# Who's the Coolest TV Detective or Cop? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 14, 2010, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-coolest-tv-detective-or-cop/524867 "2010-01-14T01:38:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Gary\_Baldy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Gary\_Baldy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Baldy)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2010, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-coolest-tv-detective-or-cop/524867/21 "2010-01-14T04:36:55Z")
To be cool, you need a great set of wheels. And no one had better wheels than [Robert T. Ironside](http://amancalledironside.com/index.htm). ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2010, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-coolest-tv-detective-or-cop/524867/22 "2010-01-14T04:41:44Z")
People like Tanna, Love, Starsky, Hutch, Crockett, Tubbs, or Kojak were all working too hard at it to be cool. They were only outer cool. Jim Rockford was the coolest because he didn’t care whether or not other anyone thought he was cool. He was inner cool. ---
**Author:** ![Svejk\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea666f/32.png) [@Svejk\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Svejk_1)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2010, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-coolest-tv-detective-or-cop/524867/23 "2010-01-14T04:44:44Z")
Detective Robert Goren, in L&O: CI, played by [Vincent D’Onofrio](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000352/) ---
**Author:** ![Taomist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/53a042/32.png) [@Taomist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taomist)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2010, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-coolest-tv-detective-or-cop/524867/24 "2010-01-14T04:50:00Z")
Ok, serious answer is that I’m digging Grace Hannadarko from TNT’s Saving Grace. But I’m loving the show in general, so…not sure I can separate the two right now. Sucks they’ve cancelled it, the bastards. ---
**Author:** ![woodstockbirdybird](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/woodstockbirdybird/32/7905_2.png) [@woodstockbirdybird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/woodstockbirdybird)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2010, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-coolest-tv-detective-or-cop/524867/25 "2010-01-14T04:53:33Z")
Gotta go with Lester Freamon from _The Wire_. He was even cool while making miniature furniture. ---
**Author:** ![cstamets](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/958977/32.png) [@cstamets](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cstamets)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2010, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-coolest-tv-detective-or-cop/524867/26 "2010-01-14T04:55:45Z")
[Mannix](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0061277/) ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2010, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-coolest-tv-detective-or-cop/524867/27 "2010-01-14T05:25:05Z")
No mention of Peter Gunn? For shame. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2010, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-coolest-tv-detective-or-cop/524867/28 "2010-01-14T05:43:01Z")
Simon Templer, _The Saint_, was pretty cool and drove a cool (looking) car, but the only episode I ever watched was pathetic. But I’ll vote for him cause the car\*, and since Magnum has been mentioned already. Both the Simon brothers were pretty cool, too. At least to a 12 year old, back in the day. \*I bought one for my wife, and it is _very_ stylish, but what a slug! Basically has a sailboat engine. Sounds like an underpowered airplane going down the road. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2010, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-coolest-tv-detective-or-cop/524867/29 "2010-01-14T05:52:59Z")
Sgt. Leann “Pepper” Anderson (Angie Dickinson) in Police Woman. Cagney & Lacey ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2010, 6:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-coolest-tv-detective-or-cop/524867/30 "2010-01-14T06:07:24Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > Simon Templer, _The Saint_, was pretty cool and drove a cool (looking) car, but the only episode I ever watched was pathetic. But I’ll vote for him cause the car\*, and since Magnum has been mentioned already. There have been two TV incarnations of The Saint that I know of, one (_The Saint_ (1962-1969), starring Roger Moore) drove a Volvo P1800, the other (_Return of the Saint_ (1978-1979), starring Ian Ogilvy) drove a Jaguar XJ-S. There have been movies, too (the 1997 version starred Val Kilmer) but I don’t know what he drove. ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2010, 6:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-coolest-tv-detective-or-cop/524867/31 "2010-01-14T06:20:15Z")
> [@dropzone](#): > > Harry O > > ETA: “His MG was always in the shop so he had to ride the bus to investigate? Wouldn’t that make him the UNcoolest detective?” > > “No, he was played by David Janssen, who was the personification of cool.” The world weary detective. No one before or since has played that better. > [@ghardester](#): > > The show, Burke’s Law spun off **Honey West**. > > [Honey West / Honey West TV show](http://www.tvparty.com/acthoney.html) > > Smoking hot Anne Francis, spy gadgets. martial arts, and a pet ocelot named Bruce. > > Showed that strong female leads could succeed on TV. You forgot to add that she drove a Cobra in the series. > [@The\_Second\_Stone](#): > > Jim Rockford. He was tough like Grendel, but when the bad guys were too tough for Jimmy, his Daddy, Rocky, came along and kicked ass. Stuart Margolin as Angel and Joe Santos as Dennis were great too. Rockfish was cool of that there is no doubt. Above you find three of the five coolest detectives ever on the small screen. To these three I would add [Thomas Hewitt Edward Cat](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0060030/) only on one season, but this guy was so cool it hurt. Series was created by Harry Julian Fink who later wrote Dirty Harry. and rounding out the top five we have [Lenny Briscoe](http://www.imdb.com/character/ch0013487/)The NYPD detective that always had a zinger. > [@](#): > > Detective Ed Green: They found the > [teacher’s] > Detective Ed Green: body over here in this janitor’s closet with a whole bunch of bloody rags. Must have killed her someplace else, dumped the body here, and used the rags to clean up. > Detective Lennie Briscoe: He gets an A+ for Neatness. > > Detective Lennie Briscoe: So, Dr. Brody, tell me a story. > Assistant Medical Examiner Brody: What we’ve got here is one very dead lady. > Detective Lennie Briscoe: You went to school for that? > Assistant Medical Examiner Brody: [sheepishly annoyed] Made my Mom proud. ---
**Author:** ![TWDuke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e495f1/32.png) [@TWDuke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TWDuke)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2010, 6:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-coolest-tv-detective-or-cop/524867/32 "2010-01-14T06:28:17Z")
> [@JThunder](#): > > Columbo followed by Emma Peel. I’d like to see that! Actually, I haven’t seen much of her in action, but from what I have seen I like Mrs. Peel’s predecessor, **[Cathy Gale](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oc5nmy1-fDY)**, very very much. Seems a little smarter, more independent, a better fighter, but still sexy with a penchant for leather. I’ve liked Peter Falk as Columbo ever since I was a kid. It was always a disappointment when the [NBC Mystery Movie](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-hbLGqmzsw) announcer said, “Tonight starring…” someone else. ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2010, 6:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-coolest-tv-detective-or-cop/524867/33 "2010-01-14T06:33:48Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > No mention of Peter Gunn? > > For shame. Who I came in to mention. Peter Gunn was the very personification of cool. The show was built around it. Jazz, snub nose revolvers, sleek suits, sexy nightclub singer girlfriend, nighttime streets that always looked like it just rained, and Henry Mancini’s theme! What could be cooler? Banacek gets my vote for number two. Stuart McMillian was cool in a fun sense, and the one I most enjoyed watching. ---
**Author:** ![aldiboronti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2010, 6:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-coolest-tv-detective-or-cop/524867/34 "2010-01-14T06:37:56Z")
Another vote for D’Onofrio as Bobby Goren in _L&O:Criminal Intent_. And yeah, Amos Burke was cool but it’s hard to obliterate the memory of his transmogrification into _Amos Burke: Secret Agent_. God, that sucked. Way to destroy a great show. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2010, 6:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-coolest-tv-detective-or-cop/524867/35 "2010-01-14T06:46:42Z")
Though I like Columbo also, the clear winner in coolness is the Timothy Hutton version of Archie Goodwin in the A&E Nero Wolfe series. He both wears hats and dances better than any other detective, and is a damn snappy dresser. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2010, 7:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-coolest-tv-detective-or-cop/524867/36 "2010-01-14T07:18:38Z")
> [@Rick](#): > > and rounding out the top five we have [Lenny Briscoe](http://www.imdb.com/character/ch0013487/)The NYPD detective that always had a zinger. He’s on the receiving end sometimes, too. > [@](#): > > DR. RODGERS: I got another body coming in. Guy took a javelin to the chest. > > LENNIE: Why are you still in this line of work? > > DR. RODGERS: Free javelins. ---
**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:** [January 14, 2010, 7:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-coolest-tv-detective-or-cop/524867/37 "2010-01-14T07:35:16Z")
> [@aldiboronti](#): > > Another vote for D’Onofrio as Bobby Goren in _L&O:Criminal Intent_. > > And yeah, Amos Burke was cool but it’s hard to obliterate the memory of his transmogrification into _Amos Burke: Secret Agent_. God, that sucked. Way to destroy a great show. D’Onofrio as Goren is not cool at all. He, like James Cagney before him, is smoking hot. It is in fact regular for Goren to really lose his demeanor. I love D’Onofrio’s work, but I also know people who hate it. But I was hooked at Private. Pyle in Full Metal Jacket. Dude thinks his is a great actor because he is. ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2010, 8:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-coolest-tv-detective-or-cop/524867/38 "2010-01-14T08:04:30Z")
> [@Starving\_Artist](#): > > … Banacek gets my vote for number two. … Why must you have such good taste? 😃 My number two, Anthony “Tony” Blake - [_The Magician_](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Magician_%28TV_series%29). If only because Bill Bixby insisted on doing all of the magic himself, without any trick photography! CMC fnord! ---
**Author:** ![Superhal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Superhal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superhal)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2010, 8:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-coolest-tv-detective-or-cop/524867/39 "2010-01-14T08:09:20Z")
[Conan Itagawa.](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0131179/) ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2010, 8:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-coolest-tv-detective-or-cop/524867/40 "2010-01-14T08:11:24Z")
> [@crowmanyclouds](#): > > Why must you have such good taste? 😃 Just part and parcel of my politics. 😉 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-coolest-tv-detective-or-cop/524867.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-coolest-tv-detective-or-cop/524867.md?page=3)