Television Anthology Series (1961-63, NBC) Hosted by crooner-turned-amiable-tough-guy Dick Powell, the aptly titled THE DICK POWELL SHOW (aka “The Dick Powell Theatre," "The Dick Powell Reynolds Aluminum Show") was the actor/host/producer’s his last anthology show, but it was a good one, a quality production garnering Emmy nominations for Outstanding Dramatic Achievement for both seasons it was … Continue reading The Dick Powell Show
Tag: Television Anthology Series
J.F. Kelly (“Last of the Private Eyes”)
Created by Richard Carr and Robert L. Jacks “It’s a dirty business.” — Kelly takes the case. “Last of the Private Eyes,” which aired on April 30, 1963, was the final episode of The Dick Powell Show, and made no bones about it—it’s a tongue-in-cheek parody of the genre. Here's guest host Ronald Reagan in his … Continue reading J.F. Kelly (“Last of the Private Eyes”)
Pedro Gomez & Dennis “Hardball” Bakelenekoff (Grand Slam)
Created by Bill L. Norton In this extremely short-lived action/adventure series, comic Paul Rodriguez and John "Dukes of Hazzard" Schneider starred as PEDRO GOMEZ and DENNIS "HARDBALL" BAKELENEKOFF, bounty hunters for competing firms who eventually team up to nail a ruthless South American drug dealer, and end up going into business together, despite the fact they … Continue reading Pedro Gomez & Dennis “Hardball” Bakelenekoff (Grand Slam)
Corbucci (Le débarcadère des anges)
Created by Patrick Raynal Part of the 2009 hard-boiled French TV anthology series Suite Noir, eight films which paired up-and-coming directors with works by some of France's hottst crime novelists, the "Le débarcadère des anges" (which translates as "Fright of an Angel) episode was based on the novel of the same title, by French hotshot noirista Patrick … Continue reading Corbucci (Le débarcadère des anges)
The George Sanders Mystery Theater
(1957, NBC) (aka "Mystery Writers Theater" in syndication) THE GEORGE SANDERS MYSTERY THEATER was a thirty-minute mystery drama series, aired as a summer replacement series. It was hosted by Sanders (The Falcon!), who would introduce stories adapted from the works of members of the Mystery Writers of America--while wandering around the MWA's "club." Or at … Continue reading The George Sanders Mystery Theater
The NBC Mystery Movie
Television Anthology Series (1971-77, NBC) The NBC Mystery Movie was a "wheel show", airing several programs within the same period throughout the season. In its first season, 1971–72, it featured McCloud, McMillan & Wife and, most famously, Columbo, by far its more successful of the series, although each of the initial three lasted the entire run. After that … Continue reading The NBC Mystery Movie
The ABC Mystery Movie
Television Anthology Series (1989-90, ABC) The ABC Mystery Movie (aka "The ABC Monday Mystery Movie") was a short-lived attempt to revive the mystery wheel format pioneered by NBC from 1971-77 on The NBC Mystery Movie. It even revived the show's most successful series, Columbo, with Peter Falk returning in the title role. They also added two … Continue reading The ABC Mystery Movie
The NBC Friday Night Mystery
Television Anthology Series (1993-95, NBC) In the fall of 1993, NBC made a valiant attempt to revive the mystery wheel format it had first introduced way back in 1971 with The NBC Mystery Movie, which had given the world such memorable series as McMillan and Wife, Banacek, and Columbo, among others. But this version was much … Continue reading The NBC Friday Night Mystery
Pursuit
Television Anthology Series PURSUIT was a short-lived American television anthology series from CBS, focussing on crime and suspense stories about people being pursued by others. The airwaves at the time were crowded with similar shows, such as Alfred Hitchcock Presents, Suspicion or Kraft Mystery Theatre, and Pursuit didn't stay around for too long, only airing twelve episodes. … Continue reading Pursuit
Suspicion
Television Anthology Series Suspicion was a short-lived American television anthology series from NBC that only lasted one season, and focussed mostly (but not exclusively) on murder and mystery stories, with many of the episodes filmed live. The executive producer of ten of the filmed episodes was film director Alfred Hitchcock, and he even directed the … Continue reading Suspicion