Burke's Law is an American crime drama television series that aired on CBS during the 1993–94 and 1994–95 television seasons. It was a revival of original Burke's Law television series,[1][2] and starred Gene Barry as millionaire cop Amos Burke, now deputy chief instead of a captain, and Peter Barton as his son Det. Peter Burke. It was produced by Spelling Television.
| Burke's Law | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Crime drama |
| Based on | Burke's Law by Frank D. Gilroy |
| Developed by | James L. Conway |
| Starring |
|
| Theme music composer | John E. Davis |
| Composer | Christopher Klatman |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| No. of seasons | 2 |
| No. of episodes | 27 |
| Production | |
| Executive producers | Aaron Spelling E. Duke Vincent |
| Producer | Joel J. Feigenbaum |
| Production location | Pasadena, California |
| Cinematography | David Plenn |
| Editors |
|
| Running time | 60 min |
| Production company | Spelling Television |
| Original release | |
| Network | CBS |
| Release | January 7, 1994 – July 28, 1995 |
| Related | |
| Burke's Law (1963 series) | |
Background
editIn the revival of the show, which ran on CBS from 1994 to 1995 and was produced by Aaron Spelling's production company, the title again became Burke's Law and Burke was back at work as a police detective. In the second incarnation, Burke, now a deputy chief, was assisted by his son, Peter (Peter Barton).[3]
The revival, even more than the original program, was regarded as being largely camp. In a nostalgic touch, many of the guest stars were Barry's peers in 1960s cop shows and spy-fi programs, including Patrick Macnee (The Avengers) and Peter Graves (Mission: Impossible). Anne Francis appeared reprising the character Honey West (though she was called "Honey Best" for legal reasons).
Cast
edit- Gene Barry as Chief Amos Burke
- Peter Barton as Det. Peter Burke
- Danny Kamekona as Henry
- Bever-Leigh Banfield as Lily Morgan
- Dom DeLuise as Vinnie Piatte
Episodes
editSeries overview
edit| Season | Episodes | Originally aired | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First aired | Last aired | |||
| 1 | 13 | January 7, 1994 | May 13, 1994 | |
| 2 | 14 | March 21, 1995 | July 27, 1995 | |
Season 1 (1994)
edit| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | "Who Killed the Starlet?" | Dennis Dugan | Chris Ruppenthal & James L. Conway (teleplay), Chris Ruppenthal (story) | January 7, 1994 | |
|
When an actress (Denice D. Lewis) is murdered while filming a scene in a movie, in full view of the cast and crew, Amos and Peter investigate. They have a long list of suspects. Guest starring Michelle Phillips, Polly Bergen, Gloria Loring. Gerald McRaney, Bret Michaels, George Segal and Grant Show. | ||||||
| 2 | 2 | "Who Killed the Fashion King?" | Richard Lang | Bruce Franklin Singer | January 14, 1994 | |
|
A disliked fashion designer is murdered at his own fashion show. He is shot in the back with an ice arrow from an ice sculpture, in full view of everyone. Amos and Peter find many suspects who hate him. Guest starring Josie Bissett, Carol Channing, James Eckhouse, Robert Guillaume, William Katt, Nolan Miller and Connie Stevens. | ||||||
| 3 | 3 | "Who Killed Nick Hazard?" | Dennis Dugan | Joel J. Feigenbaum | January 21, 1994 | |
|
At a convention for private investigators, a P.I. (Robert Sacchi) is murdered. He had a lot of enemies in the detective community, so Peter and Amos had several suspects to investigate. | ||||||
| 4 | 4 | "Who Killed the Beauty Queen?" | Alan J. Levi | James L. Conway | January 28, 1994 | |
|
When the front runner (Denise Richards) in a beauty contest is murdered, there are multitudes of suspects for Peter and Amos to choose from. Then, the only witness (Paul Johansson) to the murder is killed before he can be questioned. | ||||||
| 5 | 5 | "Who Killed the Host at the Roast?" | Richard Lang | Michael Lewis Barry Gene Barry | February 4, 1994 | |
|
A comedian (Jack Carter) being honored at a roast by his peers is electrocuted in front of everyone. Peter and Amos investigate his death and discover various suspects who have motives. | ||||||
| 6 | 6 | "Who Killed Alexander the Great?" | Charles Correll, Richard Lang | Joel Blasberg (s/t), Richard Levinson (s), William Link (s) | March 4, 1994 | |
|
A famous magician named Alexander (John Astin) is murdered while performing a trick in front of other magicians, and no one can figure out how it was accomplished. Peter and Amos realize the other magicians are jealous of Alexander. | ||||||
| 7 | 7 | "Who Killed the Soap Star?" | Richard Lang | Sean Clark | March 11, 1994 | |
|
When the star (Kimberley Simms) of a popular daytime soap arrives at the annual awards show, she is murdered on the red carpet in full view of a television audience. Peter and Amos have many suspects to choose from. | ||||||
| 8 | 8 | "Who Killed Romeo?" | Christopher Hibler | Roger Lowenstein | April 1, 1994 | |
|
A philandering hair-stylist (Ian Ogilvy) is murdered with his own hair spray. Peter and Amos have a plethora of suspects and jilted lovers (Florence Henderson, Eva Gabor, Tiffani Thiessen, and Morgan Fairchild). | ||||||
| 9 | 9 | "Who Killed the Legal Eagle?" | Christopher Hibler | Joel J. Feigenbaum | April 8, 1994 | |
|
When an unscrupulous, ambulance-chasing lawyer (Dave Coulier) is run down by a speeding ambulance, it is considered murder by the police. Peter and Amos find many suspects who don't like shysters. Twins, Brittany and Cynthia Daniel guest starred in this episode as Ginny and Jinny. | ||||||
| 10 | 10 | "Who Killed Good Time Charlie?" | Jefferson Kibbee | Bruce Franklin Singer | April 15, 1994 | |
|
When a man (Rick Dees) noted for his incessant practical jokes is found at a hotel frozen to death on a hot summer day, Peter and Amos find plenty of suspects who wished him wanted him murdered. | ||||||
| 11 | 11 | "Who Killed the Romance?" | Gilbert M. Shilton | Bruce Franklin Singer | April 29, 1994 | |
|
Someone takes sweet revenge on a tacky romance novelist (Stella Stevens) by putting boom-booms in her bon-bons. Valerie Perrine and Shirley Jones also guest star. | ||||||
| 12 | 12 | "Who Killed Skippy's Master?" | Christian Nyby II | Thomas C. Chapman | May 6, 1994 | |
|
A man (Mark DeCarlo) is murdered, leaving only his dog as a witness. Later, his veterinarian (Dick Van Patten) is murdered, leaving Peter and Amos the question of why the dog hadn't barked at the killer. | ||||||
| 13 | 13 | "Who Killed the Anchorman?" | Gilbert M. Shilton | James L. Conway, Joel J. Feigenbaum | May 13, 1994 | |
|
A TV anchorman (Peter Keleghan) ends with a deadly newscast. | ||||||
Season 2 (1995)
edit| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 | 1 | "Who Killed the World's Greatest Chef?" | Michael Lange | Michael Lewis Barry Gene Barry | March 21, 1995 | |
|
Amos Burke sniffs out a celebrity chef's (Marty Ingels) circle of friends — who are ingredients for a recipe for murder. | ||||||
| 15 | 2 | "Who Killed the Gadget Man?" | Dennis Dugan | Chris Brancato | March 28, 1995 | |
|
When a ruthless TV-infomercial producer (Pat Harrington Jr.) with a host of enemies is murdered, suspicions fall on five of his disgruntled staffers. | ||||||
| 16 | 3 | "Who Killed the Motorcar Maverick?" | Gus Trikonis | Joel J. Feigenbaum | April 14, 1995 | |
|
The president (Jon Cypher) of an electric-car company comes to a dead end while demonstrating his sleek prototype. | ||||||
| 17 | 4 | "Who Killed the Highest Bidder?" | Chip Chalmers | Bruce Franklin Singer | April 28, 1995 | |
|
The buyer (Doug McClure) of a reputedly cursed onyx jaguar is found with his throat slashed. | ||||||
| 18 | 5 | "Who Killed Mr. Game Show?" | Gus Trikonis | Thomas C. Chapman | May 5, 1995 | |
|
Amos quizzes the stars and staff of a game show called Hangman to find clues to the gallows-style murder of the show's ruthless producer (Peter Marshall). | ||||||
| 19 | 6 | "Who Killed the Lifeguard?" | Jefferson Kibbee | James L. Conway | May 25, 1995 | |
|
A lifeguard (Paul Satterfield) is drowned in his pool and Burke investigates. They learn that he was a womanizer and among the women he's been with is another lifeguard, a VJ, a princess whom he promised he would marry, and a swimsuit designer. Also, the designer's ex-husband had reason to want him dead. | ||||||
| 20 | 7 | "Who Killed the Centerfold?" | Noel Nosseck | Chris Brancato | June 1, 1995 | |
|
A centerfold model (Lisa Stahl) is killed on the set of a photo shoot. Among the suspects is another model who was competing with her for the centerfold of the year; her former agent, who claims she stole something from her; a photographer whom she clashed with; the magazine's publisher, whom she's suing for sexual harassment; and her husband, a millionaire whom she's leaving and planning to take to the cleaners. | ||||||
| 21 | 8 | "Who Killed the Movie Mogul?" | Tony Mordente | Joel J. Feigenbaum | June 8, 1995 | |
|
Amos and Peter scare up a cast of suspects in the ghoulish murder of a horror movie mogul (Joseph Bologna). | ||||||
| 22 | 9 | "Who Killed the Toy Maker?" | Gilbert M. Shilton | James L. Conway | June 15, 1995 | |
|
A toy company president (Adam West) meets his maker after his stuffed animal explodes in his hands. | ||||||
| 23 | 10 | "Who Killed Cock-a-Doodle Dooley?" | Mike Vejar | Bruce Franklin Singer | June 22, 1995 | |
|
Foul play is suspected in the death of a fried-chicken entrepreneur (Robert Mandan) who ruffled more than a few feathers and then was run down crossing the road. | ||||||
| 24 | 11 | "Who Killed the King of the Country Club?" | Dennis Dugan | Joel J. Feigenbaum | July 6, 1995 | |
|
Wally King (Jed Allan), an obnoxious playboy and member of an exclusive country club, is found dead. | ||||||
| 25 | 12 | "Who Killed the Sweet Smell of Success?" | Tony Mordente | Stanley Ralph Ross | July 13, 1995 | |
|
The Chief smells murder in the scent of a perfumist (Monte Markham) whose heavenly new scent had him on Cloud Nine. | ||||||
| 26 | 13 | "Who Killed the Hollywood Headshrinker?" | Walter Grauman | Bruce Franklin Singer | July 20, 1995 | |
|
Someone in a shrink's group therapy sessions wants to terminate the therapy — and the therapist (Jeff Conaway). Then, another group member (Gary Burghoff) is killed before he can be questioned. | ||||||
| 27 | 14 | "Who Killed the Tennis Ace?" | Gilbert M. Shilton | William Conway | July 28, 1995 | |
|
An arrogant tennis player (Matthew Ashford) is killed when someone places a poisonous spider in his shoe box. So Amos and Peter, who knew the man, start by looking at the people who would have wanted to see him dead. Among them are his business manager whom he was considering firing; his former partner and ex-wife, whom he mistreated; his current girlfriend, who has a reputation as a bad girl and who has exotic pets like poisonous spiders; and the shoe company exec who's upset that he's trying to get out of a contract to endorse their shoes. | ||||||
References
edit- ^ Michael Mallory (Winter 2009). "'Burke's Law - A weekly whodunit so lighthearted it nearly floated away.'". Mystery Scene (108). KBS Communications, Inc. 2021. Retrieved September 3, 2021.
- ^ "10 things you never knew about 'Burke's Law'". Decades. June 28, 2016. Archived from the original on July 5, 2022. Retrieved September 3, 2021.
- ^ Brooks, Tim; Marsh, Earle (2007). "Burke's Law (Police/Detective Drama)". The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows 1946–Present (9 ed.). New York: Random House Publishing. pp. 197–198. ISBN 978-0-345-49773-4. Retrieved 2024-05-23.