Jimmy Cooper

Created by Lawrence Allan “Er… whaaaat?” —Doug’s catchphrase JIMMY COOPER was riding high, a former child star and teen heartthrob (you remember Doug’s in Love, don’t you?) turned Los Angeles private eye who should have been set for life, until his  taste for booze and painkillers, and a "history of making bad decisions” had him … Continue reading Jimmy Cooper

Nate Ross

Created by J.R. Sanders It’s 1938, and if he had his druthers, Los Angeles-based gumshoe NATE ROSS would rather stay on his side of Vermont Avenue, and avoid Hollywood altogether. “As a rule, I avoided all dealings with movie studios. I preferred more reputable business, like pool halls and whorehouses." But a chance encounter with … Continue reading Nate Ross

Marty Burns

Created by J.S. Russell Former television child star MARTY BURNS (you remember that classic oldie hit sitcom Salt and Pepper, right?) is now just another LA private dickcracking wise and trying to walk in Marlowe's shoes, who gets sucked into the usual mess of pimps, disemboweled hookers, snuff films, samurais from Hell, and nefarious supernatural … Continue reading Marty Burns

Charlie Willis

Created by Lee Goldberg Down, down, down. CHARLIE WILLIS is a Beverly Hills cop who lands a plum security gig for a major Hollywood studio, after being shot in the stomach by one of their most beloved stars, in this wicked spoof by Lee Goldberg, a TV scriptwriter and producer (Spenser: For Hire, Monk, Diagnosis Murder, … Continue reading Charlie Willis

Harry Ross (Twilight)

Created by Robert Benton and Richard Russo Looking for sparkly vampires? Keep going... Retired, and just plain tired, Hollywood gumshoe HARRY ROSS takes odd jobs (and once, a bullet, trying to rescue their jailbait daughter) for his old pal and dying movie star, Jack Ames, and his one-time sexpot actress wife, Catherine. He bides his time, … Continue reading Harry Ross (Twilight)

H.P. “Philip” Lovecraft

Created by Joseph Dougherty "The omens are bad. Me, I'm going to Florida!" -- you know things are bad when the landlady threatens to call it quits  Raymond Chandler's mean streets were never like this! A pleasant surprise was Cast a Deadly Spell, a pulpy, tongue-in-cheek 1991 HBO offering that took the world of the … Continue reading H.P. “Philip” Lovecraft

The Twenty-Year Death Trilogy

Created by Ariel S. Winter "I had on my good suit, a navy blue so deep it looked black, with a pressed white shirt, a red-and-blue-striped tie, a red handkerchief, and freshly polished loafers. I'd had a shower and a shave." -- Dennis Foster calls on his client, in The Falling Star "Yeah, I'd always … Continue reading The Twenty-Year Death Trilogy

Stone & Stine (City of Angels)

Music by Cy Coleman Lyrics by David Zippel Book by Larry Gelbart ''It's as though I was hit by a wrecking ball wearing a pinky ring'' -- Stone City of Angels was an ambitious and well-received musical comedy that wowed them on Broadway in 1989, written by Larry (M*A*S*H) Gelbart, with music by Cy Coleman and lyrics … Continue reading Stone & Stine (City of Angels)

John Collins

Created by Norbert Davis (1909-49) “John Collins was playing the Beale Street Blues and playing it soft and sad because that was the way he felt. The notes dripped through the dimness of the room like molasses and provided an appropriate accompaniment to his thoughts. He had a hangover.” -- the intro to "Don’t You … Continue reading John Collins

Harry Lockhart & Gay Perry (Kiss Kiss Bang Bang)

Created by Shane Black "You don't get it, do you? This isn't good cop, bad cop. This is fag and New Yorker." -- Perry sums up the premise for Harry In Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, Shane Black's entertaining 2005 comedy thriller, HARRY LOCKHART (a pre-Iron Man Robert Downey Jr., on his fourteenth or so "comeback"), … Continue reading Harry Lockhart & Gay Perry (Kiss Kiss Bang Bang)