I don't know if you can consider them procedurals as much as westerns, but two of may favorite shows as a kid were Bat Masterson and Wild, Wild West. I mean, Pinkerton agents (those were kind of cops) and mad scientists and guns and shooting (or not, in the case of Bat, and who couldn't love a character named Bat in a bowler who kept the crooks on the straight and narrow?)!!!

We used to watch Maverick too. Didn't he solve mysteries? Even though he was a gambler?

Oh, I loved Maverick and Wild Wild West. Also Black Sheep Squadron. Which is totally not a procedural, but one of the things I was religiously watching at the same general time.

Yes. I'm right there for any movie with both Ingrid Bergman and Lauren Bacall.

That movie is just filthy with stars.

We used to watch Maverick too. Didn't he solve mysteries? Even though he was a gambler?

Sometimes. Maverick was more of a comedy/western than a procedural.

Right around that time, there was also an Ellery Queen series starring Jim Hutton

Ahem. :)

I watched a lot of P.I. shows as a kid. 77 Sunset Strip was my favorite.

Oh! And Hawaiian Eye! I loved those old PI shows, they were fun.

They all had catchy theme songs, too.

And he's wearing his father's watch, which you don't realize until the very last shot.

Also, at the beginning of the ep, it's well-established that Magnum shuns all company on July 4th, and that none of his friends know why, just that it's something he's always done, even in Vietnam. Only at the end of that ep do we find out that the reason is that 7/4 is the day he and his mom found out his dad had been killed in battle.

Also Black Sheep Squadron. Which is totally not a procedural, but one of the things I was religiously watching at the same general time.

Loved BSS!! Robert Conrad totally rocked that show, and it's fun going back and watching it now, especially seeing all the young soon-to-be stars that show up in small roles (I'm thinking particularly of John Larroquette, and Larry Manetti from Magnum PI was also on this, I believe).

The '70s was really rich in good-quality cop shows. The best investigative show I can think of from the '80s, other than Magnum, was Lou Grant, an idealistic pre-9/11 show where the reporters actually did their freakin' job!!

Ahem. Sorry about that.

ooooh ... remember the original Wild Wild West? that was fun!

And Lou Grant was good too (he hated spunky!)

They all had catchy theme songs, too.

Did I, Spy have a good theme song? It would come on right at my enforced bedtime. My older brother loved the show but I only heard the theme music from my bedroom. (E.g., do I have the right show)

Mod Squad! Oh yes. Yes yes.

The ex and I made a trip to Miami around the time Miami Vice was a big hit. It was such fun wearing our pastels.

So I ended up rerunning House while doing other stuff last night. Further Qs and comments:

When House mooches a $10 from Foreman for the vending machine: Omar Epps is wearing such a beautiful suit and he looks so great. Er, um, just, I noticed.

I hate to say it, but I don't remember the name of the quiet female doctor. I'm sorry but I quit caring about her "mystery" too - it's just been too long! Looks like I'll have to get back into the groove or else be bored stiff, though. So, what's with the hunt to confirm if she's bisexual or not. I don't care, but: how did they figure it out? Neither Foreman nor House said how, and any clues that were given clearly went over my head. Are they just stabbing in the dark and then counting on her reactions to confirm or deny?

I'm curious about where they are going with the main character arc, but I'll go look in spoilers before I say more.

Cool that they had a Rolling Stones song at the end!