Spenser For Hire - General Discussion

[suebee12]

Mystery/suspense series based on Robert Parker's "Spenser" novels. Spenser, a private investigator living in Boston, gets involved in a new murder mystery each episode. Using his years of experience, his natural talents for observation and reasoning, and the occasional bit of help from his friend Hawk, Spenser never fails to crack the case.

 

I started reading the Spenser novels and could not stop! You can not imagine how thrilled I was when I saw that it was going to be a new TV series but wondered if it would live up to Parker's books! It did! Robert Urich was the perfect Spenser and Avery Brooks was Hawk! I luckily noticed that I could see the first season on IMDB on my Fire TV and couldn't wait to start watching. About half way through I realized I had to see the full 3 seasons and started hunting for the DVDs. Using ebay, I found a very reasonably set and off I went....Binging on Spenser is the best binge in the world.

 

I have several favorite episodes...some made me laugh, others made me cry. The funny? The two shows with Sal Viscuso as Sammy Backlin. These two shows were hilarious! The Road Back where Spenser is shot and there is a chance he may never use his right arm again...many tears! Sleepless Dream was another good episode that I couldn't figure out whether to laugh or cry so I did a little of each!

 

I'm hoping there are others on this forum who are Spenser fans also so we can chat about probably my most favorite show and actor ever!!!! Remember the first season can be streamed on IMDB for free! I wonder if anyone kept track of how many windshields and windows were shot out in the three years this series was on?

[scorpio1031]

Loved Robert Urich and this show!  I think this one and Vegas were the only ones that lasted 3 seasons.  Most of his other shows didn't last more than a season, at most.  I liked the relationship with Hawk and of course, Susan.  I am trying to remember - wasn't Susan's character written out cause the producers underestimated her popularity?  They did bring her back though.

[suebee12]

On 2/15/2020 at 5:32 PM, scorpio1031 said:

wasn't Susan's character written out cause the producers underestimated her popularity?

Yes, she was written out of the second season when they brought Rita Fiori in. Done rather abruptly and without warning. I actually like Spenser and Rita...a very different kind of couple but she never quite connected with most people. Realizing their mistake, they brought Susan back for what turned out to be the last season. Again, no mention of why Rita was gone. I have read that when they filmed the 4 movies, she was again in the show but since only Spenser and Hawk were the only original actors in them, it was quite different. (The movies were filmed in Canada not Boston.) One of the things I really liked about the original series was the fact that they used Boston and when it snowed, it really snowed! 

I have just started watching Vega$ which I watched way back when also. Am only on the second show so I'm not sure how much I will like it but since Robert Urich is in it, I probably will!

Remember if you want to watch the first season of Spenser, it is available for free on IMDB!

Edited February 17, 2020 by suebee12

[lookeyloo]

We loved that show. Always wished I had a Hawk in my life!!

[MissLucas]

Hawk was my first tv-crush at an age where I did not really understand what it meant that I felt all happy whenever he was on. It pains me to admit that I did not recognize him again until Sisko decided to shave his head 😲

[GHScorpiosRule]

On 2/19/2020 at 12:46 PM, MissLucas said:

Hawk was my first tv-crush at an age where I did not really understand what it meant that I felt all happy whenever he was on

I LOOOOOVED Hawk's "Spensaaaaa!" Loved their friendship.

[suebee12]

For anyone who is interested, I just noticed that IMBD now has all 3 seasons of Spencer available. I watch on my Prime Video so thank you Amazon!!!!

[auntiemel]

On 3/1/2020 at 8:02 PM, suebee12 said:

For anyone who is interested, I just noticed that IMBD now has all 3 seasons of Spencer available. I watch on my Prime Video so thank you Amazon!!!!

Thank you for the info!

 

[suebee12]

1 hour ago, auntiemel said:

Thank you for the info!

If you do start watching, please post here so I have someone to talk to about Spencer, Hawk and Robert Urich!!

[auntiemel]

4 hours ago, suebee12 said:

If you do start watching, please post here so I have someone to talk to about Spencer, Hawk and Robert Urich!!

Just watched the pilot today! I haven't actually seen the show since I was a kid, when it was airing. I've read the books many times, though! And I adore Robert Urich. Vegas is another favorite.

[suebee12]

25 minutes ago, auntiemel said:

Vegas is another favorite.

I recently purchased the complete Vegas series. I know that I watched it when it first ran but don't remember much about it. I still love Urich but not so much Vegas...hoping it gets better during  the second and third season. It is fun to see all of the old actors and folks who performed in Vegas back then....will keep watching and see if it improves.

[auntiemel]

39 minutes ago, suebee12 said:

I recently purchased the complete Vegas series. I know that I watched it when it first ran but don't remember much about it. I still love Urich but not so much Vegas...hoping it gets better during  the second and third season. It is fun to see all of the old actors and folks who performed in Vegas back then....will keep watching and see if it improves.

Yeah, I have that whole series on DVD but I haven't had a DVD player for awhile, so...yeah. LOL.