# Who is the greatest current fictional detective on television? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 19, 2013, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-greatest-current-fictional-detective-on-television/676745 "2013-12-19T18:35:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Tangent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tangent/32/3098_2.png) [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2013, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-greatest-current-fictional-detective-on-television/676745/41 "2013-12-25T17:26:37Z")
> [@AlsoNamedBort](#): > > You mean Ghee Buttersnaps? I believe he’s referring to Ovaltine Jenkins. ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2013, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-greatest-current-fictional-detective-on-television/676745/42 "2013-12-28T04:30:39Z")
Does “current” mean “still in syndication on basic cable”? Because Bobby Goren and Frank Pembleton belong in this conversation. ---
**Author:** ![simster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/simster/32/1047_2.png) [@simster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simster)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2013, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-greatest-current-fictional-detective-on-television/676745/43 "2013-12-28T04:53:58Z")
> [@Tangent](#): > > I believe he’s referring to Ovaltine Jenkins. I’ve heard it both ways… ---
**Author:** ![casdave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c6cbf5/32.png) [@casdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/casdave)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2013, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-greatest-current-fictional-detective-on-television/676745/44 "2013-12-28T12:23:24Z")
Michael Gambon’s portrayal of Maigret was pretty good ---
**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:** [December 28, 2013, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-greatest-current-fictional-detective-on-television/676745/45 "2013-12-28T14:43:52Z")
> [@Horatio\_Hellpop](#): > > Does “current” mean “still in syndication on basic cable”? Because Bobby Goren and Frank Pembleton belong in this conversation. No, syndication of a cancelled show doesn’t count. ---
**Author:** ![Lok](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e8c25b/32.png) [@Lok](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lok)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2013, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-greatest-current-fictional-detective-on-television/676745/46 "2013-12-29T00:49:08Z")
> [@Pabitel](#): > > It’s a period show but if I were innocent and needed to prove it I would put my life in the hands of DCS Foyle. He has a combination of Holmes’ observation and a deep understanding of human nature that Holmes lacks. Another vote for Foyle. Loved everything about that show. But I don’t think he qualifies unless they are actually going to show his American adventures. > [@DMark](#): > > BTW, there is a new version of Murder She Wrote in the works, starring Octavia Spencer - although the name of the show might change, as there seems to be a bit of an uproar about a new version of the show. Not sure if that is because of the racial element or just purists who don’t like the idea of a re-boot of their favorite show from back then. However it didn’t stop Hawaii 5-0 from getting re-booted and becoming a hit again. With her in the role, it actually starts to become something I might watch. Great actor, and would be a very different Jessica Fletcher. I like both Elementary and Sherlock, for different reasons. But on the basis of Curtain being just done, and Foyle being out of production, I will have to go with Poirot. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2013, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-greatest-current-fictional-detective-on-television/676745/47 "2013-12-29T01:07:41Z")
Poirot is still in production? :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2013, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-greatest-current-fictional-detective-on-television/676745/48 "2013-12-29T01:47:29Z")
> [@Tangent](#): > > I believe he’s referring to Ovaltine Jenkins. Seriously though, Sean and Gus leave way too many dead bodies around before they get to the real killer. ---
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2013, 7:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-greatest-current-fictional-detective-on-television/676745/49 "2013-12-29T07:06:45Z")
> [@simster](#): > > I’ve heard it both ways… On further thought, I believe I was referring to Fellatio del Toro. Or was it Bud from The Cosby Show? ---
**Author:** ![Sr\_Siete](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6de8d8/32.png) [@Sr\_Siete](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sr_Siete)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2013, 7:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-greatest-current-fictional-detective-on-television/676745/50 "2013-12-29T07:33:23Z")
Gotta go with _Elementary’s_ Sherlock. His cases are slightly less out there than those of his British counterpart, which usually involve weird conspiracies or playful masterminds leaving clues around, and his surprisingly accurate leaps of logic when investigating are way more extreme. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2013, 8:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-greatest-current-fictional-detective-on-television/676745/51 "2013-12-29T08:08:25Z")
Hank Venture, ably assisted by his trusty sidekick/goon, the Alchemist. ---
**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:** [December 29, 2013, 8:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-greatest-current-fictional-detective-on-television/676745/52 "2013-12-29T08:27:03Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Among the \*\*current crop \*\*of fictional tv detectives, which do you think is the best? … all shows that are \*\*currently in production \*\*are in the running. > [@RealityChuck](#): > > … Dexter … > [@Sailboat](#): > > No love for Adrian Monk? > [@terentii](#): > > Another vote for Foyle. Also, Inspector Morse and John Nettles as DCI Barnaby. > [@Riga\_Marole](#): > > … Detective Inspector Frost … > [@casdave](#): > > … Maigret … Some people seem to be having trouble with the concept here. What part of “currently in production” don’t you understand? ---
**Author:** ![Lok](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e8c25b/32.png) [@Lok](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lok)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2013, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-greatest-current-fictional-detective-on-television/676745/53 "2013-12-29T13:34:51Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > Poirot is still in production? :eek: As mentioned above, they showed Curtain in the UK last month, still waiting for it in the US. Technically it has finished production, but the first run isn’t quite over yet. > [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > Some people seem to be having trouble with the concept here. > > What part of “currently in production” don’t you understand? You want people to read on a message board devoted to fighting ignorance? Are you insane? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2013, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-greatest-current-fictional-detective-on-television/676745/54 "2013-12-29T14:03:03Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > Some people seem to be having trouble with the concept here. > > What part of “currently in production” don’t you understand? Was this a “note” or actual warning? ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2013, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-greatest-current-fictional-detective-on-television/676745/55 "2013-12-29T14:34:33Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > Was this a “note” or actual warning? Questions about Jr Mod actions belong in ATMB. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2013, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-greatest-current-fictional-detective-on-television/676745/56 "2013-12-29T16:32:37Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > What part of “currently in production” don’t you understand? So long as they’re being aired on PBS, it seems like they’re still in production… :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2013, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-greatest-current-fictional-detective-on-television/676745/57 "2013-12-29T21:14:29Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > Some people seem to be having trouble with the concept here. > > What part of “currently in production” don’t you understand? They understand it perfectly. They are just trying to piss off Czarcasm. ---
**Author:** ![Pabitel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/bbce88/32.png) [@Pabitel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pabitel)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2014, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-greatest-current-fictional-detective-on-television/676745/58 "2014-02-19T20:14:55Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > Some people seem to be having trouble with the concept here. > > What part of “currently in production” don’t you understand? Foyle’s War is still in production with another series due in 2015. [cite](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0310455/) ---
**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:** [February 19, 2014, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-greatest-current-fictional-detective-on-television/676745/59 "2014-02-19T20:19:43Z")
> [@Pabitel](#): > > Foyle’s War is still in production with another series due in 2015. > > [cite](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0310455/) It’s going back into production? Great! ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2014, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-greatest-current-fictional-detective-on-television/676745/60 "2014-02-19T20:26:45Z")
I like Jesse Stone, and the last one was made in 2012. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-greatest-current-fictional-detective-on-television/676745.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-greatest-current-fictional-detective-on-television/676745.md?page=4)