View Full Version : Questions about Detective Shows
Life_is_Simple
3-5-13, 11:31am
Why are murder victims' houses/apartments so neat? Should we have just a little bit of clutter, to keep away the perps?
How is it that people can accurately describe a perp in a police sketch, to the point where others will recognize the person from that sketch? My neighbor swears we have met and talked before, but I don’t remember him.
How is it that the accused always ask for their lawyer? Does the average person already have a defense lawyer on retainer?
When Jessica Fletcher arrives at a town in “Murder She Wrote,” why doesn't everyone immediately evacuate the town, knowing that SOMEONE is going to be killed?
Why isn’t the show “Castle” called “Murder HE Wrote?”
Why is Alicia Florrick called MRS. Florrick on “The Good Wife?” I thought every woman in the workplace was called MS? Couldn’t they have come up with a better title than “The Good Wife?”
Why was the detective show “Cannon” popular in the 1970s? Was it because he wasn’t that attractive, so we could focus on the case instead of flirting between main characters?
Why are there so many twists and turns in “Law & Order: SVU” that when you are done watching, you think you have watched 2 different shows?
When will Tony Shaloub make another show like Monk? We’re bored.
LOL! Fun thread!!!
Why is it that Columbo, ALWAYS had to say... "just one more thing", or "one more question". Drove me nuts! LOL!
Why is it that all the detectives behind detective shows ALWAYS get their man/woman?
IshbelRobertson
3-5-13, 12:09pm
Why would anyone buy a home in Midsomer?
(Here's where I have to admit I've never seen any more than between programme trailers for the show:moon:)
Midsomer is so beautiful. (and lots of sex :-)
Those gardens are wonderful and it never rains or snows or is cloudy or dark. Haha.
LOL, Sweetana3!
Why is that NOT ONCE did Columbo's wife, ever appear in an episode, yet he spoke of her all the time? Did he have a wife? Or did he just say he had a wife? LOL!
Why is it that you can watch 5 or 10 minutes of a new show and predict the whole thing? That is all it took for Red Widow and the Following. So predictable.
When will the US shows feature real people instead of the 20 year old 90 pound pouting characters with $200 haircuts and $3,000 apartments? I think that is why we watch far more British TV. Give me Dawn French any day.
Of course, I wish they would expand the offerings of Sutton Foster who was the main character in Bunheads. That was one of the best shows I have seen in years. She is so funny and reminds me of a female Jim Carey.
Why is that Jim Rockford (The Rockford Files) was always at the brunt of, and being blamed/accused of, the murders of people being investigated? That always seemed so tacky to me! Used to frustrate and anger me.
Life_is_Simple
3-5-13, 12:42pm
Why would the NCIS Special Agents do what they do, and risk their lives, for $56,000 a year (http://criminologycareers.about.com/od/Career_Profiles/a/NCIS-Agent.htm)?
Life_is_Simple
3-5-13, 12:45pm
Mrs M, I must admit, I never watched Columbo or The Rockford Files. Though I did watch Barnaby Jones
LOL, Sweetana3!
Why is that NOT ONCE did Columbo's wife, ever appear in an episode, yet he spoke of her all the time? Did he have a wife? Or did he just say he had a wife? LOL!
Of course he had a wife. She got her own show once his was over. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0078635/
Of course he had a wife. She got her own show once his was over. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0078635/I'm gobsmacked. Had you not posted a reply Re:, I would have never known. Don't (at all) remember Mrs. Columbo.
It was a short lived series. I still watch the DVDs of Columbo shows. They are really dated by clothes,cars, phones, etc.
My favorite three shows of all time are 1) Inspector Morse, 2) Midsomer Murders, and 3) Inspector Lewis. Frost follows closely.
I have them on while I quilt or sew and have mostly memorized all the movies. They never seem to grow old and I always cry at the Remorseful Day when Morse dies.
I would like to know why all their wardrobes look the same? And where do they get the sunglasses- always rocking the sunglasses?
Sweetana3. Dated, maybe... but oh so enjoyable to watch. I never grow tired of watching old murder/mysteries.
Hmmm... I'd be hard-pressed to list my top 3 picks, but I think they'd go something like this;
- Sherlock Holmes (Jeremy Brett)
- Midsomer Murders
- Inspector Frost/Inspector Lewis (close thirds)...
MamaM. Ironically, I've thought about the same thing before, and I always picture a fine men's dress store (UK somewhere), where tweed jackets, hats, and shiny black dress shoes make-up the window display. Where the entire storefront is glass, and the door (when opened) hits a small brass bell to ring for service.
IshbelRobertson
3-5-13, 2:27pm
Have to say that one of my favourites is rebus, from the books by Ian Rankin, set in Edinburgh and starring one of my favourite Scottish actors, Ken Stott.
domestic goddess
3-5-13, 2:28pm
Life Is Simple: I have often had the same questions! What I really want to know is how people workiing minimum wage jobs always have really nice apartments filled with obviously expensive furniture? And why do they always have fashionable clothing? New cars? Maybe I should take up a life of crime! But, silly me, I'd still never have all that stuff; I'd spend it all at the yarn store!
The people killed always have nice apartments and the detectives can't seem to find a broom. LOL
Why do they wear latex gloves while they are touching things at the crime scene and then continue wearing them as they pull out their cell phone and put it to their face?
Why would anyone buy a home in Midsomer?
(Here's where I have to admit I've never seen any more than between programme trailers for the show:moon:)
Or Cambridge? And why is it murders always happen in clusters. There is never just one murder, but the bodies keep racking up!
How is it the detectives can go into a hotel, or elevator, or office building and look around, finding just one hair, or one fingerprint, and it is always the bad guy's hair/print? Aren't these places covered with hair and fingerprints?
And, the thing that bothers me the most (being serious here) is why, just after shooting someone dead, they act like it's an everyday occurrence and start making jokes or talking about their barber, or something. I mean, right after, gun still smoking! ((BANG!)) "Well, that's going to leave a bruise" (Ha Ha Ha) One show in particular does this and it just drives me nuts. CSI L.A. I watched it a couple of times when it first started but this particular habit of the writers to do it every single time just so turned me off, I don't watch it anymore. EVen if my son is in it.
Why is it the guilty person thinks he can make a run for it in a roomful of cops?
BTW, I think Columbo always knew who did it from the start; he just pretended to be a befuddled guy.
Why are Rosemary and Thyme always surprised when they're involved in yet another murder?
Why is there so much cleavage in the investigative department?
Does every police department get involved in so many shootouts?
Hookers are much more attractive on television than those in real life.
The gloves thing really bothers me. I work in a job where I have to wear gloves when handling certain things, so I really notice it whenever they are missing on a police show. If you are watching some of the older shows as reruns or DVDs, there is a period before the CSI shows got big when real detectives and crime scene techs probably did wear gloves, but Hollywood had not caught on yet and actors seldom had them on. I think there are even episodes of Bones where the FBI agent picks things up barehanded even though the scientists are all wearing gloves.
I do watch a couple of these shows and enjoy them. BUT...........I can't stand it when women detectives wear high heels. Its absurd!! And they even run after perps with them on!
I hate it when there is constant sexual tension between a male and female partner (NCIS, CSI NY). That's why I love L&O SVU so much. They do the job and don't mess around with that sex stuff (at least between the partners!).
And Simplemind.......you brought another thing that grosses me out. Besides the female MEs always having their hair hanging down in the bloody corpse as they are working, but they have their gloved hands inside the bloody body, and then answer their phone, pull their hair back, or itch their faces with their gloves on. YUK! (Mostly on "Body of Proof") And she wears stilettos to the crime scenes. How goofy.
Man, If my spouse worked in that stuff, I'd have to hose him off before he even came in the house, and I'd burn his clothes.
There are so many things that I'm sure are not kosher on these shows! Like lying to suspects, in order to get them to confess.
Hahaha........that's TV for you.
I really liked L&O Criminal minds too.........and the older Law and Orders were good because they spent more time on the law part.
I always liked Matlock too, but would end up craving hotdogs. hahaha And how could he be the best defense lawyer in the south, when he was otherwise so goofy? hahaha
Oh.......and don't you love it when they call in the SWAT team, who are dressed head to toe in armour and have those shields in front of them, but its the detectives who have no protection on at all, that lead the way?
Is everyone in Portland hiding a furry (or scaly) alter ego? Is Monroe getting tired of working gratis (and unsung) for the PPD? How does he pay for comprehensive insurance (that he surely needs, all things considered) on a watchmaker's income? Isn't transporting a corpse in an old VW bug 1) problematic and 2) risky? Why didn't Nick listen to Aunt Marie when she counseled him to ditch his unappealing girlfriend? All those questions and more inform my relationship with Grimm (which will be back this Friday).
Are all forensic IT wizards young women with glasses, tats, and colorful hair--or just a couple? I've seen at least two.
Why don't they all drive Ferraris like Thomas Magnum and Sonny Crockett did? Come to think of it, why don't they all have great names like Thomas Magnum and Sonny Crockett?
Jane, why does the uniformed police officer on Grimm work seemingly 24 hour shifts and a district that emcompasses the entire city. Inquiring minds want to know.....
Does anyone ever say "They won't get far on foot." anymore?
How does anyone in the town of Lochdubh manage to understand anyone else?
Jane, why does the uniformed police officer on Grimm work seemingly 24 hour shifts and a district that emcompasses the entire city. Inquiring minds want to know.....
Wu? He's exceptionally ambitious? Half the fun of Grimm is pointing out all the glaring plot holes. I do love that show.
I don't watch detective/cop shows with the exception of The Wire. That series transcended the genre. You won't see $3,000 apartments on that show. It served up one of the best bad guys ever on tv, Omar Little. Complex, bad, good.
I tried Kevin Bacon's new show a few weeks ago 'cause Kevin is the man, but it was horrifically violent. I watched a couple partial episodes of that show a few years ago with Rufus Sewell, but the writing was dull. He's a yummy British costume drama actor. I tried another one last year, the one that starred an American film actress in her 40's (can't think of her name) but she was very cool. Alas, dullsville writing again.
As much as I like British tv I won't even watch their detective shows. I just never care who done it.
...When will the US shows feature real people instead of the 20 year old 90 pound pouting characters with $200 haircuts and $3,000 apartments? I think that is why we watch far more British TV. Give me Dawn French any day.
Of course, I wish they would expand the offerings of Sutton Foster who was the main character in Bunheads. That was one of the best shows I have seen in years. She is so funny and reminds me of a female Jim Carey.
Dawn French and bunheads! like them.
I didn't watch bunheads other than the first epsidoe because it was summer and I was too busy, but I assumed it would come out on dvd. Still waiting. :(
Life_is_Simple
3-6-13, 12:11am
Life Is Simple: I have often had the same questions! What I really want to know is how people workiing minimum wage jobs always have really nice apartments filled with obviously expensive furniture?
Domestic Goddess
Yeah! :laff: I forgot about the lavish and LARGE living quarters!
Also, you never hear the detectives say, "Ohhhh, this person has been to the thrift store and is living within their means." :+1:
Life_is_Simple
3-6-13, 12:14am
And, the thing that bothers me the most (being serious here) is why, just after shooting someone dead, they act like it's an everyday occurrence and start making jokes or talking about their barber, or something. I mean, right after, gun still smoking! ((BANG!)) "Well, that's going to leave a bruise" (Ha Ha Ha) One show in particular does this and it just drives me nuts. CSI L.A. I watched it a couple of times when it first started but this particular habit of the writers to do it every single time just so turned me off, I don't watch it anymore. EVen if my son is in it.
Peggy - Your son is in CSI L.A.?
Life_is_Simple
3-6-13, 12:17am
Hookers are much more attractive on television than those in real life.
Pony Mom, you've seen hookers out in everyday life? If I have, I didn't know it.
IshbelRobertson
3-6-13, 4:29am
How does anyone in the town of Lochdubh manage to understand anyone else?
Because we Scots are bi-lingual?
The real detectives around here must compete in fashion shows. They dress better than the TV ones. (they were on tv once in a reality detective show but the name escapes me.)
Anyone else catch the new detective series, Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries? The one where the female detective jumps out of windows in tight skirts and outfits, dodges bullets, and sleeps with at least one stranger (man) every show? So off-putting.
We were getting it through the Knowledge Network, a highly regarded Canadian television broadcast service, which, I'm surprised (and disappointed in) for allowing such trash to be shown, but because I haven't seen it air for a while, I'm hoping the Knowledge Network dropped it from their program lineup.
Peggy - Your son is in CSI L.A.?
Not regularly. Just occasionally.
Actually I think it was NCIS LA, not CSI. I got my letters mixed up.
Pony Mom, you've seen hookers out in everyday life? If I have, I didn't know it.
No, but I've seen pictures on the news and in newspapers.
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