Detective School

This admittedly forgettable short-lived comedy gem served a dual purpose for me... It was mildly amusing in a "Barney Miller-esque" sort of way, but more importantly, it was my introduction to the Mystery genre... The eager young (or old!) detectives in training helped PI Nick Hannigan (a "Miller" veteran) solve a puzzling crime/mystery. For me, the real payoff each episode was when the culprit was unmasked, or the lost item found, the studio audience burst into applause. This never happens on traditional detective shows, and I finally understood WHY people loved a good mystery. Now, I love cop/detective shows, and am an avid reader of Sherlock Holmes. And it's all thanks to Hannigan and his students...