Given a choice between a show-biz centered story featuring Simon Brimmer and centered around an Irving Berlin-type composer and a testosterone-laden “let’s hide the witness before he testifies against the mob boss” story, you think you’d know which episode I preferred. Well, you’d be wrong. Presenting the last truly great episode in the series! But … Continue reading QUEENS CHOICE: Ellery Queen Episodes 19 and 20

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

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

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

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

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

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