List of Spenser: For Hire episodes: Difference between revisions
This episode is about music. It's "A Minor" (as in "the key of A Minor"), not "a Minor" |
→Season 1 (1985–86): per the DVD box set Tags: Mobile edit Mobile web edit |
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{{Short description|none}} |
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{{For|the made for TV movies starring Joe Mantegna|Spenser (TV movies)}} |
{{For|the made for TV movies starring Joe Mantegna|Spenser (TV movies)}} |
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{{DISPLAYTITLE:List of ''Spenser: For Hire'' episodes}} |
{{DISPLAYTITLE:List of ''Spenser: For Hire'' episodes}} |
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⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
==Series overview== |
==Series overview== |
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{{Series overview |
{{Series overview |
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| link1 = <includeonly>List of Kids Incorporated episodes</includeonly>#Season 1 (1985–86) |
| link1 = <includeonly>List of Kids Incorporated episodes</includeonly>#Season 1 (1985–86) |
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| color1 = # |
| color1 = #a31b1f |
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| episodes1 = 23 |
| episodes1 = 23 |
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| start1 = {{Start date|1985|9|20}} |
| start1 = {{Start date|1985|9|20}} |
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| link2 = <includeonly>List of Spenser: For Hire episodes</includeonly>#Season 2 (1986–87) |
| link2 = <includeonly>List of Spenser: For Hire episodes</includeonly>#Season 2 (1986–87) |
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| color2 = # |
| color2 = #49f994 |
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| episodes2 = 22 |
| episodes2 = 22 |
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| start2 = {{Start date|1986|9|27}} |
| start2 = {{Start date|1986|9|27}} |
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| link3 = <includeonly>List of Spenser: For Hire episodes</includeonly>#Season 3 (1987–88) |
| link3 = <includeonly>List of Spenser: For Hire episodes</includeonly>#Season 3 (1987–88) |
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| color3 = # |
| color3 = #011af1 |
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| episodes3 = 21 |
| episodes3 = 21 |
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| start3 = {{Start date|1987|9|27}} |
| start3 = {{Start date|1987|9|27}} |
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===Season 1 (1985–86)=== |
===Season 1 (1985–86)=== |
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The two-hour pilot movie was an adaptation of the fourth novel in the book series, ''Promised Land''. |
The two-hour pilot movie was an adaptation of the fourth novel in the book series, ''Promised Land''. |
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{{Episode table |background=#a31b1f|overall=3 |season=3 |title=19 |writer=17 |director=15 |airdate=14 |episodes= |
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{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="width:100%; background:#fff;" |
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|- |
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! style="background:#;"| No.<br />overall |
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! style="background:#;"| No. in<br />season |
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! style="background:#;"| Title |
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! style="background:#;"| Directed by |
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! style="background:#;"| Written by |
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! style="background:#;"| Original air date |
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{{Episode list |
{{Episode list |
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| |
|NumParts= 2 |
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|EpisodeNumber_1=1 |
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|EpisodeNumber2=1<hr />2 |
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|EpisodeNumber_2=2 |
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|EpisodeNumber2_1=1 |
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|EpisodeNumber2_2=2 |
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|Title=Promised Land |
|Title=Promised Land |
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|DirectedBy=Lee H. Katzin |
|DirectedBy=Lee H. Katzin |
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|WrittenBy=John Wilder |
|WrittenBy=John Wilder |
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|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1985|9|20}} |
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1985|9|20}} |
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|ShortSummary=Spenser is hired to find the runaway wife of a wealthy businessman ([[Geoffrey Lewis (actor)|Geoffrey Lewis]]). |
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|LineColor= |
|LineColor=a31b1f |
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}} |
}} |
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{{Episode list |
{{Episode list |
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Line 53: | Line 50: | ||
|WrittenBy=John Wilder |
|WrittenBy=John Wilder |
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|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1985|9|27}} |
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1985|9|27}} |
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|ShortSummary=Spenser is hired by the police department to protect a witness who may not be who she claims. |
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|LineColor= |
|LineColor=a31b1f |
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}} |
}} |
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{{Episode list |
{{Episode list |
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Line 63: | Line 60: | ||
|WrittenBy=Daniel Freudenberger |
|WrittenBy=Daniel Freudenberger |
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|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1985|10|4}} |
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1985|10|4}} |
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|ShortSummary=A pair of young thrill-killers target Spenser, accidentally shooting a bystander. |
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|LineColor= |
|LineColor=a31b1f |
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}} |
}} |
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{{Episode list |
{{Episode list |
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Line 73: | Line 70: | ||
|WrittenBy=Robert Hamilton |
|WrittenBy=Robert Hamilton |
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|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1985|10|11}} |
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1985|10|11}} |
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|ShortSummary=Spenser kills a would-be thief in the course of thwarting a robbery. |
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|LineColor= |
|LineColor=a31b1f |
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}} |
}} |
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{{Episode list |
{{Episode list |
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|WrittenBy=Robert Hamilton |
|WrittenBy=Robert Hamilton |
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|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1985|10|18}} |
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1985|10|18}} |
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|ShortSummary=Spenser investigates the apparent suicide of a young nun, and stumbles onto a corrupt landlord. |
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|LineColor= |
|LineColor=a31b1f |
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}} |
}} |
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{{Episode list |
{{Episode list |
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|Title=Discord in A Minor |
|Title=Discord in A Minor |
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|DirectedBy=Harvey Hart |
|DirectedBy=Harvey Hart |
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|WrittenBy= |
|WrittenBy={{StoryTeleplay|s= David Abramowitz|t= Janet Kapsin}} |
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|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1985|10|25}} |
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1985|10|25}} |
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|ShortSummary=Spenser is fired from a bodyguard job after his young charge is kidnapped. |
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|LineColor= |
|LineColor=a31b1f |
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}} |
}} |
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{{Episode list |
{{Episode list |
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Line 103: | Line 100: | ||
|WrittenBy=Robert Malcolm Young |
|WrittenBy=Robert Malcolm Young |
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|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1985|11|12}} |
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1985|11|12}} |
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|ShortSummary=Spenser is hired to protect a woman's identical twin sister from assassins. |
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|LineColor= |
|LineColor=a31b1f |
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}} |
}} |
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{{Episode list |
{{Episode list |
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Line 113: | Line 110: | ||
|WrittenBy=Jerry Ziegman |
|WrittenBy=Jerry Ziegman |
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|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1985|11|19}} |
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1985|11|19}} |
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|ShortSummary=Spenser stumbles onto a ring of thieves while investigating a relic stolen from a museum. |
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|LineColor= |
|LineColor=a31b1f |
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}} |
}} |
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{{Episode list |
{{Episode list |
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|EpisodeNumber2=10 |
|EpisodeNumber2=10 |
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|Title=Blood Money |
|Title=Blood Money |
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|DirectedBy= |
|DirectedBy=Virgil Vogel |
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|WrittenBy={{StoryTeleplay|s= Bob Shayne|t= Bob Shayne & Bruce Murkoff}} |
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|WrittenBy= |
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|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1985|11|26}} |
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1985|11|26}} |
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|ShortSummary=The wife of a kidnapped oil tycoon hires Spenser to deliver $1 million in ransom money. |
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|LineColor= |
|LineColor=a31b1f |
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}} |
}} |
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{{Episode list |
{{Episode list |
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Line 133: | Line 130: | ||
|WrittenBy=Richard Collins |
|WrittenBy=Richard Collins |
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|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1985|12|3}} |
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1985|12|3}} |
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|ShortSummary=Spenser investigates a crooked vice cop involved in the mugging of one of Susan's friends. |
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|LineColor= |
|LineColor=a31b1f |
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}} |
}} |
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{{Episode list |
{{Episode list |
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Line 143: | Line 140: | ||
|WrittenBy=Bruce Murkoff |
|WrittenBy=Bruce Murkoff |
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|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1985|12|17}} |
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1985|12|17}} |
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|ShortSummary=Marital infidelity and suspected involvement in a gambling ring lead to Lt. Quirk's suspension. |
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|LineColor= |
|LineColor=a31b1f |
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}} |
}} |
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{{Episode list |
{{Episode list |
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|EpisodeNumber2=13 |
|EpisodeNumber2=13 |
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|Title=Death by Design |
|Title=Death by Design |
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|DirectedBy= |
|DirectedBy=Virgil Vogel |
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|WrittenBy= |
|WrittenBy=Bruce Murkoff |
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|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1986|1|7}} |
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1986|1|7}} |
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|ShortSummary=Spenser walks into a death trap when a beautiful university scientist hires him to track down her gigolo boyfriend. |
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|LineColor= |
|LineColor=a31b1f |
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}} |
}} |
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{{Episode list |
{{Episode list |
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|EpisodeNumber2=14 |
|EpisodeNumber2=14 |
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|Title=A Day's Wages |
|Title=A Day's Wages |
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|DirectedBy= |
|DirectedBy=Virgil Vogel |
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|WrittenBy= |
|WrittenBy=Robert McKee |
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|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1986|1|14}} |
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1986|1|14}} |
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|ShortSummary=Spenser and Hawk blame themselves for failing to protect their respective clients from the clutches of the underworld. |
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|LineColor= |
|LineColor=a31b1f |
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}} |
}} |
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{{Episode list |
{{Episode list |
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Line 173: | Line 170: | ||
|WrittenBy=Robert Hamilton |
|WrittenBy=Robert Hamilton |
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|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1986|1|21}} |
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1986|1|21}} |
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|ShortSummary=Spenser is dazzled by the beauty and grace of a former Bolshoi ballerina who appeals for his help and tempts him with her love. |
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|LineColor= |
|LineColor=a31b1f |
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}} |
}} |
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{{Episode list |
{{Episode list |
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|Title=Brother to Dragons |
|Title=Brother to Dragons |
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|DirectedBy=Sutton Roley |
|DirectedBy=Sutton Roley |
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|WrittenBy=Howard Gordon & Alex Gansa |
|WrittenBy=[[Howard Gordon]] & [[Alex Gansa]] |
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|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1986|2|4}} |
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1986|2|4}} |
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|ShortSummary=Spenser goes undercover at a private high school to investigate heroin use on campus, but discovers something far more serious. |
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|LineColor= |
|LineColor=a31b1f |
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}} |
}} |
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{{Episode list |
{{Episode list |
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Line 193: | Line 190: | ||
|WrittenBy=Robert Hamilton |
|WrittenBy=Robert Hamilton |
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|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1986|2|11}} |
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1986|2|11}} |
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|ShortSummary=Spenser is retained to locate a missing scientist by a deaf newspaper columnist ([[Phyllis Frelich]]) with whom the scientist had been corresponding. |
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|LineColor= |
|LineColor=a31b1f |
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}} |
}} |
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{{Episode list |
{{Episode list |
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Line 203: | Line 200: | ||
|WrittenBy=William Robert Yates |
|WrittenBy=William Robert Yates |
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|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1986|2|14}} |
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1986|2|14}} |
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|ShortSummary=Spenser and Susan look for a Mexican labor organizer who has suspiciously disappeared. |
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|LineColor= |
|LineColor=a31b1f |
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}} |
}} |
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{{Episode list |
{{Episode list |
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|EpisodeNumber2=19 |
|EpisodeNumber2=19 |
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|Title=Angel of Desolation |
|Title=Angel of Desolation |
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|DirectedBy= |
|DirectedBy=Ray Austin |
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|WrittenBy= |
|WrittenBy= Robert Hamilton |
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|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1986|3|4}} |
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1986|3|4}} |
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|ShortSummary=While working for a wealthy woman, Spenser is caught up in a deadly murder mystery complete with an illicit love story. |
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|LineColor= |
|LineColor=a31b1f |
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}} |
}} |
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{{Episode list |
{{Episode list |
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Line 223: | Line 220: | ||
|WrittenBy=Daniel Freudenberger |
|WrittenBy=Daniel Freudenberger |
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|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1986|3|11}} |
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1986|3|11}} |
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|ShortSummary=Sgt. Frank falls in love with a white supremacist. |
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|LineColor= |
|LineColor=a31b1f |
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}} |
}} |
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{{Episode list |
{{Episode list |
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Line 233: | Line 230: | ||
|WrittenBy=Robert Hamilton |
|WrittenBy=Robert Hamilton |
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|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1986|3|25}} |
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1986|3|25}} |
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|ShortSummary=Spenser is hired by a 12-year-old to investigate the murder of her older sister. |
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|LineColor= |
|LineColor=a31b1f |
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}} |
}} |
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{{Episode list |
{{Episode list |
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Line 240: | Line 237: | ||
|EpisodeNumber2=22 |
|EpisodeNumber2=22 |
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|Title=Rage |
|Title=Rage |
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|DirectedBy= |
|DirectedBy=Virgil Vogel |
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|WrittenBy= |
|WrittenBy=Bruce Murcoff |
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|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1986|4|1}} |
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1986|4|1}} |
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|ShortSummary=A teenage girl's agitated condition following a rape gets her into deeper trouble when she's kidnapped by an ex-con bent on shooting Spenser. |
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|LineColor= |
|LineColor=a31b1f |
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}} |
}} |
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{{Episode list |
{{Episode list |
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Line 253: | Line 250: | ||
|WrittenBy=Daniel Freudenberger |
|WrittenBy=Daniel Freudenberger |
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|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1986|4|8}} |
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1986|4|8}} |
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|ShortSummary=The father of a boy killed in the collapse of an apartment takes a politician hostage to protest lax inspection charges. |
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|LineColor= |
|LineColor=a31b1f |
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⚫ | |||
}} |
}} |
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⚫ | |||
===Season 2 (1986–87)=== |
===Season 2 (1986–87)=== |
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{{Episode table |background=#49f994|overall=3 |season=3 |title=19 |writer=17 |director=15 |airdate=14 |episodes= |
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{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="width:100%; background:#fff;" |
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|- |
|||
! style="background:#;"| No.<br />overall |
|||
! style="background:#;"| No. in<br />season |
|||
! style="background:#;"| Title |
|||
! style="background:#;"| Directed by |
|||
! style="background:#;"| Written by |
|||
! style="background:#;"| Original air date |
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{{Episode list |
{{Episode list |
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|EpisodeNumber=24 |
|EpisodeNumber=24 |
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|WrittenBy=Stephen Hattman |
|WrittenBy=Stephen Hattman |
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|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1986|9|27}} |
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1986|9|27}} |
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|ShortSummary=New D.A. Rita |
|ShortSummary=New D.A. Rita Fiore tries to prosecute Spenser for blackmail. |
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|LineColor= |
|LineColor=49f994 |
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}} |
}} |
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{{Episode list |
{{Episode list |
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|Title=Widow's Walk |
|Title=Widow's Walk |
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|DirectedBy=William Wiard |
|DirectedBy=William Wiard |
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|WrittenBy= |
|WrittenBy={{StoryTeleplay|s= Joe Smoke|t= Juanita Bartlett}} |
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|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1986|10|4}} |
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1986|10|4}} |
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|ShortSummary=A small fishing family hires Spenser to investigate the death of their father. |
|ShortSummary=A small fishing family hires Spenser to investigate the death of their father. |
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|LineColor= |
|LineColor=49f994 |
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}} |
}} |
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{{Episode list |
{{Episode list |
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Line 295: | Line 286: | ||
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1986|10|18}} |
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1986|10|18}} |
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|ShortSummary=While Spenser and Hawk are in a small town to view a boxing match, Hawk is arrested. |
|ShortSummary=While Spenser and Hawk are in a small town to view a boxing match, Hawk is arrested. |
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|LineColor= |
|LineColor=49f994 |
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}} |
}} |
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{{Episode list |
{{Episode list |
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Line 305: | Line 296: | ||
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1986|10|25}} |
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1986|10|25}} |
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|ShortSummary=A mobster's pregnant teenage girlfriend tries to keep her unborn son from his father. |
|ShortSummary=A mobster's pregnant teenage girlfriend tries to keep her unborn son from his father. |
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|LineColor= |
|LineColor=49f994 |
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}} |
}} |
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{{Episode list |
{{Episode list |
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Line 315: | Line 306: | ||
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1986|11|1}} |
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1986|11|1}} |
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|ShortSummary=Spenser protects a man suffering from amnesia. |
|ShortSummary=Spenser protects a man suffering from amnesia. |
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|LineColor= |
|LineColor=49f994 |
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}} |
}} |
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{{Episode list |
{{Episode list |
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Line 325: | Line 316: | ||
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1986|11|8}} |
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1986|11|8}} |
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|ShortSummary=A young criminal's father attacks a bus transporting convicts to the state prison. |
|ShortSummary=A young criminal's father attacks a bus transporting convicts to the state prison. |
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|LineColor= |
|LineColor=49f994 |
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}} |
}} |
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{{Episode list |
{{Episode list |
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Line 334: | Line 325: | ||
|WrittenBy=Shel Willens |
|WrittenBy=Shel Willens |
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|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1986|11|22}} |
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1986|11|22}} |
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|ShortSummary=Rita hires Spenser to investigate a troubled teenager |
|ShortSummary=Rita hires Spenser to investigate a troubled teenager. |
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|LineColor= |
|LineColor=49f994 |
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}} |
}} |
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{{Episode list |
{{Episode list |
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Line 345: | Line 336: | ||
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1986|11|29}} |
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1986|11|29}} |
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|ShortSummary=A friend of Spenser's is shot and killed while portraying Paul Revere during a Revolutionary War re-enactment. |
|ShortSummary=A friend of Spenser's is shot and killed while portraying Paul Revere during a Revolutionary War re-enactment. |
||
|LineColor= |
|LineColor=49f994 |
||
}} |
}} |
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{{Episode list |
{{Episode list |
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Line 355: | Line 346: | ||
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1986|12|13}} |
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1986|12|13}} |
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|ShortSummary=A girl who apparently has the unique ability to 'see' through both space and time, enlists Spenser's help to solve a rash of arsons. |
|ShortSummary=A girl who apparently has the unique ability to 'see' through both space and time, enlists Spenser's help to solve a rash of arsons. |
||
|LineColor= |
|LineColor=49f994 |
||
}} |
}} |
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{{Episode list |
{{Episode list |
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Line 361: | Line 352: | ||
|EpisodeNumber2=10 |
|EpisodeNumber2=10 |
||
|Title=The Hopes and Fears |
|Title=The Hopes and Fears |
||
|DirectedBy= |
|DirectedBy= Harry Harris |
||
|WrittenBy= |
|WrittenBy= Michael Petryni |
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|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1986|12|20}} |
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1986|12|20}} |
||
|ShortSummary=With the help of Hawk, a disgusted Spenser is determined to get rid of thugs who are terrorizing his Boston neighborhood. |
|ShortSummary=With the help of Hawk, a disgusted Spenser is determined to get rid of thugs who are terrorizing his Boston neighborhood. |
||
|LineColor= |
|LineColor=49f994 |
||
}} |
}} |
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{{Episode list |
{{Episode list |
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Line 375: | Line 366: | ||
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1987|1|10}} |
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1987|1|10}} |
||
|ShortSummary=Hawk is the main suspect when Lt. Quirk is shot, due to a recent fracas between the two. |
|ShortSummary=Hawk is the main suspect when Lt. Quirk is shot, due to a recent fracas between the two. |
||
|LineColor= |
|LineColor=49f994 |
||
}} |
}} |
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{{Episode list |
{{Episode list |
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Line 382: | Line 373: | ||
|Title=I Confess |
|Title=I Confess |
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|DirectedBy=Winrich Kolbe |
|DirectedBy=Winrich Kolbe |
||
|WrittenBy= |
|WrittenBy={{StoryTeleplay|s= Rudolph Berecht |t= Robert Malcolm Young}} |
||
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1987|1|17}} |
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1987|1|17}} |
||
|ShortSummary=A wealthy man is murdered and, surprise, an innocent man is arrested. |
|ShortSummary=A wealthy man is murdered and, surprise, an innocent man is arrested. |
||
|LineColor= |
|LineColor=49f994 |
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}} |
}} |
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{{Episode list |
{{Episode list |
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Line 395: | Line 386: | ||
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1987|1|24}} |
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1987|1|24}} |
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|ShortSummary=Spenser investigates the apparent suicide of a philandering financier about to turn state's evidence to bring down insider trading. |
|ShortSummary=Spenser investigates the apparent suicide of a philandering financier about to turn state's evidence to bring down insider trading. |
||
|LineColor= |
|LineColor=49f994 |
||
}} |
}} |
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{{Episode list |
{{Episode list |
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Line 405: | Line 396: | ||
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1987|2|7}} |
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1987|2|7}} |
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|ShortSummary=Spenser and Rita go after a corrupt ruler. |
|ShortSummary=Spenser and Rita go after a corrupt ruler. |
||
|LineColor= |
|LineColor=49f994 |
||
}} |
}} |
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{{Episode list |
{{Episode list |
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Line 412: | Line 403: | ||
|Title=Mary Hamilton |
|Title=Mary Hamilton |
||
|DirectedBy=Winrich Kolbe |
|DirectedBy=Winrich Kolbe |
||
|WrittenBy= |
|WrittenBy={{StoryTeleplay|s= Norma Safford Vela|t= David Carren}} |
||
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1987|2|14}} |
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1987|2|14}} |
||
|ShortSummary=A girl ([[Melissa Leo]]) comes to Boston looking for her estranged father. Spenser decides to help her. |
|ShortSummary=A girl ([[Melissa Leo]]) comes to Boston looking for her estranged father. Spenser decides to help her. |
||
|LineColor= |
|LineColor=49f994 |
||
}} |
}} |
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{{Episode list |
{{Episode list |
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Line 422: | Line 413: | ||
|Title=Trial and Error |
|Title=Trial and Error |
||
|DirectedBy=David Whorf |
|DirectedBy=David Whorf |
||
|WrittenBy= |
|WrittenBy={{StoryTeleplay|s= Nelson Costello|t= Robert Bielak & Nelson Costello}} |
||
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1987|2|21}} |
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1987|2|21}} |
||
|ShortSummary=A pimp is wrongfully arrested for the murder of one of his girls. Spenser agonizes between pursuing the real murderer or letting the pimp take the rap. |
|ShortSummary=A pimp is wrongfully arrested for the murder of one of his girls. Spenser agonizes between pursuing the real murderer or letting the pimp take the rap. |
||
|LineColor= |
|LineColor=49f994 |
||
}} |
}} |
||
{{Episode list |
{{Episode list |
||
Line 432: | Line 423: | ||
|Title=One for My Daughter |
|Title=One for My Daughter |
||
|DirectedBy=Winrich Kolbe |
|DirectedBy=Winrich Kolbe |
||
|WrittenBy= |
|WrittenBy={{StoryTeleplay|s= Joan H. Parker|t= Robert B. Parker}} |
||
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1987|3|7}} |
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1987|3|7}} |
||
|ShortSummary=Spenser and Hawk protect a man ([[Larry Riley (actor)|Larry Riley]]) who owes money to men of dubious ethics. |
|ShortSummary=Spenser and Hawk protect a man ([[Larry Riley (actor)|Larry Riley]]) who owes money to men of dubious ethics. |
||
|LineColor= |
|LineColor=49f994 |
||
}} |
}} |
||
{{Episode list |
{{Episode list |
||
Line 445: | Line 436: | ||
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1987|3|14}} |
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1987|3|14}} |
||
|ShortSummary=Spenser becomes embroiled in the seamy Vietnamese organized crime racket after a Vietnamese crime boss uses Spenser to track down a former soldier. |
|ShortSummary=Spenser becomes embroiled in the seamy Vietnamese organized crime racket after a Vietnamese crime boss uses Spenser to track down a former soldier. |
||
|LineColor= |
|LineColor=49f994 |
||
}} |
}} |
||
{{Episode list |
{{Episode list |
||
Line 455: | Line 446: | ||
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1987|3|21}} |
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1987|3|21}} |
||
|ShortSummary=Spenser loses all feeling in his right arm after he's shot while guarding a politician. |
|ShortSummary=Spenser loses all feeling in his right arm after he's shot while guarding a politician. |
||
|LineColor= |
|LineColor=49f994 |
||
}} |
}} |
||
{{Episode list |
{{Episode list |
||
Line 465: | Line 456: | ||
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1987|4|4}} |
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1987|4|4}} |
||
|ShortSummary=NRA poster-boy Sammy Backlin ([[Sal Viscuso]]) breezes into town for a book signing, unwittingly involving Spenser in a shoot out. |
|ShortSummary=NRA poster-boy Sammy Backlin ([[Sal Viscuso]]) breezes into town for a book signing, unwittingly involving Spenser in a shoot out. |
||
|LineColor= |
|LineColor=49f994 |
||
}} |
}} |
||
{{Episode list |
{{Episode list |
||
Line 475: | Line 466: | ||
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1987|5|2}} |
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1987|5|2}} |
||
|ShortSummary=Rita and her old college friends are reunited when a fictional person they created 20 years ago is found dead in his apartment. |
|ShortSummary=Rita and her old college friends are reunited when a fictional person they created 20 years ago is found dead in his apartment. |
||
|LineColor= |
|LineColor=49f994 |
||
}} |
}} |
||
{{Episode list |
{{Episode list |
||
Line 484: | Line 475: | ||
|WrittenBy=Daniel Freudenberger |
|WrittenBy=Daniel Freudenberger |
||
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1987|5|9}} |
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1987|5|9}} |
||
|ShortSummary=A prison inmate with a grudge against Hawk hires outside muscle to rub him out. |
|ShortSummary=A prison inmate with a grudge against Hawk hires outside muscle to rub him out. Last episode to feature Carolyn McCormick as Rita Fiori. |
||
|LineColor= |
|LineColor=49f994 |
||
⚫ | |||
}} |
}} |
||
⚫ | |||
===Season 3 (1987–88)=== |
===Season 3 (1987–88)=== |
||
{{Episode table |background=#011af1|overall=3 |season=3 |title=19 |writer=17 |director=15 |airdate=14 |episodes= |
|||
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="width:100%; background:#fff;" |
|||
|- |
|||
! style="background:#;"| No.<br />overall |
|||
! style="background:#;"| No. in<br />season |
|||
! style="background:#;"| Title |
|||
! style="background:#;"| Directed by |
|||
! style="background:#;"| Written by |
|||
! style="background:#;"| Original air date |
|||
{{Episode list |
{{Episode list |
||
|EpisodeNumber=46 |
|EpisodeNumber=46 |
||
Line 503: | Line 488: | ||
|Title=Homecoming |
|Title=Homecoming |
||
|DirectedBy=[[Winrich Kolbe]] |
|DirectedBy=[[Winrich Kolbe]] |
||
|WrittenBy= |
|WrittenBy={{StoryTeleplay|s= Joan H. Parker|t= [[Robert B. Parker]]}} |
||
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1987|9|27}} |
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1987|9|27}} |
||
|ShortSummary=Spenser tries to settle a feud between a mobster ([[William Hickey (actor)|William Hickey]]) and a judge. Susan returns from California. |
|ShortSummary=Spenser tries to settle a feud between a mobster ([[William Hickey (actor)|William Hickey]]) and a judge. Susan returns from California. |
||
|LineColor= |
|LineColor=011af1 |
||
}} |
}} |
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{{Episode list |
{{Episode list |
||
Line 516: | Line 501: | ||
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1987|10|4}} |
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1987|10|4}} |
||
|ShortSummary=A streetwise young kid ([[Kadeem Hardison]]) gets involved over his head in the underworld. |
|ShortSummary=A streetwise young kid ([[Kadeem Hardison]]) gets involved over his head in the underworld. |
||
|LineColor= |
|LineColor=011af1 |
||
}} |
}} |
||
{{Episode list |
{{Episode list |
||
Line 525: | Line 510: | ||
|WrittenBy=Norma Safford Vela |
|WrittenBy=Norma Safford Vela |
||
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1987|10|11}} |
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1987|10|11}} |
||
|ShortSummary=Lt. Quirk faces his mortality when he suffers a heart attack. |
|ShortSummary=Lt. Quirk faces his mortality when he suffers a heart attack. This is the last episode to feature Richard Jaeckel as Marty Quirk. |
||
|LineColor= |
|LineColor=011af1 |
||
}} |
}} |
||
{{Episode list |
{{Episode list |
||
Line 536: | Line 521: | ||
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1987|11|1}} |
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1987|11|1}} |
||
|ShortSummary=Spenser helps an old friend, an alcoholic priest ([[James Rebhorn]]) who tries to help homeless teenagers, when he gets involved over his head. |
|ShortSummary=Spenser helps an old friend, an alcoholic priest ([[James Rebhorn]]) who tries to help homeless teenagers, when he gets involved over his head. |
||
|LineColor= |
|LineColor=011af1 |
||
}} |
}} |
||
{{Episode list |
{{Episode list |
||
Line 546: | Line 531: | ||
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1987|11|8}} |
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1987|11|8}} |
||
|ShortSummary=Spenser becomes obsessed with an apparently suicidal woman after a chance encounter on the street. |
|ShortSummary=Spenser becomes obsessed with an apparently suicidal woman after a chance encounter on the street. |
||
|LineColor= |
|LineColor=011af1 |
||
}} |
}} |
||
{{Episode list |
{{Episode list |
||
Line 556: | Line 541: | ||
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1987|11|15}} |
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1987|11|15}} |
||
|ShortSummary=Spenser is arrested when he intervenes in a fight. |
|ShortSummary=Spenser is arrested when he intervenes in a fight. |
||
|LineColor= |
|LineColor=011af1 |
||
}} |
}} |
||
{{Episode list |
{{Episode list |
||
Line 566: | Line 551: | ||
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1987|11|29}} |
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1987|11|29}} |
||
|ShortSummary=Spenser runs into an old friend while visiting a recreation of a Puritan village. |
|ShortSummary=Spenser runs into an old friend while visiting a recreation of a Puritan village. |
||
|LineColor= |
|LineColor=011af1 |
||
}} |
}} |
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{{Episode list |
{{Episode list |
||
Line 576: | Line 561: | ||
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1987|12|6}} |
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1987|12|6}} |
||
|ShortSummary=Spenser's fishing trip is interrupted when he has to protect a young man who's not allowed to marry the girl he loves. |
|ShortSummary=Spenser's fishing trip is interrupted when he has to protect a young man who's not allowed to marry the girl he loves. |
||
|LineColor= |
|LineColor=011af1 |
||
}} |
}} |
||
{{Episode list |
{{Episode list |
||
Line 586: | Line 571: | ||
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1987|12|20}} |
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1987|12|20}} |
||
|ShortSummary=A sniper takes some shots at Spenser and Susan, and a young boy ends up dead in the crossfire. |
|ShortSummary=A sniper takes some shots at Spenser and Susan, and a young boy ends up dead in the crossfire. |
||
|LineColor= |
|LineColor=011af1 |
||
}} |
}} |
||
{{Episode list |
{{Episode list |
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Line 596: | Line 581: | ||
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1988|1|3}} |
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1988|1|3}} |
||
|ShortSummary=Spenser and Hawk find themselves on opposite sides of the same case. |
|ShortSummary=Spenser and Hawk find themselves on opposite sides of the same case. |
||
|LineColor= |
|LineColor=011af1 |
||
}} |
}} |
||
{{Episode list |
{{Episode list |
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Line 606: | Line 591: | ||
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1988|1|10}} |
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1988|1|10}} |
||
|ShortSummary=Susan and an injured Hawk are trapped inside a post office when a disgruntled postal worker takes hostages. |
|ShortSummary=Susan and an injured Hawk are trapped inside a post office when a disgruntled postal worker takes hostages. |
||
|LineColor= |
|LineColor=011af1 |
||
}} |
}} |
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{{Episode list |
{{Episode list |
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Line 616: | Line 601: | ||
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1988|1|16}} |
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1988|1|16}} |
||
|ShortSummary=Spenser protects an old friend, Arthur, after he's assaulted and robbed. |
|ShortSummary=Spenser protects an old friend, Arthur, after he's assaulted and robbed. |
||
|LineColor= |
|LineColor=011af1 |
||
}} |
}} |
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{{Episode list |
{{Episode list |
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Line 626: | Line 611: | ||
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1988|1|23}} |
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1988|1|23}} |
||
|ShortSummary=When Frank's niece ([[Cady McClain]]) dies of a drug overdose, Spenser and Frank go after the men responsible. |
|ShortSummary=When Frank's niece ([[Cady McClain]]) dies of a drug overdose, Spenser and Frank go after the men responsible. |
||
|LineColor= |
|LineColor=011af1 |
||
}} |
}} |
||
{{Episode list |
{{Episode list |
||
Line 636: | Line 621: | ||
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1988|1|30}} |
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1988|1|30}} |
||
|ShortSummary=Sammy Backlin calls Spenser for protection when he's being hunted by a 'vicious horde of bloodthirsty assassins'. |
|ShortSummary=Sammy Backlin calls Spenser for protection when he's being hunted by a 'vicious horde of bloodthirsty assassins'. |
||
|LineColor= |
|LineColor=011af1 |
||
}} |
}} |
||
{{Episode list |
{{Episode list |
||
Line 646: | Line 631: | ||
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1988|2|6}} |
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1988|2|6}} |
||
|ShortSummary=One of Spenser's old trainers ([[Cliff Gorman]]) lures Spenser to a deserted warehouse where Spenser is supposed to be killed, to get out from under a gambling debt. |
|ShortSummary=One of Spenser's old trainers ([[Cliff Gorman]]) lures Spenser to a deserted warehouse where Spenser is supposed to be killed, to get out from under a gambling debt. |
||
|LineColor= |
|LineColor=011af1 |
||
}} |
}} |
||
{{Episode list |
{{Episode list |
||
Line 654: | Line 639: | ||
|DirectedBy=David M. Whorf |
|DirectedBy=David M. Whorf |
||
|WrittenBy=John Jay Osborn Jr. |
|WrittenBy=John Jay Osborn Jr. |
||
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1988| |
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1988|2|13}} |
||
|ShortSummary=Spenser protects a theater owner from gangsters, but begins to suspect she's not as innocent as she appears. |
|ShortSummary=Spenser protects a theater owner from gangsters, but begins to suspect she's not as innocent as she appears. |
||
|LineColor= |
|LineColor=011af1 |
||
}} |
}} |
||
{{Episode list |
{{Episode list |
||
Line 666: | Line 651: | ||
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1988|3|12}} |
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1988|3|12}} |
||
|ShortSummary=Spenser suspects insurance fraud when a building blows up. Susan has a possibly cancerous mass removed. |
|ShortSummary=Spenser suspects insurance fraud when a building blows up. Susan has a possibly cancerous mass removed. |
||
|LineColor= |
|LineColor=011af1 |
||
}} |
}} |
||
{{Episode list |
{{Episode list |
||
Line 676: | Line 661: | ||
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1988|3|19}} |
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1988|3|19}} |
||
|ShortSummary=Spenser protects a child artist after the child witnesses a mob execution while painting in the forest. |
|ShortSummary=Spenser protects a child artist after the child witnesses a mob execution while painting in the forest. |
||
|LineColor= |
|LineColor=011af1 |
||
}} |
}} |
||
{{Episode list |
{{Episode list |
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Line 686: | Line 671: | ||
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1988|3|26}} |
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1988|3|26}} |
||
|ShortSummary=Spenser investigates the death of a friend apparently involved with white supremacists. Hawk is rendered blind by an explosion. |
|ShortSummary=Spenser investigates the death of a friend apparently involved with white supremacists. Hawk is rendered blind by an explosion. |
||
|LineColor= |
|LineColor=011af1 |
||
}} |
}} |
||
{{Episode list |
{{Episode list |
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Line 696: | Line 681: | ||
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1988|4|30}} |
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1988|4|30}} |
||
|ShortSummary=Spenser assists a lawyer in proving the innocence of his client, a Navy seaman accused of murdering the captain's daughter. |
|ShortSummary=Spenser assists a lawyer in proving the innocence of his client, a Navy seaman accused of murdering the captain's daughter. |
||
|LineColor= |
|LineColor=011af1 |
||
}} |
}} |
||
{{Episode list |
{{Episode list |
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Line 706: | Line 691: | ||
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1988|5|7}} |
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1988|5|7}} |
||
|ShortSummary=Spenser investigates an old child kidnapping case when he tries to track down a teenage girl's biological parents. |
|ShortSummary=Spenser investigates an old child kidnapping case when he tries to track down a teenage girl's biological parents. |
||
|LineColor= |
|LineColor=011af1 |
||
⚫ | |||
}} |
}} |
||
⚫ | |||
==TV movies== |
==TV movies== |
||
During the early 1990s, Urich and Brooks reunited for four made-for-TV films, produced by the [[Lifetime (TV network)|Lifetime]] cable network. The movies were based on four of Parker's novels. Parker and his wife Joan co-wrote the first two screenplays and the two movies kept to the spirit of the series. To keep production costs down Barbara Stock was replaced as Susan Silverman in the first two movies by [[Barbara Williams (actress)|Barbara Williams]] and in the other two by veteran actress [[Wendy Crewson]] (''[[Air Force One (film)|Air Force One]]'') and Frank Belson was played by J. Winston Carroll. Parker's son Daniel appears in all four movies as a waiter in Spenser's favorite restaurant. Unlike the series which was filmed in Boston, the new movies were filmed in Toronto to take advantage of the lower production costs. The first two movies were still set in Boston (parts of Toronto easily passed for Boston), with the second two rewritten to be set in Toronto |
During the early 1990s, Urich and Brooks reunited for four made-for-TV films, produced by the [[Lifetime (TV network)|Lifetime]] cable network. The movies were based on four of Parker's novels. Parker and his wife Joan co-wrote the first two screenplays and the two movies kept to the spirit of the series. To keep production costs down Barbara Stock was replaced as Susan Silverman in the first two movies by [[Barbara Williams (actress)|Barbara Williams]] and in the other two by veteran actress [[Wendy Crewson]] (''[[Air Force One (film)|Air Force One]]'') and Frank Belson was played by J. Winston Carroll. Parker's son Daniel appears in all four movies as a waiter in Spenser's favorite restaurant. Unlike the series which was filmed in Boston, the new movies were filmed in Toronto to take advantage of the lower production costs. The first two movies were still set in Boston (parts of Toronto easily passed for Boston), with the second two rewritten to be set in Toronto (the novel Savage Place was set in Los Angeles).{{citation needed|date=June 2022}} |
||
{{Episode table |background=#B10B2C|title=19 |writer=19 |director=15 |airdate=14 |episodes= |
|||
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="width:100%; background:#fff;" |
|||
! style="background:#;"| Title |
|||
! style="background:#;"| Directed by |
|||
! style="background:#;"| Written by |
|||
! style="background:#;"| Original air date |
|||
{{Episode list |
{{Episode list |
||
| Title = Spenser: Ceremony |
| Title = Spenser: Ceremony |
||
| OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1993|7|22}} |
| OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1993|7|22}} |
||
| DirectedBy= [[Paul Lynch (director)|Paul Lynch]], Andrew Wild |
| DirectedBy= [[Paul Lynch (director)|Paul Lynch]], Andrew Wild |
||
| WrittenBy= [[Robert B. Parker]] |
| WrittenBy= [[Robert B. Parker]] & Joan H. Parker |
||
| ShortSummary=Spenser is hired to locate April Kyle, the missing daughter of Harry Kyle, millionaire and candidate for Governor. |
| ShortSummary=Spenser is hired to locate April Kyle, the missing daughter of Harry Kyle, millionaire and candidate for Governor. |
||
| LineColor= |
| LineColor= B10B2C |
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}} |
}} |
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{{Episode list |
{{Episode list |
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Line 730: | Line 712: | ||
| OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1994|2|2}} |
| OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1994|2|2}} |
||
| DirectedBy= [[Vic Sarin]] |
| DirectedBy= [[Vic Sarin]] |
||
| WrittenBy= [[Robert B. Parker]] |
| WrittenBy= [[Robert B. Parker]] & Joan H. Parker |
||
| ShortSummary=One of Susan's former patients, a news reporter, is killed, Spenser investigates. |
| ShortSummary=One of Susan's former patients, a news reporter, is killed, Spenser investigates. |
||
| LineColor= |
| LineColor= B10B2C |
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}} |
}} |
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{{Episode list |
{{Episode list |
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Line 740: | Line 722: | ||
| WrittenBy= Nahum Tate, Carol Daley, Monte Stettin |
| WrittenBy= Nahum Tate, Carol Daley, Monte Stettin |
||
| ShortSummary=Spenser is hired out by Hugh Dixon to track down the killers of his wife and daughters. |
| ShortSummary=Spenser is hired out by Hugh Dixon to track down the killers of his wife and daughters. |
||
| LineColor= |
| LineColor= B10B2C |
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}} |
}} |
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{{Episode list |
{{Episode list |
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Line 748: | Line 730: | ||
| WrittenBy= Nahum Tate, Carol Daley, Donald Martin |
| WrittenBy= Nahum Tate, Carol Daley, Donald Martin |
||
| ShortSummary=Candy Sloane, a news reporter that Spenser used to date, hires him out as backup while she investigates a credit card fraud ring. |
| ShortSummary=Candy Sloane, a news reporter that Spenser used to date, hires him out as backup while she investigates a credit card fraud ring. |
||
| LineColor= |
| LineColor= B10B2C |
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⚫ | |||
}} |
}} |
||
⚫ | |||
==References== |
==References== |
||
{{reflist}} |
{{reflist}} |
||
{{Robert Parker}} |
|||
[[Category:Lists of American crime drama television series episodes|Spenser: For Hire]] |
[[Category:Lists of American crime drama television series episodes|Spenser: For Hire]] |
Revision as of 07:12, 24 April 2024
Spenser: For Hire lasted for three seasons (1985–1988) and was followed by four made-for-TV movies (1993–1995), all starring Robert Urich, and Avery Brooks.
Series overview
Season | Episodes | Originally aired | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
First aired | Last aired | |||
1 | 23 | September 20, 1985 | April 8, 1986 | |
2 | 22 | September 27, 1986 | May 9, 1987 | |
3 | 21 | September 27, 1987 | May 7, 1988 |
Episodes
Season 1 (1985–86)
The two-hour pilot movie was an adaptation of the fourth novel in the book series, Promised Land.
No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 1 | "Promised Land" | Lee H. Katzin | John Wilder | September 20, 1985 | ||||||
2 | 2 | ||||||||||
Spenser is hired to find the runaway wife of a wealthy businessman (Geoffrey Lewis). | |||||||||||
3 | 3 | "No Room at the Inn" | John Wilder | John Wilder | September 27, 1985 | ||||||
Spenser is hired by the police department to protect a witness who may not be who she claims. | |||||||||||
4 | 4 | "The Choice" | Richard Colla | Daniel Freudenberger | October 4, 1985 | ||||||
A pair of young thrill-killers target Spenser, accidentally shooting a bystander. | |||||||||||
5 | 5 | "Children of a Tempest Storm" | William Wiard | Robert Hamilton | October 11, 1985 | ||||||
Spenser kills a would-be thief in the course of thwarting a robbery. | |||||||||||
6 | 6 | "Original Sin" | Harvey Hart | Robert Hamilton | October 18, 1985 | ||||||
Spenser investigates the apparent suicide of a young nun, and stumbles onto a corrupt landlord. | |||||||||||
7 | 7 | "Discord in A Minor" | Harvey Hart | Story by : David Abramowitz Teleplay by : Janet Kapsin | October 25, 1985 | ||||||
Spenser is fired from a bodyguard job after his young charge is kidnapped. | |||||||||||
8 | 8 | "The Killer Within" | Don Chaffey | Robert Malcolm Young | November 12, 1985 | ||||||
Spenser is hired to protect a woman's identical twin sister from assassins. | |||||||||||
9 | 9 | "Autumn Thieves" | William Wiard | Jerry Ziegman | November 19, 1985 | ||||||
Spenser stumbles onto a ring of thieves while investigating a relic stolen from a museum. | |||||||||||
10 | 10 | "Blood Money" | Virgil Vogel | Story by : Bob Shayne Teleplay by : Bob Shayne & Bruce Murkoff | November 26, 1985 | ||||||
The wife of a kidnapped oil tycoon hires Spenser to deliver $1 million in ransom money. | |||||||||||
11 | 11 | "Resurrection" | Virgil Vogel | Richard Collins | December 3, 1985 | ||||||
Spenser investigates a crooked vice cop involved in the mugging of one of Susan's friends. | |||||||||||
12 | 12 | "Internal Affairs" | Richard Colla | Bruce Murkoff | December 17, 1985 | ||||||
Marital infidelity and suspected involvement in a gambling ring lead to Lt. Quirk's suspension. | |||||||||||
13 | 13 | "Death by Design" | Virgil Vogel | Bruce Murkoff | January 7, 1986 | ||||||
Spenser walks into a death trap when a beautiful university scientist hires him to track down her gigolo boyfriend. | |||||||||||
14 | 14 | "A Day's Wages" | Virgil Vogel | Robert McKee | January 14, 1986 | ||||||
Spenser and Hawk blame themselves for failing to protect their respective clients from the clutches of the underworld. | |||||||||||
15 | 15 | "A Madness Most Discreet" | Ray Austin | Robert Hamilton | January 21, 1986 | ||||||
Spenser is dazzled by the beauty and grace of a former Bolshoi ballerina who appeals for his help and tempts him with her love. | |||||||||||
16 | 16 | "Brother to Dragons" | Sutton Roley | Howard Gordon & Alex Gansa | February 4, 1986 | ||||||
Spenser goes undercover at a private high school to investigate heroin use on campus, but discovers something far more serious. | |||||||||||
17 | 17 | "When Silence Speaks" | Ray Austin | Robert Hamilton | February 11, 1986 | ||||||
Spenser is retained to locate a missing scientist by a deaf newspaper columnist (Phyllis Frelich) with whom the scientist had been corresponding. | |||||||||||
18 | 18 | "In a Safe Place" | Virgil Vogel | William Robert Yates | February 14, 1986 | ||||||
Spenser and Susan look for a Mexican labor organizer who has suspiciously disappeared. | |||||||||||
19 | 19 | "Angel of Desolation" | Ray Austin | Robert Hamilton | March 4, 1986 | ||||||
While working for a wealthy woman, Spenser is caught up in a deadly murder mystery complete with an illicit love story. | |||||||||||
20 | 20 | "She Loves Me, She Loves Me Not" | Virgil Vogel | Daniel Freudenberger | March 11, 1986 | ||||||
Sgt. Frank falls in love with a white supremacist. | |||||||||||
21 | 21 | "At the River's Edge" | David Whorf | Robert Hamilton | March 25, 1986 | ||||||
Spenser is hired by a 12-year-old to investigate the murder of her older sister. | |||||||||||
22 | 22 | "Rage" | Virgil Vogel | Bruce Murcoff | April 1, 1986 | ||||||
A teenage girl's agitated condition following a rape gets her into deeper trouble when she's kidnapped by an ex-con bent on shooting Spenser. | |||||||||||
23 | 23 | "Hell Hath No Fury" | Virgil Vogel | Daniel Freudenberger | April 8, 1986 | ||||||
The father of a boy killed in the collapse of an apartment takes a politician hostage to protest lax inspection charges. |
Season 2 (1986–87)
No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
24 | 1 | "An Eye for an Eye" | William Wiard | Stephen Hattman | September 27, 1986 | |
New D.A. Rita Fiore tries to prosecute Spenser for blackmail. | ||||||
25 | 2 | "Widow's Walk" | William Wiard | Story by : Joe Smoke Teleplay by : Juanita Bartlett | October 4, 1986 | |
A small fishing family hires Spenser to investigate the death of their father. | ||||||
26 | 3 | "White Knight" | Virgil Vogel | Daniel Freudenberger | October 18, 1986 | |
While Spenser and Hawk are in a small town to view a boxing match, Hawk is arrested. | ||||||
27 | 4 | "Rockabye Baby" | Virgil Vogel | David Abramowitz | October 25, 1986 | |
A mobster's pregnant teenage girlfriend tries to keep her unborn son from his father. | ||||||
28 | 5 | "And Give Up Show Biz?" | William Wiard | Robert Bielak | November 1, 1986 | |
Spenser protects a man suffering from amnesia. | ||||||
29 | 6 | "The Long Hunt" | Virgil Vogel | David Carren | November 8, 1986 | |
A young criminal's father attacks a bus transporting convicts to the state prison. | ||||||
30 | 7 | "Home Is the Hero" | William Wiard | Shel Willens | November 22, 1986 | |
Rita hires Spenser to investigate a troubled teenager. | ||||||
31 | 8 | "One if by Land, Two if by Sea" | Virgil Vogel | William Robert Yates | November 29, 1986 | |
A friend of Spenser's is shot and killed while portraying Paul Revere during a Revolutionary War re-enactment. | ||||||
32 | 9 | "Shadowsight" | Cliff Bole | Gerry Day | December 13, 1986 | |
A girl who apparently has the unique ability to 'see' through both space and time, enlists Spenser's help to solve a rash of arsons. | ||||||
33 | 10 | "The Hopes and Fears" | Harry Harris | Michael Petryni | December 20, 1986 | |
With the help of Hawk, a disgusted Spenser is determined to get rid of thugs who are terrorizing his Boston neighborhood. | ||||||
34 | 11 | "Among Friends" | Cliff Bole | Daniel Freudenberger | January 10, 1987 | |
Hawk is the main suspect when Lt. Quirk is shot, due to a recent fracas between the two. | ||||||
35 | 12 | "I Confess" | Winrich Kolbe | Story by : Rudolph Berecht Teleplay by : Robert Malcolm Young | January 17, 1987 | |
A wealthy man is murdered and, surprise, an innocent man is arrested. | ||||||
36 | 13 | "Murder and Acquisitions" | Harry Harris | Alex Gansa & Howard Gordon | January 24, 1987 | |
Spenser investigates the apparent suicide of a philandering financier about to turn state's evidence to bring down insider trading. | ||||||
37 | 14 | "Personal Demons" | Cliff Bole | Cynthia Darnell | February 7, 1987 | |
Spenser and Rita go after a corrupt ruler. | ||||||
38 | 15 | "Mary Hamilton" | Winrich Kolbe | Story by : Norma Safford Vela Teleplay by : David Carren | February 14, 1987 | |
A girl (Melissa Leo) comes to Boston looking for her estranged father. Spenser decides to help her. | ||||||
39 | 16 | "Trial and Error" | David Whorf | Story by : Nelson Costello Teleplay by : Robert Bielak & Nelson Costello | February 21, 1987 | |
A pimp is wrongfully arrested for the murder of one of his girls. Spenser agonizes between pursuing the real murderer or letting the pimp take the rap. | ||||||
40 | 17 | "One for My Daughter" | Winrich Kolbe | Story by : Joan H. Parker Teleplay by : Robert B. Parker | March 7, 1987 | |
Spenser and Hawk protect a man (Larry Riley) who owes money to men of dubious ethics. | ||||||
41 | 18 | "My Brother's Keeper" | Michael Vejar | Alex Gansa & Howard Gordon | March 14, 1987 | |
Spenser becomes embroiled in the seamy Vietnamese organized crime racket after a Vietnamese crime boss uses Spenser to track down a former soldier. | ||||||
42 | 19 | "The Road Back" | Winrich Kolbe | Stephen Hattman | March 21, 1987 | |
Spenser loses all feeling in his right arm after he's shot while guarding a politician. | ||||||
43 | 20 | "If You Knew Sammy" | Bruce Bilson | Lee Goldberg & William Rabkin | April 4, 1987 | |
NRA poster-boy Sammy Backlin (Sal Viscuso) breezes into town for a book signing, unwittingly involving Spenser in a shoot out. | ||||||
44 | 21 | "The Man Who Wasn't There" | Charles Picerni | Michael Petryni | May 2, 1987 | |
Rita and her old college friends are reunited when a fictional person they created 20 years ago is found dead in his apartment. | ||||||
45 | 22 | "The Song of Orpheus" | Winrich Kolbe | Daniel Freudenberger | May 9, 1987 | |
A prison inmate with a grudge against Hawk hires outside muscle to rub him out. Last episode to feature Carolyn McCormick as Rita Fiori. |
Season 3 (1987–88)
No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
46 | 1 | "Homecoming" | Winrich Kolbe | Story by : Joan H. Parker Teleplay by : Robert B. Parker | September 27, 1987 | |
Spenser tries to settle a feud between a mobster (William Hickey) and a judge. Susan returns from California. | ||||||
47 | 2 | "My Enemy, My Friend" | Virgil W. Vogel | Alex Gansa & Howard Gordon | October 4, 1987 | |
A streetwise young kid (Kadeem Hardison) gets involved over his head in the underworld. | ||||||
48 | 3 | "Heart of the Matter" | Winrich Kolbe | Norma Safford Vela | October 11, 1987 | |
Lt. Quirk faces his mortality when he suffers a heart attack. This is the last episode to feature Richard Jaeckel as Marty Quirk. | ||||||
49 | 4 | "On the Night He Was Betrayed" | David M. Whorf | Michael Fisher | November 1, 1987 | |
Spenser helps an old friend, an alcoholic priest (James Rebhorn) who tries to help homeless teenagers, when he gets involved over his head. | ||||||
50 | 5 | "Sleepless Dream" | David M. Whorf | William Rabkin & Lee Goldberg | November 8, 1987 | |
Spenser becomes obsessed with an apparently suicidal woman after a chance encounter on the street. | ||||||
51 | 6 | "Consilium Abditum" | Winrich Kolbe | Stephen Hattman | November 15, 1987 | |
Spenser is arrested when he intervenes in a fight. | ||||||
52 | 7 | "Thanksgiving" | Richard Colla | Walter Brough | November 29, 1987 | |
Spenser runs into an old friend while visiting a recreation of a Puritan village. | ||||||
53 | 8 | "Gone Fishin'" | Bruce Bilson | Tom Chehak | December 6, 1987 | |
Spenser's fishing trip is interrupted when he has to protect a young man who's not allowed to marry the girl he loves. | ||||||
54 | 9 | "Child's Play" | Richard Colla | William Robert Yates | December 20, 1987 | |
A sniper takes some shots at Spenser and Susan, and a young boy ends up dead in the crossfire. | ||||||
55 | 10 | "Skeletons in the Closet" | Winrich Kolbe | Don Nardo & Peter Jones & Robert B. Verduccio | January 3, 1988 | |
Spenser and Hawk find themselves on opposite sides of the same case. | ||||||
56 | 11 | "The Siege" | Bill Duke | Andrew Sipes | January 10, 1988 | |
Susan and an injured Hawk are trapped inside a post office when a disgruntled postal worker takes hostages. | ||||||
57 | 12 | "Arthur's Wake" | Winrich Kolbe | Jerome Coopersmith | January 16, 1988 | |
Spenser protects an old friend, Arthur, after he's assaulted and robbed. | ||||||
58 | 13 | "To the End of the Line" | Harry Harris | Nelson Costello | January 23, 1988 | |
When Frank's niece (Cady McClain) dies of a drug overdose, Spenser and Frank go after the men responsible. | ||||||
59 | 14 | "Play It Again, Sammy" | Bruce Bilson | Lee Goldberg & William Rabkin | January 30, 1988 | |
Sammy Backlin calls Spenser for protection when he's being hunted by a 'vicious horde of bloodthirsty assassins'. | ||||||
60 | 15 | "The Big Fight" | Winrich Kolbe | Jonathan Day | February 6, 1988 | |
One of Spenser's old trainers (Cliff Gorman) lures Spenser to a deserted warehouse where Spenser is supposed to be killed, to get out from under a gambling debt. | ||||||
61 | 16 | "Substantial Justice" | David M. Whorf | John Jay Osborn Jr. | February 13, 1988 | |
Spenser protects a theater owner from gangsters, but begins to suspect she's not as innocent as she appears. | ||||||
62 | 17 | "Company Man" | Winrich Kolbe | Norma Safford Vela | March 12, 1988 | |
Spenser suspects insurance fraud when a building blows up. Susan has a possibly cancerous mass removed. | ||||||
63 | 18 | "Watercolors" | Winrich Kolbe | Ronald D. Brown | March 19, 1988 | |
Spenser protects a child artist after the child witnesses a mob execution while painting in the forest. | ||||||
64 | 19 | "Hawk's Eyes" | David M. Whorf | Tom Chehak | March 26, 1988 | |
Spenser investigates the death of a friend apparently involved with white supremacists. Hawk is rendered blind by an explosion. | ||||||
65 | 20 | "McAllister" | Harvey Hart | William Robert Yates & Steven Hattman | April 30, 1988 | |
Spenser assists a lawyer in proving the innocence of his client, a Navy seaman accused of murdering the captain's daughter. | ||||||
66 | 21 | "Haunting" | David M. Whorf | Michael Fisher | May 7, 1988 | |
Spenser investigates an old child kidnapping case when he tries to track down a teenage girl's biological parents. |
TV movies
During the early 1990s, Urich and Brooks reunited for four made-for-TV films, produced by the Lifetime cable network. The movies were based on four of Parker's novels. Parker and his wife Joan co-wrote the first two screenplays and the two movies kept to the spirit of the series. To keep production costs down Barbara Stock was replaced as Susan Silverman in the first two movies by Barbara Williams and in the other two by veteran actress Wendy Crewson (Air Force One) and Frank Belson was played by J. Winston Carroll. Parker's son Daniel appears in all four movies as a waiter in Spenser's favorite restaurant. Unlike the series which was filmed in Boston, the new movies were filmed in Toronto to take advantage of the lower production costs. The first two movies were still set in Boston (parts of Toronto easily passed for Boston), with the second two rewritten to be set in Toronto (the novel Savage Place was set in Los Angeles).[citation needed]
Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | |
---|---|---|---|---|
"Spenser: Ceremony" | Paul Lynch, Andrew Wild | Robert B. Parker & Joan H. Parker | July 22, 1993 | |
Spenser is hired to locate April Kyle, the missing daughter of Harry Kyle, millionaire and candidate for Governor. | ||||
"Pale Kings and Princes" | Vic Sarin | Robert B. Parker & Joan H. Parker | February 2, 1994 | |
One of Susan's former patients, a news reporter, is killed, Spenser investigates. | ||||
"Spenser: The Judas Goat" | Joseph L. Scanlan | Nahum Tate, Carol Daley, Monte Stettin | December 1, 1994 | |
Spenser is hired out by Hugh Dixon to track down the killers of his wife and daughters. | ||||
"Spenser: A Savage Place" | Joseph L. Scanlan | Nahum Tate, Carol Daley, Donald Martin | January 4, 1995 | |
Candy Sloane, a news reporter that Spenser used to date, hires him out as backup while she investigates a credit card fraud ring. |