The casting of Pierce Brosnan as Remington Steele, private investigator, and Stephanie Zimbalist as Laura Holt, the private investigator who conjured up the name in order to get her business moving. After all, a woman private investigator did not fare well in the world. Remington Steele pops up and there is obvious chemistry between the two characters. Steele is charismatic, charming, and seductive while Holt is more straight and lacks a sense of humor at times. There is no question that Steele steals the scenery right out from under her. Anyway, the two cast mates do have chemistry. The addition of Doris Roberts before she was known as Marie Boyle on Everybody Loves Raymond gave her a supporting role. This show was light but not as a feather nor dark or too serious. It had a comedy and drama mixed in together which was why it worked for 5 seasons in the golden age of television.
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Sylviastel14 October 2007
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TheLittleSongbird20 November 2017Re-visited 'Remington Steele' recently, now with more time on my hands with a much needed calmer period after intensive studying, and it is every bit as good as remembered. Had memories of it being brilliant for most of its run before running out of steam in the last season, those recollections proved to be correct. 'Remington Steele' is a very good show and for much of the run more than that, but it deserved a better final season.
Visually, 'Remington Steele' has a very elegant and stylish look throughout, very 80s but strikingly so. Love the slickness of the photography and the beautiful locations, editing is also succinct and the costumes, hair and make-up are both appealing on the eyes and nostalgic. The music has a slinky jazziness to it, never overbearing the action or being discordant with it while having presence and energy. Not easy to forget the main theme either.
The writing is beautifully balanced and cleverly written. The comedy is witty and sophisticated while the romance is both sensual and bubbly, the chemistry between Pierce Brosnan and Stephanie Zimbalist is irresistible. The mysteries are fun and suspenseful and with rarely if ever a rushed or draggy moment, or anything that comes over as ridiculous (excepting the Season 3 finale perhaps).
Brosnan is charismatic, suave and charming and he handles the comedic and serious sides beautifully. Zimbalist is at her loveliest here and her most sparkling, while Doris Roberts is a sheer delight. Zimbalist's real life father Efrem Zimbalist Jnr is suitably commanding.
With so many positive attributes, it feels sad that Season 5 doesn't live up to the rest of the show. There are shows with worse final seasons, like 'Lost' and the US 'House of Cards', but it was disappointing enough to bring things down a little. The energy doesn't sparkle as much and the central chemistry is underused and too hostile.
A triangle is also attempted, but that feels shoe-horned, not of much use and makes one like Laura less), the characters aren't as interesting or well written with development being ignored and there is too much Tony, an irritating character and the show's low-point. Am in two minds as to whether it worked for me or not that 'Remington Steele' ended on an unfinished note.
In conclusion, hugely enjoyable but ended disappointingly. 8/10 Bethany Cox -
patrickwaters-045741 May 2019Remington Steele was the big door Opening for Pierce Brosnan's career during the 1980s, at the time he wasn't very known and this launched the unknown Irishman into stardom, if you're a fan of movies you'll love listening to Mr. Steele reference so many classic movies, and if you are a Bond fan check this show out.
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bboguhn26 August 2005The DVD release of this show has allowed me to go back and visit an old favorite. I had not seen the episodes since their very first run, so I was curious if I would still like the show and still derive the enjoyment from it that I remembered the first time through. Well, good news: the show was just as good as I remembered it, and had held up well for being 20 years old. Pierce Brosnan displayed the charm that made him one of my favorite TV stars, and his chemistry with Stephanie Zimbalist was still excellent. The shows themselves are extremely well-written. Unlike shows on TV today, this show didn't talk down to you; the characters were sophisticated and spoke like they were well educated, not like they hung out at the bar all the time. The wit hasn't been lost, either; I laughed through many of the episodes I watched. This was like catching up with an old friend. I can't wait to see the second season!
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With oodles of dashing, masculine charm, Pierce Brosnan is one of my very favorite actors, who ranks, in my polls, at the #2 position as being the best James Bond, ever. (And, nope, Sean Connery is not my #1 choice)
Here in the TV Series "Remington Steele", Brosnan (in his pre-Bond days) never failed to pour on the charm and put in a captivating performance as the show's title character.
In "Remington Steele" our hero is teamed up with the always-alluring P.I., Laura Holt. And, together this dynamic duo scrupulously fights vicious crime and corruption with a fine sense of style and (sometimes comic) flair - Always making certain to never mix business with pleasure. Well..... Almost never. -
blanche-210 February 2001Of all the man-woman detective adversaries that came up in the '80s - and yes, I'm including the "Moonlighting" team - Remington Steele was the best, the best written, the best acted, with the best chemistry. Unfortunately for Pierce Brosnan, there aren't a lot the debonair, light comedy Cary Grant roles being written today - this was Brosnan's milieu and his role as "Mr. Steele" deservedly made him a star. That Stephanie Zimbalist, because she committed the unforgiveable crime of turning 40, is no longer considered a star is pathetic. Where Moonlighting suffered from writer changes, problems on the set and a certain amount of disorganization and had to depend more and more on ad libs, techniques like talking to the camera and often started filming without a script, Remington Steele delivered a tight, well acted script week after week and, as the years went on, only got better and better. Glad to see it in re-runs and probably garnering more and more new fans but I miss the show. As Mr. Steele said to his secretary when he began his biography, "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times." She then interrupts him and says, "Excuse me, Mr. Steele, don't you think it's better to say 'it was the best and worst of times'"? Whatever it was, Remington Steele was a part of it.
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shakspryn31 January 2020The three regulars were all good with strong comic ability. Stephanie underplayed, which was essential since Pierce's character was quite over the top. Doris Roberts amped up the comedy aspect The plots were OK. The premise was rather limiting to me: Stephanie the serious worried type, Pierce the handsome charmer, and how they interact. I have never been a big fan of the "romantic, sparks fly duo" detective shows, but this is certainly one of the better of that group. Interesting to compare this with Magnum PI of the same period. To me Magnum was more entertaining because Tom's unattached, bachelor status (no Stephanie type character in the show) allowed more variety of romantic guest star situations. Both shows are good examples of 1980's American TV.
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KatWoman14 November 2005Detective shows with male/female partners were big in the 1980s ("Scarecrow & Mrs. King," "Moonlighting," "Hart to Hart," etc.), and of all of them, "Remington Steele" was the absolute best. I was totally hooked on this show in high school, and for good reason! Stephanie Zimbalist and Pierce Brosnan are both not only terrific actors, but they had the best on screen chemistry ever. The premise of the show was clever, the writing was intelligent and the characters were real. An episode could bring you to tears ("Red Holt Steele") or keep you laughing throughout ("Steele in the Chips"). Above all were the romantic episodes ("Steele Away With Me," "Steele At It," "Love Among the Steele," etc.), where the writers would keep the audience guessing -- will they or won't they *finally* get together? Oh, and Doris Roberts was great as Mildred Krebs, even when she was FOREVER interrupting Steele and Miss Holt at the most inopportune times. I'm totally thrilled that this series is finally coming out on DVD. I'll even buy the Fifth Season, even though it was totally disappointing, as I *have* to have the complete set! I highly recommend this show to everyone.
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safenoe3 October 2021Pierce Brosnan became a huge star thanks to Remington Steele, and it kind of laid the path for him to become the most politically correct James Bond ever. But still, this series is entertaining but doesn't stand the test of time I guess. Still, it is what is is. Please reboot Remington Steele and cast Danny Dyer in Pierce's role.
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TeenSteele30 June 2004Remington Steele was a mixture of mystery, comedy, romance, and so much more. i wasn't born when it originally aired, but i watched the reruns on some obscure television network. it was all magic. the way the show carries itself, the way it goes through each episode. there is always an air of mystery about Steele, which we don't actually find out until the very end. there is also the never ending question that always comes up, no matter how 'bleak the situation,' does he or doesn't he love Laura? Of course we all know, but Holt herself won't admit it. As the episodes and seasons go by, the characters develop even more. All in all, this show really does blow away the scale, and i give it a 11 out of 10. although this show did have some weak moments, what show doesn't? i know I'll be first in line when they release the DVD(if they ever do...).
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genkuworld9 April 2023When this show started, I was not yet living in the US. Some time ago, my wife (also not a US-born), I have started to watch many past shows we have missed. Remington Steele is one of them. My wife and I are great fans of Pierce Brosnan.
Probably 50% of all episodes was good & enjoyable throughout all five seasons. Season 3 & 4 were the two best seasons.
Season 2 & Season 5 were the worst, especially Season 5, which was unwatchable. Too stupid & ridiculous.
Looking at the list of the writers, I think Jeff Melvoin, Brad Kern, & Robin Bernheim were the three worst writers who ruined this otherwise promising show with unique potential. They seem to have little respect for the intelligence of the viewers.
Michael Gleason & a few other writers were good, but the show was saved by the three main characters. -
ArizWldcat26 November 2008Heck, they don't make MOVIES like this any more. This series was patterned after great mystery movies of the 30s and 40s. I love the look of it! Starting with the Remington Steele Detective Agency's office, Remington's art deco apartment, Laura's loft...those sets were classic and fun to look at. Kudos to the set designer, whoever he was. Also, the look of the series...from the way the scenes dissolve to the freeze frames at the end of each episode, it brings back the Nick and Nora Charles type mysteries. The creators of the show were smart enough to keep things platonic between Remington and Laura until the very end. They knew exactly why viewers kept tuning in week after week, and if they'd "consummated" things, then they would have lost their audience. The dialog was witty, the scripts well done ( there was actually a mystery, at times quite complicated,to be solved during each episode!). I even like the first season, with Murphy and Bernice, but after Mildred Krebs was introduced at the beginning of the second season, the show began to hit its stride. Remington Steele aired during the 1980s, starting in 1982, and ending basically 4 seasons later (they made 2 "made for TV" movies after the end of the 4th season, which they call the "5th season") still with the high quality of the earlier shows. I am glad they wrapped things up in the "5th season," but I can't help wishing they'd been given more chances at a real 5th season.
25 years later, I just bought the DVD sets and I just love them. I had previously purchased the Moonlighting series, because I remembered loving that show, but this one managed to keep its integrity year after year. Moonlighting went downhill quickly after David and Maddie "got together." I have to say this series has the edge over Moonlighting in my book, but at the same time you can see that Glenn Gordon Caron had a part in its first season (Remington and Laura even have overlapping dialog, although Maddy and David did it more successfully) before he had success with Moonlighting. -
bwfilmfan11 September 2009...That is, when I saw these in syndication on KDOC and PAX TV in the 90's, I would have definitely given the show a 10 or an 11. Re-watching the show at age 30, the flaws are apparent. Stephanie Zimbalist and Pierce Brosnan are one of the most gorgeous TV couples of all time, but it doesn't make up for the relative fluff of most of the show's mysteries past the first and second season. Frankly the show was more mentally bracing at the start, and just a tad more realistic (someone with no investigative training is naturally going to fumble some cases, like Steele did in the maiden season). Season 3-4 mysteries are low budget spy capers and Bond thrillers (I really suspect as early as 1984 word that Roger Moore was on the outs had reached Pierce's ears) and every case can be solved by a film only Steele has seen, or by an international jewel only he can pilfer. After awhile I frankly got sick of watching Brosnan strut and solve essentially action hero situations. In one episode, he literally rides in at nightfall on a white horse. Zimbalist's Laura Holt is dumbed down to accommodate the change, just as her friends and allies Bernice and Murphy from Season One are dumped to bring in Steele worshiping secretary Mildred Krebs. Laura Holt becomes an unlucky in love prude who takes an hour to solve clues that in Season 1 she would have solved in five minutes. This concludes with the sad S4 Laura hating marriage episode in which Steele sits in an immaculate tuxedo watching his bride-to-be Laura getting drowned in a pile of mud by a rather large man, grinning ear to ear. Funny and romantic? I find it richly ironic that a show that was supposed to be sympathetic to a woman not getting her due ended up mirroring the predicament in real life. But let me shut up and say what I'm supposed to: long live James Bond.
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ebiros225 February 2009I got to watch the season 1 on DVD recently, and was surprised to see how low quality the production was. What marred the quality was the horrible quality of the actors that appeared as guest stars on each episode, and there was so much shtick on each episode. I mean senseless amount of shtick that it obscured any plot if there was any of each episode. The only thing that was good was Pierce, and obviously he had quality as he went on to be the leading man on other good series such as The Noble House, and James Bond series. The other actors were absolutely (except Stephanie Zimbalist) the bottom of the barrel, and I guess all they could do was shtick which added to the confusion and senselessness of each episode. On one or two episodes when they did have a good guest star, it showed as they hold their own even with all the confusion of shticks that the writer threw into the plot. I got the entire season 1 for $15 and that's about what it's worth. I'd say avoid this series (at least the first season) as it has no substance. Other seasons may be better, but I'm not sure if I'd want to take the risk of spending any more money on what might be an disappointment.
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epiphany-56 September 2000Here's a little known fact. Remington Steele obsessives, like myself, cannot bear to even mention the unfortunate 5th season of this series. To cut a long story short, male lead Pierce Brosnan was on the brink of being officially declared the new 007 (replacing Roger Moore) but NBC ordered more Remington Steele episodes and Timothy Dalton got the licence to kill instead. Brosnan returned to TV for a shortened, unsatisfying 5th season.
So, if we ignore the fifth and concentrate on the previous four seasons, what do we have? An excellent series, very much of its time, with a premise that just wouldn't stand up today! Can you imagine a show in these politically-correct days where a woman invents a male boss to attract business? Stephanie Zimbalist starred as Laura Holt, the woman behind the man an attractive, spunky, fiercely independent private investigator. Pierce Brosnan played the handsome and mysterious thief-with-no-name turned eponymous super sleuth. The sexual chemistry between Laura Holt and Remington Steele was the driving force of the show but it had so many other plus points too. The first episode (License To Steele) sets the tone which future shows followed: an exciting mystery, tight plotting, fine script, a stylish feel and explosive sexual tension between the two protagonists. This was an absolute pre-requisite in the 1980s. Everyone was either doing it, or nearly doing it, or talking about doing it: Cheers' Sam and Diane, Moonlighting's Maddy and David, Scarecrow and Mrs King's Scarecrow and Mrs King(!) and Laura Holt and Remington Steele were no different! The writers of Remington Steele delighted in torturing their audience, keeping us guessing as to when the two would finally consummate their on-again, off-again rocky-romance as they ran around solving crimes. The series finished in 1987 but the plethora of websites dedicated to it and fan fiction inspired by it, is testament to its enduring appeal. Remington Steele? 100% pure class. -
"Remington Steele" has become such a 'cult favorite' since it's 1982 debut that the show's many fans can recite episodes, plot lines, dialog, even the 'unrevealed' aspects of both Laura Holt and the mysterious Mr. Steele's past, and, amazingly, their futures, as well! For a show that some critics initially brushed off as a "Moonlighting" clone, the series has proved to be far more enduring, and beloved...with much of the credit going to the leads, beautiful and talented Stephanie Zimbalist, and the remarkable future 'James Bond', Pierce Brosnan. The premise of the show was clearly stated in the first season's opening credits; a brilliant young investigator, Laura Holt (Zimbalist), decides to start her own agency, but the era's chauvinistic attitude toward women prevents clients from hiring "a woman". So she invents a fictional 'boss', Remington Steele, brilliant, charismatic, but always busy on other cases, so potential clients would deal with his 'associate', Ms. Holt. The scheme works brilliantly, although, as the client list increased in stature, it became increasingly difficult to fend off their demands to meet Mr. Steele...and then HE appeared! A young, lean, enigmatic Irishman (Pierce Brosnan), initially involved in a smuggling operation (although on the "side of the Angels"), gets out of a difficult situation by declaring himself "Remington Steele", and quickly discovers the status (and available funds!) the 'Nom De Plume' gives him. Although Holt is initially furious at the pretender, an important client happily passes his business to 'Mr. Steele', and his physical 'presence', documented by the press, forces her to accept the mysterious stranger...on condition he NOT meddle in cases! Of course, the new Steele, whose passion is Classic Hollywood movies (as, indeed, Brosnan's was, as well), simply can't miss the chance to 'live out' the 'Film Noir Detective' lifestyle, creating a constant source of episode plot lines...and Holt and Steele would develop an increasingly romantic bond, as well, which would, eventually become a full-fledged romance. For many "Steele" fans, the first season's episodes are the most fun, with Brosnan less-than-competent as the master detective, Zimbalist displaying great comic timing in her reactions to his "successes", and James Read ("North and South", "Charmed"), providing a rugged sex appeal as her more dependable, skilled associate/'boyfriend'. But the Steele/Holt chemistry was so strong that Read would eventually be written out (as well as the two-dimensional secretary, Bernice Foxe, played by Janet DeMay), and a stronger character, motherly Mildred Krebs (the wonderful Doris Roberts), would be introduced as the new secretary/confidant, in the second season; her presence provided a stability that actually improved the show. So much has been written about the series, and so many legends surround it (the most famous being that NBC, on the verge of canceling the show after four seasons, upon hearing Brosnan had been chosen as the new James Bond in "The Living Daylights", quickly reprieved it for a season of 'made-for-TV' "Steele" movies, to take advantage of the publicity...costing Brosnan the 007 role, for a decade), that "Remington Steele" has achieved a fame that has far outlasted the series' five seasons. Certainly, the warmth and camaraderie of the cast and crew throughout the run made the production 'special' (unlike the frequently explosive atmosphere on the "Moonlighting" set), and there is ALWAYS talk of a 'reunion' show, reuniting Steele and Holt for a new adventure, even after a twenty-year 'retirement'! Not bad for a "Moonlighting" 'clone'!
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MCL115016 May 2008Remington Steele is back on TV! I must have seen every single episode back in the 1980s, but luckily my memory of the details has faded so I can see it again for the first time. It last aired over 20 years ago so I haven't had the pleasure since. Pierce Brosnan and Stephanie Zimbalist were simply terrific together. Ms. Zimbalist alone, as they say, was worth the price of admission. A simply gorgeous woman who still looks fantastic 25+ years later. Sure, the producers played the then emerging "Sexual Tension" card, but they had more chemistry between them than formula. I can't remember if they ever hooked up and I can hardly wait to see it all again with fresh eyes and fresh expectations. So far, those expectations have been met. It's every bit the great detective show I remember it to be. It runs second only to TV's immortal great "The Rockford Files" as Best Ever Detective TV Series. One comment about the carbon copy "Moonlighting". Good show. Pale imitation. The pilot should have been titled "Steeleing from the Best". Cyble Shepard needed gauss over the lens for close-ups and Pierce didn't have an annoying smirking habit like Bruce Willis! As for Stephanie ... wow! Sharp as a tack visually and mentally all the while delivering the fantastically crafted dialog. Pierce was great too, but I didn't have a crush on him. Catch the re-runs on the American Life TV Network.
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VetteRanger19 June 2009As an initial aside, its interesting that one commenter called this a Moonlighting clone. Remington Steele, of course, was around for THREE YEARS before Moonlighting came along. LOL Both series handed us major motion picture stars (Pierce Brosnan and Bruce Willis).
Remington Steele was a smart and funny romance disguised as a detective show. Although there was a mystery in each episode and it was resolved, the viewers were really tuning in to see the antithetical romance between "Remington Steele" and Laura Holt.
With the premise being that "Remington Steele" was a made up person to front for the female owned detective agency, and that Brosnan's character filled the vacuum almost as blackmail, the series had a unique and enterprising premise that you would expect to find in a motion picture rather than a TV series.
The moment in the pilot when Laura Holt realized what was being perpetrated on her was a priceless scene.
We were delighted when the full series, including the made for TV movies of the last year, were made available on DVD. -
Xenos198123 July 2006Pierce Brosnan... Stephanie Zimbalist... Mystery... Comedy... Sexual tension.
'Nuff said.
Now go buy this series!
"Remington Steele" -- Seasons One through Three are available in stores and on-line now. Seasons Four and Five will be available beginning August 15, 2006.
("Remington Steele" also stars Doris Roberts of 'Everybody Loves Raymond' fame as Mildred Krebs. It was created by Michael Gleason and Robert Butler.) -
eklipsikxwolf21 May 2017Being a crime show, I would classify this show as being composed of 3 elements: action, comedy, and romance. Action: Well-written. Like many crime shows I've seen, I was blown away by the cases and their twists. There's still somewhat graphic violence though, so be warned. Comedy: When I watched this show, I laughed a lot. My sense of humor is different than many others, so just check it out for yourself; just saying I had enjoyed a lot of this. Romance: When I watched the show (I no longer do, this is why) I was primarily there for the romance. I can't believe it took me so long to realize this completely contradicted my beliefs. I won't go into detail, but there are a number of sexual references, not to mention unfaithfulness. My suggestion: Do NOT get into shipping w/ these 2. Not worth it. ___________________________________ Issues: DLSV D: Sexual innuendo L: "Damn" is a common word S: Some graphic scenes (Steele Sweet on You; Vintage Steele, ex) & sexual talk V: Of course there is. It's crime TV. Whether it's guns or fists, RS has the V definitely. ______________________________________ Conclusion: Though this show may be enjoyable for some levels and rated PG on some or even all TV stations, USE YOUR OWN JUDGMENT. I wouldn't recommend letting kids watch this. I feel I wasted 4 good yrs of my life on this personally. ~Ex Steele Watcher
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djoyjr30 August 2005Not only were the mysteries satisfying and the characters both intriguing and likable, but the smooth jazz of the theme and soundtrack were unbeatable and the best since Peter Gunn. Beyond that, the dialog and banter was intelligent. Sometimes, you actually have to think about the reference and connect the dots to get to the laugh. Heaven forbid that should happen on TV today )which probably explains why I don't watch much original TV). I started watching the Season One DVDs and it was like meeting an old friend I hadn't seen for years. I've introduced my 18 year old son to "Remington Steele" and he finds them as entertaining as I do. New we have to wait until November for Season Two!
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josinglala31 August 2020Who wouldn't want to watch a show with a brainy beauty and dashing hunk solving crimes? I love it!!
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willman8520 August 2017Stephanie Zimbalist is so beautiful in this, and the role of a smart, successful sleuth really suits her. Glamorous, alluring, sexy, sophisticated. Shimmering soft hair, gorgeously pert and pretty features, the voice of a lady. The envy and idol of little girls everywhere. Always elegant and enchanting, a classy leading lady.
Oh yeah and there's Pierce. For the ladies. -
edduay16 September 2010I watched this show with my first girlfriend since it all started and we love it dearly until now. it got everything, romance, action, comedy, suspense, excellent writers/directors and the plots, you can never guess( even just one of them) what will happen or who done who. that is good entertainment! the show treat their audience intelligently unlike "moonlighting". Pierce is very good so as Doris Roberts but all hands up to Stephanie, her timing is excellent and her portrayal of the character is very inspiring to woman during that time! independent, brilliant, sporty and yet sophisticated cute private detective. i have a huge crush on her! Now here in England, i found out that reruns is on in CBS Action channel, Bravo! even though its 5am i do still watching and enjoying it! God bless this cable channel! too bad the DVD collection is on NTSC format and and only season 1 and 2 on PAL. but still i bought all....the best TV show for me no.1. " Steele in chips" episode season 3 is one of the best..
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mattkratz23 August 2014I'm sure anyone from the 80s remembers this show. A piece of trivia:Pierce Brosnan signed on to play James Bond in the late 80s, but then had to back out when this show (which everyone thought had been cancelled) got renewed at the last minute, and was able to take the role in the 90s. It involved a lady who created a detective agency and put her name on the door;when no one would hire a detective agency with a woman's name, business boomed when she created a fictitious boss and put HIS name on the door. Problems arouse when they started wanting to meet him, which were solved when a thief with a mysterious past (which, along with his real name, was never revealed) assumed the boss's identity.
This show had a good combination of drama, mystery, comedy, and romance. It was funny to see Brosnan's character struggle to learn the detective trade and act out classic movie scenes to help solve cases, and the episodes featured fun cases. Anyone curious about 80s TV mystery dramas should watch this to satisfy their curiosity.
*** out of ****