Crime fiction in
television
The ever-increasing
popularity of TV
brought about the
emergence of lots
and lots of TV
series featuring all
sorts of detectives,
investigators,
special agents,
lawyers, and, of
course, the police.
In Britain,
The Avengers
(1960s)
about the adventures
of gentleman agent
John Steed and his
partner, Emma Peel,
achieved cult
status. U.S. TV
stations produced
series such as
77 Sunset Strip
(1958-1963);
The Streets of San
Francisco
(1972-1977),
starring
Karl Malden
and a young
Michael Douglas;
Kojak
(1973-1978),
with
Telly Savalas
playing the
lolly-addicted
police lieutenant;
Charlie's Angels
(1976-1981);
Murder, She Wrote
(starting in
1984),
about the adventures
of Cabot Cove-based
mystery writer
Jessica Fletcher,
played by
Angela Lansbury.
In
Germany,
Derrick
became a household
word.
