# Perry Mason on HBO **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** tv-shows-scripted, hbomax-wb-dc\ **Created:** [June 22, 2020, 11:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perry-mason-on-hbo/911306 "2020-06-22T11:44:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2020, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perry-mason-on-hbo/911306/21 "2020-07-01T22:54:39Z")
I’ve got not relationship to Perry Mason at all. I’ve heard the name before e.g. “woah, look at Perry Mason over here.” I know there was a 70’s TV show with a big fat guy in it but I never watched it. That’s about it. I really liked The Americans and Matthew Rhys in it, so the recent promos interested me somewhat. I’m not a huge fan of period pieces, especially 30’s noir stuff, so I wasn’t exactly circling it on my calendar. In a fit of late night boredom I decided to watch the first 2 episodes this week. I have to say I’m interested. It’s a little slow paced, which I tend to like when done well, and the grittiness works for me. It has a little bit of a True Detective feel to it. I’m hoping the momentum stays strong and the rest of the series builds into something memorable. ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2020, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perry-mason-on-hbo/911306/22 "2020-07-02T14:31:46Z")
> [@Omniscient](#): > > I’ve got not relationship to Perry Mason at all. I’ve heard the name before e.g. “woah, look at Perry Mason over here.” I know there was a **70’s TV show** with a big fat guy in it but I never watched it. That’s about it. 1957-1966, to be pedantic. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2020, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perry-mason-on-hbo/911306/23 "2020-07-02T14:46:09Z")
Not long ago I read that Raymond Burr made up a bunch of lies about his background. One of the biggest lies was he had a son who died of cancer young. Another one was that he served in the Navy in WW 2. He never had a son and most of the stories were made up to hide that he was gay. Also never knew until recently that he was Canadian, born in BC. He went from Perry Mason right to Ironside and that lasted 8 years. Not many actors starred in 2 shows that long back to back. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2020, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perry-mason-on-hbo/911306/24 "2020-07-02T14:51:24Z")
Burr did return to make a series of Perry Mason TV movies starting in the 80s. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2020, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perry-mason-on-hbo/911306/25 "2020-07-02T14:56:07Z")
There was a lot of mystery surrounding him. Even his sexuality is not clearly established although there are plenty of people talk about gay relationships he had and apparently he was more open about it before achieving stardom, but there just aren’t many details that he was willing to share with others. I think a lot was covered up by the show’s producers, he had a few absences from the show where the details are hazy, and at some point they provided a place for Burr to live on the studio lot supposedly to make his life easier because the role was exhausting, probably just another cover story. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2020, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perry-mason-on-hbo/911306/26 "2020-07-02T15:34:35Z")
He dated women including Natalie Wood and had a marriage that lasted just a few months in the 40s. Back in those days it was common for gay men in Hollywood (and other careers) to date women to appear as straight. ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2020, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perry-mason-on-hbo/911306/27 "2020-07-02T15:56:31Z")
@TriPolar, I think his sexuality was well established, given that he lived as domestic partners with his beloved in Sonoma County, making wine and raising orchids until his death in 1993. However, he kept the fact hidden during his years as an actor. It simply wasn’t possible in those days to be a popular actor who is gay. I am glad he was able to come out in his later years and live on his own terms until his death. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2020, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perry-mason-on-hbo/911306/28 "2020-07-02T16:16:46Z")
What I meant was that he didn’t talk about it much nor did others who knew more. We just don’t know the details. He seemed to be less open about it among his peers than other Hollywood figures, which is the only reason I mention it. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2020, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perry-mason-on-hbo/911306/29 "2020-07-02T16:29:23Z")
> [@Bijou\_Drains](#): > > Not long ago I read that Raymond Burr made up a bunch of lies about his background. One of the biggest lies was he had a son who died of cancer young. Another one was that he served in the Navy in WW 2. He never had a son and most of the stories were made up to hide that he was gay. Also never knew until recently that he was Canadian, born in BC. He went from Perry Mason right to Ironside and that lasted 8 years. Not many actors starred in 2 shows that long back to back. I can imagine the conversations with the editors of those gossip magazines. “Yes, you can run a story hinting that he’s gay, but only if you keep secret that he’s actually Canadian.” ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2020, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perry-mason-on-hbo/911306/30 "2020-07-02T16:41:11Z")
> [@Maserschmidt](#): > > In the books, Perry Mason starts out more bent than he is on the old TV show, sometimes willing to do a little breaking and entering if necessary, occasionally skirting the edge of the law. The earlier books also have more of a detective fiction feel. Over time, he becomes the more legalistic, courtroom-focused character familiar from the TV show. I’ve recently been watching the TV series with Raymond Burr that started in 1957. Season 1 is a hoot. Mason definitely _skirts the edge of the law_, breaking into crime scenes, tampering with evidence, secreting clients in hotels under assumed names, and totally messing with Hamilton Burger’s head, etc. Once he and Della Street climbed out the window of the premises where the murder victim had been found and hid on the fire escape while Tragg and his team searched the room. I eventually worked my way to season 7, but he had turned into too much of a staid, hefty, law-abiding citizen by then, so I’m back to watching season 1 all over again. The first couple of seasons also have more outdoor and location shots-- L.A. in the mid-50s for real. And oh, the cars! Paul Drake in his 1956 Corvette or later the original Thunderbird. But I digress… I don’t have HBO-- maybe this series will become available someplace else. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2020, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perry-mason-on-hbo/911306/31 "2020-07-02T18:35:53Z")
Some gay actors were out to people they worked with but not to the public. One example was Robert Reed , Mr. Brady from the Brady bunch. When episode 2 of Perry Mason started with the war scenes at first I thought they were showing the movie 1917 by mistake. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2020, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perry-mason-on-hbo/911306/32 "2020-07-02T20:16:57Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > I’ve recently been watching the TV series with Raymond Burr that started in 1957. Season 1 is a hoot. Mason definitely _skirts the edge of the law_ , breaking into crime scenes, tampering with evidence, secreting clients in hotels under assumed names, and totally messing with Hamilton Burger’s head, etc. Once he and Della Street climbed out the window of the premises where the murder victim had been found and hid on the fire escape while Tragg and his team searched the room. That’s great! That means they stuck pretty closely to the books. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2020, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perry-mason-on-hbo/911306/33 "2020-07-10T19:23:11Z")
I just saw the third episode - not bad. Della Sweet was badass in confronting the cops trying to sweat a confession from the grieving mom (although she referred to the desk officer as “sergeant,” and he wasn’t wearing any chevrons). Nice touch to have Hoover’s photo framed on the wall. E.B. is definitely losing it - Alzheimer’s? And I didn’t recognize Matt Frewer (_Max Headroom_) as the judge. ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2020, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perry-mason-on-hbo/911306/34 "2020-07-10T19:51:50Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > … E.B. is definitely losing it - Alzheimer’s? E.B. had blood in his sink, which is film shorthand for: Uh oh. Lung cancer. (or possibly tuberculosis.) ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2020, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perry-mason-on-hbo/911306/35 "2020-07-10T19:56:35Z")
> [@jsc1953](#): > > E.B. had blood in his sink, which is film shorthand for: Uh oh. Lung cancer. (or possibly tuberculosis.)- Ha! Just like pain in left arm = heart attack happening or about to happen. No one coughs on TV or in a movie for no reason. And it’s usually a life-threatening condition. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2020, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perry-mason-on-hbo/911306/36 "2020-07-10T20:09:00Z")
I like City of Angels, but it it rather unlike Penny Dreadful, which was a horror/monster hunter show. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2020, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perry-mason-on-hbo/911306/37 "2020-07-12T05:11:25Z")
Episode three was good. When Sister Alice said that she was going to resurrect Charlie, I wondered if that was somehow actually a different kid from Charlie who was dead. Seems like a longshot, but I can’t think of what else it means other than she’s crazy. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2020, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perry-mason-on-hbo/911306/38 "2020-07-12T14:52:09Z")
I initially thought the series had a chance but dang, there’s _way_ too much time wasted on characters standing around in rooms exchanging boring dialogue. ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2020, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perry-mason-on-hbo/911306/39 "2020-07-14T14:36:11Z")
Hmmmph. Assuming that E.B. is really dead, the cause of death should be listed as “Plot Convenience Syndrome”. That storyline came out of nowhere. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2020, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perry-mason-on-hbo/911306/40 "2020-07-14T14:43:54Z")
Not really _nowhere_ exactly. In one episode, we saw him coughing up blood and also we’re seeing memory issues. We also heard that he’s mortgaged his house, has little savings and was turned down for a loan. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perry-mason-on-hbo/911306.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perry-mason-on-hbo/911306.md?page=3)