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Private Dicks

Nov 5th 2007Suzanne Enoch
Suzanne EnochMy Life As A Plebe

magnum.jpgI wonder in which search engines that headline will appear. Anyway, yesterday’s FROS (For Refreshment Only Sunday) on the subject of cops got me to thinking. As far as drama and mysteries go, only one thing beats a cop show on television. And that’s a private eye show.

Cops know the law and have to follow it, or they stop being heroes. Okay, yes, they might on occasion punch somebody who really deserves it, or look the other way for a moment to protect the greater good. But as cops, they have to follow certain rules.angel.jpg

Private investigators, on the other hand, know the rules but almost never follow them. Some of them are former cops, loads of them seem to be former members of the military, and all of them have some sort of chip on their shoulders. Something to prove. They can rough up a suspect, shoot people in the leg, hang bad guys out of windows by their feet, and go to extreme measures to see justice done. The only rule is that they can’t get caught breaking the rules.

simon.jpgMy infatuation with private detectives began with Magnum, P.I. Then came Simon & Simon (I had such a crush on Jameson Parker), and Moonlighting. More recently, Angel and Veronica Mars and now Moonlight feature guys and gals who regularly bend the rules, and in some cases happen to not even be human. That’s pretty bent.

Which do you prefer, cop shows, or P.I. shows? Who are some of your favorite private eyes?moonlighting.jpg

48 Comments »

48 Responses to “Private Dicks”

  1. Stacy ~ on 05 Nov 2007 at 6:25 am #

    I’m with you Suzanne, I’ve always preferred P.I. shows over cop shows, though I like those two. Definitely loved David & Maddy from “Moonlighting”. Angel and his motley crew from “Angel”. I don’t watch much t.v. now, so I don’t really know the current ones, but I love me some good drama.

  2. Sherri Erwin on 05 Nov 2007 at 8:18 am #

    PI Shows! I love going along to solve a mystery. Angel was good, but I think it got to be a bit much toward the end. I like David Boreanaz on Bones now, too.

  3. cail on 05 Nov 2007 at 8:27 am #

    Law and Order!! Definitely my favorite cop/PI series. Dragnet was great too.

  4. Gannon on 05 Nov 2007 at 8:30 am #

    P.I. shows, definitely. I adored Magnum, P.I (and Tom Selleck’s dimples!), and David and Maddy’s sparring on Moonlighting.

    My current obsession is Moonlight. A hot vampire who’s a P.I.–what’s not to love!

  5. SuzyQ on 05 Nov 2007 at 8:31 am #

    I prefer PI shows to cop shows and I loved all those you listed. But one of my all time favs was Remington Steele.

  6. Karen Rose on 05 Nov 2007 at 8:55 am #

    How about Quincy? He wasn’t hot and not a PI, but I’ve watched some old episodes on cable recently and they’re still pretty good. I always wondered why that boss of his just didn’t give in and let Quincy do what he wanted. He was never wrong :-)

  7. Meg on 05 Nov 2007 at 9:07 am #

    I don’t have a preference really. Just depends on the show, I guess. But I always loved Scott Backula in Quantum Leap. I don’t think that would qulify as a PI show, though. But he was always tring to catch a bad guy/stop something bad from happining/solve a mystery. Wasn’t that the reason for his leaps (aside from trying to get home)?

  8. Karen Hawkins on 05 Nov 2007 at 9:23 am #

    Well, in my PERSONAL life, I’m fond of cops. (ahem!) But for tv, I love PIs. I just watched Bogart play Sam Spade in The Maltese Falcon and was soooo in love with him by the end of the show. He can (and does) bend the rules, is hard as nails, and yet there’s a bit of vulnerability.

    And what about Tanner? Wasn’t he so HOT? I loved both Magnum and Simon and Simon, too. The interplay between the very different brothers was hysterical! And what’s not to love about Tom Selleck in a Ferrari? Oh, and wasn’t Moonlighting incredible? The tension between Maddie and Davis was palpable.

    Oh, great topic, Suzanne! You’ve got me walking down memory lane!

  9. Santa on 05 Nov 2007 at 9:27 am #

    LOL, I almost added Magnum, PI to yesterday’s list of hot cops when I remembered he was a PI. I LOVE PI shows too! And Moonlighting was one of my all time favorites! And Remington Steele introduced me to Pierce Bronson who continues to be delish. Come to think of it Tom Selleck isn’t that hard on the eyes either. Has anyone seen him on Vegas lately? Verra nice. Say, I know he only works security on the show but the guy who plays Dan on that show is also quite loverly to look at. Not to mention his trusty aide Mike? I love their office. That’s quite the control panel they have set up there. Do hotel dicks count? Am I on a tangent?

  10. doglady on 05 Nov 2007 at 9:54 am #

    Loved Remington Steele. He was so smooth and I continue to love Pierce Brosnan in almost anything. I am really enjoying Moonlight. Much better than I thought it would be. Nothing like having your own personal cop, eh Karen??

  11. Santa on 05 Nov 2007 at 10:16 am #

    I almost forgot about Tanner! Wasn’t he the guy who parked his car in his apartment? Robert Urich played him. Come to think of it, he was also on that show ‘S.W.A.T.”–a cop show!

  12. PJ on 05 Nov 2007 at 10:29 am #

    Great topic!

    Ditto on Tom Selleck as Magnum, Moonlighting, Remington Steele (sigh), Simon & Simon and the current Moonlight (awesome show!).

    I adored Robert Urich. He was very sexy, seemed like a really nice guy, was devoted to his family and, unfortunately, died way too young. He played Dan Tanna in the TV show Vega$, was terrific in Spenser: For Hire and was a pretty awesome cowboy too.

  13. Buffie on 05 Nov 2007 at 10:35 am #

    I am currently falling in love with Mick, the private eye/vampire on the tv series Moonlight. Yumm-O!!!

  14. Claudia Dain on 05 Nov 2007 at 10:52 am #

    Great topic! I loved Magnum and find it amazing that the episodes, more than 20 years old now, are still entertaining. It’s the relationships between the guys—so fun to watch them bicker.

    Moonlighting–loved it, until they got together. Why does that always happen?

    I love all the L&O dynasty, so the cops have something to offer,too. I think I may be more of a Cop Chick than a PI Chick. I gave Moonlight one try and I thought it was boring. Did I get a bum episode?

    Has anyone tried Pushing Daisies? It’s a very loose PI show and I love it. Love, love, love.

    I’ve just discovered Bones, sometime in the middle of last season. The hook? David B. I adored him in Angel and I love him in Bones. I think they could put him in a Saturday AM show for kids and I’d watch.

  15. SuzyQ on 05 Nov 2007 at 11:04 am #

    I just thought of another show. Anyone remember Hart to Hart?

  16. ct009ct on 05 Nov 2007 at 11:18 am #

    Proving once again that I’m ancient (ok, not really but older than most of you)- does anyone remember “The Rockford Files” I Loved James Garner.

  17. Suzanne Enoch on 05 Nov 2007 at 11:21 am #

    Oh, I can’t believe I forgot Remington Steele! It’s amazing how many PI shows have been on the air. Yes, Hart to Hart, Vega$, Spencer for Hire, Quincy (even though he worked for the County, I’ll count him as a PI since he wasn’t supposed to be doing that stuff *g*).

    And I thought of some others, too. Riptide, McMillan & Wife, Tenspeed & Brownshoe. There have to be more.

    Oh, Claudia, do try Moonlight again. The romance is really starting to heat up. Did you know it was created by Ron Koslow, the same guy behind Beauty & the Beast?

  18. colinfirthfan on 05 Nov 2007 at 12:13 pm #

    Loved Remington Steele.
    Currently my fave show is - BONES!
    I hear Chuck is funny but I haven’t seen it as yet. I liked Starsky and Hutch though I have only seen very few of them (on video about 15 years ago). I also loved Hart to Hart (is that how it is spelt?) Again I saw that show when I was 13 or something like that on video!c

  19. Lisa H on 05 Nov 2007 at 12:16 pm #

    The oldies I loved were, Hart to Hart and Moonlighting.

    I used to enjoy Law and Order and CSI Miami, but got tired of them after a few years.

    My new favorite is MONK—I love him, he is intelligent, perceptive and very sweet.

    And yes, I used to enjoy Rockford files. Anyone remember his famous line, “I charge $200.00 per day plus expenses.”
    That was a lot of money in the 70’s!

  20. colinfirthfan on 05 Nov 2007 at 12:30 pm #

    Lisa - I forgot Monk. His character is soo funny. Though sometimes I get a bit frustrated with him :-)

  21. Claudia Dain on 05 Nov 2007 at 12:31 pm #

    I loved Hart to Hart; they were so adorable together. I loved their house, that long white sofa, those ice blue throw pillows.

    Suzanne, I loved Beauty and The Beast, so maybe I should revisit Moonlight. My main problems with the episode I watched was that I thought the action was too slow and the hero too beta. Plus, I don’t find him sexy. Don’t hit me!

  22. Karen Hawkins on 05 Nov 2007 at 12:35 pm #

    Remington Steele . . . . drooollllllll!

  23. Lisa H on 05 Nov 2007 at 12:55 pm #

    Hey Karen, while we’re reminicing, remember the drool buckets on Saturday Night Live! LOL

  24. Suzanne Enoch on 05 Nov 2007 at 1:06 pm #

    Speaking of Moonlighting, when I started working on my contemporary humorous-romantic-suspense series, I named my hero Rick Addison — in honor of David Addison.

  25. Sabrina Jeffries on 05 Nov 2007 at 1:28 pm #

    Like Claudia, I prefer cops to P.I.’s (with Miami Vice, the C&I’s, Cold Case, and Without a Trace being my all-time favorites, and I’m really loving K-ville), but I did like a few P.I. shows, too: Remington Steele (Pierce Brosnan is yummy!), Charlie’s Angels, Simon and Simon, Starsky and Hutch, Hart to Hart … hmm, I think I’m seeing a pattern here. I like the pairs, I think. I can’t think of any new P.I. shows I like, though. Not sure why.

  26. Karen Hawkins on 05 Nov 2007 at 1:44 pm #

    Oh my gosh! Drool buckets! I hadn’t thought of those in forever! Although I’ve been on a SNL kick lately as my dh has been emailing me Will Ferrell doing Alex Trebeck on SNL with a bunch of less than brain-powered ’stars’ as guests — like Burt Reynolds and the squinty eyed guy from Third Rock. VERY funny!

    I totally forgot the Rockford Files, which I used to love when I was young. James Garner ALWAYS plays the coolest people. Didn’t you guys enjoy him in the movie remake of Maverick with Mel Gibson and Jodi Foster?

    Speaking of PIS and westerns, what about special agents? As in the WILD WILD WEST? Oh my gosh, I LOOOOOVED Jim West in his tight black pants! And the way they did the cartoons between scenes was sooo nifty. And Artemus Gordon and his disguises. An awesome, awesome series.

  27. Karen Hawkins on 05 Nov 2007 at 1:45 pm #

    Suzie, I didn’t get the Addison connection and I should have. I love it when an author gives a ‘nod’ and I catch it. I can’t believe I didn’t catch that one!

  28. cail on 05 Nov 2007 at 1:48 pm #

    i can’t believe i forgot Monk!! That’s one of my fav shows. Psych, which often follows, is also a great PI show.

  29. Caren Crane on 05 Nov 2007 at 1:52 pm #

    OMG, The Rockford Files! Magnum PI! Remington Steele! I adored all those shows. I loved the tough guys skirting the law and bending the rules. I also liked rogue cops (Starsky and Hutch!), but the PIs were my favorite. Of course, I was really young when lots of these were popular, so it took some thinking to figure out exactly what a PI was. But it didn’t stop me from loving them! The only times I got annoyed were when they handed the bad guys over to the cops. I was always thinking, “But you did all the work and those lame cops are going to get the credit!” *g*

  30. Caren Crane on 05 Nov 2007 at 1:53 pm #

    Karen, you had to mention Jim West, didn’t you? Now I’m going to have naughty thoughts all afternoon. Oh, well! *g*

  31. Karen Hawkins on 05 Nov 2007 at 1:59 pm #

    Tight. Black. Pants. Mmmmmm.

    That’s all I’m sayin’!

  32. colinfirthfan on 05 Nov 2007 at 2:12 pm #

    Darn it - I forgot Psych as well. I LOVE psych. It is tooo funny.

  33. Santa on 05 Nov 2007 at 2:21 pm #

    Robert Conrad played Jim West and he was HAWT. Those ice blue eyes of his and those tight black pants…..mmmmmm.

    Yummy to my pre-adolescent, well, you know whats.

    I have caught a few of episodes of ‘Moonlight’ and love it. I absolutely adored Beauty & the Beast!

  34. dbrown3400 on 05 Nov 2007 at 2:29 pm #

    I like all of the above, I guess, because I cut my baby teeth (well, molars) on Richard Diamond, Private Detective and Hawaiian Eye. David Janssen was always one of my faves as was Robert Conrad who came to Tulsa when I was fifteen to do a show on surfing. Go figure, surfing in OK. But WOW it was worth going to see his sexy blue eyes. I’ve watched almost all the shows mentioned but must confess to liking both PIs and cops.

    When watching Remington Steele I knew Pierce Brosnan would make it big. Loved Joe Penny in Riptide and all those B for TV movies he made. Wasn’t he in another show that I am forgetting?

    I could go on for days as those shows kept me going season after season. Yes, Magnum is still my favorite.

  35. dbrown3400 on 05 Nov 2007 at 2:31 pm #

    I like what I’ve seen of Moonlight so far. I’m not so crazy about the female lead, but the vamp is hot.

  36. Suzanne Enoch on 05 Nov 2007 at 2:44 pm #

    Karen, we’re totally counting Western special agents as private eyes — at least for purposes of this blog. I LOVED that show.

    dbrown, the funny thing about “Moonlight” is that the female lead played a vampire in the “Underworld” movies. She was the blonde who wanted Kraven and kind of helped out Selena.

  37. SuzyQ on 05 Nov 2007 at 3:50 pm #

    Thanks Suzie! I knew I had seen the actress from Moonlight before but just couldn’t place her.

  38. Judy F on 05 Nov 2007 at 4:32 pm #

    Oh I love Moonlight. He is just yummy.

    I loved Remington Steele, Magnum PI. Etc.

  39. dbrown3400 on 05 Nov 2007 at 5:01 pm #

    Thanks for the info, Suzie. I’ll need to watch a few more of the shows to give her a better chance. I’m not familiar with the Underworld series but I’ve seen her someplace else that I can’t remember.

  40. Gannon on 05 Nov 2007 at 5:27 pm #

    I can’t believe I forgot Remington Steele! Pierce is so yummy! And Karen, a big YEAH BABY to Jim West’s tight black pants!…..*sigh*

  41. PJ on 05 Nov 2007 at 6:18 pm #

    dbrown, Joe Penny co-starred with William Conrad in the crime drama,”Jake and the Fatman” from 1987 - 1992.

  42. Ladytink_534 on 05 Nov 2007 at 6:24 pm #

    I LOVE Moonlight. After they cancelled my Veronica Mars I had to get my Jason Dohring fix somewhere!

  43. dbrown3400 on 05 Nov 2007 at 7:06 pm #

    Thanks, PJ. I was going nuts trying to think of that show. And to believe I never missed an episode.

    Donna

  44. Aspen on 05 Nov 2007 at 8:31 pm #

    Has anyone said “Blood Ties” yet? I know the heroine is a bit alpha but its still a great show! A bit of trivia the heroine Victoria Nelson played a dominatrix in one of the House episodes. :)

    Anyway, I agree Moonlight is great! I think Suzanne said she liked “Veronica Mars?” (Another great PI show) Mick St. John’s vampire friend was Veronicas boyfriend on the show.

    This probably doesn’t make any sense but I’ll post it anyway.
    Aspen

    P.s.
    Congradulations Doglady! I am sooooo jealous. :)

  45. Suzanne Enoch on 05 Nov 2007 at 8:50 pm #

    Ah yes, Aspen! “Blood Ties” is fun — though I wish they would push the romance between Henry Fitzroy and Vicky.

    Another show with a vampire as a PI — the bastard son of Henry VIII who also writes and draws graphic novels. And the heroine is a former cop with retinitis pigmintosa (don’t quote me on the spelling) who’s been marked by a demon.

  46. SnikWhite on 06 Nov 2007 at 1:45 pm #

    I must agree with you and say that Simon and Simon were by far my favorite back in the day…Magnum PI was just too….fuzzy. (My dad was the missing link when it came to body hair, and I just cannot stomach hairy men lol) Currently though, I am hooked on Angel and CSI equally…CSI Vegas is the best for the record.

  47. TinaLouiseF on 07 Nov 2007 at 12:27 am #

    Christina Cox of Blood Ties was on an episode of Bones.

    Currently those are the only shows I’m watching. Thank goodness both are available on-line so I can catch up after I return from Spokane.

    When The Closer returns, I’ll watch that again.

    I got tired of CSI: Las Vegas after 6 seasons.

    Really liked Due South (first 2 seasons), Hunter, JAG, NCIS, Profiler, Remington Steele, Silk Stalking (first 2 seasons). Can you tell I’m reading from my DVD collection sitting across from me?

  48. Gavin King on 01 Apr 2008 at 12:04 pm #

    I prefer my Private Dicks fast, poppy and English!

    http://www.myspace.com/privatedicks1979bristol