The American crime series Quincy M.E. (ME = Medical Examiner, coroner), broadcast on the NBC television network from 1976 to 1983, focuses on the work of coroner Quincy (played by Jack Klugman). He finds an anomaly in each of the 148, leading to him ultimately investigating the matter.

Though the individual episodes of the early seasons are still based on criminal investigations, the series began identifying societal problems in the later episodes and thus, becoming a very much forward thinking mystery series requiring much courage from the creators of the program.

Among the topics covered in the series were child abuse, the introduction of the helmet law for motorcyclists and the neglect of the elderly in nursing care. His professional way of dealing with the dead and the respect shown to them while carrying out empathic investigations made ??him attractive to the audience.

Quincy M.E.’s assignments are only in part typical tasks for a coroner. Part of this research was also part police work. One might therefore view Quincy M.E. as a precursor to shows like CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, and the resulting spin-off series CSI: Miami and CSI: NY.

Quincy M.E. first started out, like Columbo, in the NBC Mystery Movie series. Due to his great success, Quincy M.E. was then turned into a weekly broadcast series. The Canadian series Wojeck, on which Quincy is based, already existed in the 1960’s. It was rumoured that both Wojeck and Quincy were actually based on the Californiaj coroner Dr. Thomas Noguchi. However, this was later denied and it was announced that Quincy was inspired by a pathologist working in New York at a beginning of the 20^th century.

The coroner Quincy, whose first name was never precisely known (his ID only lists R.) lived on his sailboat, which he received after the death by cancer of his wife Helen. His colleague, employee Sam Fujiyama, is always on his side in the coroner's office in Los Angeles. Just like Jimmy Palmer in the series NCIS, assisting pathologist Dr. Ducky Mallard, Sam Fujiyama also serves as an assistant to each autopsy by Dr. Quincy.

The relationship between Quincy and his supervisor, Dr. Robert Asten, is often characterized by a lot of tension, as the two have very different views. Dr. Asten’s concern is to close a case as quickly as possible. Quincy, however, wants his work to be absolutely accurate and is like a detective: he investigates to find out the truth. That is why it naturally comes to eventual conflicts with Dr. Asten.

Quincy is good friends with Lieutenant Monahan of the Los Angeles Police Homicide Department. Nevertheless, he often has disputes with both Monahan and his colleague, Sergeant Brill, because of his solo efforts and going well beyond his duties.

In his spare time, both Quincy and his friends like to go to Danny's Restaurant, owned by Quincy's friend, Danny Tovo. Many of the episodes end well, so that a victory or the end of a case is celebrated at Danny's Restaurant.

In Germany, the first episode of Quincy M.E. aired in March 1981. Until 1983 the ARD broadcast only 13 episodes, and in the years 1985 and 1986, another feature length 3 episodes. The remaining episodes were only broadcast by RTL from 1992 to 1994.

Other Pages about Quincy M.E.

Dr. Quincy

Sam Fujiyama

Dr. Robert Asten

Lieutenant Monahan

Danny‘s Restaurant

Quincy M.E. Episode Guide

You may find all episodes of the series Quincy M.E here.