# Who's Your Favorite Televison Detective? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 27, 2003, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-your-favorite-televison-detective/191275 "2003-07-27T16:55:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![LateComer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b5ac83/32.png) [@LateComer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LateComer)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2003, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-your-favorite-televison-detective/191275/41 "2003-07-28T13:45:38Z")
The robot from Riptide. ---
**Author:** ![evilhomer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/43a26b/32.png) [@evilhomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/evilhomer)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2003, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-your-favorite-televison-detective/191275/42 "2003-07-28T13:47:51Z")
What, no _Magnum, P.I._ yet? šŸ™‚ I have to agree with **fotosbyfrank**. I think Nero Wolfe and Archie Goodwin are great in the A&E series. I know alot of people donā€™t care for it, but I love these stories, and really enjoy it when I happen to catch an episode. I donā€™t know if these count as television detectives, but I saw their movies on TV, so Iā€™m gonna include them anyway: Nick and Nora Charles from the _Thin Man_ movies. Witty, urbane, and oh-so inebriated, these two are always fun to watch. William Powell and Myrna Loy have an incredible chemistry together. ---
**Author:** ![LateComer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b5ac83/32.png) [@LateComer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LateComer)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2003, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-your-favorite-televison-detective/191275/43 "2003-07-28T13:52:10Z")
Seriously, a friend and I were recently (okay, a year ago)lamenting that there were no good detective shows on tv (This was before Monk came along). For a long time it seemed to be the most popular genre on t.v. and then it just sot of died. Iā€™m Talking more about pure non-police civilian detectives than about detectives as part of a police procedural show. ---
**Author:** ![One\_And\_Only\_Wanderers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/838e76/32.png) [@One\_And\_Only\_Wanderers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/One_And_Only_Wanderers)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2003, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-your-favorite-televison-detective/191275/44 "2003-07-28T13:56:36Z")
just had another thought, donā€™t know if itā€™s in the us but thereā€™s an interesting show in the UK called Jonathan Creek. The main character (Mr Creek himself) is a magician and every solves each weekā€™s impossible crime. I enjoyed it a lot. ---
**Author:** ![Hamlet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hamlet/32/2818_2.png) [@Hamlet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamlet)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2003, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-your-favorite-televison-detective/191275/45 "2003-07-28T14:33:58Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Ukulele Ike \* > \*\*I was crazy about the 1975 Levinson/Link series **Ellery Queen** , starring Jim Hutton and David Wayne, and set in the late 1940s. Best whodunits ever televised. > > Sets and costumes were perfect, John Hillerman made a nifty foil, the guest stars were always spot on, and best of all, Hutton would turn to the camera just before the last commercial break and explain that YOU THE VIEWER had all the same clues he had, and if you werenā€™t such an unobservant mook YOU TOO would be able to nail the murderer, just like he was going to do right after these important messages. \*\* Let me just second this thought. Not only was it a fantastic show and generally logically coherent, it was a ā€œfamily eventā€ around the young Hamlet household. My mom and dad were big fans, and the entire family would gather in the basement each week, grill hotdogs and sā€™mores in the fireplace, and watch Ellery Queen. Weā€™d then spend the last commercial break trying to figure out the solution. And if you were right, you got an extra sā€™more and just beamed with pride the entire night. _sniff sniff_ Oh to be young again. Excuse meā€¦ I have something in my eye. ---
**Author:** ![curly\_chick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7ba0ec/32.png) [@curly\_chick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/curly_chick)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2003, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-your-favorite-televison-detective/191275/46 "2003-07-28T15:57:24Z")
Morse, yep, he was the best. Columbo, yep he was good. Jane Tennison - she is excellent, there is a new one out soon, you know. But Quincy, who was a forensic scientist - both biologist AND chemist was surely the most hardworking. He could have saved the Where-ever-it-was PD a fortune. They didnā€™t need anyone else on staff with him around. ---
**Author:** ![bafaa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e480ec/32.png) [@bafaa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bafaa)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2003, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-your-favorite-televison-detective/191275/47 "2003-07-28T17:07:46Z")
Columbo Monk Spenser ---
**Author:** ![smam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/46a35a/32.png) [@smam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smam)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2003, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-your-favorite-televison-detective/191275/48 "2003-07-28T17:32:39Z")
For me it also has to be Columbo, even though every single episode is exactly the sameā€¦ Picture the scene, lieutenant columbo and an upper crust murderous aristocrat (lets call him Shepley) are on deck (of Shepley`s yacht). Columbo is walking around on deck rubbing his forehead, he has an enormous hangover and is throwing bread to some seagulls, sometimes his aim is not so good and the manky bread lands on Shepley`s favourite new piece of expensive deck furniture. Shepley is following Columbo around making a big show of collecting the bread litter. And ACTION - Shepley - ā€œLook Lt. we went over all this yesterday I told you everything I know why do you need to speak to me again? you dont possibly think I could be the killer of my own incredibly rich auntā€ Columbo - ā€œSir I know your a busy man, but there are a couple of things that I need to get straight in my head, its nothing important, actually it could have waited till Monday but when I called your seceretary and found out you were down at the marina, well, I dont often get to be on a boat as swanky as this, how much did it cost by the way? How many miles do you get for a gallon?ā€ Shepley - ā€œSheā€ Columbo - ā€œWhats that sir?ā€ Shepley - ā€œShe Lt. ā€˜sheā€™, we dont refer to a vessel as ā€˜itā€™, the proper term is ā€˜sheā€™, and its not a boat its a yacht and her speed is measured in knots not mph, really I dont mind helping with your enquiries but I have got a golf match at four can you ask me these questions so I can go about my dayā€ Columbo - ā€œKnots eh? who woulda guessed that? Look at them seagulls sir, not a care in the world, do you ever think humans will be able to fly unaided? Do you have any aspirin on you sir?ā€ Shepley - " Really Lt. I am a busy man and I am tiring of your lazy eyed meanderings, and what is that smell, did you stand in something before you boarded my yacht Columbo?" Columbo - ā€œI dont think so sir, oh wait maybe I did step in a 4-week old pastrami on rye that I lost under my car seat, they get really squishy you know, after about two weeks, could I trouble you for a glass of milk?ā€ Shepley - " Look here you seedy little sh_t, my tie costs more than every piece of clothing you own, and yes, so I killed aunt Mabel for her money, the b_tch was asking for it, if i had waited till she popped off of natural causes I would have been too old to enjoy the money properly " Columbo - ā€œOr water sir, it doesn`t have to be milk, you see my throat is really dry, I think I may have some of that scurvy thats been going aroundā€ Shepley - " Piss of you little oik, I am going for my game of golf, if you had any evidence to convict me you would have arrested me by now, I want you off my yacht by the time I get back" Columbo - ā€œI wouldn`t do that if I was you sir, you see, aunt Mabel was a bit off an amateur movie maker, and it turns out her little movie camera was on at the time you bludgeoned her to death, we have the whole thing on tape, we found it yesterdayā€ Shepley - ā€œOh sh\*t, damn you mabel you slag, its a fair cop etc. But if you knew yesterday then why the need for this charade today?ā€ Columbo - "Like I said sir, its not every day a humble lieutenant like me gets to come on a real swanky canoe like this, do you mind if I take some of these sandwhiches down to the station with me? They really are delicious. Shepley - " C\*nt " THE END! ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2003, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-your-favorite-televison-detective/191275/49 "2003-07-28T17:50:42Z")
Absolutely the best Nero Wolfe ever is the little-known 1977 TV movie (made by an Australian company, IIRC) starring the late Thayer David. Truly the perfect Wolfe. And well written, unlike the latest version. There was a Thin Man TV series in 1957, starring Peter Lawford and Phyllis Kirk, which I have vague memories of being very good. I wish TV Land would bring it back some time, if anyone can find even kinescopes of it. ---
**Author:** ![ElwoodCuse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/edb3f5/32.png) [@ElwoodCuse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElwoodCuse)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2003, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-your-favorite-televison-detective/191275/50 "2003-07-28T18:08:34Z")
Blasphemy! Frank Pembleton is #1 all-time. John Munch is a close #2. ---
**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:** [July 28, 2003, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-your-favorite-televison-detective/191275/51 "2003-07-28T18:26:02Z")
Briscoe and Fitz (Robbie Coltraine version) top my list, 100%. I could start a thread about how much I like these guys alone. Pembleton and Munch come in second Iā€™m actually sort-of surprised no one has mentioned Poirot. I always found the series fascinating, especially the detail they put in the sets / costumes etc. Plus, you have to love a guy who always wants to exercise ā€˜The little grey cellsā€™. ---
**Author:** ![Ura-Maru](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/51bf81/32.png) [@Ura-Maru](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ura-Maru)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2003, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-your-favorite-televison-detective/191275/52 "2003-07-28T18:52:34Z")
Matt Sykes, the ah-apparently-heā€™s-not-a-bigot-heā€™s-just-a-jerk human detective from **Alien Nation**. He was just so IRRITATED all the time, I could totally relate. Plus, he had a bald girlfriend. One of the rare cases where a mediocre movie spawned a really good TV show . . . ā€“ Bet you thought I couldnā€™t work 80ā€™s SF into this, huh? ---
**Author:** ![Isabelle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b5a626/32.png) [@Isabelle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isabelle)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2003, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-your-favorite-televison-detective/191275/53 "2003-07-28T19:13:48Z")
Inspector Clousseu from The Pink Panther ---
**Author:** ![blowero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/41988e/32.png) [@blowero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blowero)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2003, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-your-favorite-televison-detective/191275/54 "2003-07-28T19:25:54Z")
Rockford all the way. He had the Firebird; Columboā€™s car sucked. Also, has anyone mentioned Addie and David from _Moonlighting_? ---
**Author:** ![ChordedZither](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9c0ed/32.png) [@ChordedZither](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChordedZither)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2003, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-your-favorite-televison-detective/191275/55 "2003-07-28T20:54:10Z")
Lovejoy - a British series named for the ā€œcharming rascalā€ who dealt in antiques. In most episodes, he would wind up either unmasking a ring of antiquities smugglers or forgers, but he was just shady enough that in some episodes he was pulling the same sort of questionable stunts himself. Add in a rather lower-class personal appearance but the fact that his job brought him into frequent contact with upper class clients who might variously appreciate his expertise while loathing his manner. In the US, the show ran on A&E for a few years. ---
**Author:** ![ChordedZither](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9c0ed/32.png) [@ChordedZither](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChordedZither)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2003, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-your-favorite-televison-detective/191275/56 "2003-07-28T22:46:56Z")
Oh, and how could I forget: Brother Cadfael (a 15th century Benedictan monk played by Derek Jacobi) Actually, Iā€™m surprised there havenā€™t been more nominations, other than Cadfael and Jeremy Bret as Sherlock Holmes, from the PBS Mystery series (which airs a variety of British detective dramas). And does Horace Rumpole count? ---
**Author:** ![FairyDust](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ccd318/32.png) [@FairyDust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyDust)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2003, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-your-favorite-televison-detective/191275/57 "2003-07-28T22:55:32Z")
**smam** , your Columbo parody was very amusing. I enjoyed reading it. ---
**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:** [July 29, 2003, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-your-favorite-televison-detective/191275/58 "2003-07-29T01:02:53Z")
I have a thing for _Magnum PI_. That show hypnotizes me. Even talking about it I am gettingā€¦ verrrryā€¦ sleeeeeepy. Julie ---
**Author:** ![wireless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f14d63/32.png) [@wireless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wireless)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2003, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-your-favorite-televison-detective/191275/59 "2003-07-29T01:22:31Z")
Add me as another vote for _Inspector Morse_. His fallibility, his crankiness, his unwillingness to go along with the class BS - all appealed to me. And I especially like the theme which weaves Morse Code for M-O-R-S-E into the music. ---
**Author:** ![Torgo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@Torgo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Torgo)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2003, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-your-favorite-televison-detective/191275/60 "2003-07-29T01:31:27Z")
**Columbo-A-Minute** _Somebody is murdered_ **MURDERER** Oh my, who could have done this? **COLUMBO** Er, ah, uh, er, ah, sir can I ask you a few questions? **MURDERER** Leave me alone Iā€™m very busy you weed. **COLUMBO** Yes sir. _Walks halfway through door_ Oh I forgot, one more thing. _Proves murderers guilt_ **MURDERER** Shoot. Iā€™ll admit my guilt here and forego a trial. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-your-favorite-televison-detective/191275.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-your-favorite-televison-detective/191275.md?page=4)