# Spenser For Hire

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spenser-for-hire/334437>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [December 7, 2005, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spenser-for-hire/334437 "2005-12-07T01:27:07Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![KlondikeGeoff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3e96dc/32.png) [@KlondikeGeoff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KlondikeGeoff)\
**Post date:** [December 7, 2005, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spenser-for-hire/334437/1 "2005-12-07T01:27:07Z")

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Another thread lamented the decline of good TV programs. One that I remember fondly that was excellent was _Spenser For Hire_. Anybody remember this, back in the '80s, I think?

A private eye show well above the average.

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**Author:** ![Cluricaun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bb73d2/32.png) [@Cluricaun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cluricaun)\
**Post date:** [December 7, 2005, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spenser-for-hire/334437/2 "2005-12-07T01:30:04Z")

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The show pales in comparison to Robert B. Parker’s books, from which the show was loosely based. At somewhere near 25 Spenser novels so far you should check them out if you liked the show.

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**Author:** ![ArrMatey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/arrmatey/32/3522_2.png) [@ArrMatey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ArrMatey)\
**Post date:** [December 7, 2005, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spenser-for-hire/334437/3 "2005-12-07T03:02:03Z")

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Loved the show. Loved Spenser and Hawke. Great duo.

Part of my love for the show also came about because it was something my brothers and I loved to watch together. That and Miami Vice. Great times sitting in the family room, slack-jawed and munching on popcorn. 🙂

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**Author:** ![gardentraveler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gardentraveler/32/3576_2.png) [@gardentraveler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gardentraveler)\
**Post date:** [December 7, 2005, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spenser-for-hire/334437/4 "2005-12-07T03:06:10Z")

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Didn’t see that many episodes of this, but the ones I saw I really liked. Their interpretations of the characters were very close to what I’d imagined reading the books. I’ve read just about all of them and second **Cluricaun’s** recommendation: read the books!

GT