There are only two really fine episodes of Ellery Queen left, and one of them is presented here. It’s well known that when Fred Dannay and Manny Lee moved their detective from his metaphorically international wanderings and planted him in Hollywood for a few novels, something went a little off. Here, we find Ellery in Hollywood, and … Continue reading SCREAM QUEENS: Ellery Queen Episodes 17 and 18
Ellery Queen
TWO QUEENS FOR A DAY: Ellery Queen Episodes 15 and 16
Two complex puzzles this time around with a double large roster of guest stars, some of whom get ill-served by the crowded plots. I love a good courtroom drama, and I blush at stuck-in-its-time racism; you’ll find both here. Just a quick note: this project serves to remind me that binge-watching a series has its … Continue reading TWO QUEENS FOR A DAY: Ellery Queen Episodes 15 and 16
ACES TRUMP A PAIR OF QUEENS: Ellery Queen Episodes 13 and 14
Kind of a low point in the series for me here. Just sayin’ . . . Jim Hutton as Ellery Queen with Tom Reese as Sergeant Velie EPISODE THIRTEEN: THE ADVENTURE OF THE SUNDAY PUNCH (Written by Larry Alexander ; original airdate 1/11/76) The Cast: The big name in this guest cast is Lloyd Nolan … Continue reading ACES TRUMP A PAIR OF QUEENS: Ellery Queen Episodes 13 and 14
QUEEN’S GAMBIT: Ellery Queen Episodes 11 and 12
With this installment, we reach and pass the halfway mark in our single season of Ellery Queen, and I can only express my disdain for NBC, which moved the show around from time slot to time slot and save a little invective for shows like The Streets of San Francisco, which played opposite our hero, drained ratings, … Continue reading QUEEN’S GAMBIT: Ellery Queen Episodes 11 and 12
BURLESQUE QUEENS OF THE NILE: EQ Episodes 9 and 10
EPISODE NINE: THE ADVENTURE OF VERONICA’S VEILS (Written by Robert Pirosh; original airdate 11/13/75) The Cast: A gem of a cast in a burlesque background, beginning with George Burns who, even though he only has a cameo, rates top billing! Burns spent most of his hundred years performing. He was “discovered” when, as a seven-year-old … Continue reading BURLESQUE QUEENS OF THE NILE: EQ Episodes 9 and 10
THE QUEENS OF HEARTS: Ellery Queen Episodes 7 and 8
EPISODE SEVEN: THE ADVENTURE OF COLONEL NIVIN’S MEMOIRS (Written by Robert E. Swanson; original airdate 10/23/75) The Cast: Another cast consisting primarily of television actors, many with a rich pedigree in the medium. I have a special fondness for Rene Auberjonois because, like Paul Shenar from “Miss Aggie’s Farewell,” he was a founding member of … Continue reading THE QUEENS OF HEARTS: Ellery Queen Episodes 7 and 8
IN THE QUEEN’S PARLOR: Ellery Queen Episodes 5 & 6
ELLERY QUEEN MYSTERIES: Episodes Five and Six We are on a roll and cooking with gas and every other mixed metaphor with two fine episodes. The first ranks as one of the top puzzles in the series and the second has one of the best casts. Plus, Frank Flannagan and Simon Brimmer continue to add … Continue reading IN THE QUEEN’S PARLOR: Ellery Queen Episodes 5 & 6
ELLERY QUEEN: Episodes Three and Four
Episodes Three and Four prove that Levinson and Link were not trying to create another Burke’s Law where the detective has some lovely run-ins with a bunch of old stars before one of them is randomly shown to be the killer. Here, they’re going for a cleverer show, with actual clues leading to surprise endings. There are … Continue reading ELLERY QUEEN: Episodes Three and Four
HAIL TO THE QUEENS: Ellery Queen Eps 1 and 2
Ellery Queen Mysteries, the brainchild of ace screenwriting team and lifelong EQ fanboys Richard Levinson and William Link, last only one season consisting of twenty-two episodes. With one exception, every one of these was an original story conceived by the team (although some episodes were written by others) and co-produced with Peter S. Fischer, with … Continue reading HAIL TO THE QUEENS: Ellery Queen Eps 1 and 2
FROM THE PEN OF LEVINSON AND LINK (and Queen)
If I had had a little bit of luck, on my first day of junior high school a group of my friends might have introduced me to the fellow they had been talking about since 5th grade - the kid who, like me, loved magic tricks and puzzles and a mystery writer named Ellery Queen. That … Continue reading FROM THE PEN OF LEVINSON AND LINK (and Queen)
Ah Sweet Mystery! 