Pie in the Sky

here in new england we depend on PBS or BBC America for good English programming. I stumbled on this show last year. It is a light detective show with good character portrayals. Griffiths is great. They only seem to run the same 10 episodes over and over, i see there are 33 episodes. Might have to buy the DVD. It would be worth it.

I wonder why it didn't go more seasons. Was it not well received? Some shows are better than others, some a little fluffy, others delve more into his detectives ability to see through mysteries at his waddling slow pace. I know Richard Griffiths has done other work, I first saw him in naked gun. But i believe some of his best screen work is here.

I really don't have any quibbles about this series. Until recently I could only access the first couple of series in New Zealand but have just finished a marathon of Pie in the Sky and have become totally hooked. Apparently not wanting terror, blood and guts in a detective series means that it is lightweight, if that is so, then so be it. However the story lines are decidedly chewy and the characters have substance. I did miss Cambridge when she disappeared - her clothes were stunning - and I was disappointed that Nicola didn't last the full term, but the rest of the cast/team were splendid and reacted beautifully to one another. Fisher is a complete prat, and it is a well written and well acted character that makes one want to smack him soundly on the nose. As for Richard Griffiths and Maggie Steed, no praise is high enough. It's a great watch and worth anybody's time and brain power - without getting an ulcer through stress at the same time.

'Pie in the Sky' is the name of a country restaurant run by part-time Detective Inspector Henry Crabbe and his accountant wife, Margaret. Henry makes the world's greatest steak and kidney pies and would cheerfully retire from the police force. Assistant Chief Constable Freddie Fisher, however, won't okay his retirement for reasons I won't disclose. Freddie calls in Henry to solve difficult cases which are likely to cause embarrassment to senior members of the local police force. There are moments of drama in this series, but these are tempered by an underlying streak of gentle humour. A wonderful cast, great scripts, as well as cooking lessons from Henry, in between the action. Take note of Bella Enahoro who plays 'Cambridge' in the first five seasons. She and Henry make a great duo!

I find the slow pace and characters in this series very entertaining and a change of pace after watching the likes of Hawaii Five O and Starsky & Hutch. Richard Griffiths is perfectly cast in the lead role. The only negative is Freddy Fisher-a humorless self centered prig who abuses the talents of Henry Crabbe and then takes credit for Crabbe's success. I would like to see Fisher parachuted into Northern Borneo and have to fend for himself, using his no talent personality to survive !! LOL.

"Pie In The Sky" is one of those great little programs that comes along now and then and which the British are so good at creating. It is well scripted and well acted and the cast contains two great character actors, Richard Griffiths and Maggie Steed as (Inspector) Henry Crabbe and Margaret Crabbe. Henry just wants to retire from the force with his police pension and run his restaurant but is prevented by ACC Freddie Fisher. Henry's ability to solve crimes makes Fisher look good to his superiors. Bella Enahoro as Cambridge and Samantha Janus as Nicola are just gorgeous. One even picks up a few recipe tips along the way. It's a shame it didn't run for longer but all good things must come to an end and it's one of those shows that I continue to watch in repeats.