Mystery!  

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Mystery! (also written MYSTERY!) is an episodic television series that debuted in 1980 in the USA, which airs on PBS and is produced by WGBH. The show has brought a large number of detective series and television movies — most of them British productions from the BBC or the ITV companies and usually adapted from mystery fiction literary sources — to air on American television. In 2002, they added an American produced series based on the novels of Tony Hillerman to their roster.

Mystery! is noted for its animated opening and closing title sequences, based on the cartoons of Edward Gorey, with music by Normand Roger. For the Hillerman episodes the American flag was worked into this opening title sequence.

One of Mystery!'s early successes was Rumpole of the Bailey. Other noted successes include The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes starring Jeremy Brett in the title role, Inspector Morse with John Thaw, Brother Cadfael starring Derek Jacobi and Prime Suspect starring Helen Mirren. The last one proved so popular that the series was moved to Masterpiece Theatre for higher ratings. Agatha Christie has been well represented with several seasons worth of stories featuring Hercule Poirot starring David Suchet as well as two versions of Miss Marple's mysteries. The 1980s and 1990s saw Joan Hickson in the title role, in Miss Marple, while 2005 and 2006 featured Geraldine McEwan as the small town sleuth in Marple. Beginning in 2009 (with episodes filmed in 2008), Julia McKenzie has taken over the role of Miss Marple.

Inception

The seeds for the creation of Mystery! were a result of the success of Masterpiece Theatre, in particular, a series of programs adapted from the Lord Peter Wimsey mysteries by Dorothy L. Sayers. Then in 1979, Henry Becton, General Manager of Boston PBS station WGBH, received a phone call from Herb Schmertz, head of corporate communications for Mobil Corporation, with an unsolicited offer to put together a series that was nothing but British mysteries. Mobil, as the sole underwriter of WGBH's enormously successful Masterpiece Theatre ever since its inception in 1971, had enjoyed tremendous public relations benefits from that association. Mobil had still more money to invest in prestigious television programs and was looking for new outlets.

Hosts

The first host of the show was film critic Gene Shalit. After the first season he was replaced by Vincent Price, who hosted the series from 1981 to 1989. When his failing health forced Price to relinquish this role, he was replaced by Diana Rigg. She had the unique opportunity of introducing mysteries in which she was the star when the series Mother Love, and later, The Mrs Bradley Mysteries were aired. Beginning in 2004, shows began airing without a host. After airing on Thursday night for most of its history it moved to Sunday nights where it alternated with episodes of Masterpiece Theatre until 2007.

2008 format change

In 2008, the series was absorbed into Masterpiece (the former Masterpiece Theatre) and airs under the banner Masterpiece Mystery! Episodes air in the summer. In addition, its iconic theme music and opening titles, drawn by Edward Gorey, were changed. This version is hosted by Alan Cumming.

Mystery! in popular culture

• Mystery! was parodied by Sesame Street's "Mysterious Theatre" sketches in the early 1990s, hosted by Vincent Twice (whose name was always said twice), a pastiche of Vincent Price.
• The 1990s Mystery! opening was parodied on a 1998 episode of fellow WGBH program Arthur entitled "Binky Rules."

List of series presented on Mystery!

• The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes with Jeremy Brett: 1984–85 (7), 1985–86 (6)
  • The Return of Sherlock Holmes with Jeremy Brett: 1986–87 (7), 1988–89 (6)
  • The Casebook of Sherlock Holmes with Jeremy Brett: 1991–92 (6)
  • Sherlock Holmes: 1992–93 (1), 1993–94 (2)
  • Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes with Jeremy Brett: 1995–96 (6)
  • Murder Rooms: The Dark Beginnings of Sherlock Holmes with Ian Richardson: 1999–2000 (2), 2000–01 (2), 2001–02 (4)
• Agatha Christie Stories: 1982–83 (4), 1984–85 (6)
  • Agatha Christie's Partners in Crime with James Warwick and Francesca Annis: 1984–85 (5), 1985–86 (5)
  • The Secret Adversary with Francesca Annis and James Warwick: 1986–87 (1)
  • Miss Marple with Joan Hickson: 1985–86 (2), 1986–87 (2), 1987–88 (3), 1988–89 (2)
  • Agatha Christie's Miss Marple with Geraldine McEwan, and Julia McKenzie: 2005 (4), 2006 (4), 2007 (4), 2009 (4), 2010 (3)
  • Agatha Christie's Poirot with David Suchet: 1989–90 (10), 1990–91 (9), 1991–92 (8), 1992–93 (6), 1993–94 (6), 1994–95 (4), 1995–96 (1), 1996–97 (1), 1998–99 (3), 1999–2000 (1), 2009 (2), 2010 (3)
• Brat Farrar with Mark Greenstreet: 1986–87 (1)
• Cadfael with Derek Jacobi: 1994–95 (4), 1996–97 (1), 1998–99 (5), 1999–2000 (5)
• Campion with Peter Davison: 1989–90 (4)
• Cause Célèbre with Helen Mirren: 1988–89 (1)
• Chandler and Company: 1995–96 (4)
• Charters and Caldicott: 1985–86 (1)
• Dalgliesh with Roy Marsden and Martin Shaw: 1985–86 (1), 1986–87 (2), 1987–88 (1), 1989–90 (1), 1991–92 (1), 1993–94 (1), 1995–96 (1), 1996–97 (1), 1998–99 (1), 1999–2000 (1), 2000–01 (1), 2004 (1), 2005 (1), 2006 (1)
• Dalziel and Pascoe with Warren Clarke and Colin Buchanan: 1996–2007
• A Dark-Adapted Eye with Helena Bonham Carter: 1994–95 (1)
• The Dark Angel with Peter O'Toole: 1990–91 (1)
• Dead Gorgeous with Helen McCrory and Fay Ripley: 2003 (1), 2005 (1)
• Deep Secrets with Colin Salmon: 1997–98 (1)
• Die Kinder (The Children) with Miranda Richardson: 1990–91 (1)
• Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde with David Hemmings: 1981–82 (1)
• Dying Day: 1982–83 (1)
• Father Brown with Kenneth More: 1982–83 (4)
• Forgotten with Paul McGann: 2001–02 (1)
• Foyle's War with Michael Kitchen: 2004 (4), 2005 (4)
• Gallowglass with Michael Sheen and Paul Rhys: 1995–96 (1)
• Game, Set, and Match with Ian Holm: 1988–89 (1)
• Heat of the Sun with Trevor Eve: 1998–99 (5)
• Hetty Wainthropp Investigates with Patricia Routledge: 1997–98 (1), 1998–99 (1), 1999–2000 (6), 2000–01 (16), 2003 (3)
• Inspector Alleyn Mysteries with Simon Williams and Patrick Malahide: 1991–92 (1), 1993–94 (3), 1994–95 (2)
• Inspector Lewis with Kevin Whately: 2006
• The Inspector Lynley Mysteries with Nathaniel Parker: 2001–02, 2003, 2004, 2005 (8), 2006 (4)
• Inspector Morse with John Thaw: 1987–88 (3), 1988–89 (3), 1989–90 (3), 1991–91 (3), 1991–92 (3), 1992–93 (3), 1993–94 (4), 1994–95 (3), 1995–96 (2), 1996–97 (2), 1998–99 (3), 1999–2000 (2), 2000–01 (2), 2001–02 (3), 2004 (2), 2005 (2), 2006 (2)
• Into the Blue with John Thaw: 1997–98 (1), 1998–99 (1)
• Jericho with Robert Lindsay: 2006 (4)
• Lady Audley's Secret with Lucy Graham: 1999–2000 (1), 2000–01 (1)
• The Life and Crimes of William Palmer with Keith Allen: 1998–99 (1)
• The Limbo Connection: 1982–83 (1)
• Lord Peter Wimsey with Edward Petherbridge: 1987–88 (3)
• Malice Aforethought with Hywel Bennett: 1981–82 (1)
• Malice Aforethought with Ben Miller: 2005 (1), 2006 (1)
• The Man From Pru with Jonathan Pryce: 1990–91 (1)
• Maigret with Michael Gambon: 1992–93 (6), 1994–95 (6)
• Melissa with Peter Barkworth: 1982–83 (1)
• Miss Morison's Ghosts with Wendy Hiller: 1982–83 (1)
• The Mrs. Bradley Mysteries with Diana Rigg: 2003 (4)
• Mother Love with Diana Rigg: 1990–91 (1)
• My Cousin Rachel with Christopher Guard and Geraldine Chaplin: 1985–86 (1)
• Oliver's Travels with Alan Bates: 1996–97 (1), 1998–99 (1)
• Prime Suspect with Helen Mirren: 1991–92 (1), 1992–93 (1), 1993–94 (1)
• Praying Mantis with Jonathan Pryce: 1984–85 (1)
• Quiet as a Nun with Maria Aitken: 1982–83 (1)
• The Racing Game with Mike Gwilym: 1980–81 (3), 1981–82 (3)
• Rebecca with Jeremy Brett and Joanna David: 1980–81 (1)
• Reilly, Ace of Spies with Sam Neill: 1983–84
• Rumpole of the Bailey with Leo McKern: 1980–81 (4), 1981–82 (6), 1987–88 (6), 1989–90 (6), 1992–93 (6), 1994–95 (7)
  • Rumpole's Return: 1984–85 (6)
• The Sculptress with Caroline Goodall: 1997–98, 1998–99
• Second Sight with Clive Owen: 1999–2000 (1), 2000–01 (4), 2001–02 (2)
• Sergeant Cribb with Alan Dobie: 1980–81 (3), 1981–82 (5), 1982–83 (5)
• Shades of Darkness with John Duttine: 1983–84 (7)
• She Fell Among Thieves: 1980–81 (1)
• Sweeney Todd: 1982–83 (1)
• Touching Evil with Robson Green: 1998–99, 1999–2000 (6), 2000–01 (4), 2001–02 (6)
• Trial by Fire with Juliet Stevenson: 2000–01 ()
• An Unsuitable Job for a Woman with Helen Baxendale: 1999–2000 (4)
• We, the Accused: 1982–83 (1)
• The Woman in White: 1984–85 (1)
• The Wyvern Mystery with Derek Jacobi: 2000–01 (1)

American Mystery! Specials

Unlike most of the series shown on Mystery!, the American Mystery! Specials features stories set in the United States.

• Coyote Waits with Adam Beach: 2003 (1)
• Skinwalkers with Adam Beach: 2002 (1)
• A Thief of Time with Adam Beach: 2004 (1)

Funding

• Corporation for Public Broadcasting (2009–present)
• Viewers Like You (1980–present)

Bibliography

• Ron Miller (1996). MYSTERY!: A Celebration, ISBN 0-912333-89-8.