The Cozy Mystery List Blog

Cozy Mystery (and Other Favorite) Books, Movies, and TV

PBS Masterpiece Mystery! Inspector Lewis Mysteries – 2011 New Season

This is a VERY quick note: Inspector Lewis (starring Kevin Whately and Laurence Fox) is finally back! A new Inspector Lewis season will be airing, starting this Sunday (September 4, 2011) night on most PBS stations. There will be four new episodes for us to enjoy:

Sunday, September 4, 2011 – Inspector Lewis: Old, Unhappy, Far Off Things

Sunday, September 11, 2011 – REPEAT Inspector Lewis: Your Sudden Death Question

Sunday, September 18, 2011 – Inspector Lewis: Wild Justice

Sunday, September 25, 2011 – Inspector Lewis: The Mind Has Mountains

Sunday, October 2, 2011 – REPEAT – Inspector Lewis: Falling Darkness

Sunday, October 9, 2011 – Inspector Lewis: The Gift of Promise

Don’t forget to either set up your current recording device, or make sure to post it on your calendar so you have plenty of time to pop up the pop corn and get comfy in front of your telly!

New Tricks – British Television Mystery Series

If you want to watch a tongue-in-cheek police procedural television show that makes light of aging “coppers” while also showing that people with age and experience make the best workers >>> then the British television series called New Tricks is probably exactly what you are looking for. (I happen to be a big fan of this British, humorous police procedural dramedy.)

New Tricks features one middle-age detective (Amanda Redman) who recently botched a large hostage operation. Because of this embarrrasement to the police force, she is assigned to head a cold case department. The three men she is assigned to work for her are policemenn who retired years ago… years and years ago! (Dennis Waterman, James Bolam, and Alun Armstrong play the retired coppers.)

Alun Armstrong plays Brian – a manic/depressive (I believe). He is a sort of walking computer. He can recall facts, names, dates, just about everything that was pertinent to the cases when they occurred years ago. Brian is fine… when he’s on his medications.

Dennis Waterman plays Gerry, an aging Lothario. I have lost count of how many ex-wives he has. He is the (somewhat) tough copper… who still considers himself to be quite the lady’s man.

Jack Halford’s character (James) is still in love with his best friend and wife… who has been dead for several years. He has built a shrine to her in his back yard, which he visits regularly.

As for Amanda Redman’s character (Sandra) – while she respects these older men, she also has to keep them in check >>> reign them in, make them follow the politically correct rules that are enforced in today’s police department. These three … I guess “codgers” is the term I’m looking for – policed during the days when it was “acceptable” to rough-up suspects. Sandra has her work cut out for her!

Of course, this cold case squad has a tremendous success rate. What else could we expect? But, the cases aren’t as important (to me!) as the characters’ interactions. What is that old saying? “Getting there is half the fun.” Well, in this case, all the fun is getting there!

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Memphis Beat is Back…

Just a quick reminder for all of you who started watching Memphis Beat last summer… It’s back! It stars Jason Lee (main character), Alfre Woodard (boss), Sam Hennings (partner), DJ Qualls (comic relief/young cop), & Celia Weston (Lee’s mom) — with the wonderful music of Keb’ Mo’.

This is one of the non-British “cop shows” that I truly enjoy. This show has something in common with the other three “cop shows” I watch: It’s on a non-major-network channel. Memphis Beat (TNT), The Closer (TNT), In Plain Sight (USA), and Law & Order: Criminal Intent (USA). ***Yes, I have to finally come clean… I am seriously thinking about dropping Castle from my television viewing. The cliff hangers at the end of the first half of the season (right before the month and a half hiatus) and at the end of the season just aren’t doing it for me any more.  Also, having gone through the mid/late 1980s Moonlighting romantic tension between the two main characters, I find this one absolutely too much. How many times are we going to see Castle tell Kate he loves her… while she is either frozen, out cold from being shot, ETC? Good grief!***

I certainly didn’t mean to go on and on… I just want to remind those of you who enjoy Memphis Beat that it is finally back. And, the good thing about being on a non-major-network-channel is that they repeat shows during the week. If you enjoy the show, or are in the market for possibly picking up a new “cop show”… stay tuned to your TVGuide!

Elizabeth R Television Miniseries with Glenda Jackson

There are a few PBS British miniseries that I believe are classics: Upstairs, Downstairs, I Claudius, The Six Wives of Henry VIII, and the 1970s version of Elizabeth R, starring Glenda Jackson.

Elizabeth R follows Elizabeth, the daughter of Ann Boleyn and Henry VIII as she goes from being a young red-head beauty to the gray-haired (red-wigged) reigning queen of Great Britain. Glenda Jackson stars as Queen Elizabeth I her entire adult life. They did not switch out actresses as she aged.

The make up and costumes showed this royal trend-setting woman age, I want to say, at least sixty years. Glenda Jackson was able to depict the vulnerability, intelligence, and strength of this monarch at every age-stage of her life. Jackson (and her make up) was terrific!

The sets are regal, you can almost touch the deep royal blue and crimson velvet. The magnificent jewels make you wonder why there were poor people suffering under her reign…

The people at the BBC outdid themselves on this Emmy award winning production.

We watch as Elizabeth goes from being the banished “bastard” child of Henry VIII, to a strong queen who must put aside her personal feelings to do what she thinks is best for her kingdom. (Her mother was indeed married to Henry, although he labeled her as being that.) The threat posed by Mary, Queen of Scots must be resolved, she insists on making her won decision about marriage, and she must hold on to (and expand!) her country’s borders.

Elizabeth R is a six-part miniseries, which is actually six plays that have been pieced together. Glenda Jackson takes us seamlessly through the Virgin Queen’s life. Robert Hardy (yes, the same Robert Hardy from All Creatures Great & Small) was delightful as “Robin,” Elizabeth’s special friend.

I strongly recommend this 1970s BBC miniseries.

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