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Simon and Simon Detective Agency

 

 

The American TV series Simon & Simon was produced from 1981 to 1988 and deals with the cases of the two private investigators, A.J. Simon and Rick Simon. These two completely different brothers have their detective agency in San Diego.

 

 

 

The work of these two private investigators, as well as the contrasts between the two brothers, are the cornerstone of this very popular television series of the 80’s. A.J.’s and Rick’s completely different approaches, as well as their view on the environment and other people ensure occasional inharmoniousness between the brothers and provide a source of amusement for the spectators.

 

 

 

The success of the series, which included over 150 episodes, was also due to the good mix of criminal cases to be resolved, the arguments of the two brothers, as well as the chases and spectacular stunts. However, this success was not obvious from the beginning, because the series was almost cancelled after the first season.

 

 

 

The theme song, which had gained relatively low recognition during the first season, was changed for the second one. The new theme song ensured a higher degree of recognition starting from the second season. Moreover, Simon & Simon were assigned another time slot in the USA, directly after Magnum P.I. This new time slot caused the ratings to skyrocket. The episodes broadcast in Germany were not aired in the intended order, whereby 20 of the filmed episodes were neither dubbed, nor broadcast by German television.

 

 

 

After Cecilia Simon, the mother of A.J. and Rick, was to be seen more often in the first season, the actress behind her was changed for the second season, where she only had a few appearances. Myron Fowler, who had a rival detective agency, the greatest one in San Diego, in the first season, and who operated on the street, retired during the second season in order to simply enjoy life.

 

 

 

However, this does not keep him from commissioning the brothers Simon & Simon every now and then to carry out investigations for him. In the first season, the competition was also increased due to the fact that Fowler's daughter, who worked in her father's detective agency as a secretary, had a more than friendly relationship to A.J. Simon of the Simon & Simon detective agency and assisted him regularly.

 

 

 

The producers picked the city of San Diego as main location, about 220km south of Los Angeles, right at the Mexican border, which was still considered a relatively unknown city in the industry. The story of Simon & Simon played for time and again in neighbouring Mexico.

 

 

 

Jameson Parker plays A.J. Simon, the older one of the two brothers. However, Jameson Parker and Gerald McRaney, who plays his brother, Rick, were actually born in the same year in real life. The series Simon & Simon was the high point in the careers of both actors.

 

 

 

After the series was cancelled in 1988, both McRaney and Parker were to be seen in different series. However, no warmly rated hostility between the two competitors, like the one felt during the first season, is noticeable any more, and Myron's change of mind remains unexplained.

 

 

Janet Myron, who was engaged to A.J. while he was still working for her father, still plays in the first season as a prosecutor’s assistant. As such, she is naturally a great source of information for the two private investigators, who require her help every now and again.

 

 

 

The TV-movie Simon & Simon, based on the series and illustrating events that take place several years after it, was first aired in 1995. The brothers no longer run their private detective agency. A.J. Simon is now married and works as a lawyer in Seattle. A.J., on his way to deliver a yacht, makes a stop to visit his brother. Then suddenly the boat is stolen and Cecilia, the mother of the brothers, is kidnapped on board putting the skills of the two investigators to the test.

 

 

 

In addition to Tom Selleck (as Magnum P.I.) and John Hillermann (as Jonathan Quayle Higgins III), the following actors appeared as guest stars on the series:

 

Stuart Whitman – i.a. known for Those Magnificent Men in their Flying Machines or How I Flew from London to Paris in 25 Hours 11 Minutes, Arrow Beach, Cuba Crossing, Hollywood Connection

Alan Hale Jr. - i.a. known for The Big Trees, The Gunfighter, The Lady Takes a Flyer, Gilligan’s Island

John Russell – u i.a. known for Rio Bravo, Yellowstone Kelly, Pale Rider

 

The Cars from the Series

At times, both A.J. and Rick drove a 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air Convertible. There was also Rick's red Camaro Z28 Targa. The brothers also had a red Dodge Power Wagon.

 

 

 

Crossover Episodes

There are two crossover episodes of Simon & Simon with the very popular series Magnum P.I. In the episode The Bare Facts, Simon & Simon attempt to steal a valuable statue of the God Ki'i from the estate of Robin Masters, which had been stolen beforehand from their client. Of course, they thereby have to cooperate with Magnum, Higgins, T.C. and Rick. The second part of the two crossover episodes will then take place in an episode of Simon & Simon.

 

 

In another crossover episode, A.J. Simon can be seen in an episode of the series Computer Kids. In this episode, the young detectives together with A.J. are locked in a storage room. In another crossover episode, the young detectives are seen in supporting roles as Simon & Simon.

 

 

You may find all the episodes of the series Simon & Simon here.

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