Old Television and comics

[Jon Jordan]

It's a strange thing that part of putting out Crimespree now includes watching DVDs. We started reviewing DVDs a little over a year ago, and Jeremy has done a great job coordinating the whole thing. We've been getting some nice feedback about the DVD reviews as well.



I am also doing a page per issue about comics. There are an awful lot of authors who are now writing comics also. Pus some comics writers are now writing novels. It's an obvious cross over. And. as I've discovered, there are a lot of comic fans with in our mystery community.



So, the strange part...



I spend two or three nights in a row in my recliner watching Miami Vice, Hawaii 50, The Shield, and other mystery related TV and movies. I also read comics while I'm doing it. So there I sit, reclined back, comic in one hand coffe and/or smoke in the other, watching tekevision. Ruth walks in the room:
"What are you doing?"
'Working." I tell her, and I smile.



It does mean I watch a bit more carefully, and that's cool. When I write DVD reviews I try to do so in a way that will let our readers know if they should look into getting these discs.



Case in point: Hawaii 50 season One. I've had discussions with a number of people, Sean Chercover especially about how well the show would hold up for today's viewers. Is it worth buying? I think so. While dated by the times it was made during, the police work is solid. Jack Lord is also a joy to watch. Plus it's beautiful. The first four episodes I watched were actually really cool. I also doscovered that the show ran from 1969 till 1980. 12 years!!! I don't remeber it being on that long. But as I popped in the first episode and the theme came on I got a chill, a bit of a buzz. Pure nostalgia. Younger folk like Bryon Quartermous might not enjoy it like I did, but it is worth checking out.



Miami Vice risked the same problem. Firmly established as an eighties show it is very obviously influenced by the clothes and music and attiudes of the eighties. However I love watching it. The guest stars alone make it worthwhile. Annette Benning, Lou Diamond Phillips, Bruce Willis, Liam Neeson, Lawrence Fishborne, Ted Nugent.... Great fun. The police work here isn't procedure, it's undercover and as such come with more swagger and drama. That's ok, Edward James Olmos is timeless in this and ties it all together by being so quiet.



With today's writers especially I think the influence of television is higher. Most people writing today have most likely seen at least some episodes of Magnum PI, Rockford Files, Law and Order, Vice and many other shows.



It is also very true that most people watch TV. We gave up cable, but now watch most everyting on disc. You can't read all the time, and a lot of people look for viewing similar to their reading. So we do DVD reviews.



So, what shows do you remeber and love and want on DVD? Already out or not, what would you love to have in your home video collection??