# On TV it seems like everybody solves murders but actual detectives **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** tv-shows-scripted\ **Created:** [February 24, 2021, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-tv-it-seems-like-everybody-solves-murders-but-actual-detectives/933641 "2021-02-24T14:52:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Pavelb1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/439d5e/32.png) [@Pavelb1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pavelb1)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2021, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-tv-it-seems-like-everybody-solves-murders-but-actual-detectives/933641/61 "2021-02-25T17:00:01Z")
I still maintain that “Charlies Angels” were the first people duped by some sort of proto SD-6 (See Alias) They quit being police to work for a guy they never saw?? ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2021, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-tv-it-seems-like-everybody-solves-murders-but-actual-detectives/933641/62 "2021-02-25T17:05:05Z")
> [@Pavelb1](#): > > They quit being police to work for a guy they never saw?? They got bored by their “very hazardous duties”. Charlie took them away from all that. ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2021, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-tv-it-seems-like-everybody-solves-murders-but-actual-detectives/933641/63 "2021-02-25T17:05:34Z")
> [@solost](#): > > When I was a kid I bought an LP that had two episodes of ‘The Shadow’-- one on each side. I loved it. “Who knows…what evil…lurks…in the hearts of men? The Shadow knows!” > > I wonder if the creators of ‘Batman’ got their idea from ‘The Shadow’. He kind of sounds like a proto-Batman. But Batman dates from the 30s I believe, so maybe not. It was also made into [a mostly forgotten 1994 movie starring Alex Baldwin and Jone Lone](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0111143/) which, despite some pacing and editing problems was a pretty entertaining pulp thriller with scenery chewing performances by Lone and sycophantic flunky Tim Curry. The film presentation clearly embraces some of the more mystical aspects—both Cranston and his arch-nemesis Shirwan Khan have “the power to cloud men’s minds” including, in Khan’s case, the ability to make people do his absolute bidding—and both shows the influence from Tim Burton’s _Batman_ film and influence upon Christopher Nolan’s _Batman Begins_. _The Shadow_ was, as noted, a prototype for wealthy vigilante “superheros” like Batman/Bruce Wayne, Green Arrow/Oliver Queen, et cetera who have both a tortured backstory and some kind of prenatural physical abilities. Stranger ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2021, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-tv-it-seems-like-everybody-solves-murders-but-actual-detectives/933641/64 "2021-02-25T17:15:07Z")
> [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](#): > > It was also made into [a mostly forgotten 1994 movie starring Alex Baldwin and Jone Lone](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0111143/) which, despite some pacing and editing problems was a pretty entertaining pulp thriller with scenery chewing performances by Lone and sycophantic flunky Tim Curry. Thanks for the rec! Was totallly off my radar-- if I had ever heard about it, I since forgot it existed. I’m glad they kept it in the 30s rather than update it to then-90s present day. I’ll have to catch it when we subscribe to HBO Max soon… ---
**Author:** ![TiberiusNeroClaudius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f04885/32.png) [@TiberiusNeroClaudius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TiberiusNeroClaudius)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2021, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-tv-it-seems-like-everybody-solves-murders-but-actual-detectives/933641/65 "2021-02-25T17:36:41Z")
Bosley was so sexy they couldn’t resist working with him and gave up police paperwork and working as school crossing guards. ---
**Author:** ![PatrickLondon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/patricklondon/32/4422_2.png) [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2021, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-tv-it-seems-like-everybody-solves-murders-but-actual-detectives/933641/66 "2021-02-25T18:16:53Z")
> Last few days I am currently on a 1950s BBC sci-fi show called Journey into Space Oh good Lord, that was the highlight of my evening as a child. Wrenching the thread back on topic, the BBC also had a long-running radio series about the amateur detective [Paul Temple](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Temple). ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2021, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-tv-it-seems-like-everybody-solves-murders-but-actual-detectives/933641/67 "2021-02-25T18:28:32Z")
> [@Boycott](#): > > The Shadow pre-dates Batman so I’m sure there was inspiration for Batman. The Shadow comics which pre-dates the radio show were different than the radio show and more in line with Batman too. In the comics he had more powers as a crimefighter and Ms Margo Lane was more of a female nuisance who ascended to join The Shadow as a crimefighter too but in the radio show she is his “lovely companion” and obviously but never overtly confirmed romantic partner. > > The Shadow as a character on radio initially was just a sinister sounding host introducing whatever actual drama was scheduled to begin. But so many people were intrigued and thought he had his own comics which got produced as a result of the demand. The popularity got his own radio show. Batman’s antecedents include the Shadow, but more important is the Scarlet Pimpernel (in his origin, they didn’t even bother to file off the serial numbers from Percy Blakesley) and Jimmy Dale (who had an alter ego called 'The Bat," was a master of disguise, and who had a secret sanctum (i.e., a Batcave). Note, too, that the Shadow that influenced Batman was the pulp magazine version, who had no supernatural powers and was far more violent than either Batman or the radio show, usually pictured with two automatics in his hands – that he freely used. ---
**Author:** ![filmore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7993a0/32.png) [@filmore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmore)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2021, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-tv-it-seems-like-everybody-solves-murders-but-actual-detectives/933641/68 "2021-02-25T18:43:13Z")
> [@Pavelb1](#): > > I still maintain that “Charlies Angels” were the first people duped by some sort of proto SD-6 (See Alias) > > They quit being police to work for a guy they never saw?? Were the police shown to be involved in any of the cases the Angels were investigating? I don’t remember that being the case. The Angels would be looking into a murder or kidnapping and there never seemed to be any police investigating the crime. I can kind of understand a break-in or kidnapping being investigated privately, but it would seem like a murder would need to have the police involved. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2021, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-tv-it-seems-like-everybody-solves-murders-but-actual-detectives/933641/69 "2021-02-25T18:44:18Z")
> [@Pavelb1](#): > > They quit being police to work for a guy they never saw?? I’ve never met my immediate boss. As long as the checks are for the right amount and they clear the bank I prefer it that way. I bet he does too, although not for the same reasons. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2021, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-tv-it-seems-like-everybody-solves-murders-but-actual-detectives/933641/70 "2021-02-25T20:10:21Z")
> [@Pavelb1](#): > > They quit being police to work for a guy they never saw?? Part of the reason I quit watching CA was the fact I hated “Charlie”. He was frankly a coward, literally hiding behind the skirts of his angels. So what if he put away many dangerous people. So did Kojak, McGarrett, Baretta, etc etc etc - you’d never see them cowering in their bunker, too scared to even show their faces. ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2021, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-tv-it-seems-like-everybody-solves-murders-but-actual-detectives/933641/71 "2021-02-25T20:14:04Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > Part of the reason I quit watching CA was the fact I hated “Charlie”. He was frankly a coward, literally hiding behind the skirts of his angels. I got the impression Charlie was kind of a horndog-- he was always getting waited on or massaged by beautiful women. Maybe not meeting in person with the angels was his way to avoid temptation and make sure the relationship stayed professional. ---
**Author:** ![TiberiusNeroClaudius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f04885/32.png) [@TiberiusNeroClaudius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TiberiusNeroClaudius)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2021, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-tv-it-seems-like-everybody-solves-murders-but-actual-detectives/933641/72 "2021-02-25T20:21:31Z")
Charlie had several cases without charging a fee…it was obviously not realistic. But the Angels always used their real names when they went on a case so the criminals weren’t too smart. ---
**Author:** ![kitap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b9e5f3/32.png) [@kitap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kitap)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2021, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-tv-it-seems-like-everybody-solves-murders-but-actual-detectives/933641/73 "2021-02-26T00:01:46Z")
[quote=“solost, post:64, topic:933641, full:true”] > [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](#): > > It was also made into [a mostly forgotten 1994 movie starring Alex Baldwin and Jone Lone](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0111143/) which, despite some pacing and editing problems was a pretty entertaining pulp thriller with scenery chewing performances by Lone and sycophantic flunky Tim Curry. Thanks for the rec! Was totallly off my radar-- if I had ever heard about it, I since forgot it existed. I’m glad they kept it in the 30s rather than update it to then-90s present day. I’ll have to catch it when we subscribe to HBO Max soon… [/quote]C I like this movie quite a bit and have it on DVD. I think Alec Baldwin was a good choice for the role. ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2021, 9:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-tv-it-seems-like-everybody-solves-murders-but-actual-detectives/933641/74 "2021-02-26T09:30:27Z")
If you really want to be a completist, see if you can find these From [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page) > The Shadow character has been adapted for film shorts and films. > > ### Shadow film shorts (1931–1932) > > In 1931 [Universal Pictures](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universal_Studios) created a series of six film shorts based on the popular _Detective Story Hour_ radio program, narrated by The Shadow. The first short, _A Burglar to the Rescue,_ was filmed in New York City and features the voice of The Shadow on radio, Frank Readick Jr. Beginning with the second short, _The House of Mystery_ , the series was produced in Hollywood without the voice of Readick as The Shadow; it was followed by _The Circus Show-Up_ and three additional shorts the following year with other voice actors portraying The Shadow. > > ### _The Shadow Strikes_ (1937) > > The film _[The Shadow Strikes](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Shadow_Strikes)_ was released in 1937, starring [Rod La Rocque](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rod_La_Rocque) in the title role. Lamont Granston (as his name was spelled in both opening credits and a newspaper article) assumes the secret identity of “The Shadow” in order to thwart an attempted robbery at an attorney’s office. Both _The Shadow Strikes_ (1937) and its sequel, _International Crime_ (1938), were released by [Grand National Pictures](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_National_Films_Inc.). > > ### _International Crime_ (1938) > > La Rocque returned the following year in _[International Crime](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Crime_(1938_film))_ . In this version, reporter Lamont Cranston (despite being spelled Granston in the previous film) is an amateur [criminologist](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Criminology) and detective who uses the name of “The Shadow” as a radio gimmick. Thomas Jackson portrayed Police Commissioner Weston, and Astrid Allwyn was cast as Phoebe Lane, Cranston’s assistant. > > ### _The Shadow_ (1940) > > _[The Shadow](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Shadow_(serial))_ , a 15-chapter movie [serial](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serial_film), produced by [Columbia Pictures](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbia_Pictures) and starring [Victor Jory](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victor_Jory), premiered in theaters in 1940. The serial’s villain, The Black Tiger, is a criminal mastermind who sabotages rail lines and factories across the [United States](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States). Lamont Cranston must become his shadowy alter ego in order to unmask the criminal and halt his fiendish crime spree. As The Shadow, Jory wears an all-black suit and cloak, as well as a black [bandana](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kerchief) that helps conceal his facial features. > > ### _The Shadow Returns_ , etc. (1946) > > Low-budget motion picture studio [Monogram Pictures](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monogram_Pictures) produced a trio of quickie Shadow B-movie features in 1946 starring [Kane Richmond](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kane_Richmond): _[The Shadow Returns](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Shadow_Returns)_ , _[Behind the Mask](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Behind_the_Mask_(1946_film))_ and _[The Missing Lady](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Missing_Lady)_ . Richmond’s Shadow wore all black, including a trench coat, a wide-brimmed fedora, and a full face-mask similar to the type worn by movie serial hero [The Masked Marvel](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Masked_Marvel), instead of the character’s signature black cape with red lining and red scarf. > > ### _Invisible Avenger_ (1958) > > Episodes of a [television pilot](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Television_pilot) shot in 1957 were edited into the 1958 theatrical feature _[Invisible Avenger](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Invisible_Avenger)_ , rereleased in 1962 as _Bourbon Street Shadows_ .[[28]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Shadow#cite_note-28)[[29]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Shadow#cite_note-29) ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2021, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-tv-it-seems-like-everybody-solves-murders-but-actual-detectives/933641/75 "2021-02-26T13:40:11Z")
> [@mbh](#): > > If you really want to be a completist, see if you can find these Thanks **mbh** , that’s quite a list! I have to admit though, my interest in the character is only a mere shadow of that, hehe 😊 ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2021, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-tv-it-seems-like-everybody-solves-murders-but-actual-detectives/933641/76 "2021-02-26T13:56:32Z")
> [@Boycott](#): > > The Shadow pre-dates Batman so I’m sure there was inspiration for Batman. The Shadow comics which pre-dates the radio show were different than the radio show and more in line with Batman too. In the comics he had more powers as a crimefighter and Ms Margo Lane was more of a female nuisance who ascended to join The Shadow as a crimefighter too but in the radio show she is his “lovely companion” and obviously but never overtly confirmed romantic partner. Superman’s Lois Lane was named after Margo. Batman was largely inspired by Zorro, of course. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2021, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-tv-it-seems-like-everybody-solves-murders-but-actual-detectives/933641/77 "2021-02-26T14:03:21Z")
They say the first Batman story was [“a take-off on a Shadow story”](https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.cbr.com/comic-book-legends-revealed-484/amp/), which when you look at the details seems like a heck of an understatement. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2021, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-tv-it-seems-like-everybody-solves-murders-but-actual-detectives/933641/78 "2021-02-26T20:39:22Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > > [@Boycott](#): > > > > The Shadow pre-dates Batman so I’m sure there was inspiration for Batman. The Shadow comics which pre-dates the radio show were different than the radio show and more in line with Batman too. In the comics he had more powers as a crimefighter and Ms Margo Lane was more of a female nuisance who ascended to join The Shadow as a crimefighter too but in the radio show she is his “lovely companion” and obviously but never overtly confirmed romantic partner. > > Batman was largely inspired by Zorro, of course. More strongly from the Scarlet Pimpernel (the first issue he’s channelling Sir Percy Blakely) and Jimmy Dale. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2021, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-tv-it-seems-like-everybody-solves-murders-but-actual-detectives/933641/79 "2021-02-26T23:37:38Z")
My Mom used to go on about the Scarlet Pimpernel on the radio in the 1930s. That’s a name I’ve not heard in a very long time. … A very long time. ---
**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2021, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-tv-it-seems-like-everybody-solves-murders-but-actual-detectives/933641/80 "2021-02-27T01:11:20Z")
> [@solost](#): > > They got bored by their “very hazardous duties”. Charlie took them away from all that. I was like, 9 to 14, maybe 15 when that show was on, clueless as to how campy it was, and much too serious for my own good, so I was very much invested at being offended by what I perceived as “anti-feminist” sensibilities. When I was in my 30s, someone pointed out to me that the police departments the women worked for gave them very unexciting duties, that were very much “women’s work.” Charlie finally let them do what they’d gone to the police academy hoping to do. Uh… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-tv-it-seems-like-everybody-solves-murders-but-actual-detectives/933641.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-tv-it-seems-like-everybody-solves-murders-but-actual-detectives/933641.md?page=5)