AVERAGE

Not unexpectedly, it was novelist Sidney Sheldon who created this entertaining rip-off of the Thin Man movies.

Jonathan and Jennifer (Robert Wagner, Stefanie Powers) were wealthy, gorgeous and always giving the impression that life is one long honeymoon. They had no kids, but they did have a dog called Freeway and the gravel-voiced servant Max (Lionel Stander) who always stood by the couple’s side. The murder mysteries in the scripts came across as less than inspired; once a week someone close to the Harts was bumped off and they would solve the mystery.

Never any surprises, but it was still fun watching the Harts in their jet-set milieus; the show benefited from Wagner and Powers really appearing to be in love with each other. 

1979-1984:U.S. 110 episodes. Color. Created by Sidney Sheldon. Theme: Mark Snow. Cast: Robert Wagner (Jonathan Hart), Stefanie Powers (Jennifer Hart), Lionel Stander (Max). 

Trivia: Screenwriter Tom Mankiewicz took Sheldon’s concept and developed it into a TV series. Suzanne Pleshette and Lindsay Wagner were considered for the part of Jennifer; ABC wanted Natalie Wood. Followed by eight TV movies a decade after the show was canceled (shortly before and after Stander’s death).

Golden Globe: Best Supporting Actor (Stander) 83.