Harry Harris (6) (1922–2009)

This was a truly stylish television show that tapped into the kind of Stanley Donen light mystery/romance that is missing from the movies today. Pierce Brosnan and Stephanie Zimbalist were perfectly cast and the show only got better with each episode. The classy Henry Mancini theme captured the feel of this light and sophisticated show tinged with humor perfectly. It was as evocative and as much a part of the show as his “Peter Gunn” theme had been decades before.

Laura Holt (Zimbalist) couldn't get her private detective agency off the ground in spite of her skills, until she invented the phantom male agency head, Remington Steele. Business was booming and everything was going swell until Pierce Brosnan showed up and assumed the roll of the nonexistent Steele, both around town and with clients. An uneasy alliance was formed that to the delight of fans moved more and more towards the romantic as time went by.

Brosnan’s Steele was debonair and stylish, his past a shady mystery. Each season Laura discovered new things about his past in Ireland and his exploits in other countries. Steele was also a film buff, and to the delight of classic film fans he would make constant references to films of the 1930s and 1940s that he felt pertained to the case. It made all us film buffs who knew just what he was talking about feel like we were insiders, and it was one of the many charms of this wonderful show.

Brosnan and Zimbalist were a terrific screen couple in the tradition of all those ones we remember fondly. One could say they were the Nick and Nora Charles of their time. There was fun anticipation for viewers as week after week we watched the two become involved in a mystery while they danced around their growing affection for one another. And it was always fun when little tidbits of Steele’s past were discovered by Laura. In one episode, however, Steele learns things about Laura’s past, to the delight of audiences.

Season one put this on the radar, and cast changes — Murphy got axed, Mildred Krebs became integral — only seemed to make the show even better for the remaining seasons. Bosnian’s opportunity to become James Bond had to wait, and we got a truncated season at the end. What had preceded it was so wonderful, however, that fans have always held a soft spot in their heart, and a place in their film cabinet, for this refreshing show that was at the same time quite nostalgic.

Fun and sophisticated in a way that always left viewers with a good feeling by episode’s end, this kind of entertaining television is sorely missing from today’s dreadful offerings. Remington Steele filled a void left for those seeking the kind of fun escapism which all but disappeared when the Hollywood studio system began to collapse, and has virtually disappeared entirely in our day. Remington Steele was something really special in television. Every lover of classic films was in love with this show. It was — and still is — a refreshing reminder of what television could, and should be.… (mehr)

The Waltons: Season 1 by Earl Hamner Jr.

Episode List:
1. The Foundling: The Walton family awakens to find an abandoned deaf girl asleep on their doorstep. Taking her in, they do their best to help her learn sign language, but Elizabeth becomes jealous of the attention taken from her and given to their houseguest. A solid episode that showcases the humanity and spirit of the Walton family, with a good bit of drama and "mystery" concerning the plot of the girl's family situation. (5.0)
2. The Carnival: A traveling carnival comes to Walton's Mountain and takes up shelter in the family's barn. Worried that the children are becoming infatuated with carnival life, Olivia asks John to tell them to leave before she learns a lesson in judging others too quickly based off of prejudices. Another solid episode that continues to highlight the good morals of the Waltons, this time especially in John's case; while Olivia and Grandma often are the strongest voices of morality in the household, John provides a fairer approach to the visitors. (4.5)
3. The Calf: When the family cow Chance gives birth to her calf, the children are devastated when John sells it. After they learn that he is going to be slaughtered, Jim-Bob and Elizabeth take desperate measures to ensure his safety. Not as good as the previous two episodes, but still a solid one; a bit over-the-top in some areas but nevertheless a good entry. (4.0)
4. The Hunt: John-Boy embarks on his father's annual turkey hunt in hopes of proving himself to be a real Walton man, but he cannot bring himself to kill an innocent creature. Possibly the greatest episode of the entire series; there's a lot to unpack about tons of characters here, but the spotlight stays focused on John-Boy and John, and it makes for a great and thrilling episode. (5.0)
5. The Typewriter: In order to have his manuscript accepted by a magazine, John-Boy borrows the Baldwin sisters' typewriter to write it on, but things go awry whenever Mary Ellen mistakenly sells it with the junk she had been collecting. There are a ton of great moments here between the characters and their relationships, making for a rather exciting adventure. And as an aspiring writer myself, there's a lot to relate to with John-Boy in this episode. (4.5)
6. The Star: After he witnesses a shooting star crash down on Walton's Mountain, Grandpa takes it as a sign that he is going to pass away soon and refuses to get out of bed. Meanwhile, the Baldwin sisters -- whose home had been struck by the star -- are being manipulated by their conniving cousin to give up the "recipe machine" so he can profit from it. There's also a third subplot here, focusing on Ben and his dream to finally achieve success at a talent of his own by winning a spelling bee at school. The combination of smaller stories makes this a rather solid episode, especially the focus on Ben. While later episodes provide the other children with their own moments to shine, this is one of the first to do so, and really the first time Ben gets a chance to shine as more than just a background or side character. (4.5)
7. The Sinner: Matthew Fordwick, a young and fiery preacher, comes to Walton's Mountain and immediately butts heads with John, much to Olivia's chagrin. John-Boy, amidst a search to discover just what "sin" is, tries to identify with Matthew as circumstances arise to thwart almost everyone's plans. Another great episode that digs deep into several characters' mindsets, and also introduces recurring characters Matthew Fordwick and Yancy Tucker. One use of "d-mn." (5.0)
8. The Boy from the C.C.C.: A runaway teenager from New York stumbles upon Walton's Mountain and begrudgingly accepts the hospitality of the Walton family. In an attempt to teach him trust, the Waltons open the same invitation to him -- to unexpected results. A solid episode; good character building for not just the main characters but also this episode's guest star. (4.5)
9. The Ceremony: A Jewish family fleeing Nazi Germany take refuge at an isolated cabin on the mountain but, after a series of accidents, come to believe that they will be persecuted for their beliefs in America as well and the father vows to abandon their Jewish traditions, much to his son's chagrin. A really great episode; I especially love the episodes that tie into historical fact, and this episode is one of the first to do it, and it does it well. (5.0)
10. The Legend: An old war buddy of John's comes to visit and seems just as grandiose as John's war stories made him out to be. After several cracks show in his story and persona, John-Boy begins to question the sincerity of his character -- a fact strengthened by several tragic occurrences. Another solid episode; there are a few (of what I perceive to be) plot holes within the story, but it is nevertheless a great one that shows some really great character moments from tons of characters, but we also get our first episode that really has a focus on Jason as more than a side character, which I am grateful for (watching the show over the years has helped propel Jason to become my favorite character in the series). (5.0)… (mehr)