Who is your Favourite TV Detective/Lawman?
By Carl Halling
@CarlHalling (3617)
United Kingdom
May 12, 2007 7:49am CST
Mine I think has always been Columbo. Peter Falk's incandescent charisma and consummate comedic brilliance has ensured the character's lasting popularity for over thirty years, as well as the series' absence of bad language and overt violence which is so refreshing; and then there is the decency of Columbo himself: his gentleness and warmth, his bumbling charm and engaging scruffiness, his compassionate way with animals, children and the downtrodden, his courtesy even towards those who look down on him, his brilliant mind, his pretend incompetence, his hilarious catchphrases and routines, all have conspired to ensure that Columbo is no ordinary TV detective. For myself, I've been watching him for over several decades, and I still enjoy him. But how about you? Who is your personal favourite TV detective/lawman? Perhaps you prefer "24" or "Life on Mars" or another more cutting edge series. Or do you prefer the oldies...Kojak ("Who loves ya, baby"?) perhaps, or the ever-popular Starsky and Hutch, hilariously re-created by Stiller and Wilson? Let's talk...
4 people like this
5 responses
@Debs_place (10520)
• United States
14 Sep 07
Gosh, Columbo and Kojak - names from the past.
My favorite of all time is also my favorite obsessive/compulsive - Monk. I think we all have a little OCD in us and I just love Monk, with a new obsession every week and ther greatest ways to show them.
1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45939)
• United States
14 Sep 07
I love Monk. Hubby is a bit on the obsessive/compulsive side. He doesn't like to watch Monk. Have to laugh at him because I think it strikes a little close to home!
@sarahruthbeth22 (43143)
• United States
28 May 07
"Who Love Ya Baby?"It is Kojak. He is cool and caring and tough all at the same time.Eventhough he is bald and overweight, he is sexy.I love the way he dicusses things with his Captain. And he treated Crocker with respect.And the lollypops!I love him. I have the first season on DVD.Classic.
@CarlHalling (3617)
• United Kingdom
10 Jun 07
Rhames has put in some strong performances in movies; but I don't see him as Theo Kojak. It's difficult to reproduce classic 70s series, but it can be done! I thought the Stiller/Wilson version of "Starsky and Hutch" was hilarious, because while remaining faithful to the spirit of the original, they updated it with immense wit and style; I also love what they did with "The Brady Bunch".
1 person likes this
@CarlHalling (3617)
• United Kingdom
9 Jun 07
"Kojak" turned Mr Savalas into an international superstar and heart throb, after years of hard work as an actor. I wonder if that stunning Four Seasons disco song from the 70s, "Who Loves Ya" was based on Theo's catchphrase? Another question to ponder...if a movie were made today, who'd play Theo? Hard one; after all, he was pretty irreplacable in the part.
1 person likes this
@sarahruthbeth22 (43143)
• United States
10 Jun 07
Here in the States , they tried to bring back Kojak. But this time he was played by Ving Rhames, you know Tom Cruise's sidekick in the Mission Impossible movies. It aired in 2005 but it didn't last long.
@ElusiveButterfly (45939)
• United States
28 May 07
I loved watching Columbo. You never saw his wife, but he often made mention of her. Later on she had her own show, and he was never seen but often mentioned. Kojak was great. So was Starsky and Hutch. I also remember James Garner in series that I loved watching. The name of the series eludes me.
@CarlHalling (3617)
• United Kingdom
9 Jun 07
I still love watching Columbo; but I have to say I never knew his wife had her own series. I don't think it was ever screened over here in the UK. Kojak turned Telly Savalas into a superstar at long last; and Starsky and Hutch are still icons. As for Mr Garner: was it "The Rockford Files"?
1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45939)
• United States
10 Jun 07
Yes, that would be it. Thank you for jogging my memory. I am approaching 50 and it seems that I have too much to remember lately!
@suscan (1955)
• United States
16 Sep 07
It is so hard to pick a favorite. I have several, I am fond of Columbo ,his bumbling pretense was endearing, he always got the criminal. Then there is Kojak's forcefulness, and Rockford's charm, but I must say one of my very favorite shows were the Miami Vice guys especially Sonny Crockett. Both Don Johnson and Colin Farrell played the character very well.
And I could really date myself. What the heck? What about Jack Lord in Hawaii Five-0 or Gene Barry in Bat Masterson and Burke's Law.
@CarlHalling (3617)
• United Kingdom
17 Sep 07
Oh yes, "Miami Vice", that was a great series, and it made Don Johnson into one of the biggest stars on the planet, and deservedly so, his Sonny Crockett was a masterpiece of 80s cool. I never saw the remake, because I figured the original was so rooted in the era. Well; I guess "Hawaii Five-0" was its natural predecessor; I used to love it as a kid. McGarrett's catchphrase was fun wasn't it..."Book 'im, Danno!"; it can almost compete with Columbo's "There is one more thing"...love it!
@linda345 (2661)
• Canada
14 Sep 07
It is funny to see this discussion. I was dreaming about Columbo last night. I dreamed they had a non stop showing of his movies on tv. I stayed on the couch and just watched them continously. I love Columbo and I have enjoyed any movie I have seen Peter Falk in. I can't rember any names off hand. If hubby was home he would know.
