Diagnosis Murder

I remember seeing the pre-series TV-movie "Diagnosis of Murder" in 1992, but I didn't watch the Diagnosis Murder TV series until the fall of 1997 (as it was starting its fifth season), when Robert Stack made a guest appearance in the episode "Open and Shut." After that, I didn't watch the show again until January of 1998. That was when I finally started watching it on a regular basis.

Considering the fact that Diagnosis Murder mainly appeals to senior audiences, I joke at the idea of being one of the few twentysomethings who watches it. Nonetheless, it is entertaining. In addition, I consider it to be the most underrated 'whodunit' series, and one of the most underrated TV shows in general.

However, the show's most common error is that many murder victims are declared dead literally seconds after they collapse. In other words, there is little that is done to try and revive them. But that isn't always the case. Sometimes, our heroes make some effort to save them until it becomes impossible to do so.

One interesting piece of trivia is that Diagnosis Murder, which has been on for eight years, has outlasted Dick Van Dyke's other show (The Dick Van Dyke Show), which lasted an impressive five years.

With son Barry Van Dyke as Dr. Mark Sloan's son Steve comes a major advantage: if Barry "mistakenly" calls his father dad while playing their respective roles, then they at least know that it's not a mistake at all. Get it?

Diagnosis Murder is a series in which a doctor investigates murders thanks to his policeman son. Said so it doesn't seem like much and instead the series was not bad.

There was no violence apart from the murders that were always done off-screen and the actors were able to express a sense of family that made everything pass as a thing between friends rather than work colleagues.

We in the UK have just enjoyed a summer during which I have enjoyed Hallmark TV reruns of the Diagnosis Murder series it showed earlier. I must agree with most other commentators that this is a great series with good plots, scripts and humour in which the four leads really do 'gel' to make a thoroughly enjoyable series. Dick van Dyke is truly one of the greats and yet never seems to outshine the other who clearly enjoy their work -- a fact that shines out of the screen in every episode.

However, this week both Hallmark and BBC have begun showing new series ... which are probably several years behind those being run in the US, but imagine my disappointment to find that the fifth stalwart of the team no longer appears.

I refer of course to the wonderful Norman Briggs (Michael Tucci) whose character, plotlines and timing made him an equal with the other four ... a truly enjoyable character. If he was deemed unnecessary by the producers of this series then I say "For shame - Community General Hospital will never be the same without him", but if Michael Tucci has moved moved on to other things of his own volition than I say, "Thanks for the humour Michael, and all best wishes for your future projects -- Community General will still be a poorer place with out you".

To the rest of the regular team however ... thanks for your great work on a fabulous series ... please carry on your sterling work. It truly is much appreciated.

I never watched this show in prime time. Then I started watching it on Pax TV at 10pm and I was hooked. Now I watch it in prime time rather than watching Frasier. I love the plots and the tongue in cheek dialogue. I especially love their theme shows filled with old TV stars. I like Dick Van Dyke in this better than as Rob Petrie.

This is decent TV. I've also started watching all the Murder She Wrote reruns on A&E. I'm tired of the hackneyed sex-obsessed teeny bopper shows on regular TV. No-I'm not a senior citizen!

Take one part Columbo, one part E.R. and one part the Dick Van Dyke Show and you get this great show. Dick Van Dyke proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that he is one of the most versatile actors in the history of television. I think that this is most definitely his best role since Rob Petrie. Also, like the Dick Van Dyke Show, this show relied on a great ensemble. Victoria Rowell, Barry Van Dyke and Charlie Schlatter were great supporting characters in this great show. Too bad its not on the air anymore, I miss seeing it and its wonderful cast.