Nero Wolfe Page

"Archie, report!"

My perspective on Nero Wolfe:
It is a detective show based on the novels written by Rex Stout. It was a TV show in the 80's with William Conrad and Lee Horsley, done to a modern 80's theme. Big mistake.

A&E redid it with more authenticity to the original stories with Maury Chaykin and Timothy Hutton. The A&E version is superior in every way to the earlier TV show. Including the fabulous old vintage cars, beautiful clothing styles, and colorful language and attitude of the time.

About Nero Wolfe, he's an overweight genius eccentric detective with a fixation for orchids, quality food and beers. He doesn't like to leave his N.Y. Brownstone manor, doesn't like being touched, doesn't like women or men who are afraid of women, sticks to a beyond-rigid daily schedule, and is easily irritated at any variation in his routines and behaviors. Likeable, but not someone you would like to hang out with. A general pompass ass.

The show is portrayed from the point of view of his personal secretary, investigator, and heavy handed operator Archie Goodwin. Timothy Hutton does a great job portraying Archie (a fellow Ohioan), who does the research and investigations, he reports the information to Nero, Nero then assembles the details to solve the crimes. Usually, he assembles the suspects and police to his office to interview and expose the criminal. Archie has a habit of drinking milk and eating pies when he is on assignment. He likes womanizing, but specifically with those who are great dancing partners. A fun person to hang out with and thoroughly likeable. His performance makes up for any other role he ever performed in.

They have a standard cast of characters who are rotated for use as suspects, victims, etc. but there are a few characters who are only one character through the entire series.

Some very good characters are Inspector Cramer, played by Bill Smitrovitch and Fritz the butler/chef played by Colin Fox, and Saul Panzer played by Conrad Dunn. Saul is my second favorite character after Archie.

A&E stopped running the episodes after the second season, because it didn't gain a huge following. Pity. If you get a chance to see an episode, do it, it will be well worth your time!

mp3 theme versions:

Nero Wolfe Theme 1981 - John Addison version for the earlier run TV program. (128kbps - time 1:01) IMDB Listing for Nero Wolfe in 1981: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0081906/

Order "Nero Wolfe" Season One on DVD at A&E!

Nero Wolfe Web Discussion Groups:

Participate in web discussions on your favorite detective.

Yahoo! Groups: nerowolfe. Moderators are flummery210 and marileedvs and nerophiliac.

Yahoo! Groups: Pfight. Pfui Pfighters! This group provides material for organizing a campaign for the return of Nero Wolfe.

Yahoo! Groups: archiegoodwin. Owner is unknown.

Yahoo! Groups: ArchieFF. Owner is cindyryan7.

Yahoo! Groups: Timothy_Hutton.