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| An Overview of the Simon & Simon TV ShowSimon & Simon is an American detective television series starring Gerald McRaney and Jameson Parker. The original 1978 pilot of Simon and Simon was called Pirate's Key was set in Florida. When the Simon & Simon television show was picked up by CBS, the characters' home was changed from Florida to San Diego, California, where the Simon and Simon TV show's storyline remained for the course of its eight-year run.
The Simon and Simon TV show was almost canceled in 1982 due to low ratings. However, CBS decided to give the series another chance and moved the show to Thursday nights at 9 PM following Magnum, P.I. Simon & Simon became a hit after that, and continued to draw ratings for the next several seasons. Simon & Simon actually had a crossover with Magnum, P.I., on the Magnum double episode "Ki's Don't Lie" and in the Simon & Simon episode "Emeralds Are Not a Girl's Best Friend" (both in 1982).
The Simon & Simon television show moved to Saturday nights late in its run, and the ratings dropped considerably. CBS only committed to a 13-episode season for fall of 1988, but canceled the series with two episodes left unaired including the series finale. That episode did not air until the show entered syndication. Simon & Simon TV Show Season Episodes on DVD The half-hour documentary about 1980s television that accompanies this Simon & Simon - Season One box set does the show itself no favors. By profiling several other series of that era, it puts Simon & Simon right in its proper perspective: i.e., not as inane as, say, The A-Team or Knight Rider, but nowhere near as cool or ground-breaking as Miami Vice, as engaging as Quantum Leap, or as charming as Magnum P.I..
Not that this series about private investigating brothers A.J. (Jameson Parker) and Rick (Gerald McRaney) Simon is bad; like '80s San Diego, where it takes place, it's pleasant, laid-back, and not especially sophisticated. The rapport between the mismatched siblings has a certain roguish charm (A.J., the younger one, is fairly strait-laced and fastidious, while Rick is his loose cannon foil) that's reflected in the overall tone, as the brothers, who aren't exactly at the top of the heap in their profession, pursue killers, kidnappers, computer hackers, crooked concert ticket brokers, and such. But overall, this is tame stuff, even considering its tongue-in-cheek intentions. It's hard to imagine that viewers used to the higher production values, more graphic and intense content, and "keeping it real" vibe of new millennium cop dramas will be riveted by Simon & Simon's relentlessly lightweight and low-tech style; the sets are cheesy, the writing is drab, the villains are one-dimensional, and aside from the two stars, the acting is by and large on a Grade B level. On the other hand, those who abhor today's TV for the very reasons mentioned above might well prefer a gentle walk down memory lane and/or a slice of undemanding escapism, and this basic four-disc, 13-episode set will surely provide it. --Sam Graham
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 Simon & Simon is classic 80s television: a Top 20 action series and the show that followed another classic, Magnum P.I., in CBS's Thursday night lineup. Airing from 1981 to 1989, the show followed the Simon brothers as they ran a detective agency in San Diego, California. Despite coming from the same family, Rick (Gerald McRaney, Jericho, Major Dad) and A.J. (Jameson Parker, JAG) were complete opposites. Older brother Rick was a scruffy Vietnam veteran Marine, laid-back with street smarts and an aversion to rules, while A.J. was a slick, book smart college graduate who was ambitious and sophisticated. Simon & Simon hit its stride in Season Two, landing it in first place in ratings for the first episode and staying comfortably near the top thereafter. Guest stars include Eddie Albert, Lisa Eilbacher, Morgan Fairchild, Cleavon Little, Joe Mantegna, Dean Stockwell and Ray Walston.
 All 23 Original One-Hour Episodes From The 1983/1984 Season. Explosions, bar fights, stakeouts, bikini-clad blondes, car chases and more explosions: Simon & Simon was prime-time 80s action at its best. Airing from 1981 to 1989, the series featured Gerald McRaney and Jameson Parker as private eyes Rick and A.J. Simon: a dueling sibling detective duo who, despite their differences in style, demeanor and just about everything in between, managed to thwart criminal activity in the pursuit of justice from week to week. Season Three finds Rick and A.J. facing trouble again in beautiful San Diego, CA, on the trail of missing radio personalities, crooked magicians, gamblers, horse smugglers and murderers. Together the Simons put their street smarts and book sense to good use in a brotherly one-two punch, leading to some action that is not always pretty and, for sure, not always friendly, but ultimately gets the case solved. Season Three would introduce Tim Reid as Detective Marcel 'Downtown' Brown and featured guest stars James Avery, Michael Constantine, Mario Lopez, John Reilly and more.
All 22 Original One-Hour Episodes From The 1984/1985 Season.
 Season Four brings detective brothers Rick (Gerald McRaney, Jericho) and A.J. (Jameson Parker, JAG) Simon nothing but trouble as they tackle a bevy of action-packed cases on the streets of beautiful San Diego, CA. In between tracking down kidnappers, jewel thieves and hit men, Rick gets accused of murder and A.J. gets slipped some angel dust on top of tangling with the Mob. Without a doubt, Simon & Simon is what we love about 80s prime-time dramas. It has got twists, turns, girls and guts. |
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