Top 5 Private Detective TV Shows
In honor of the passing of Mike Connors, I give you the top five private detective TV shows of all time. As picked by me. In each case, (pardon the pun) the show IS the lead. The knight errant, always fighting for the right, usually getting double crossed, usually sarcastic, and a bit of a chip on the shoulder. Like a dog with a bone, they will-not-give-up. Ever. They can't. It's not physically possible. I love noir and neo-noir. Beat down, he always gets back up.
#5. Johnny Staccato. "John Cassavetes, is a jazz pianist/private detective." You don't need to know any thing else!
#4. Mannix. A late 60's, early 70's pulp private detective. Perhaps not as well written as some of the other shows on this list, Mike Conners WAS the character. He had a swagger.
#3. Peter Gunn. The classic pulp detective brought to life. Cool, smart, nothing can phase him. Like Johnny Staccato, the show is infused with jazz cool. Right down to his girl, a lounge singer.
#2. Public Eye. I just recently found this show, and what a revelation! The writing is SUPERB. And, like all the other shows on this list, the lead, Frank Marker (Alfred Burke) carries the show. "Come Into The Garden Rose" is a devastating masterclass in writing and acting.
#1. The Rockford Files. The last great detective. To my mind, there is no one finer than James Garner as Jim Rockford. I love everything about the show. The time period, the writing, but most of all it's Garner. A good deal of the time it takes the pulp detective themes and turns them on their head. PERFECT TV.
*POSTSCRIPT: I don't know how, but I forgot Banacek! Tied for #3. Dated, oh yeah, amazing/ridiculous stories, sure, but as mentioned concerning the other shows, George Peppard as the lead makes this show what it is. Classic TV.
#5. Johnny Staccato. "John Cassavetes, is a jazz pianist/private detective." You don't need to know any thing else!
#4. Mannix. A late 60's, early 70's pulp private detective. Perhaps not as well written as some of the other shows on this list, Mike Conners WAS the character. He had a swagger.
#3. Peter Gunn. The classic pulp detective brought to life. Cool, smart, nothing can phase him. Like Johnny Staccato, the show is infused with jazz cool. Right down to his girl, a lounge singer.
#2. Public Eye. I just recently found this show, and what a revelation! The writing is SUPERB. And, like all the other shows on this list, the lead, Frank Marker (Alfred Burke) carries the show. "Come Into The Garden Rose" is a devastating masterclass in writing and acting.
#1. The Rockford Files. The last great detective. To my mind, there is no one finer than James Garner as Jim Rockford. I love everything about the show. The time period, the writing, but most of all it's Garner. A good deal of the time it takes the pulp detective themes and turns them on their head. PERFECT TV.
*POSTSCRIPT: I don't know how, but I forgot Banacek! Tied for #3. Dated, oh yeah, amazing/ridiculous stories, sure, but as mentioned concerning the other shows, George Peppard as the lead makes this show what it is. Classic TV.