Quincy and TRF
Keltec
Quincy. I'd forgotten how insipid and/or predictably boring most of
them were, but I'll tell ya, the exercise felt more like a cast
reunion of the Rockford Files with Jack Klugman in the title role,
than a casual review.
From Joan Van Ark to Ramon Bieri and just about anyone you can imagine
in between appears at some point on the show. I realize they were all
just a bunch of Universal contract players doing a job, but for me,
studio stage hopping kills the intrigue and cheapens the drama.
Which leads me to a chance sighting of Jesse Welles. Yes, the one I
found about as appealing as Sian Barf.ara Allen. It was in a 1985
episode of "Family Ties" and as much as I resisted believing my own
eyes, a decade, a skirt, and shoulder length hair changed my mind. I
mean, the dog was actually exuding sex appeal ... ?!
Wiseguy
7607bc...@s15g2000yqs.googlegroups.com:
Of course, what Universal calls "Season 3" is actually the second season
(1977-78), the year they only did 20 episodes. (The "real" third season
(1978-79) had 23 episodes.)
For even more crossover actors, there are Desilu/Paramount's Star Trek and
Mission: Impossible, Almost every episode of M:I in the first three years
had at least one actor who appeared on Star Trek (sometimes two or even
three) including George Takei (Sulu). Barbara Anderson, who guest-starred
on ST later was a semi-regular on M:I in the final year and of course,
after Star Trek, Leonard Nimoy joined M:I and after he left William Shatner
appeared twice.
Adam H. Kerman
>Keltec <deniz...@yahoo.com> wrote:
>>I just got through watching the last of the Season 3 episodes of
>>Quincy. I'd forgotten how insipid and/or predictably boring most of
>>them were, but I'll tell ya, the exercise felt more like a cast
>>reunion of the Rockford Files with Jack Klugman in the title role,
>>than a casual review.
>>From Joan Van Ark to Ramon Bieri and just about anyone you can imagine
>>in between appears at some point on the show. I realize they were all
>>just a bunch of Universal contract players doing a job, but for me,
>>studio stage hopping kills the intrigue and cheapens the drama.
>>Which leads me to a chance sighting of Jesse Welles. Yes, the one I
>>found about as appealing as Sian Barf.ara Allen. It was in a 1985
>>episode of "Family Ties" and as much as I resisted believing my own
>>eyes, a decade, a skirt, and shoulder length hair changed my mind. I
>>mean, the dog was actually exuding sex appeal ... ?!
>Of course, what Universal calls "Season 3" is actually the second season
>(1977-78), the year they only did 20 episodes. (The "real" third season
>(1978-79) had 23 episodes.)
epguides counts as two seasons:
October 3, 1976, through January 2, 1977, the four episodes that aired
in rotation for the (Sunday) NBC Mystery Movie.
February 4, 1977, through May 27, 1977, when Quincy became a weekly
series. "Snake Eyes", the two-hour episode that introduced the weekly
series, is listed as two episodes and was shown in two parts during
second run syndication. "The Thigh Bone's Connected to the Knee Bone"
was 90 minutes, so I'll guess that it should be counted as Season 1 from
the Mystery Movie order.
Other than which season to count the 90 minute episode in, I'll say it's
legitimate to count that as two seasons. What we count as a season is
the episode order. Clearly, there were two different orders for 1976-77
as the network agreed to a weekly series and not additional movies for
the anthology series.
As far as what was released for home video, yeah, it all should have
been released in one package, but they probably didn't.
Was the mystery movie theme restored for the first four 90 minute
episodes? Is "Snake Eyes" edited for two hours or the two-part version
for syndication? Is "Thigh Bone" restored to 90 minutes? In syndication,
I vaguely recalled that the 5 90-minute episodes were butchered.
I liked "Quincy" as a kid because Klugman's overwrought performance
cracked me up. Sam was a good sidekick and the conflicts with Asten were
great. Danny was weak 'cuz they rarely knew what to do with him. Monahan
was a poorly written character. Sgt. Brill was always listed in the main
cast but the poor guy never seemed to have any lines and never had a
scene without Monahan.
I thought a number of the murders were rather original. I especially
liked the one in which the corpse was frozen and somehow preserved to
hide a 10 year old murder. And, damnit, the evil twin episode (female)
was interesting. I also liked the one featuring radiation poisoning.
The way they followed the clues was silly.
Some of Quincy's disease of the week stories were interesting. Hell, I
never knew how common a lot of those diseases were. Usually, Klugman
versus greedy corporation episodes were dreadful.
Wiseguy
@news.albasani.net:
Since both the 90-minute episodes and the hour episodes were broadcast
in the 1976-77 season, I still say it's the same season. (TV Guide
announced the Fall 77 premiere as the second season, the Fall 78
premiere as the third season and so on.)
Epguides usually gets this sort of thing right. Perhaps they changed
their listings after the Universal DVDs came out.
> Was the mystery movie theme restored for the first four 90 minute
> episodes? Is "Snake Eyes" edited for two hours or the two-part version
> for syndication? Is "Thigh Bone" restored to 90 minutes? In
syndication,
> I vaguely recalled that the 5 90-minute episodes were butchered.
>
If I recall correctly they used the later first season opening with the
narration and later theme music. [One of the episodes, perhaps the last
90-minute one, has an opening without JK's narration and only one
picture in the center of the screen throughout.] The closing theme was
still the original Quincy theme heard only on the original 90-minute
episodes. In syndication "Snake Eyes" is shown in two parts, NBC only
showed it in the 2-hour format. All 90-minute episodes had a half-hour
cut out for syndication. The ending of "A Star Is Dead" outside the
courtroom was completely cut out.
> I liked "Quincy" as a kid because Klugman's overwrought performance
> cracked me up. Sam was a good sidekick and the conflicts with Asten
were
> great. Danny was weak 'cuz they rarely knew what to do with him.
Monahan
> was a poorly written character. Sgt. Brill was always listed in the
main
> cast but the poor guy never seemed to have any lines and never had a
> scene without Monahan.
>
> I thought a number of the murders were rather original. I especially
> liked the one in which the corpse was frozen and somehow preserved to
> hide a 10 year old murder. And, damnit, the evil twin episode (female)
> was interesting. I also liked the one featuring radiation poisoning.
> The way they followed the clues was silly.
>
> Some of Quincy's disease of the week stories were interesting. Hell, I
> never knew how common a lot of those diseases were. Usually, Klugman
> versus greedy corporation episodes were dreadful.
>
Then he marries a woman who is a dead ringer for his late wife (played
by the same actress, no less). A psychiatrist would have a field day
with that one.
Adam H. Kerman
I agree that they aired during a single television season. Remember that
the season ends around Memorial Day in May and will vary by a week or so
from year to year. This means that Summer quarter counts as part of the
new season, not the old season.
>Epguides usually gets this sort of thing right. Perhaps they changed
>their listings after the Universal DVDs came out.
Epguides got it right. They are not commenting on "what season was it
when the episode aired" but "what season was it ordered for?
The network places the order for next season at any time between
February and April, typically, although some renewals can take place as
late as May or June. Production begins any time between March and June.
NBC probably had an option for 6, 7, or 8 episodes of "Quincy, M.E." in
Mystery Movie format. The weekly series was definitely a case of NBC
renegotiating the original deal for a weekly series, and not an
extension of the Mystery Movie order. This also makes a difference as to
when the main cast is paid to be available. Weekly series meant that the
main cast had to make themselves available for additional production
weeks than if only 7 90-minute movies were produced.
It's a different order, so it's legitimate to count it as a different
season.
There's a valid reason why epguides counts the "season" as "a group of
episodes ordered from the producer": Because it's gotten quite typical
that all half of the order is withheld for airing during NEXT season.
Most notorious of all is "The Sopranos" final season: The first batch
aired March through June, 2006, end of the 2005-2006 season and crossing into
Summer quarter 2006 (beginning of the 2006-2007 season). The final batch
aired April to June 2007, end of the 2006-2007 season and crossing into
Summer quarter 2007 (beginning of 2007-2008 season).
Now, the Emmys have strict rules about when shows may compete, to avoid
allowing one season of the Sopranos to possibly compete in three seasons
of awards. Don't ask me which season they were eligible for, but likely
2006-2007.
>>Was the mystery movie theme restored for the first four 90 minute
>>episodes? Is "Snake Eyes" edited for two hours or the two-part version
>>for syndication? Is "Thigh Bone" restored to 90 minutes? In syndication,
>>I vaguely recalled that the 5 90-minute episodes were butchered.
>If I recall correctly they used the later first season opening with the
>narration and later theme music.
Well that sucks big time. I can understand why episodes are edited for
syndication, since stations want to air a common length, but for home
video, they need to present them as close to how they originally aired
as possible.
>[One of the episodes, perhaps the last 90-minute one, has an opening
>without JK's narration and only one picture in the center of the screen
>throughout.] The closing theme was still the original Quincy theme heard
>only on the original 90-minute episodes.
On the first four 90-minute episodes, the closing theme should have been
the closing Mystery Movie theme.
Opening theme for Sunday Mystery Movie, either 1972-73 or 73-74
presenting an episode of "Columbo"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zaWuXHMrwXo
Sunday, 1976-77 fall quarter with Quincy in rotation
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-hbLGqmzsw
Rockford-related quiz: What replaced Quincy in the mystery movie rotation
on Sundays starting in January?
Here's Mancini himself conducting a concert version of the theme
recorded for an album:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KkvS8XLc874
>In syndication "Snake Eyes" is shown in two parts, NBC only
>showed it in the 2-hour format. All 90-minute episodes had a half-hour
>cut out for syndication. The ending of "A Star Is Dead" outside the
>courtroom was completely cut out.
Are you saying that none of the scenes cut for syndication were restored
for home video? That's criminal.
Wiseguy
news:h493vh$d7a$1...@news.eternal-september.org:
>
> I agree that they aired during a single television season. Remember
> that the season ends around Memorial Day in May and will vary by a
> week or so from year to year. This means that Summer quarter counts as
> part of the new season, not the old season.
>
Uh, no.
The season starts in the Fall.
>>Epguides usually gets this sort of thing right. Perhaps they changed
>>their listings after the Universal DVDs came out.
>
> Epguides got it right. They are not commenting on "what season was it
> when the episode aired" but "what season was it ordered for?
>
> The network places the order for next season at any time between
> February and April, typically, although some renewals can take place
> as late as May or June. Production begins any time between March and
> June. NBC probably had an option for 6, 7, or 8 episodes of "Quincy,
> M.E." in Mystery Movie format. The weekly series was definitely a case
> of NBC renegotiating the original deal for a weekly series, and not an
> extension of the Mystery Movie order. This also makes a difference as
> to when the main cast is paid to be available. Weekly series meant
> that the main cast had to make themselves available for additional
> production weeks than if only 7 90-minute movies were produced.
>
> It's a different order, so it's legitimate to count it as a different
> season.
>
You're contradicting yourself. All the episodes of Quincy were
broadcast between September and May. You said the season ends around
Memorial Day. Therefore, all the episodes are from one season.
New episodes are ordered all the time. Some series start out at 13,
then another 9 then maybe another 2 to make a total of 24. All the
episodes still belong to the same season.
> There's a valid reason why epguides counts the "season" as "a group of
> episodes ordered from the producer": Because it's gotten quite typical
> that all half of the order is withheld for airing during NEXT season.
> Most notorious of all is "The Sopranos" final season: The first batch
> aired March through June, 2006, end of the 2005-2006 season and
> crossing into Summer quarter 2006 (beginning of the 2006-2007 season).
> The final batch aired April to June 2007, end of the 2006-2007 season
> and crossing into Summer quarter 2007 (beginning of 2007-2008 season).
>
Yes, if an episode is held over it really belongs in the previous
season. But this is not the case with Quincy so is irrelevant.
> Now, the Emmys have strict rules about when shows may compete, to
> avoid allowing one season of the Sopranos to possibly compete in three
> seasons of awards. Don't ask me which season they were eligible for,
> but likely 2006-2007.
>
>>>Was the mystery movie theme restored for the first four 90 minute
>>>episodes? Is "Snake Eyes" edited for two hours or the two-part
>>>version for syndication? Is "Thigh Bone" restored to 90 minutes? In
>>>syndication, I vaguely recalled that the 5 90-minute episodes were
>>>butchered.
>
>>If I recall correctly they used the later first season opening with
>>the narration and later theme music.
>
I was talking about syndication. I haven't seen Quincy on VHS or DVD.
I would imagine they used a Quincy opening because The Mystery Movie was
a different program with different rights to the Mancini theme music and
Quincy didn't have its own opening (unlike McCloud which did.)
> Well that sucks big time. I can understand why episodes are edited for
> syndication, since stations want to air a common length, but for home
> video, they need to present them as close to how they originally aired
> as possible.
>
I would think the home video would have the 90-minute versions.
>
> On the first four 90-minute episodes, the closing theme should have
> been the closing Mystery Movie theme.
>
Again, no, Quincy had its own closing theme which was different from the
hour-long opening theme.
> Opening theme for Sunday Mystery Movie, either 1972-73 or 73-74
> presenting an episode of "Columbo"
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zaWuXHMrwXo
>
> Sunday, 1976-77 fall quarter with Quincy in rotation
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-hbLGqmzsw
>
> Rockford-related quiz: What replaced Quincy in the mystery movie
> rotation on Sundays starting in January?
>
Lanigan's Rabbi. The pilot starred Stuart Margolin.
> Here's Mancini himself conducting a concert version of the theme
> recorded for an album:
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KkvS8XLc874
>
>>In syndication "Snake Eyes" is shown in two parts, NBC only
>>showed it in the 2-hour format. All 90-minute episodes had a
>>half-hour cut out for syndication. The ending of "A Star Is Dead"
>>outside the courtroom was completely cut out.
>
> Are you saying that none of the scenes cut for syndication were
> restored for home video? That's criminal.
>
No, I said for syndication. Don't know about home video. As I said, I
assume the 90-minute version would be released.
Adam H. Kerman
>"Adam H. Kerman" <a...@chinet.com> wrote:
>>I agree that they aired during a single television season. Remember
>>that the season ends around Memorial Day in May and will vary by a
>>week or so from year to year. This means that Summer quarter counts as
>>part of the new season, not the old season.
>Uh, no.
>The season starts in the Fall.
For the Emmys, the program must have aired during the eligibility
period, June 1, 2008 - May 31, 2009.
Nielsen's season ends with the end of May sweeps, the Wednesday before
Memorial Day.
>>>Epguides usually gets this sort of thing right. Perhaps they changed
>>>their listings after the Universal DVDs came out.
>>Epguides got it right. They are not commenting on "what season was it
>>when the episode aired" but "what season was it ordered for?
>>The network places the order for next season at any time between
>>February and April, typically, although some renewals can take place
>>as late as May or June. Production begins any time between March and
>>June. NBC probably had an option for 6, 7, or 8 episodes of "Quincy,
>>M.E." in Mystery Movie format. The weekly series was definitely a case
>>of NBC renegotiating the original deal for a weekly series, and not an
>>extension of the Mystery Movie order. This also makes a difference as
>>to when the main cast is paid to be available. Weekly series meant
>>that the main cast had to make themselves available for additional
>>production weeks than if only 7 90-minute movies were produced.
>>It's a different order, so it's legitimate to count it as a different
>>season.
>You're contradicting yourself. All the episodes of Quincy were
>broadcast between September and May. You said the season ends around
>Memorial Day. Therefore, all the episodes are from one season.
It's like you're not listening at all. A season of episodes has to do
with the group of shows ordered from the producer. Quincy got two
separate orders. The order for mystery movies was Season 1. The order
for the first group of weekly episodes was Season 2. They both aired
during the same viewing season, yes.
I looked at DVD sales and both Seasons 1 and 2 were sold IN ONE PACKAGE,
so what's the problem? Universal Home Video isn't trying to rip off
collectors, unlike selling Rockford's final season separately from
Season 5.
>New episodes are ordered all the time. Some series start out at 13,
>then another 9 then maybe another 2 to make a total of 24. All the
>episodes still belong to the same season.
Those are extensions of the order, typically because the network has
exercised its option for additional episodes. That's why it's the same
season. With Quincy, the network didn't have the option for a weekly
series. Since it took the show out of the Mystery Movie rotation, they
negotiated for a show in a different format and not under the anthology
series' producers.
This worked out for Quincy, as this was the final season of the Mystery
Movie anyway.
Quiz: What other program survived the demise of the Mystery Movie
format? What program started in a different anthology series?
>>There's a valid reason why epguides counts the "season" as "a group of
>>episodes ordered from the producer": Because it's gotten quite typical
>>that all half of the order is withheld for airing during NEXT season.
>>Most notorious of all is "The Sopranos" final season: The first batch
>>aired March through June, 2006, end of the 2005-2006 season and
>>crossing into Summer quarter 2006 (beginning of the 2006-2007 season).
>>The final batch aired April to June 2007, end of the 2006-2007 season
>>and crossing into Summer quarter 2007 (beginning of 2007-2008 season).
>Yes, if an episode is held over it really belongs in the previous
>season. But this is not the case with Quincy so is irrelevant.
Quincy's order came during the same viewing season, most unusual.
It's amazing how the producers and network treated it as a second
season, the home video distributors treat it as a second season, and a
major Web site treats it as a second season, but everyone is wrong on
this point, 'cuz you've categorized it differently.
>>>>Was the mystery movie theme restored for the first four 90 minute
>>>>episodes? Is "Snake Eyes" edited for two hours or the two-part
>>>>version for syndication? Is "Thigh Bone" restored to 90 minutes? In
>>>>syndication, I vaguely recalled that the 5 90-minute episodes were
>>>>butchered.
>>>If I recall correctly they used the later first season opening with
>>>the narration and later theme music.
>I was talking about syndication.
I was asking about home video. I recall what was done in syndication.
>>On the first four 90-minute episodes, the closing theme should have
>>been the closing Mystery Movie theme.
>Again, no, Quincy had its own closing theme which was different from the
>hour-long opening theme.
That theme was substituted for syndication. Quincy did not have its own
closing theme when initially aired on the Mystery Movie.
>>Opening theme for Sunday Mystery Movie, either 1972-73 or 73-74
>>presenting an episode of "Columbo"
>>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zaWuXHMrwXo
>>Sunday, 1976-77 fall quarter with Quincy in rotation
>>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-hbLGqmzsw
>>Rockford-related quiz: What replaced Quincy in the mystery movie
>>rotation on Sundays starting in January?
>Lanigan's Rabbi. The pilot starred Stuart Margolin.
That is correct. For the series, merely 4 90-minute movies, the rabbi
was recast as Bruce Solomon. Miriam, the rabbi's wife, was played by
Janet Margolin in both pilot and series, no relation to Angel, which I
didn't realize till I just looked it up. The series had little to do
with the Harry Kelleman novels.
mozark
> Quincy.
Holy Sheeeet! Rockford, I could see. But
QUINCY???????????????????????????????
You and Captain Puke should build a tree-house.