Q.E.D.

In 1982, I saw a commercial advertising the program "Q.E.D.," an upcoming new series about an adventurer scientist which took place in 1912 and was aired on the CBS network.

Not only was "Q.E.D." a great series, but it was worth staying home to catch each episode. Considering that at the time, I was a single 27 year old man who just finished nearly five years of active duty in the U.S.Navy, that says a lot about a TV program! To this day, I can't understand how or why Joanie Loves Chachi, which was aired on ABC at the same time, fared better in the ratings.

Within a year of returning to the U.S.Navy, and a tour of duty in Scotland's Holy Loch, I managed to catch "Q.E.D." on British television.

I'm sure that I'm not the only one who would gladly buy a complete box set of episodes of "Q.E.D."

Everything I remember about it was excellent... great cast with Sam Waterston & George Innes (before he became more familiar to US audiences).... excellent scripts as only the English can do - Edwardian Sherlock Holmes/Lord Peter Wimsey/Albert Campion type mysteries, but with a Jules Verne twist. Sort of like MacGyver would have been had it been in England 80 years earlier... right at the beginning of the scientific/technological revolution of the 20th century.

I've often wondered if the creators of MacGyver saw these shows. MacGyver first aired about 3 years later.

I still have 1 episode on a much deteriorated tape.

I haven't seen this since it was originally broadcast, but I do know my mother and I watched faithfully and often laughed out loud. I am still fond of Sam Waterston based on this series. I hope it would still hold up, but probably won't get the chance to find out.

I recall this running as a very limited series in my youth. It still seems magical, and in my memory the production values were spectacular. I've enjoyed a lot of the other work by the director. Interestingly enough, if you search for the tapes by their "Mastermind" title, you can sometimes find them on ebay. I hope to get a copy soon and provide a review based a on a viewing from the 21st century.

For anyone interested in seeing QED all six episodes are available on YouTube. Not great transfers, but beggars can't be choosers.