Spenser For Hire (ABC 1985)

[filmnoir5]

This series is now available online along with several other past series on www.aol.com/in2tv. The first 9 episodes are available online along with another episode that featured W.H. Macy. Other series also available include Fugitive, Maverick, Sisters, La Femme Nikita, Falcon Crest, Kung Fu, Lois and Clark, V, and Babylon 5. They are free.

[Metella]

I liked Spenser for Hire ! and babylon 5 how can they offer them for free?

[filmnoir5]

"AOL's big TV-to-Web venture goes live
By Mike Snider, USA TODAY
Classic reruns find a new-media niche Wednesday as America Online launches In2TV (www.aol.com/in2tv), which will stream free episodes of more than 100 series such as Maverick, Welcome Back Kotter, Wonder Woman and Lois & Clark.

The logo for AOL's new In2TV service.
AOL

The episodes, streamed in DVD quality, will have one to two minutes of advertising. (Related item: You can dive right in, no matter the platform)

In2TV represents "the largest offering of free TV shows on the Web," says AOL's Kevin Conroy. "Consumers can experience this programming in a whole new way, and it opens a new window of distribution" for studios."

AOL.com In2TV (www.aol.com/in2tv)

Six new advertising-supported online TV channels streaming free, on-demand episodes of shows such as Sisters, Beetlejuice, La Femme Nikita, Chico and the Man, Eight is Enough, Spenser: For Hire and The New Adventures of Batman. Each genre-themed channel plays five series at a time (10 episodes each); each month, five new episodes will replace current episodes.

Free. Two more channels will be added to In2TV this summer. Pay downloads are planned for later this year, with subscriptions in 2007. In2TV "is sort of a natural," Bernoff says. "They have chosen shows that continue to have a loyal audience. But people shouldn't expect Seinfeld will be there anytime soon."

The complete article is on www.usatoday.com

[trisha]

La Femme Nikita: a lot like Alias, except more plausible ;D I remember watching that show late at night when my little mini moppet would wake up to be fed. Gosh, that was a long time ago. I might tune in to see how that show started and ended. Other than that ...

Metella, really? Spencer for Hire?

I always thought of him as the guy I'd pick last to be on my case. #1 would be Colombo, of course. Then The A-Team, then Blue Moon Detective Agency (don't act like you didn't watch Moonlighting, too! At the very least it's proof that Bruce Willis had hair) Then I'd pick The Fall Guy (cuz he had a really cool truck,) then Remington Steel Investigations (purely for Pierce Brosnan's wicked good looks,) if they're all too busy to help, well ... I guess Spencer's for Hire, but he better bring Hawk!

[janetcatbird]

Oh my gosh, and just an hour ago I referenced "Spencer for Hire" in a conversation with my roommate!

Remember last year during the fainting spells when we got in the whole "Which actor would be a good substitute for a new profiler should Goren leave?" If I recall correctly, I mentioned Avery Brooks and I was not alone!

Aaah. Aa-ha. I better send this to Mama!

--Catbird

PS: Squeal!! Oh My Gosh, they have "Pinky and the Brain"!!!! And "Histeria", which was not a huge favorite but had some amusing moments. But "Pinky and the Brain!" Filmnoir5, for directing me to this site, you have my undying gratitude and affection!

But I should note, when I clicked your link in the intial post I got the error page. When I manually typed it, it redirected me to television.aol.com/in2tv

Just in case anybody else had the same problem.

[Metella]

there is no accounting for attraction! eh? yep, Spens caught my attention, but you are right ..... if I need him, he better bring Hawk!!

[js]

Robert Urich is the only other actor that has really caught my attention in the same way as Vincent D'Onfrio. I watched Spenser For Hire regularly - wouldn't miss an episode.

[Lilee]

And you guys teased me when I admitted to knowing what white glue tastes like!!!

[BegToDiffer]

Robert Urich was born in Ohio. (Some good things did happen here.) Anyway, a few years before he got sick, he was in a local restaurant, at a large round table with a bunch of people. I was sitting at a table near by, facing his table. He was smiling and having a good time, and I could hardly eat my dinner. He was so handsome, I couldn't stop staring. I'll never forget it.

[NikkiGreen]

I was a fan of RU's since the days of S.W.A.T.. But, if I needed help, I think I'd hire Dan Tanna before Spencer (even though Hawk is the coolest).

Anyone ever catch Spencer as played by Joe Mantegna in the TV movies? Just not the same.

Lil'E, why on earth would you want to know what white glue tastes like?!

Filmnoir, thanks for the link. What timing. Just when I was going to spend $$$ and buy five seasons of B5 at once.

[filmnoir5]

I can understand why people on this board liked this show. It is like L&O:CI with guest stars getting more air time and it features an intelligent detective.

I have watched 7 episodes so far and I am hooked. I want to watch the other 4 so I will be ready for the next 5 they introduce next month.

Thank you for your recommendations. This show still holds up even though it is almost 20 years old.

P.S. Angela Bassett is in one of the early episodes with fellow Oscar nominee Patricia Clarkson.

[Lilee]

nikki: Remember the episode where Goren is looking at rowboat and tastes the stuff that was in the cracks? I am blocking the ep title. Anyway, we had a discussion about how he knew what white glue tastes like. I said you can tell by the smell and y'all eventually got it out of me that I'd tasted it when I was a kid.

[NikkiGreen]

Oh...when you were a kid! ;D

The episode in question would be "Sound Bodies", n'est pas?

[janetcatbird]

I'm having some trouble watching the shows. Maybe it's busy time, I don't know, but several times with "Pinky and the Brain" it would freeze and I couldn't select an episode or anything.

Currently I am two segments through the pilot of "Spenser", again with the freezing and the not playing. So far it seems a goofy exposition-premiere; Spenser is valiant and noble and self-righteous, dialogue is hokey. They were really pushing the Spenser-as-chivalrous-honorable-modern-knight; for cryin' out loud they show a shield with a knight's helmet and a silhoutted gunman during the opening credit! Hawk has only brooded and been cool, but little dialogue so far. I'm tempted to skip right to a regular episode when things have settled down.

Thing is, I remember watching reruns with Mom when I came home from school in the 4th grade--I think Lifetime. I get off the bus at my corner, come in, plop down on the couch and have fun times with Mom before homework. I was too young--9--to have a real memory of specific plots; I remember a couple of lines but mainly I it was the impressions I felt of the characters that stuck with me. Even my little brother remembers Hawk with his big guns, imposing presence and "Ah. Aha." (I remember someone on a DS9 thread at Television WithOut Pity made the comment that after Avery Brooks returned to the goatee/bald head look they half expected Sisko to bust through a door yelling "Ki-RAH!") It's good to see the show again, although it'd be a heck of a lot easier on DVD.

--Catbird

PS: I remember lurking through that "Sound Bodies" discussion, Lil'E! (Actually, Metella was posting for me at that point.) But how did you make the leap from Hawk and/or Robert Urich to Elmer's Glue?

[Lilee]

I knew nikki'd name that episode!! Catbird, I was just making fun of everyone. I do like your memories of watching with your mom.

Pinky and the Brain???!! I admit I've seen it. What about "Angela Anaconda"?? I stayed with my sis and her hubby for a while, years ago and he used to watch that. Same kind of sick-o sense of humor.