Favourite Murder Mystery shows?

James Suzuki

I am a huge fan of British Murder Mysteries and I was wondering what were people's favourites?
I love Agatha Christie, I read her novels and love David Suchet's portryal of Poirot and I also love Midsomer Murders, Foyles War, Jonathan Creek, Inspector Morse and the spin-off Inspector Lewis, Sherlock BBC, Wycliffe Cadfael.
Do we have any fans of this genre here?
What's your favs?

Le Samourai

I'm not a rabid murder mystery show fan, but there are quite a few I like. Off the top of my head…

From the UK side of the Pond...
Midsomer Murders
Poirot
Jeremy Brett's Sherlock Holmes series
Cracker

From the US…
The Rockford Files
Columbo
Magnum, PI

And for a variety, a couple of quirky semi-mystery shows…
Kolchak: the Night Stalker
House, MD

James Suzuki

I'm not a huge fan of American Crime shows as I feel that today they hire by looks not acting skills and they have cliche characters, cliche plots and corny one-liners followed by a screaming soundtrack.
But the little of Columbo I've seen I have thoroughly enjoyed and I own a few seasons of Magnum P.I which I love.
I love it how quite a few British mysteries play out the suspects more, with scenes of the characters reaction to the murders without the police around as well as scenes of the dectectives working things out. It makes it feel like they're are not just going through the motions but are bringing something new each episode.

Le Samourai

I'm glad to hear you enjoy Magnum PI. I grew up on the show. Plus, I'm a 30 year resident of Hawaii, which adds to the appeal. I live near many of the filming locations. (I can walk to the bar at the "Kamehameha Club" in about 10 minutes.)

What I really love about the show are the characters and the themes of friendship and trying to do the right thing. Magnum himself in particular is a great character. I like the fact that he is sort of a goof who doesn't take himself too seriously, but deep down is both honorable and very, very tough.

As for your criticism of American crime shows, I can't really respond, as I haven't watched too many of the newer ones. The heyday for the genre in the US was probably the '70s, with programs like Rockford and Columbo.

Silhouette Man

Columbo for me - I own all seasons on DVD - though it's an inverted mystery series, rather than a mystery series, bar a few mystery episodes anomalies.

always shaken

For me has to be Sherlock Holmes,
wether its Rathbone or Brett,so English the way they change outfits for each occasion
and the command of the English language,where did it all go wrong
no wotta meen maaate

scottmu65

Do things such as Life on Mars/Ashes to Ashes count because I love them!! Also more recently 'Utopia' on Channel 4 had me gripped from the off, I thought it was a great twist on the mystery/thriller genre, incredibly original.

Silhouette Man

scottmu65 wrote:

Do things such as Life on Mars/Ashes to Ashes count because I love them!! Also more recently 'Utopia' on Channel 4 had me gripped from the off, I thought it was a great twist on the mystery/thriller genre, incredibly original.

I'm no expert, but I'd say that they do.

James Suzuki

I'm watching a Midsomer Murders now, while I am writing this post. Love it how they play out the characters and Chief Inspector Barnaby is so likeable.

Thunderpussy

I love most Detective/mystery shows. some are in no order.

Columbo, No matter how many times it's repeated. I'll always watch
Midsommer Murders, Lewis , Sherlock, Marple, Poirot, Death in Paradise.
as well as, Kojak, Canon, The Rockford Files.

all great Telly. -{

Does anyone remember The Ellery Queen Mysteries. Where clues would be
given through the show and at the last Five minutes He'd turn to the camera
to ask if you'd solved it. I remember it as a Kid but don't think it gets repeated
on British TV.

James Suzuki

The whole asking the auidence thing does ring a chord with me...though I don't remember it.
Nice to see a fan of Lewis, sad that it's finished, I live in NZ and I'm waiting for the last season, Season 7 to turn up on Amazon. Nice entertainment...when I was little I wanted to be a dectetive .
Here's wikipedia- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ellery_Queen_(TV_series)

Charmed & Dangerous

Thunderpussy wrote:

I love most Detective/mystery shows. some are in no order.

Columbo, No matter how many times it's repeated. I'll always watch
Midsommer Murders, Lewis , Sherlock, Marple, Poirot, Death in Paradise.
as well as, Kojak, Canon, The Rockford Files.

all great Telly. -{

Does anyone remember The Ellery Queen Mysteries. Where clues would be
given through the show and at the last Five minutes He'd turn to the camera
to ask if you'd solved it. I remember it as a Kid but don't think it gets repeated
on British TV.

Funnily enough when I saw the thread title I immediately thought of Ellery Queen. I remember it from being a kid too and I don't think it's been repeated since. Very cleverly done Whodunitsv(as they used to be called). Great theme tune too.

Does anyone remember the series called 'Whodunit?', a game show hosted by Jon Pertwee, which invited intestines to solve a short whodunit each week?

Thunderpussy

I remember "Whodunit?", sort of Cludeo for the TV. )
I think it was revived in the 90's for a short run.

Sir Miles

Thunderpussy wrote:

I remember "Whodunit?", sort of Cludeo for the TV. )
I think it was revived in the 90's for a short run.

That was a great show, hosted by Jon Pertwee ! Loved it.

Thunderbird 2

The 90s version was indeed called Cluedo, presented my Richard Madeley and lasted three? series.

Here is a link to the titiels on TV Ark.

http://www.tv-ark.org.uk/mivana/mediaplayer.php?id=5ab8459a33c8df1360ccc1686854f004&media=cluedo1992&type=mp4

I would add from the UK, - Bergerac, Taggart, Miss Marple (Joan Hickson, 1980s) Vera, and from across the pond,
Murder She Wrote, Diagnosis Murder, Matt Houston and the early seasons of NYPD Blue.

James Suzuki

Bergerac is great, Love John Nettles in this and Midsomer.
Miss Marple is pretty good, Joan Hickson does a great job and Taggart is an oldie. Nice Scottish mystery series there.

Mr Beech

I like The Killing, which is an AMC (Mad Men, Breaking Bad) adaptation of a Danish show (but I've only seen Season/Series 1 so far). It is uncommon in that it is largely about a single murder (since season 3 is coming, I don't know where it ends up going).

I can't stand most broadcast network shows. They are very formulaic. CSI, CSI: Other City, CSI: Cancelled Other City, NCIS, etc.

I'd say be careful with Twin Peaks from David Lynch. It moves well in the first season, but it has one of the worst lulls in TV history during season 2 until the last couple of episodes.

AlphaOmegaSin

Murder she Wrote. Nothing like seeing a middle aged Angela Lansbury getting all worked up over a Case. Really gets the Blood flowing to certain Areas, don't you think

Silhouette Man

AlphaOmegaSin wrote:

Murder she Wrote. Nothing like seeing a middle aged Angela Lansbury getting all worked up over a Case. Really gets the Blood flowing to certain Areas, don't you think

No, I don't.