# What's the best private eye series? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 24, 2013, 8:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-private-eye-series/672094 "2013-10-24T08:25:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Tante\_Dillie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Tante\_Dillie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tante_Dillie)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2013, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-private-eye-series/672094/41 "2013-10-24T19:38:53Z")
My vote goes to _Checkmate_, which ran for 70 episodes from 1960-62. It was created by the great Eric Ambler and starred Sebastian Cabot as an Oxford professor turned investigator. In manner and appearance Cabot, a highly intelligent character actor who is now sadly forgotten, resembles Stephen Fry. The series featured ingenious stories with clever plot twists and clever dialogue. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2013, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-private-eye-series/672094/42 "2013-10-24T19:40:46Z")
> [@Tante\_Dillie](#): > > My vote goes to _Checkmate_, which ran for 70 episodes from 1960-62. It was created by the great Eric Ambler and starred Sebastian Cabot as an Oxford professor turned investigator. In manner and appearance Cabot, a highly intelligent character actor who is now sadly forgotten, resembles Stephen Fry. The series featured ingenious stories with clever plot twists and clever dialogue. That was one of my dad’s favorite shows! ---
**Author:** ![The\_Second\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@The\_Second\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Second_Stone)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2013, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-private-eye-series/672094/43 "2013-10-24T19:42:45Z")
Jeremy Brett in Sherlock Holmes James Garner in The Rockford Files Leo McKern in Rumpole of the Bailey, not sure if it really qualifies All three of them are simply not to be missed. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2013, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-private-eye-series/672094/44 "2013-10-24T20:26:02Z")
Magnum. Loved it when it was first on, and I still find it very watchable. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2013, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-private-eye-series/672094/45 "2013-10-24T21:16:13Z")
> [@pkbites](#): > > Can somebody tell me how Magnum [legally] carried a handgun? Was there something written into the plot? > > §16-97-17 of Hawaii state statutes actually prohibits P.I.'s from carry any weapons. And getting a CCW permit in Hawaii is next to impossible. When did it come into effect? ---
**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:** [October 24, 2013, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-private-eye-series/672094/46 "2013-10-24T21:27:37Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > In that same vein, I would also nominate _[Harry O](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_O)_, with David Jansen. Wasn’t on long, but I liked it. > [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > _Harry O_ was a fascinating show, Fear Itself. One of my favorites. This is what I came in to mention. I really enjoyed David Janssen’s world-weariness. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2013, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-private-eye-series/672094/47 "2013-10-24T21:33:13Z")
Here’s the thing: I have to nominate _Monk_ as well. ---
**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:** [October 24, 2013, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-private-eye-series/672094/48 "2013-10-24T21:34:53Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > Here’s the thing: I have to nominate _Monk_ as well. When will I thank you? ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2013, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-private-eye-series/672094/49 "2013-10-24T21:39:42Z")
You’ll thank me later. 😉 ---
**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:** [October 24, 2013, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-private-eye-series/672094/50 "2013-10-24T23:26:07Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > You’ll thank me later. 😉 [smiles and nods to everyone else] He’s the guy. [/smiles and nods to everyone else] (Unless I’m wrong – which, y’know, I’m not.) ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2013, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-private-eye-series/672094/51 "2013-10-25T00:38:59Z")
Another vote for Rockford. ---
**Author:** ![Tante\_Dillie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Tante\_Dillie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tante_Dillie)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2013, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-private-eye-series/672094/52 "2013-10-25T01:07:22Z")
_Jonathan Creek,_ starring Alan Davies’s hair. ---
**Author:** ![Battle\_Pope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@Battle\_Pope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Battle_Pope)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2013, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-private-eye-series/672094/53 "2013-10-25T01:30:12Z")
Anyone else watch [Simon & Simon](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simon_and_simon)? Always enjoyed it. _Rockford_ of course and the Brett _Sherlock Homles_ ---
**Author:** ![Aquadementia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aquadementia/32/555_2.png) [@Aquadementia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aquadementia)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2013, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-private-eye-series/672094/54 "2013-10-25T02:05:49Z")
Another vote for Sherlock Holmes with Jeremy Brett. The Saint deserves a mention. I like the play on his reputation and not exactly trusted by the law. It’s too bad “Detective Conan” A.K.A. “Case Closed” never caught on in the states. Because it’s anime the only place it could air the audience prefers a show about a teenager shocking everyone with the size of his sword. But it probably wouldn’t be accepted on a channel like A&E either because it’s cartoon about a kid in shorts. It does a good job of presenting interesting murder puzzles and solving them with deductive logic. > [@Voyager](#): > > As a new contribution, I’ll give the [Miss Fisher Murder Mysteries](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miss_Fisher%27s_Murder_Mysteries) set in Melbourne in the mid-1920s with an extremely unconventional (and rich) detective. Alas, the last couple of shows kind of fell apart, but it is great fun, and I was happy to see in the linked article that they are making a second series. I like the show. It’s a nice break from all the Inspector Whoever imports. ---
**Author:** ![dasmoocher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dbc845/32.png) [@dasmoocher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dasmoocher)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2013, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-private-eye-series/672094/55 "2013-10-25T05:24:50Z")
> [@](#): > > **What’s the best private eye series** Umm… > [@](#): > > Quoted by **Thomas Magnum:** > “It’s private investigator.” ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2013, 8:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-private-eye-series/672094/56 "2013-10-25T08:40:33Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > [smiles and nods to everyone else] > > He’s the guy. > > [/smiles and nods to everyone else] > > (Unless I’m wrong – which, y’know, I’m not.) Wipe. Wipe! Wipe! ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2013, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-private-eye-series/672094/57 "2013-10-25T20:15:10Z")
Simon & Simon Magnum Moonlighting I suspect since I like Simon & Simon I would like Rockford files, they seem similar as far as setting and style. ---
**Author:** ![ExTank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@ExTank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ExTank)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2013, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-private-eye-series/672094/58 "2013-10-25T21:34:37Z")
It only got a season, but I really like(d) _Terriers._ It was the only P.I. show I ever actually enjoyed. Most are boring to me. ---
**Author:** ![bldysabba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecccb3/32.png) [@bldysabba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bldysabba)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2013, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-private-eye-series/672094/59 "2013-10-25T23:06:43Z")
I haven’t seen most of the series mentioned here. I did watch the first season of Veronica mars though, and thought it a very refreshing take on noir for the modern age. I’ll throw it up for consideration ---
**Author:** ![Ellis\_Aponte\_Jr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@Ellis\_Aponte\_Jr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellis_Aponte_Jr)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2013, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-private-eye-series/672094/60 "2013-10-26T00:22:04Z")
**Johnny Staccato** starring John Cassavetes had some amazing episodes and a lot of good music. It’s impressive how shows like this and **Peter Gunn** fit so much atmosphere, plot, and music into just 30 minutes. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-private-eye-series/672094.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-private-eye-series/672094.md?page=4)