Simon & Simon - Season One

This show's biggest audience was when it was shown in the post-Magnum timeslot and featured the wonderful Tim Reid as the cop, Downtown Brown. There's no doubt that those seasons are great, but I watched it from day one and have a special fondness for the first season. The Simons were just getting started in the business and not very successful--it had a very different feel as they scrambled to get clients. They go to Tijuana on more than one ocassion, and there's some great local footage in the first episode. (Rather than the original, though, it's really the 2nd incarnation of 3--the original pilot was set in Florida and is used in a pair of flashback episodes during the second season.)I always loved the orginal theme music that showed up during the episodes in later years, but is in all of its glory right up front for this season. The "not original music" disclaimer on the cover seems to refer only to the season two credits being used on episode 4--the same thing happens on Sleuth network reruns for this one episode. Don't get me wrong the theme music for season 2 on is just as wonderful--and lo and behold we get it on this set!!! That's a REAL bonus, in my opinion. The fourteenth episode on this set is season 2, episode 20--"The Secret of the Chrome Eagle." So we get the new theme on 1/4 and 2/20, and they have different montages (there were at least 2 opening credit sequences in season 2)--I've always liked both, so this is yet another bonus feature, im my opinion. 2/20 also features Rick in his green hunting jacket that I remember so fondly.The transfers are much better than the recent Riptide set, but not perfect. There are some white flecks from time to time. But it looks darn good.I just loved this show when it was on, and it's a joy to be able to watch it now with no commercials--48 minutes per episode, hooray!The 80s Flashback docu isn't anything all that special, but I think that having a second season ep thrown in so that we get both versions of the theme music and see how different the context became (different office, A.J. had a new car, they were minor local celebs) makes this a wonderful set to own.

Though I wish they had them as a set a little cheaper I bought season one through four individually have watched some of them already. They are still great to watch as they were back then.

The long-awaited DVDs are finally coming. A previous reviewer said Rick is "laid back to the point of being lazy". I respectfully, yet heartily disagree. Anything after the pilot episode shows Rick is a vital, sly and inventive fellow. (I don't count the pilot because they were still looking for their sea legs) Rick marches to a different drummer. A fun-loving guy who will do, and does do, anything for his brother, all the while the snarks fly overhead (Aw, c'mon AJ!). When I was younger, I was all about AJ, and although I still love him, I have grown to appreciate Rick much more now that I've "matured". The two together are golden. I have gained new appreciation for this show recently with it being on Sleuth. I loved it 20 years ago, but I see more depth in it now. Yes, it can be silly and pretty much does every cliched plot that every other 80s show did, but the two brothers never fail to entertain, and I find myself choking up at times with the little glimpses of the complete devotion they have to each other, and their mother. I truly love the long-suffering Cecelia whether she's having to once-again bail the boys out of jail (on league-night no less), or steering her latest man-friend away when the boys are harboring a dead body in her hotel room. When Rick comes to her house in the middle of the night with AJ slung over his shoulder, she bats nary an eyelash. One of the great TV moms. Maybe they should have called it Simon, Simon and Simon.

This Detective Drama show is one of my favorite. Simon & Simon first telecasted on November 24th, 1981 until its last telecast on March 2nd, 1989 for a total of 8 seasons and 156 episodes which I hope will be released very shortly following the First season.Two brothers, but you'd never have known it by looking at them. A.J. and Rick were partners in a small, struggling detective agency. Rick, an eccentric, grubby and laid-back to the point of being lazy. A.J. was conservative, dedicated and ambitious.The cast for this show are as follows:* Andrew Jackson (A.J.) Simon ..... Jameson Parker* Rick Simon ..... Gerald McRaney* Cecilia Simon ..... Mary Carver* Janet Fowler (1981-1983) ..... Jeannie Wilson* Myron Fowler (1981-1983) ..... Eddie Barth* Det.Marcel"Downtown"Brown(1983-1987).....Tim Reid* Officer Nixon (1986-1988).....Scott Murphy* Lt.Abigail March(1987-1988).....Joan McMurtrey* Officer Susie(1988).....Donna JepsenThe First season consisted of 13 episodes and they are as follows:01 Details at Eleven 11/24/198102 Love, Christy 12/1/198103 Trapdoors 12/8/198104 A Recipe for Disaster 12/17/198105 The Least Dangerous Game 12/29/198106 The Dead Letter File 1/5/198207 The Hottest Ticket in Town 1/12/198208 Ashes to Ashes, and None Too Soon 1/16/198209 Uncivil Servant 1/27/198210 Earth to Stacey 2/9/198211 Double Entry 3/2/198212 Matchmaker 3/9/198213 Tanks For the Memories 3/16/1982I hope all seasons will be released shortly after the first season.Thank you for reading my review and have a nice day :)

Decent show, but kinda cheesy. But wasn't everything cheesey in the 80-90's? Lol