Created by Lynn Latham and Bernard Lechowick "Nobody's ever accused me of being an adult before." -- Zoe reveals she’s no SuperMomThe American TV channel Lifetime isn’t exactly known for its hard-boiled fare, but they did make it a watered-down go back in 2003, when they premiered Wild Card, folding some occasionally gritty and often … Continue reading Zoe Busiek (Wild Card)
Tag: Chicago
Ralph “Papa” Thorson
Created by (presumably) Mr. and Mrs. Thorson "I'm getting too old for this shit." Not a fictional creation, though his biography unravels like one. The Hunter was a 1980 fact-based action/adventure flick starring the late, great Steve McQueen (in his last role) as real-life bounty hunter RALPH "PAPA" THORSON. Thorson, famed as "the Greatest of … Continue reading Ralph “Papa” Thorson
Nikki & Nora Sullivan: Sister Sleuths
Created by Marcy Holland After the previous week’s disappointing premiere of Francesca Quinn, P.I., the Girl Detective and I warily turned into the premiere of Hallmark Movies & Mysteries’ "Nikki & Nora: Sister Sleuths” with more than a little trepidation. Another pilot (I think) for a proposed string of TV movies, it starred Hunter King and Rhiannon … Continue reading Nikki & Nora Sullivan: Sister Sleuths
Dek Elstrom
Created by Jack Fredrickson Wry, spry and "creatively unemployed," Chicago's VLODEK "DEK" ELSTROM is a hapless, soft-boiled private eye in a hard-boiled world, scrounging to pay the rent on his fixer-upper turret and feed his junk food habit. And he's not suffering from an abundance of pride or ego. So... whatever it takes. As long … Continue reading Dek Elstrom
Barr Breed
Created by Bill S. Ballinger Pseudonyms include B.S. Sanborn and Frederic Fryer (1912-1980) Bill Ballinger wrote a pair of novels about Chicago P.I. BARR BREED who ran the Breed Detective Agency in downtown Chicago. No lone wolf, he, Barr has a staff of three operatives and a secretary, Evelyn Jones, who he considers so homely … Continue reading Barr Breed
Carl Good/Carl Guard
Created by Robert O. Saber Pseudonym of Milton K. Ozaki Other pseudonyms included Mark Shane (1913-89) "I put my arms around her and drew her close. She didn't resist. Then her cool arms were around my neck and her warm breasts were digging into my chest and she was kissing me like a French horn … Continue reading Carl Good/Carl Guard
“Mac” Robinson
Created by Thomas B. Dewey Pseudonyms include Tom Brandt and Cord Wainer (1915-81) "It may be that the recent white Anglo-Saxon Christian struggle to canonize the informer will be lost in the rivers and back streets of America, where 'rat' is still spelled with three letters and the only way to save your life is … Continue reading “Mac” Robinson
Oscar “Duke” Ramsey (The Duke)
Created by Stephen J. Cannell The Duke was yet another Stephen J. Cannell-produced P.I. show that flopped. In the pilot, Up Against the Odds (April 5, 1979), we meet 38-year old Chicago prizefighter OSCAR "DUKE" RAMSEY (played by Robert "The Wild, Wild West, Hawaiian Eye" Conrad), who decides--with some help from his long-time manager Benny--that … Continue reading Oscar “Duke” Ramsey (The Duke)
Ron Shade
Created by Michael A. Black This P.I. can definitely kick your ass. That's because RON SHADE is not just a tough Army vet turned tough-guy Chicago P.I.--he's a tough Army vet turned tough-guy Chicago P.I. really into competitive kickboxing. So don't get him pissed, okay? In his debut, A Killing Frost (2002), he's hired to find an … Continue reading Ron Shade
Sheba Shayne (Sheba, Baby)
Created by William Girdler and David Sheldon "Whatchu gonna do with that gun, mama?" Who's the queen of the private dicks that digs like a sex machine with all the boys? Sheba! Uh, damn right? In Sheba, Baby, the 1975 blaxploitation would-be classic that does a sex-change on Shaft, Pam Grier finally gets to let … Continue reading Sheba Shayne (Sheba, Baby)