ending – Part 2” (October 24, 2016)
  • “The Case of the Missing Ending – Part 3” (October 31, 2016)
  • “The Case of the Missing Ending – Part 4” (November 7, 2016)
  • SEASON TWO
  • “The Case of Pete and Repeat – Part One” (January 16, 2017)
  • “The Case of Pete and Repeat – Part Two” (January 20, 2017)
  • “The Case of Pete and Repeat – Part Three” (February 13, 2017)
  • “The Case of Pete and Repeat – Conclusion” (February 27, 2017)
  • “The Long Con – Part One” (March 13, 2017)
  • “The Long Con – Part Two” (March 13, 2017)
  • “The Long Con – Part Three” (March 13, 2017)
  • “The Long Con – Part Conclusion” (March 13, 2017)
  • “The Homecoming – Part One” (May 29, 2017)
  • “The Homecoming – Part Two” (June 12, 2017)
  • “The Homecoming – Conclusion” (June 26, 2017)
  • “Murder, Rivetter” (July 10, 2017)
  • “The Case of the Jeweler’s Loop – Part One” (July 24, 2017)
  • “The Case of the Jeweler’s Loop – Part Two” (August 7, 2017)
  • “The Case of the Jeweler’s Loop – Part Three” (August 21, 2017)
  • “The Case of the Jeweler’s Loop – Conclusion” (September 4, 2017)
  • “Dancing With the Devil” (October 16, 2017) – Season 2 Finale
  • SEASON THREE
  • “Murder Comes at Midnight” (May 7, 2018)
  • “Forget Me, Squared – Part One” (May 21, 2018)
  • “Forget Me, Squared – Part Two” (June 4, 2018)
  • “Forget Me, Squared – Part Three” (June 18, 2018)
  • “Forget Me, Squared – Part Four” (July 2, 2018)
  • “Forget Me, Squared – Part Five” (July 16, 2018)
  • “Forget Me, Squared – Part Six” (July 30, 2018)
  • “Requiem for Innocence – Part One” (August 20, 2018)
  • “Requiem for Innocence – Part Two” (August 27, 2018)
  • SEASON FOUR
  • “Deadlier than the Male – Part 1” (November 16, 2020)
  • “Deadlier than the Male – Part 2” (November 30, 2020)
  • “Deadlier than the Male – Conclusion” (December 14, 2020)
  • “The Final Farewell – Part 1” (December 28, 2020)
  • “The Final Farewell – Part 2” (January 11, 2021)
  • “The Final Farewell – Conclusion” (January 25, 2021)

Respectfully submitted by Kevin Burton Smith.