Opening Theme: MATLOCK

With the release of my new whodunit Nursing a Grudge starring geriatric amateur sleuth Earl Walker, this blog is featuring senior citizen detective shows the next several weeks ...

Legal drama Matlock (NBC 1986-1992, ABC 1992-1995) starred Andy Griffith as folksy defense attorney Ben Matlock. The format of the show, not unlike that of Perry Mason (1957-1966) often found Matlock identifying the murderer in the courtroom and confronting him or her on the stand.

Over the years, Matlock's circle of helpers included daughters Charlene Matlock (Linda Purl) and Leanne MacIntyre (Brynn Thayer), legal partner Michelle Thomas (Nancy Stafford), and private investigators Tyler Hudson (Kene Holliday), Conrad McMasters (Clarence Gilyard), Cliff Lewis (Daniel Roebuck), and Jerri Stone (Carol Huston).

Matlock led to the spin-off Jake and the Fatman (1987-1992), starring William Conrad and Joe Penny. That show also had a spin-off -- Diagnosis Murder (1993-2001) starring Dick Van Dyke -- on which Andy Griffith guest-starred in one episode as Ben Matlock.



Matlock (TV series) - Wikipedia

More themes:
BARNABY JONES
PERRY MASON
JUDD FOR THE DEFENSE
LAW & ORDER: UK
QUINCY
THE EQUALIZER
HARRY O
MANNIX
NBC Mystery Movie (COLUMBO)
THE ROCKFORD FILES

Dr. Horrible vs. Batman

TV star Neil Patrick Harris clearly has musical talent, given his song-and-dance appearances on everything from The Emmys and Sesame Street to Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog and even the 100th episode of How I Met Your Mother. Last fall, Cartoon Network series Batman: The Brave and the Bold recruited NPH to play Music Meister, a bad guy whose hypnotic voice forces everyone around him to sing and dance to his whim -- including Aquaman, Green Arrow, and Black Canary, plus an assortment of familiar baddies. They even released a soundtrack album.

Batman: the Brave & the Bold "Drives Us Bats" Music Video


Speaking of Dr. Horrible, here's when he interrupted the Emmy Awards ...


Related links:
Rock out with MANNIX! (Neil Diamond, Buffalo Springfield)
Unaired '60s BATGIRL pilot
Opening Theme: BATMAN 1966 w/ The Odd Couple
Opening Theme: SPIDER-MAN LIVE ACTION 1970s
Opening Theme: SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN
Opening Theme: SPIDER-MAN 1967

Rock out with MANNIX!

From time to time, private investigator Joe Mannix (Mike Connors) followed a lead that took him to a club or recording studio -- where he crossed paths with some real-life recording artists. Three examples below, including videos:

Neil Diamond performed "The Boat That I Row" and "Raisin' Cain" (and has a line of dialogue!) on the episode "The Many Deaths of Saint Christopher" (Oct 7, 1967).

NEIL DIAMOND on "Mannix"


Buffalo Springfield performed "Bluebird" and "For What It's Worth" on the episode "Warning: Live Blueberries" Oct 28, 1967).

BUFFALO SPRINGFIELD on "Mannix"


The Peppermint Trolley Company performed "Trust" on the episode "Who Will Dig The Graves?" (Nov 16, 1968).

PEPPERMINT TROLLEY CO. on "Mannix"


Related links:
Opening Theme: Mannix
DVD extras announced for MANNIX
Fiction and DVD Links (27 Feb 08)
MANNIX to the max