Crime TV Themes: IT TAKES A THIEF

Spotlighting the great main titles from classic mystery/crime television shows ...

IT TAKES A THIEF
Jazz artist Dave Grusin provided the snazzy theme for this 1968-1970 adventure series. A young Robert Wagner starred as Alexander Mundy, a smooth, sophisticated playboy and burglar recruited by the government. As described by TV.com: Alexander Mundy was a cat burglar and professional thief who had style, class and talent. He made only one mistake -- getting caught. While serving a sentence in San Jobel Prison, he was contacted by representatives of the US Government spy agency, SIA. They offered to get him out if he would put his talents to work stealing for the government. Accepting the offer, he worked closely with an SIA department head, Noah Bain, who was his boss, aide, associate, friend and watchdog. During the second season he was now a free agent and his new SIA contact was Wallie Powers. Alexander's dad Alister became a semi-regular who was also a retired thief, from whom he had learned all his skills, and who occasionally teamed with his son on special jobs.



Watch episode online free at Hulu

Summary and episode guide at TV.com.
Two versions of the theme at Mark Little's MyThemes.TV.

More opening credits and themes:
MANNIX
MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE
MONK
NBC MYSTERY MOVIE
PERRY MASON

Crime TV Themes: S.W.A.T.

Spotlighting the great themes from mystery/crime TV shows ...

S.W.A.T.
An Aaron Spelling production, S.W.A.T. aired from Febuary, 1975 until April, 1976. The cast included Steve Forrest, Robert Urich and Mark Shera.The disco-fied theme song for this short-lived spinoff of The Rookies went to No. 1 on the pop charts for Rhythm Heritage in 1976. The group's Michael Omartian, who co-produced and arranged the track, went on to an illustrious career as a Grammy-winning producer for Christopher Cross, Donna Summer, The Imperials, and dozens more.

More info (and episode guide) at TV.com.
Theme online at Classic Television Images and Theme Songs.
S.W.A.T. DVD news at TVShowsOnDVD.com

OPENING CREDITS




More themes:
PETER GUNN
ROCKFORD FILES
SIMON & SIMON
STARSKY & HUTCH
T.J. HOOKER

Diagnosis -- MURDER!

Penguin celebrates the DVD release of the popular mystery series Diagnosis Murder by offering 15-percent off any or all of the tie-in novels on the Penguin website. The first six novels are available now; the seventh, The Double Life, comes out November 7. Offer valid for all orders received before and on Dec. 31, 2006 or while supplies last.

I must confess, I missed out on Diagnosis Murder when it was on TV -- so the DM novels I were more or less my introduction. They well-written mysteries, and also completely accessible to a new fan like me.

As of yesterday, we are now the proud owners of Diagnosis Murder season one; I can begin catching up! (They even include the original 1991 Jake and the Fatman episode that introduced the Dr. Sloane character.)

Related links:
Mr. Monk and the Syndicate
MR. MONK AND THE AMAZON REVIEW
WATCHING THE DETECTIVES

The Complete GET SMART

TVShowsonDVD.com reports on the upcoming mammoth DVD box set containing all five seasons of '60s spy spoof Get Smart. The site lists off the extras here and here. For the first year, it will only be available from Time-Life. From the press release:

Get Smart: The Complete Collection DVD set will be available exclusively from Time-Life via the Time-Life website (www.getsmartondvd.com) for the first year. This super-sized, specially packaged collection contains every original, unedited episode from all five seasons of Get Smart—a total of 138 episodes on 25 DVDs! Get Smart: The Complete First Season will soon be available as a five-disc set with over two hours of bonus material, also through the Time-Life website and additionally through direct-response television commercials, with Seasons 2-5 to follow.

The series will be available in retail stores until Fall 2007.

Mr. Monk and the Syndicate

MediaWeek's Programming Insider reports that the detective series Monk is now headed for syndication. NBC Universal Television Distribution has sold the show to local broadcast stations covering more than 80 percent of the country for a fall 2008 launch. The dramedy, starring Emmy-winner Tony Shalhoub, currently airs on USA.

Related links:
MR. MONK AND THE AMAZON REVIEW
WATCHING THE DETECTIVES
OFFICIAL MONK

LAW & ORDER: MUNSTERS

Been watching season one of The Munsters again. Did you ever notice how many of these episodes are crime stories? Think about it: They were always running afoul of con-artists, gangsters and bank robbers.

It's getting so the streets aren't even safe for monsters anymore ...

WATCHING THE DETECTIVES

In stores TODAY are the latest Monk and Columbo DVDs:

Monk : Season Four

Columbo : The Complete Fifth Season

Also in stores today:

Monk: The Official Episode Guide

Coming up in a couple of weeks:

Mr. Monk Goes to Hawaii, by Lee Goldberg

Related links:
MORE LAW, MORE ORDER
OFFICIAL MONK
MORE FROM MR. MONK
ARE YOU MONKISH?
MONK RENEWED FOR TWO MORE SEASONS