Poll 'Em, Dan-O -- Your Favorite Crime Dramas

[on:]

So: what's your favorite crime drama? It's one of the oldest TV genres around; it cane be done from a legal perspective, a police perspective, or both; it can be emotional, factual, or somewhat humorous; each show carves its own niche.

There's many that could easily be on this list (Quincy, Columbo, Magnum PI, Hill Street Blues, In the Heat of the Night, Matlock, etc.), but there's just not room for them all. I feel bad enough having to lump all the "Law & Order" shows together. 

By the way, the year distinction on "Dragnet is because not only was there a later version starring Ed O'Neill, but an erlier version in the 40's that the Jack Webb version was based on.

I favor "Monk" best myself (an excellent mix of humor and drama, plus Tony Shalhoub is awesome), but I really like "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit", too. I like Vincent D'Onofrio in "Criminal Intent", but the rest of the cast is just OK.

[Reply #1 on:]

MONK! Can you dig it?

[Reply #2 on:]

Homicide

[Reply #3 on:]

T. J. Hooker, with Willy Shat.

[Reply #4 on:]

 

Originally posted by El Zilcho:
MONK! Can you dig it?

Wipe yo mouth! 

I's only talkin' 'bout Monk...

[Reply #5 on:]

Columbo.

[Reply #6 on:]

   

Originally posted by Nixorbo:
...Willy Shat.

He did?

*gets pelted with rocks*

[Reply #7 on:]

Some great US crime shows up there, I watch, or watched, NYPD Blue, Homicide, Dragnet (new), but my vote goes for other... namely Miami Vice, back in the eighties it was must-see tv 

[Reply #8 on:]

CSI. I love a show based around blood spatter.

[Reply #9 on:]

NYPD Blue, prick.

[Reply #10 on:]

Law and order, CSI such a close second.

[Reply #11 on:]

I should admit that not only do I watch Monk, but I also watch all the incarnations of Law & Order and CSI both. It's hard not to when you've got these five shows, each of them ondifferent days of the week. Couple that with the cable sations USA and TNT constantly showing Law & Order repeats, and I'm pretty much doomed.

[Reply #12 on:]

 

Originally posted by eggsandwich:
Columbo.

I'll second that. I still laugh a bit when he starts the whole "my wife is a big fan of yours" speech.

All the others I have heard near to nothing of, the best thing over in the UK is The Bill and I don't know many who watch that.

[Reply #13 on:]

What?! Where's Father Dowley Mysteries and Mureder she wrote? Pah, amateurs.

[Reply #14 on:]

I also just remembered the quite nice Diagnosis Murder.

*people stare* what?

[Reply #15 on:]

Baantjer
that's cool they have ads in it
"oh my i can't solve this crime, let's take a CUP-A-SOUP!!!!!"
" yeah and i'll take a cup of DOUWE EGBERTS COFFEE"
hehehe

[Reply #16 on:]

"Law & Order", no contest.

Although "Hill Street Blues" awfully good too.

[Reply #17 on:]

 

Originally posted by Bushmeister:
..the best thing over in the UK is The Bill and I don't know many who watch that.

The Bill is no where near as good as it used to be, far too soapy these days.

[Reply #18 on:]

I voted for Monk, and I've only seen 3 episodes of the thing!  But they were really good.

[Reply #19 on:]

MAAaaaaaAAAAAaaaatTLoooOOOooC CCKKKK!!!!
 

Does Due South count?

[Reply #20 on:]

Monk is duh shit baby....

[Reply #21 on:]

Damn straight! I love Monk.

[Reply #22 on:]

 

Originally posted by Tweek:
   

Originally posted by Bushmeister:
..the best thing over in the UK is The Bill and I don't know many who watch that.

The Bill is no where near as good as it used to be, far too soapy these days.

Probably because they pick up every out of work soap actor as soon as they are looking for a new role.

Ah yes Due South, I remember watching that regularly when I was younger. Thought it was very good but started to decline after they replaced Ray's character after he had to 'go undercover'.

[Reply #23 on:]

Magnum PI
or Rockford Files

[Reply #24 on:]

Law and Order.

While I think the original is the best, I am a big fan of Criminal Intent.  The idea of showing the criminals' perspective is pretty unique, particularly for the L&O franchise.  Of course, Vincent D'onofrio is always worth watching, especially when he breaks the mold of his usual creepy characters (Pvt. Pyle of Full Metal Jacket, Carl Rudolph Stargher of The Cell, Edgar the bug from Men in Black, or Pooh-Bear from The Salton Sea).

Still, the cast of the original Law and Order is outstanding.  Even Elizabeth Röhm (playing Serena Southerlyn) doesn't get her usual fist-shaking from me.  I do miss the old days, before D.A. Lewin...the days of Angie Harmon's unstoppable hottness.  Oh well, at least they got rid of Lewin and brought in everybody's favorite Tennessee senator.  True, Arthur Branch is no Adam Schiff, but I think he's a good replacement.

As for SVU: eh, sex crimes...I could take them or leave them.  Munch and Fin are pretty hilarious together, and Captain Cragen has been wearing the same suspenders since the original L&O began, but the end of the show always feels like a no-win situation.

Edit: Miami Vice-Home of the original hype about the Bren Ten and the greatest hangun cartridge that never was, the 10mm.