Retro : A&E; Loves a Good Mystery

There’s no mystery about where NBC’s old “Sunday Mystery Movie” is hiding--in plain sight on A&E.;

The reason is simple: Audiences love a good mystery. And the early NBC triad supplied three of the best--Columbo, McCloud and McMillan and Wife.

“Columbo” was by far the most popular of the three. In fact, star Peter Falk still makes three “Columbo” mysteries a year for ABC. Even before “Columbo” became a series in September, 1971, Falk starred as the rumpled raincoat-clad LAPD lieutenant in two popular NBC movies: “Ransom for a Dead Man” and “Prescription Murder.”

Each episode of the series began the same way: An ingenious murderer would commit what he or she thought was the “perfect” crime. Enter slovenly, bumbling Columbo in his old car and trenchcoat and somehow he’d put all the pieces together and solve the case.

The Emmy Award-winning series boasted terrific guest stars (from Patrick McGoohan to Myrna Loy). And the behind-the-camera talent wasn’t too shabby either. A very young Steven Spielberg was one of the directors; Steven Bochco was a writer.

An interesting side note: Bing Crosby was the original choice to play Columbo. But Der Bingle, then 67, turned down the producers, reportedly because the series would interfere with his golf game.

Dennis Weaver offered an abundance of lanky charm on “McCloud,” which premiered on Sept. 16, 1970, as a miniseries. The mystery followed the adventures of Deputy Marshal Sam McCloud of Taos, N.M., on assignment in New York City. He initially came to the Big Apple to capture a man who had escaped his custody.

After he caught the prisoner, McCloud was given a temporary assignment at Manhattan’s 27th Precinct, much to the chagrin of the by-the-book chief, Peter B. Clifford (J.D. Cameron). No matter what Clifford said, McCloud would always end up taking matters in his own hands. Terry Carter co-starred as Sgt. Joe Broadhurst, McCloud’s partner in crime solving. And Diana Muldaur was McCloud’s love interest, writer Chris Coughlin.

Romance and comedy were the hallmarks of “McMillan and Wife”, a lighthearted crime series in the vein of “The Thin Man.” The show marked the TV series debut of movie star Rock Hudson, who played the handsome San Francisco Police Commissioner Stewart (Mac) McMillan. Each episode would somehow involve Mac and his charming, younger wife Sally (Susan Saint James) in solving a crime. John Schuck played Mac’s methodical but dull aide, Sgt. Charles Enright. Nancy Walker sparkled as the McMillans’ wisecracking maid, Mildred.

At the conclusion of the 1975-76 season, Walker left for her own ABC series and Saint James departed in a contract dispute. In the fall of ‘76, the series was retitled “McMillan.” Sally had died in a plane crash and Mac was now a widower. Martha Raye became his new maid, Agatha, who also happened to be Mildred’s sister. And Richard Gilliland was Mac’s new second assistant, Sgt. Steve DiMaggio.

All three mysteries left the airwaves in the fall of 1977.

“Columbo” airs Mondays at 11 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., Tuesdays at 6 and 7:30 a.m., Thursdays at 11 a.m. and Fridays at 6 a.m.; “McCloud” airs Mondays at 6 and 7:30 a.m., Tuesdays at 11 a.m., Wednesdays at 6 a.m. and Fridays at 11 a.m.; “McMillan & Wife” airs Wednesdays at 11 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. and Thursdays at 6 and 7:30 a.m. on A&E.;