Nero Wolfe (1981 TV series)

Last updated • 9 min readFrom Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia
Nero Wolfe
Wolfe-NW-NBC-2.jpg
Genre Drama
Starring William Conrad
Lee Horsley
George Voskovec
Robert Coote
George Wyner
Allan Miller
Composer John Addison
Country of origin United States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes14
Production
Executive producers Ivan Goff
Ben Roberts
Running time60 minutes
Production company Paramount Television
Original release
Network NBC
ReleaseJanuary 16 (1981-01-16) 
June 2, 1981 (1981-06-02)
Related

Nero Wolfe is an American drama television series based on the characters in Rex Stout's series of detective stories. The series aired on NBC from January 16 to August 25, 1981. [1] William Conrad fills the role of the detective genius Nero Wolfe, and Lee Horsley is his assistant Archie Goodwin. Produced by Paramount Television, the series updates the world of Nero Wolfe to contemporary New York City and draws few of its stories from the Stout originals.

Contents

Plot

Nero Wolfe (William Conrad) enjoys a life of refined self-indulgence in his comfortable Manhattan brownstone — reading, dining, spending regular hours in his rooftop plant rooms, and only reluctantly involving himself in the detection of crime. Famously sedentary, Wolfe relies on his legman Archie Goodwin (Lee Horsley) to collect the clues and the suspects in any case at hand, while he spars with his live-in chef Fritz Brenner (George Voskovec) and bickers with his resident orchid nurse Theodore Horstmann (Robert Coote, in his final role). Often assisted by freelance detective Saul Panzer (George Wyner), Wolfe and Archie customarily gather the suspects in Wolfe's office and present the solution to the exasperated Inspector Cramer (Allan Miller) of Manhattan Homicide.

Production

In March 1980, Nero Wolfe was one of half-a-dozen new series being considered by the team of Brandon Tartikoff and Fred Silverman at NBC, according to Peter Boyer of the Associated Press. "The idea has been tried unsuccessfully on TV before, most recently by ABC," Boyer reported. "But NBC has an angle going that will certainly make this Nero Wolfe worthy of notice — the distinct possibility that Orson Welles will play the lead role." [2] The pilot episode was to be written by Leon Tokatyan ( Lou Grant ). [3]

When filming of the TV series was under way later that year, columnist Marilyn Beck wrote that Nero Wolfe had been planned as a starring vehicle for Welles until he decided that he wanted NBC to change the concept from a one-hour weekly series to a series of 90-minute specials, and that he wanted his scenes filmed at his Los Angeles home. [4] Some 20 years later, in a story about the A&E Nero Wolfe series, the Toronto Star reported that Welles had bowed out of the NBC series because he was unable to learn the dialogue. [5] Other reports had it that Welles had refused to work with Paramount's producers, who wanted to "make Nero Wolfe more human." [6] Welles and Paramount had already had creative differences over the Rex Stout adaptations; Paramount had purchased the entire set of Nero Wolfe stories for Welles in 1976, but in 1977 Welles had bowed out of Paramount's first effort to bring Nero Wolfe to television, in an ABC-TV movie. [7]

On June 30, 1980, the Associated Press reported that William Conrad would play the title role in NBC's Nero Wolfe.

"I've loved the novels for 25 years," Conrad said. "And I love his life-style. I don't have to run any more. My poor feet are still aching from all the running I had to do in Cannon ." [8]

In December 1980, NBC announced that Nero Wolfe would begin airing in January 1981, as "an ideal alternative to the competition in this time period" — The Dukes of Hazzard . [9] The Dukes of Hazzard was then ranked number 2 in the Nielsen ratings. [10]

"American Nero Wolfe fans had their dreams come true in 1981, when the NBC network allowed viewers on a weekly, prime time visit to the infamous New York brownstone on West 35th Street," wrote Brian Sheridan in the Spring 2008 issue of The Gazette: The Journal of the Wolfe Pack. Sheridan interviewed Lee Horsley, who found his first major role when he was cast as Archie Goodwin. Horsley recalled an enjoyable relationship with William Conrad, whose off-screen demeanor was a perfect fit for the character. "He was definitely Nero Wolfe down to the toes," Horsley said.

"I remember the days when he would shoot the final scene (of an episode) when Wolfe called all the suspects together," says Horsley. "Bill (Conrad) had in his contract that he would only work so many hours a day. If the clock struck whatever, and it was time for him to go, he'd put on his bedroom slippers and he was gone. It didn’t matter if we were in the middle of a scene or not. He loved the work but he was that way. When he decided he didn’t want to play anymore, that was it. We'd have to figure it out how to shoot the rest of the scene just to get it done."

Horsley spoke of his love for Rex Stout's books and characters, and credited the care taken with the production's art direction, set design and wardrobe in creating the atmosphere of the stories. "It was so great to go into work," he said. [11]

The sets for Nero Wolfe were designed by John Beckman, whose credits include Casablanca , Lost Horizon and The Maltese Falcon . [12] The plant rooms were stocked by Zuma Canyon Orchids of Malibu, California, which on the eve of the series registered the hybrid Phalaenopsis Nero Wolfe with the Royal Horticultural Society. [13]

Cast

Lee Horsley and William Conrad Wolfe-NW-NBC.jpg
Lee Horsley and William Conrad

Guest stars included Richard Anderson, Ramon Bieri, Delta Burke, Linden Chiles, Charles Cioffi, Patti Davis, John de Lancie, John Ericson, Mary Frann, David Hedison, Katherine Justice, Robert Loggia (albeit, uncredited), Darren McGavin, Barry Nelson, John Randolph, Russ Tamblyn and Lana Wood.

Episodes

Although the series was titled Rex Stout's Nero Wolfe, the scripts departed considerably from the Stout originals. Only seven of the 14 episodes are credited as being based upon Stout stories. All episodes were set in contemporary New York City. [14]

TitleDirected by:Teleplay by:Original air date
1"The Golden Spiders" Michael O'Herlihy Wallace Ware,
Peter Nasco
January 16, 1981 (1981-01-16)
Adapted from the novel The Golden Spiders (1953)
2"Death on the Doorstep" George McCowan Stephen DowningJanuary 23, 1981 (1981-01-23)
uses elements from the novel The Doorbell Rang (1965)
3"Before I Die"Edward M. Abroms Alfred Hayes January 30, 1981 (1981-01-30)
Adapted from the story "Before I Die" (1947)
4"Wolfe at the Door"Herbert Hirschman Lee Sheldon February 6, 1981 (1981-02-06)
5"Might as Well Be Dead"George McCowanSeeleg LesterFebruary 13, 1981 (1981-02-13)
Adapted from the novel Might as Well Be Dead (1956)
6"To Catch a Dead Man" Edward M. Abroms John Meredyth Lucas February 20, 1981 (1981-02-20)
7"In the Best Families" George McCowan Alfred HayesMarch 6, 1981 (1981-03-06)
Adapted from the novel In the Best Families (1950)<
8"Murder by the Book"Bob KelljanWallace WareMarch 13, 1981 (1981-03-13)
Adapted from the novel Murder by the Book (1951)
9"What Happened to April" Edward M. Abroms Stephen Downing March 20, 1981 (1981-03-20)
Adapted from the novel Death of a Doxy (1966)
10"Gambit" George McCowan Stephen KandelApril 3, 1981 (1981-04-03)
11"Death and the Dolls"Gerald MayerGerald SanfordApril 10, 1981 (1981-04-10)
12"The Murder in Question" George McCowan Merwin GerardApril 17, 1981 (1981-04-17)
13"The Blue Ribbon Hostage"Ron SatlofDick NelsonMay 5, 1981 (1981-05-05)
14"Sweet Revenge" George McCowan Ben Roberts June 2, 1981 (1981-06-02)

Broadcast history

First telecast January 16, 1981, Nero Wolfe aired Fridays from 9 to 10 p.m. ET — as NBC's challenge to the hit CBS show, The Dukes of Hazzard . In April 1981 Nero Wolfe was moved to Tuesdays from 10 to 11 p.m. ET, [15] where it continued to air until June 2, 1981. Repeat episodes continued to air until August 25, 1981.

Nero Wolfe was victim to an NBC programming strategy that was changed not long after the series left the air. Brandon Tartikoff was named president of the network's entertainment division in 1981, and he began to turn around the fortunes of the last-place network. "In the past, a series thought to have 'breakout' potential has been scheduled in a depressed timeslot," Tartikoff told the Associated Press in December 1981. "So Gangster Chronicles was played off against Love Boat , Nero Wolfe against The Dukes of Hazzard , Hill Street Blues against Fantasy Island ." Tartikoff implemented a new approach — programming to strengthen an entire evening's primetime schedule rather than challenging another network's hit show. [16]

In April 1996, when the TV Land network made its debut, Nero Wolfe was featured in its "Saturday Cavalcade" lineup of great detectives. [17] In 1999 the series was part of an afternoon block of TV Land's counterprogramming to network soap operas, and it also aired in the wee hours of the morning. [18]

Awards and nominations

YearResultAwardCategoryRecipient
1981Nominated Emmy Award Outstanding Film Sound MixingNick Gaffey, Gary C. Bourgeois, Lee Minkler, Terry Porter (For episode "Gambit")
Outstanding Cinematography for a SeriesCharles W. Short (For episode "Death and the Dolls")

Reviews and commentary

Home media

Cover of the Visual Entertainment, Inc., DVD release of Rex Stout's Nero Wolfe: The Complete Series (2017) Rex-Stout's-Nero-Wolfe-DVD.jpg
Cover of the Visual Entertainment, Inc., DVD release of Rex Stout's Nero Wolfe: The Complete Series (2017)

On May 3, 2017, VEI announced a DVD release for Nero Wolfe. Reported to be "coming soon", Rex Stout's Nero Wolfe: The Complete Series comprises all 14 episodes and the 1977 pilot starring Thayer David. [26]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nero Wolfe</span> Fictional character

Nero Wolfe is a brilliant, obese and eccentric fictional armchair detective created in 1934 by American mystery writer Rex Stout. Wolfe was born in Montenegro and keeps his past murky. He lives in a luxurious brownstone on West 35th Street in New York City, and he is loath to leave his home for business or anything that would keep him from reading his books, tending his orchids, or eating the gourmet meals prepared by his chef, Fritz Brenner. Archie Goodwin, Wolfe's sharp-witted, dapper young confidential assistant with an eye for attractive women, narrates the cases and does the legwork for the detective genius.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Archie Goodwin (character)</span> Fictional detective created by Rex Stout

Archie Goodwin is a fictional character in a series of detective stories and novels by American author Rex Stout. Archie is the witty narrator of the cases featuring his boss, Nero Wolfe, from 1934 (Fer-de-Lance) to 1975. Although his job title is Wolfe's secretary and chauffeur, Archie is effectively Wolfe's partner in the detective business, and the stories often contrast his middle class streetwise persona with Wolfe's aristocratic intelligence.

<i>Nero Wolfe</i> (2001 TV series) American television series

Nero Wolfe is a television series adapted from Rex Stout's series of detective stories that aired for two seasons (2001–2002) on A&E. Set in New York City sometime in the 1940s–1950s, the stylized period drama stars Maury Chaykin as Nero Wolfe and Timothy Hutton as Archie Goodwin. A distinguishing feature of the series is its use of a repertory cast to play non-recurring roles. Nero Wolfe was one of the Top 10 Basic Cable Dramas for 2002.

<i>Might as Well Be Dead</i> Book by Rex Stout

Might as Well Be Dead is a Nero Wolfe detective novel by Rex Stout, published by the Viking Press in 1956. The story was also collected in the omnibus volume Three Aces.

<i>The Golden Spiders</i> 1953 novel by Rex Stout

The Golden Spiders is a Nero Wolfe detective novel by Rex Stout. It was first published in 1953 by The Viking Press.

<i>The Doorbell Rang</i> Novel by Rex Stout

The Doorbell Rang is a Nero Wolfe detective novel by Rex Stout, first published by the Viking Press in 1965.

The Nero Wolfe stories are populated by a cast of supporting characters who help sustain the sense that each story takes place in familiar surroundings. The main characters are Nero Wolfe and Archie Goodwin.

<i>In the Best Families</i> 1950 novel by Rex Stout

In the Best Families is a Nero Wolfe detective novel by Rex Stout, first published by the Viking Press in 1950. The story was collected in the omnibus volumes Five of a Kind and Triple Zeck.

<i>Fer-de-Lance</i> (novel) Detective novel

Fer-de-Lance is the first Nero Wolfe detective novel written by Rex Stout, published in 1934 by Farrar & Rinehart, Inc. The novel appeared in abridged form in The American Magazine under the title "Point of Death". The novel was adapted for the 1936 film Meet Nero Wolfe, and it was named after a venomous snake with the same name. In his seminal 1941 work, Murder for Pleasure, crime fiction historian Howard Haycraft included Fer-de-Lance in his definitive list of the most influential works of mystery fiction.

<i>Prisoners Base</i> 1952 novel by Rex Stout

Prisoner's Base is a Nero Wolfe detective novel by Rex Stout, first published by Viking Press in 1952.

<i>The Rubber Band</i> 1936 novel by Rex Stout

The Rubber Band is the third Nero Wolfe detective novel by Rex Stout. Prior to its publication in 1936 by Farrar & Rinehart, Inc., the novel was serialized in six issues of The Saturday Evening Post. Appearing in one 1960 paperback edition titled To Kill Again,The Rubber Band was also collected in the omnibus volume Five of a Kind.

<i>Murder by the Book</i> 1951 Nero Wolfe detective novel by Rex Stout

Murder by the Book is a Nero Wolfe detective novel by Rex Stout published in 1951 by the Viking Press, and collected in the omnibus volume Royal Flush (1965).

<i>Death of a Doxy</i> Detective novel by Rex Stout

Death of a Doxy is a Nero Wolfe detective novel by Rex Stout, first published by Viking Press in 1966.

<i>Meet Nero Wolfe</i> 1936 film by Herbert Biberman

Meet Nero Wolfe is a 1936 American mystery film based on the 1934 novel Fer-de-Lance, written by Rex Stout. Set in New York, the story introduced the detective genius Nero Wolfe and his assistant Archie Goodwin. The partnership endured through 33 novels and 39 short stories written by Stout, but continued in only one more film for Columbia Pictures. Wolfe's client is portrayed by Rita Hayworth, then billed as Rita Cansino, in an early performance.

The Adventures of Nero Wolfe is a 1943–44 American radio drama series produced by Himan Brown and featuring Rex Stout's fictional detective. Three actors portrayed Nero Wolfe over the course of the series. J. B. Williams starred in its first incarnation, beginning April 10, 1943, on the regional New England Network. Santos Ortega assumed the role when the suspense drama moved to ABC on July 5, 1943, and continued as Wolfe until sometime in 1944 when he was succeeded by Luis Van Rooten. Archie Goodwin, Wolfe's assistant and legman, was played by Joseph Julian. Based on Stout's principal characters but not his stories, the series ended with the broadcast July 14, 1944.

<i>Nero Wolfe</i> (film) 1979 American TV series or program

Nero Wolfe is a 1979 American made-for-television film adaptation of the 1965 Nero Wolfe novel The Doorbell Rang by Rex Stout. Thayer David stars as Wolfe, gourmet, connoisseur and detective genius. Tom Mason costars as Archie Goodwin, Wolfe's assistant. Written and directed by Frank D. Gilroy, the film was produced by Paramount Television as a pilot for an ABC television series, but it was shelved by the network for more than two years before finally being broadcast December 19, 1979.

"Eeny Meeny Murder Mo" is a Nero Wolfe mystery novella by Rex Stout, first published in the March 1962 issue of Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine (#220). It first appeared in book form in the short-story collection Homicide Trinity, published by the Viking Press in 1962.

"Counterfeit for Murder" is a Nero Wolfe mystery novella by Rex Stout, first serialized as "The Counterfeiter's Knife" in three issues of The Saturday Evening Post. It first appeared in book form in the short-story collection Homicide Trinity, published by the Viking Press in 1962.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Before I Die (short story)</span> Short story by Rex Stout

"Before I Die" is a Nero Wolfe mystery novella by Rex Stout, first published in the April 1947 issue of The American Magazine. It first appeared in book form in the short-story collection Trouble in Triplicate, published by the Viking Press in 1949.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Booby Trap (novella)</span> Short story by Rex Stout

"Booby Trap" is a Nero Wolfe mystery novella by Rex Stout, first published in the August 1944 issue of The American Magazine. It first appeared in book form as the second novella in the short-story collection Not Quite Dead Enough, published by Farrar & Rinehart in 1944.

References

  1. Brooks, Tim, and Earle Marsh, The Directory to Prime Time Network TV Shows 1946–Present . New York: Ballantine Books, 1988 (fourth edition), ISBN   0-345-35610-1 p. 557
  2. Boyer, Peter J., "NBC Fall Schedule," Associated Press, March 24, 1980
  3. Deeb, Gary, Chicago Tribune, March 26, 1980. Deeb also reported, "William Conrad probably will return to weekly TV in an NBC series called 'Battles'. He'll play a retired police chief who teaches criminology at a college."
  4. Beck, Marilyn, Marilyn Beck's Hollywood, Milwaukee Journal (Chicago Tribune New York News Syndicate), November 24, 1980
  5. Bawden, Jim, "Fiddling with Nero," Archived 2011-06-09 at the Wayback Machine Toronto Star , April 14, 2002. In September 2010, Bawden named his then-unidentified source Archived 2011-09-27 at the Wayback Machine , Anne Baxter, whom he had previously interviewed on the set of Nero Wolfe for an October 1977 Films in Review profile of the actress.
  6. The Nero Wolfe Files (Wildside Press 2005, edited by Marvin Kaye), transcript of a 2001 address by Michael Jaffe, executive producer of A Nero Wolfe Mystery , ISBN   0-8095-4494-6 pp. 87–88
  7. Kleiner, Dick, Oakland Tribune , December 30, 1976; Smith, Liz, The Baltimore Sun , March 14, 1977; Gilroy, Frank D., I Wake Up Screening. Carbondale, Illinois: Southern Illinois University Press, 1993, ISBN   0-8093-1856-3 p. 147. Orson Welles was a great fan of the Stout books; in 1967 Rex Stout told author Dick Lochte that Welles had once wanted to make a series of Nero Wolfe movies, and Stout had turned him down.
  8. Kahana, Yoram, "The Wolfe Man in His Lair." The Australian Women's Weekly, January 29, 1982, pp. 95–96. Retrieved from the National Library of Australia, March 27, 2011
  9. Fraser, C. Gerald, "NBC will introduce 5 programs next month," The New York Times , December 27, 1980
  10. Classic TV Hits TV ratings 1980; retrieved October 2, 2011
  11. Sheridan, Brian, "Before Tim Hutton: An Interview with Lee Horsley"; The Gazette: The Journal of the Wolfe Pack, Spring 2008, pp. 29–33
  12. "John Beckman Is Dead; Designer of Sets Was 91"; The New York Times, October 31, 1989
  13. Phalaenopsis Nero Wolfe was registered January 11, 1981
  14. Stories adapted for the 1981 Nero Wolfe series include The Golden Spiders , "Before I Die", Might as Well Be Dead , In the Best Families , Murder by the Book and Death of a Doxy (as "What Happened to April"). "Booby Trap" is credited as the basis of "Gambit," but the episode has no discernible relationship to the story. The episode "Death on the Doorstep" incorporates plot elements from The Doorbell Rang , although the novel is not specifically cited as a source.
  15. Brooks, Tim, and Earle Marsh, The Directory to Prime Time Network TV Shows 1946–Present. New York: Ballantine Books, 1988 (fourth edition), ISBN   0-345-35610-1 p. 557
  16. Jory, Tom, "'Fame' and the Future at NBC," Associated Press, December 10, 1981
  17. "Nick-at-Nite's TV Land joins U.S. Satellite Broadcasting Lineup"; Business Wire, April 30, 1996
  18. Dempsey, John, "It's Boom(er) Time for TV Land"; Variety, March 8–14, 1999
  19. Downy, Donn, "Fiddling ruins Nero's image," The Globe and Mail , January 19, 1981
  20. Boyer, Peter, Associated Press, February 20, 1981
  21. Los Angeles Times , Television Times, August 16–22, 1981, page 2
  22. Bawden, Jim, Toronto Star , November 30, 1991
  23. Kaminsky, Stuart M., introduction to the Rex Stout Library edition of The Doorbell Rang . New York: Bantam Crimeline, ISBN   0-553-23721-7, 1992, page viii. Kaminsky did write the final episode of the 2001–2002 A&E Network TV series, A Nero Wolfe Mystery — "Immune to Murder."
  24. Holloway, Diane, "It's no mystery why A&E's 'Wolfe' works," Cox News Service, April 20, 2001
  25. Vitaris, Paula, "Miracle on 35th Street: Nero Wolfe on Television"; Scarlet Street , issue #45, 2002, p. 34
  26. Lambert, David (May 4, 2017). "Nero Wolfe - Contents, Bonus Item and William Conrad-Featured DVD Package Art". Archived from the original on May 9, 2017. Retrieved 2017-05-04.