Wed 5 Oct 2011
THE FIRST ANNUAL MYSTERY*FILE TOP TEN TEC POLL, May 1980.
Posted by Steve under Bibliographies, Lists & Checklists , TV mysteries[22] Comments
TOP TEN TEC POLL, May 1980.
I am reprinting this from Fatal Kiss #13, which was the name that my mystery fanzine was going by at the time, but no matter the name, it was still Mystery*File.
Forty-three voters participated in all. Each voter was to supply me a listing of his or her top ten television shows of the detective, mystery, crime, or suspense genre. Not everyone did. Some obvious misunderstandings such as votes for Mary Tyler Moore, no matter how well intended, were discarded. I otherwise left it up to the individual voter’s discretion as to how far the limits of the category could be stretched, at least in all situations in which a case of any kind could be made for the marginal show in doubt.
Point totals were assigned as follows: A show rated as a Number One was given 10 points; shows listed as a Number Two, 9 points; and so on. If a voter did not rank his or her choices, or in cases of ties, the corresponding point totals were split equally.
If a person voted for 5 or fewer shows, that person’s Number One show was given only 5 points, and so on, on the grounds that someone voting for only one program could thus skew the voting point totals disproportionately. And, I’m sorry, all honorable mentions were likewise honorably ignored.
Votes for the Sunday Mystery Movie were, rightly or wrongly, split between Columbo, McCloud, and McMillan & Wife, the most well-known and longest-lasting of that multi-part feature. This incorrectly ignores the lesser-known shows that appeared as part of that series, shows such as Hec Ramsey and Amy Prentiss. Sorry, Hec. In the point totals that follow, the NBC Sunday Mystery Movie did receive one first place vote which was not otherwise tabulated.
Here then, finally, are the results:
SHOW POINTS VOTERS NUMBER OF FIRST PLACE VOTES
COLUMBO 132 23 7
THE ROCKFORD FILES 123.5 23 2
THE AVENGERS (1) 119.5 17 5
ELLERY QUEEN (2) 102 17 2
PETER GUNN 72.5 13 3
(1) Six voters specified only the version that starred Diana Rigg.
(2) The version with Jim Hutton was either specified or assumed.
PERRY MASON 71 13 0
DRAGNET (3) 68 10 2
PETER WIMSEY (PBS) 60.5 10 1
THE OUTSIDER 53 7 2
QUINCY 46 9 1
(3) Four voters specified only the Webb/Alexander version.
McCLOUD 41.5 9 0
POLICE STORY 41.5 7 0
BARNEY MILLER 40.5 7 0
HARRY O 38.5 8 0
THE UNTOUCHABLES 38 6 1
THE SAINT (4) 35 6 0
IRONSIDE 33.5 7 2
MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE 30.5 5 0
ALFRED HITCHCOCK 30 5 1
NAKED CITY 30 5 0
(4) Four voters specified only the version with Roger Moore.
NOTE: Now that we’re out of the top twenty, I will no longer include the number of voters, and the number of First Place votes, if any, will follow the total points in parentheses.
I SPY 29
KOJAK 26
McMILLAN AND WIFE 26 (1)
THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E. 26 (1)
THE EDDIE CAPRA MYSTERIES 25 (1)
THE DEFENDERS 24.5 (1)
THE PRISONER 23
THE SNOOP SISTERS 23
MYSTERY! (PBS) 22.5
M SQUAD 21
BANACEK 20
T.H.E. CAT 19.5
MANNIX 18
THE ROGUES 18 (1)
DANGER MAN / SECRET AGENT 18
MR. AND MRS. NORTH 17 (1)
BURKE’S LAW 17
KAZ 16.5
THE RIVALS OF SHERLOCK HOLMES 15 (1)
MAVERICK 14.5
CITY OF ANGELS 13
HAVE GUN, WILL TRAVEL 12.5
DIAGNOSIS: UNKNOWN 12
ELLERY QUEEN [with George Nader] 12
THE FUGITIVE 11.5
CHECKMATE 11
HAWAII FIVE-O 11 (1)
KOLCHAK: THE NIGHT STALKER 11
THE THIN MAN 10
BARETTA 10
HIGHWAY PATROL 10
CHARLIE’S ANGELS 10 (1)
HEC RAMSEY 9
BARNABY JONES 9
COLONEL MARCH OF SCOTLAND YARD 9
KRAFT MYSTERY THEATER 9
THE NAME OF THE GAME 9
77 SUNSET STRIP 8
THE LINEUP 8
MAN AGAINST CRIME 8
TOMA 8
IT TAKES A THIEF 7
HAWK 7
ADAM-12 7
THE BIONIC WOMAN 7
THE BOLD ONES 7
DEAR DETECTIVE 7
THE LONE WOLF 7
MADIGAN 7
STARSKY AND HUTCH 6.5
TENSPEED AND BROWNSHOE 6.5
CANNON 6
DRAGNET [the later version] 6
THRILLER 6
TIGHTROPE 6
MARK SABER 6
DELVECCHIO 5.5
THE MOONSTONE 5.5
WHIRLYBIRDS 5.5
GET SMART 5
RICHARD DIAMOND 5
LOU GRANT 5 (1)
JOHNNY STACCATO 5
MIKE HAMMER 5
MR. LUCKY 5
REX STOUT’S “THE DOORBELL RANG” 5
WILD WILD WEST 5
STREETS OF SAN FRANCISCO 4.5
BANYON 4
THE EDGE OF NIGHT 4
FOREIGN INTRIGUE 4
JOURNEY TO THE UNKNOWN 4
WONDER WOMAN 4
AMY PRENTISS 3
ELLERY QUEEN [with Hugh Marlowe] 3
ESPIONAGE 3
MRS. COLOMBO / KATE LOVES A MYSTERY 3
OWEN MARSHALL 3
THE SIX MILLION DOLLAR MAN 3
THE TWILIGHT ZONE 3
ADAMS OF EAGLE LAKE 2
87TH PRECINCT 2
THE MAN CALLED X 2
THE NBC TUESDAY NIGHT MOVIE 2
NIGHT GALLERY 2
THE PERSUADERS 2
SWITCH 2
YANCY DERRINGER 2
CAIN’S 100 1
McCOY 1
NANCY DREW 1
WHO DONE IT? 1
WIDE WORLD MYSTERY 1
[UPDATE] 10-05-11. In the original presentation of these poll results, I included the names of all the voters. I’ve decided not to at this later date, but if there’s a consensus that suggests they’d be relevant, then I will.
Otherwise, you may take this as a small snapshot in time, with an insignificant number of voters, but nonetheless with a number of surprising and interesting results. I hope you agree!
October 5th, 2011 at 4:55 pm
I have discovered, down in the fine print, my own list of top ten TV detective shows:
THE OUTSIDER
PETER GUNN
KAZ
HAVE GUN, WILL TRAVEL
CITY OF ANGELS
THE AVENGERS
ELLERY QUEEN
THE THIN MAN
KOLCHAK
RICHARD DIAMOND
I might shuffle some of these shows around, but the big surprise to me is KAZ. I don’t remember it at all. I can’t even picture who was in it.
October 5th, 2011 at 6:33 pm
Kaz was an ex-con turned lawyer starring Ron Leibman.
October 5th, 2011 at 7:47 pm
Michael
At the time, I was obviously impressed by KAZ, but even with the name of the star and the premise, nothing comes back to me at all. It is a mystery!
October 5th, 2011 at 7:09 pm
It’s an interesting list…I guess at least someone thought a “spunky” tv news producer was about as much an investigator as her boss was, at least when he moved onto LA newspaper work. Certainly some of the allowed choices weren’t much more irrelevant, and I wonder how many Wimsey and MOONSTONE fans voted for MYSTERY!, etc.
31 years. Wow, eh? I can certainly remember 1980 quite clearly…
October 5th, 2011 at 7:45 pm
Todd
Maybe that someone voted for Mary Tyler Moore’s legs.
As for Wimsey and Moonstone, a voter would have specifically had to name them, which is where they would have been counted, not Mystery!, which others voted for by name. The process was open and aboveboard, but not scientific by any means, I grant you!
October 5th, 2011 at 7:55 pm
Todd
Back to you and PBS Mystery.
If the votes for Wimsey, Moonstone and Mystery! were combined, it would give the overall series 88.5 points, which would be enough to knock PETER GUNN out of the fifth spot.
October 5th, 2011 at 8:23 pm
Actually the first few seasons of MASTERPIECE THEATRE featured Moonstone and Wimsey. MYSTERY did not start until1980.
I wonder how much would today’s top 25 differ. I did a quick list of my top ten (a list that would no doubt be different tomorrow).
JUSTIFIED
MIDDLEMAN
BANACEK
RAINES
ROCKFORD FILES
SENTIMENTAL AGENT
T.H.E. CAT
ELLERY QUEEN
SINGING DETECTIVE
SHERLOCK (2010)
There are too many to mention that tied for eleventh such as COLUMBO, TINKER TAILOR SOLDIER SPY, RICHARD DIAMOND, etc.
There were countless ones I need to see again such DANTE, THE OUTSIDER, BIG APPLE, CORRIDOR PEOPLE, etc
And then there are those favorites we miss such as SEARCH, DELPHI BUREAU, MURPHY’S LAW (ABC),NERO WOLFE (NBC), etc
And then there were those that were brilliant than faded such as REMINGTON STEELE and MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E.
October 5th, 2011 at 8:45 pm
Michael
It sounds as though I was correct in the first place to keep Wimsey and Moonstone separate from Mystery! Thanks!
With all of the shows that have been on the air since 1980, and all of the good ones before then, right now I don’t see how I could confine myself to a Top Ten. Maybe I’m take your example and try, but if I do, I think I might be adding and crossing off titles for weeks.
If I did it by eras, I might stand a better chance of putting a list together. OK…doable, I think. Then try combining the lists. It might work.
October 5th, 2011 at 9:00 pm
Among surprises:
The low standing for 77 SUNSET STRIP (8 points) and RICHARD DIAMOND (only 5 points). HARRY O did OK, though.
No votes for some of the other ABC shows like SURFSIDE 6, BOURBON STREET BEAT and so on, plus I’m sure there are many more shows with no votes that I’m not thinking of right now.
October 5th, 2011 at 10:11 pm
Bet you can’t make a top ten list for the 1990s.
October 5th, 2011 at 10:38 pm
#9
The 70s alone had over one hundred and thirty five crime fighter’s series.
Some I noticed missing included ARCHER (75), COOL MILLION (probably Tuesday Mystery movie), MOST DEADLY GAME, DELPHI BUREAU, KHAN, KINGSTON: CONFIDENTIAL (with Raymond Burr), DOG & CAT, FEATHER & FATHER GANG, CHASE, SERPICO, EISCHIED, BARBARY COAST, CARIBE, PARIS 7000, THE BEARCATS!, HUNTER (Linda Evans as undercover spy with James Franciscus), A MAN CALLED SLOANE, SEARCH, etc.
Most I don’t remember, so I do, others I wish I knew more about.
Now that is just the 70s, imagine if we toss in the 50s and 60s.
October 5th, 2011 at 10:41 pm
Personal aside to Steve our Mark Harmon fan. The list failed to have Harmon’s TV series SAM, where he played a cop who drove around fighting crime with the help of his police dog Sam.
October 6th, 2011 at 3:52 am
Good old 1980 !
Wow- that was a time !
Of the listed TV- series, I don’t know, or at least remember, all.
But it is nice to start to research some from the list, like going through book-lists, i.e. Oct. 2010 on this blog.
Columbo used to get on my nerves in the 70’s and 80’s, nowadays, when there are reruns, I love the ‘time tunnel’ aspect- I’m getting old, I guess !
The Doc
October 6th, 2011 at 8:26 am
Never heard of THE OUTSIDER or KAZ. Someone ought to write about them here. I’m going to do some internet research and inform myself.
Michael – I loved SEARCH. At the time it seemed very different for a crime show. Almost had a sci-fi feel to it. There’s a series that should be issued on DVD even if it was short-lived. Can you imagine how much more high tech it would be if it were done these days?
October 6th, 2011 at 8:41 am
In reply to Michael, Comment #10 —
Why do you think the 1990s would be difficult? Too many to choose from, or too few?
The era of LAW & ORDER, MURDER SHE WROTE, NYPD BLUE and DIAGNOSIS MURDER.
None of which would be in my Top Ten. Maybe I see what you mean.
October 6th, 2011 at 8:51 am
In reply to J.F., Comment #14 —
THE OUTSIDER starred Darren McGavin as the ultra unglamorous PI David Ross, based in L.A. He drove a beat up car and got beat up himself a lot. It lasted only one season, 1968-69, the victim of a self-imposed censorship after the shooting of Robert Kennedy. They cleaned up the violence that marked the pilot, which often left the show short of running time. I believe it was another Roy Huggins production.
One paperback tie-in (by Lou Cameron) was published. I have a few of the shows on bootleg DVDs, but I haven’t watched them. I think I’m afraid they won’t match up to my very pleasant memories of the series.
You may notice KOLCHAK also in my Top Ten, from which you may also gather that I was a devoted Darren McGavin fan.
October 6th, 2011 at 8:57 am
In reply to Michael, Comment #12 —
I had never heard of SAM until you mentioned it, but of course it’s now a “must have.” I see that it was on CBS for exactly one month in 1978.
What’s the chances of finding copies today, do you suppose?
October 6th, 2011 at 9:04 am
I’ll attempt a top 10 of the 1990s. It’s in no particular order of preference.
PRIME SUSPECT (orig UK series broadcast on PBS)
TWIN PEAKS
THE X FILES
MURDER ONE
LAW AND ORDER
THE PRACTICE
OZ
THE ADVENTURES OF BRISCOE COUNTY JR
THE PRETENDER
INSPECTOR MORSE (started in the late 80s but the best epsiodes were inthe 90s)
October 6th, 2011 at 11:59 am
I picked the 1990s for two reasons. It is the decade I was too busy to watch TV and I know very little about it. Also, as I am educating myself about the decade I am finding some of the worse TV detective shows I have ever had to suffer through.
What the heck happened to Stephen Cannell? THE HAT SQUAD, BROKEN BADGES (didn’t LAST PRECINCT teach that man anything?), PALACE GUARD?
#14. J.F. the pilot of SEARCH is available from WB Archives as a Made On Demand DVD. I watched it recently and was happy it held up. Granted today the agents would use a smart phone but I’d rather have Angel Tompkins monitoring my vital signs.
October 8th, 2011 at 11:29 pm
J.F. the SEARCH pilot is called PROBE.
Anyone remember 90s detective series BUDDY FARO or OVER MY DEAD BODY?
October 8th, 2011 at 11:44 pm
BUDDY FARO starred Dennis Farina, but I never watched it, nor do I (without Googling it) have any idea what kind of crime show it was.
But OVER MY DEAD BODY I do remember watching. Edward Woodward, who’d just been seen as The Equalizer, played a mystery writer in this one, and of course he kept running into mystery cases.
I don’t think it was on long, and while I enjoyed it, I wouldn’t have remembered even this much without the nudge.
October 11th, 2011 at 8:45 pm
[…] I am reprinting this from Fatal Kiss #13 (May 1980), the same issue in which I reported the results of the first annual Top Ten Tec Poll. […]