Comments on: Detecting the detectives: an anthropological puzzle

By: Bud Caddell

Bud Caddell — Mon, 05 Mar 2007 13:33:35 +0000

Kudos to you for mentioning Jim Rockford! Aside from self deprecation, it’s the motivation of the characters which have really changed. These new CSI’ers have an unwavering commitment to ‘truth’ and ‘honor’. With Rockford, it was much more profit motivated (At least that’s what he explicitly said) with occasions of conscience.

By: Fred C. Dobbs

Fred C. Dobbs — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 00:18:44 +0000

And don’t forget David Janssen’s Harry O in the self-deprecating detective roles of the 70′s.

By: Tom Asacker

Tom Asacker — Tue, 27 Feb 2007 17:26:33 +0000

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=glvGfQnx3DI

By: Irene

Irene — Tue, 27 Feb 2007 17:11:32 +0000

I think you have to factor in the character’s employer — weren’t Rockford and Columbo private investigators, not government or city law enforcement officials? They solved crimes the police couldn’t and their comic, outsider image might have been a crucial part of their appeal to a still anti-establishment 1970s audience. I’ve never watched the CSI shows but they’re government/police guys right? Maybe in a post-9/11 world, we want to believe our government’s crime-fighting bodies can always catch the bad guys. We want those guys to be serious and solid. I may be wildly oversimplifying here, but I think the different images relate to the times and our changing attitudes towards national and local law enforcement officials.

By: Anyte

Anyte — Tue, 27 Feb 2007 16:15:39 +0000

That red haired guy on one of those CSI shows – agree – so annoying – almost laughable – Horatio or on occaision “H” -
is he for real, or do they just wind him up every week ? He’s always the same – Jim Carey did a funny impression of him on one of the latenights a couple of weeks ago. He, (Horatio) has the most irritating mannerisms and speech pattern. Do they call that “acting”?

By: Grant

Grant — Tue, 27 Feb 2007 12:33:34 +0000

Jeff, great points, Get Smart and the Pink Panther delighted in undoing the stereotype. thanks, Grant

Hatter, well said, he’s sententious, isn’t he? And the funny thing is he used to manage quite a lot more on NYPD Blue. Thanks, Grant

Lester, I would have thoughts that flawed or funny characters would be more fun to write. Thanks, Grant

Bryan, I stand corrected, for which many thanks. Veronica Mars is an interesting case in point. Yes, Veronica Mars feels to me a little Buffyish. Formidable but not without a sense of humor about it. I haven’t seen enough shows to see her actually engage in self deprecation, though. Thanks, Grant

By: Bryan

Bryan — Tue, 27 Feb 2007 12:11:53 +0000

Grant, slight correction: Homicide aired on NBC (’93-’99), not on cable. And have you seen Veronica Mars? She definitely fits in the self-deprecating/humorous model.

By: Lester Hunt

Lester Hunt — Tue, 27 Feb 2007 10:03:56 +0000

“What happened?”

A very interesting question. Maybe characters who do real detecting and also have a sense of humor (Philip Marlowe) or are unintentionally humorous (Monk) are just harder to write.

By: hatter

hatter — Tue, 27 Feb 2007 04:22:38 +0000

I hate this guy. Has anyone else noticed he speaks EXACTLY like Agent Smith from the matrix? It freaks me out and bores me to death at the same time.

By: Jeff Osborne

Jeff Osborne — Mon, 26 Feb 2007 23:26:01 +0000

Sounds like you’re referring to Get Smart! > Pink Panther > Inspector Gadget, and according to wikipedia the result was a “direct-to-video sequel starring French Stewart”.

Maybe he’s just conscious of not being remembered as the guy who talked to his shoe.