Diagnosis Murder is very enjoyable 1990s hokum with a great initial cast that has a palpable sense of chemistry, even when Charlie Schlatter joins Dr Mark Sloan's merry medical sleuthing band to replace Scott Baio. The plots are fast-paced and Dick Van Dyke and Barry Van Dyke make an appealing team, with the marvellous Victoria Rowell shining in the role of the pathologist, Amanda. Also, there are even some nice TV crossovers with Mannix and Matlock getting in on the action. And one cannot forget the appearance of a vampire and a ghost! However, for all of the show's oodles of charm, things did start to go a bit awry when more and more of the Van Dyke clan progressively showed up. I was never a fan of Shane Van Dyke, and from there brothers, daughters, and granddaughters increasingly manifest on the glowing screen, with the ultimate tipping point being an episode that seems to contain the entire Van Dyke extended family, which was a bit much. However, there is much pleasure to be had from Dr Sloan's crime fighting ways, and the show is still on TV, which is perfectly splendid.
Add a Review
-
stefanozucchelli11 November 2021Diagnosis Murder is a series in which a doctor investigates murders thanks to his policeman son. Said so it doesn't seem like much and instead the series was not bad.
There was no violence apart from the murders that were always done off-screen and the actors were able to express a sense of family that made everything pass as a thing between friends rather than work colleagues. -
I never watched the show when it was on. But now, catching it on MeTV.. Besides gaining a huge crush on Victoria Rowell, the rest of the cast is also fun to watch. As the show progressed through its run though, the stories became more far-fetched. Dr. Sloane is more of a Hercule Poirot than a doctor. So, the reality of the roles have to be forfeited. However, the show is very entertaining and some are quite suspenseful.
-
Cheese-1823 August 2002A big fat PFOOOEY for the executives that cancelled Diagnosis Murder! As you can see the show had followers all over the world. I sure do miss it. All that is left now is to watch the reruns. But as we say in Switzerland: As soon as the money-cow can't be milked anymore it is slaughtered. Which means Dick Van Dyke and his staff have served their purpose and are now dismissed. They didn't even get a fair chance to bring their ratings back on track. Just lose some points and you're OUT - no matter who or what you are. THAT's how it works nowadays, baby.
As already stated in other reviews DM had a remarkable wit and humour. It gave the classic whodunnit-tales always a nice and warm family-touch. Especially through the relationship of the main characters Dr. Mark Sloan and his son Steve (Dick and Barry Van Dyke). But it wasn't just a personality show à la "the Van Dykes meet Sherlock Holmes". Every single member of the cast was involved and had his or her big moment.
Oh, by the way: of COURSE you didn't see the doctors doing much work in the hospital, and of COURSE if you saw them in the hospital it had to do with a case they were working on. Otherwise the show would have been called "Emergency Room"... And another thing: I have been watching the series since it was first aired in Europe years ago - and I'm 32. So what's this nonsense about DM being an "old people show"? And if so, would that automatically make it bad??? Really, there are some weird people out there.
I truly hope that there will be a DVD-set sometime soon. This series really deserves a good treatment. And Dick Van Dyke is nothing less than an incredibly gifted Genius! -
imdbisforme10 November 2018This show gets routinely shown on tv in Australia. It was clearly trying to cash in the on the success of Murder She Wrote and Matlock. The acting is flat but not terrible and the plots are the typical light fare that the 80s and 90s were known for. Nothing too complex and nothing too anxiety inducing. Dick Van Dyke never fails to shine in any role he's in and without him, this show would be a hard 2/10. It's okay for lazy Sunday afternoons when napping in front of the television. A gentle show with the same 'who dunnit' formula every episode.
-
bkoganbing10 February 2016Watching Diagnosis Murder I often wondered did Barry Van Dyke ever solve any crimes without the help of his father? Worse than that was Dr. Sloan's solvability ratio better than that of his son the homicide detective?
Despite that Diagnosis Murder was a pleasant hour spent on television during the 90s. Whatever kind of karma was in the air it put Dick Van Dyke noted surgeon at Community General Hospital in proximity of a whole lot of murders. Sometimes it took a trained medical professional to recognize them as murders. Van Dyke just gets dragged into these things sometimes just with mere curiosity.
Van Dyke is aided and abetted by fellow medical professionals Victoria Rowell and Scott Baio. Baio left after a couple of seasons and was replaced by another young doctor Charlie Schlatter. But the formula remained the same, the doctors distracted by homicide solving one case a week and showing up the cops even his own son Barry.
One guy I always liked who seemed in a permanent state of constipation was Michael Tucci, hospital administrator. He was forever on their cases about neglecting their day jobs as doctors, but was always around however uncomfortably when credit was given the staff of Community General for helping the cause of law and order. After all they were Michael Tucci's staff.
This was a fun show and Tucci provided a lot of the fun. -
richteabiscuit13 August 2003Thankfully as a student I have been able to watch "Diagnosis Murder" for a number of years now. It is basically about a doctor who solves murders with the help of his LAPD son, a young doctor and a pathologist. DM provided 8 seasons of exceptional entertainment. What made it different from the many other cop shows and worth watching many times over was its cast and quality of writing. The main cast gave good performances and Dick Van Dyke's entertainer roots shone through with the use of magic, dance and humor. The best aspects of DM was the fast pace, witty scripts and of course the toe tapping score. Sadly it has been unfairly compared to "Murder, She Wrote". DM is far superior boasting more difficult mysteries to solve and more variety. Now it is gone TV is a worse place. Gone are the days of feelgood, family friendly cop shows. Now there is just depressing 'gritty' ones.
-
reb-warrior7 April 2023I've been watching this over on Pluto TV as a before-bed show. It's light and there's a charm to it.
Dick Van Dyke's character, Mark, is like a big kid. He's fun. I think he's the main reason this show is watchable.
I remember watching The Young and the Restless back in the day along with this show. Victoria Rowell was on both shows at the same time. She's a good actress. Her character, Amanda, is in stark contrast to her character on Y & R. Amanda is great as the lone female in the gang.
Chachi was in this. I only saw him in a couple of episodes as Pluto TV stopped carrying the first 2 seasons as the month changed over. But his character, Jack, was fine.
Jesse played by Charlie Schlatter was clumsy and ran between being annoying and fun. I probably wouldn't have cared for him back in the day when I first watched this show, I can't remember, but I appreciate him a lot more now, 30 years later. He added to the comedic element of the show.
Steve, played by Barry Van Dyke, has the most amazing jawline. Lol. He was fine as part of the gang and as Mark's son. And as the police detective in order for there to be some sort of sense for his dad and the gang to be investigating with him involved too. Ok, plothole. Lol.
Norman, played by Michael Tucci is sort of like Jesse to me. In the middle of being funny and/or annoying. But still good as sort of a foil at times for the other characters.
I guess we can all just overlook how and why a bunch of doctors are investigating homicides. To be fair, Mark becomes a consultant with the police. Why and how, I don't know. Lol. But this is just a lighthearted, sort of campy, show. So, whatever.
The show is almost boring. I think what makes it watchable is that the main characters are likable. There's a charm to it. The mysteries are decent enough. Mark doesn't magically know right away who the murderer is, and an investigation with clues are shown. I mean, there are plotholes. But it's an extremely light show. Not meant to be taken seriously.
There are some well-known guest stars, Robert Guilliaume, Dixie Carter, Brian Cranston, Terry O'Quinn just to name a few among many more.
Anyway, I appreciate the lighthearted nature of it. I don't care to watch dark shows as much anymore. It's nice to watch as my bedtime show. No, it's not an exciting show, almost boring, yet there's a charm and the characters are likable. 6/10. -
TheLittleSongbird25 April 2009This, like Murder She Wrote, is one of those shows, that after a stressful day at school, I sit down in front of the TV, and watch. Why? Because I genuinely enjoy it as it so entertaining and light-hearted, and it's a shame it's not on the air anymore. Dick Van Dyke is amazing as Dr Mark Sloan, a doctor-turned-detective, who with his son, solves murders. He is joined by a largely unknown but very competent supporting cast, namely his real-life son, Barry Van Dyke. Victoria Rowell is also good, but I noticed that every series her hairstyle changes. i also liked Scott Baio and Charlie Schlatter, but I particularly loved Michael Tucci as Norman, and was puzzled how he suddenly disappeared. This show is so entertaining,with great guest stars, it's a bit obvious at times, like Colombo, but in every episode, there is always something to chuckle about. In conclusion, a great series, with two thumbs up and a 10/10. Bethany Cox
-
OllieSuave-00726 February 2017This show features Dick Van Dyke as Dr. Mark Sloan, Chief of Medicine at a hospital, who helps the city's police station, where his son Steve works as a homicide detective, solve crimes.
The show had its fine moments during the first few seasons with some good old fashion mystery suspense and detective fare. The opening scene was great and the music theme was haunting and catchy. The acting was mostly fine - Scott Biao, Victoria Rowell and Charlie Schalatter were pretty good, but Barry Van Dyke was wooden and mediocre and Dick Van Dyke just looked like the crime-solver know-it-all. As the show progressed after three seasons or so, I couldn't help but think the episodes concentrated more on how allegedly brilliant the characters think they look in analyzing the cases to the actual crime-solving tactics. Basically, the show was mostly all-talk and less action.
This series also had a habit of throwing in famous guest stars like Robert Stack and Dixie Carter as villains, and then making Dick Van Dyke look like the better star by solving the cases against them. The producers also made the show look like a family affair when they started throwing in Dick Van Dyke's grandsons to guest-star in the series. And, I absolutely disliked when the murderer is revealed in the very beginning of certain episodes, which takes away the suspense and turns the episodes into more of a "look what Dick Van Dyke and team can do" than a murder mystery.
Overall, this is one of the more very average and weaker mystery dramas.
Grade C- -
FlushingCaps30 January 2014I'm reviewing this because of the reviewers who think the proper way to put down this series is to insult the perceived viewers who like the show. I say, to review the series, tell us why it isn't good, but leave the insults to Don Rickles.
Some like to call this an imitation of Murder, She Wrote because of the similarities that do exist. But the basic premise of someone not a professional crime fighter helping police to solve murder cases did not begin with Murder, She Wrote. Ellery Queen comes to mind and he predates Mrs. Fletcher by over half a century.
The idea of a crime solving amateur detective in stories that are mixed with some humor was indeed practiced in the Queen mysteries and in many other novels and movies long before Murder, She Wrote. Mrs. Fletcher wasn't even the first older lady detective on film, as she was predated by Hildegarde Withers and Miss Marple, if not more.
My point is that I reject the notion that it is fair to criticize Diagnosis Murder for imitating a series that was merely imitating many others itself.
Dick Van Dyke's detective had more in common with Matlock, in that it starred a TV comedy star of one of TV's most famous sitcoms of all-time, playing a "detective" who solved difficult murders, with stories on both series having good bits of humor mixed in.
Van Dyke's detective was a surgeon, Dr. Mark Sloan, at an LA hospital, who consulted with the police, mostly through his detective son Steve, played by real-life son, Barry Van Dyke. Sloan was aided by two other doctors on staff at the hospital, and, for the first several seasons, occasionally thwarted or obstructed by the hospital's chief administrator, Norman Briggs (Michael Tucci). Briggs' character was most often the source of comedy and the series lost a lot when he was dropped from the cast, I assume, in a budget cut, as they also dropped Sloan's receptionist/secretary Delores part-way through the series and never replaced either character.
Sometimes we had a whodunit, sometimes a more standard police-type show where we hope the good guys can stop the bad guys. Sloan's helpers, Amanda and Jack (later Jesse) assisted him in interviewing suspects and these younger characters handled the more physical action, leaving Mark to the activities more suited for a man of Van Dyke's age.
Son Steve was the typical police detective, happy to have plenty of evidence pointing to the guilt of someone who all of us viewers knew was innocent. It wouldn't be a show if Dr. Sloan wasn't needed to steer the police to the real murderer. And of course, Steve always showed up on time to rescue his dad and friends whenever they got caught by the killers.
This series had plenty of famous guest stars, and included a few theme shows with several people from one old series or type of show appearing together.
Fans of the old Dick Van Dyke Show certainly remember the four episodes where the Petries were visited by Rob's brother Stacey, played by Dick's brother Jerry Van Dyke. It was a treat when Jerry suddenly appeared as a hospital patient, playing Mark's brother Stacey.
A favorite episode of mine was when baseball/football star Bo Jackson played a college student who worked as a babysitter.
Not always, but very often, the key piece of evidence that was discovered by Dr. Sloan was something which only someone who knew a lot about medicine, such as a doctor, would know.
The drama was every bit as good as Matlock or Murder, She Wrote, and I think the humor a bit better, and more prevalent, than on those shows. It was a delight to watch this series, and it doesn't matter how old you are. You can enjoy the light-hearted detective story whether the old actors guest starring are old favorites of yours or people you've never seen or heard about. -
ryangcassidy25 August 2019This show seems very much to be aimed at the over 60s/afternoon TV set, mostly people who are old enough to remember Dick Van Dyke from his 60s heyday. Bits of the shows premise resembles Murder, She Wrote, or a really cheap version of Quincy ME. On the plus side it moves at a brisk pace and is certainly fun, but on the other hand some of the acting is terrible, the plots are vaguely ridiculous and most of the police/legal procedures depicted are just plain wrong. Although it was made in the mid-90s it has the look and feel of a older show, and consequently is rather quaint. It ain't exactly Law and Order or House but if your looking for undemanding TV to veg out off on a rainy day this might be your thing! It's no more implausible the Murder She Wrote!
-
Sargebri23 April 2003Take one part Columbo, one part E.R. and one part the Dick Van Dyke Show and you get this great show. Dick Van Dyke proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that he is one of the most versatile actors in the history of television. I think that this is most definitely his best role since Rob Petrie. Also, like the Dick Van Dyke Show, this show relied on a great ensemble. Victoria Rowell, Barry Van Dyke and Charlie Schlatter were great supporting characters in this great show. Too bad its not on the air anymore, I miss seeing it and its wonderful cast.
-
Diagnosis: Murder is an American reality medical documentary that provides a detailed, often eye-opening, insight into the healthcare profession, where, unlike in virtually every other country across the globe, doctors are also criminal detectives and private investigators. This particular documentary follows the day-to-day exploits of Dr Mark Sloan, a medical professional at Community General Hospital, or "CGH", for short. Some of you may recognise Dr Mark Sloan from his earlier acting career when he appeared in Mary Poppins and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, which was long before altering his life completely by becoming a medical doctor. After watching just one episode of Diagnosis: Murder I don't think anyone would believe that this change of career is anything but noble as Dr Mark saves hundreds of lives whilst simultaneously solving crimes and murders, thereby ensuring American streets are much safer.
Now, before you start thinking that Dr Mark is some sort of miracle worker with a device that can stop time – I mean how can one person have enough time to be a full-time doctor at a busy and often underfunded medical establishment whilst also having time to investigate criminal activity? – Dr Mark regularly calls on the assistance of his friends, family and colleagues in his quest to heal people and fight crime. In the crime-fighting department, we have Dr Mark's son, Steve Sloan who is a police detective for the local police department. The Sloan family have much to be proud of and the fact that father and son can work together so productively is beautiful, often causing me to hold back an emotional tear. Steve is a warm, generous and kind-hearted guy that he breaks the mould of your stereotypical, hard-talking, tough-guy law enforcement officer; anyone who needs their faith rebuilding in the police need look no further than Steve Sloan, an all-round bloody nice guy! Steve really did deserve a fantastic woman/girlfriend and there were moments when I thought that he'd found the right person. *SPOILER* Unfortunately, this 'nice guy' persona gave Steve a slight sting in the tail, so to speak, when he started dating a beautiful dancer. As an avid viewer of this ground-breaking programme, I've noticed a few themes have emerged which has made me become a little distrusting of the many new people we're introduced to on a week-by- week basis; this young dancer was one of these people that I had a sneaking suspicion that she might be 'dodgy'. Suffice to say, I was disappointingly proved right.
Dr Mark was able to call on the help of his (aforementioned) work colleagues whenever the situation arose. As each new series was filmed, we witness staff turnover at CGH resulting in Dr Mark needing to build new relationships with new staff members (i.e Dr Jesse Travis). I really enjoyed observing this particular dynamic of the programme because we are all aware of how the coming-and-going of team members can be disruptive. However, Dr Mark is able to deftly deal with these challenges and new team members immediately appreciate what CGH is all about and thoroughly understand the hospital's, and Dr Mark's, altruistic ideology. Another member of CGH's staff that needs mentioning is Dr Amanda Bentley. Not only is she absolutely dedicated to her job, she is kind, witty and a fantastic role model for girls wanting to become doctors. Whenever I visit the hospital the doctor, more often than not, is male. However, Diagnosis: Murder and CGH thankfully shows that women can become doctors as readily as men can! Regarding the 'business' side of hospital management, to help provide an even deeper perspective behind doctor/manager relationships at busy hospitals, we regularly see interactions between Dr Mark and CGH's administrator, Norman Briggs. As one would expect, tempers often become frayed between these two titans of the healthcare profession and emotions sometimes bubble over but I believe this is only because they are deeply passionate about healing people. However, I think CGH, and Norman Briggs especially, were extremely commendable for allowing camera crews to film these intimate discussions between doctor and administrator because the content of these talks would usually be of a sensitive nature.
The only thing that baffled me week-in, week-out was that the episode's killer(s) / criminal(s) would often allow camera crews to film the criminal carrying out incriminating phone calls /discussions. If I'd committed a crime, I sure as hell wouldn't allow someone to film me when I was trying to cover my tracks. Aside from this bizarre feature of the programme, Diagnosis: Murder is a thoroughly engaging watch. On many occasions I've been on the edge of my seat as Dr Mark manages to save another life or when, right at the last minute, he's able to catch a criminal. *SPOILER* I did worry at one point that the series would have to be suspended when Dr Mark was captured by bunch of criminals, tied up and bundled into the back of a truck but two of Dr Mark's team had been watching the proceedings and were able to rescue him (and the programme, of course).
Overall, Diagnosis: Murder is a must-see programme for anybody thinking about becoming a doctor or nurse as it highlights that your job will not be confined to the 'four' walls of the hospital, there's the opportunity to assist the local police department too. Personally, I can't think of a more exciting and fulfilling career. I'm actually sad that I didn't go to medical school but if Dr Mark Sloan is able to start off as an actor and then move into the medical arena, maybe there is hope for me yet!
Diagnosis: Murder – 10 out of 10; I'd give it 11 if I could!! -
Welshfilmfan12 January 2009Diagnosis Murder has been shown on most Weekday afternoons on BBC1 since I used to watch it while ill from School a good 10 years ago - I know I shouldn't really enjoy it, in the same way I shouldn't enjoy 'Murder she Wrote' but I'm totally addicted to both and even have the DVD box-sets....OK I know that's sad!
Dick Van Dyke carries the show as he stars as Dr.Mark Sloan a Doctor at Community General Hospital in L.A who is also a Police consultant for the L.A.P.D. - his son Steve (Barry van Dyke - Dick's real life son) is a Police Officer, who needs his father's help on very many Suspicious deaths.
Along for the ride is Dr.Amanda Bentley (Victoria Bentley) the resident Pathologist at Community General and for the first couple of seasons you had Scott Baio playing Dr.Jack Stewart, who upped and left the series in 1995 hoping to go on to bigger and better things...he should have stayed where he was, he hasn't done anything of note since....and his only theatrical appearance for many years was in Baby Geniuses 2:Superbabies....Oh Dear!!!
anyhow Dr.Jack Stewart was replaced by the younger Dr.Jesse Travis played by Charlie Schlatter who stepped into Baio's shoes pretty comfortably.
The series is highly implausible but what Whodunit series isn't? (Murder she wrote - everywhere Jessica goes, someone ends up dead, or The underrated Father Dowling Mysteries about a Murder solving Priest with nun sidekick)
The series was much lighter up until 1997 this is because it had a supporting cast that included the bumbling Hospital Manager Norman Briggs played by Michael Tucci along with Nurse & Mark's secretary Dolores played by Delores Hall, After 1997 both these characters were no longer included and the series became a grittier affair with a bigger looking budget, some episodes included far more action, one episode the entire Hospital is blown up.
This was a family show For the Van Dyke's because as well as Dick's Son Barry, you also had Dick's Daughter And all his Grandchildren making an appearance in various episodes.
As the series went on it got a bit silly, one episode I remember Dick van Dike plays his entire family, which was a bit out of the ordinary, but on the Whole 'Diagnosis Murder' was a really good TV show which had numerous good Guest Stars.
Since this show finished in 2001, Dick & Barry have appeared together again in the 'MURDER 101' series of TV Movies made by The Hallmark Channel, pretty much following the same path, and still enjoyable. Dick who's now in his mid 80's doesn't seem to change a great deal, and looks as if he'll be working till the bitter end.
TV SHOW **** OUT OF ***** -
EdwardCarter14 January 2010Just a stilted rip-off of the infinitely better "Murder, She Wrote", it is absolutely amazing that this poorly-written garbage lasted for a full eight years. I'm sure most of the people who watched this unentertaining crap were in their sixties and seventies and just tuned in because they had nothing better to do, or simply remembered its star from the old Dick Van Dyke Show. Van Dyke, who only had a decent career in the 1960s, never was much of an actor at all (by his own admission) and he was already far too old to play a doctor when the series began in 1993. He looks absolutely ancient as a result of years of chain smoking and heavy drinking. His talentless real life son Barry, a wooden actor who has rarely been in anything that didn't involve his father, plays his son in the series.
-
I have loved Diagnosis Murder especially with Dick Van Dyke and then later i learn his son played has his son on the show. Victoria was raised here in my state (Maine). I am now re-watching them again after i don't know for how long. However, one thing i did notice and i hope someone can try to explain it. The last episode in season 2 going into the first deposit in season 3 i notice that jack was no longer on and Jesse took his place and Amanda is married and pregnant. Why wasn't jack phased out showing his fair well and showing Jesse coming into the show and Amanda meeting her husband and getting married. It seems like an episode got skipped. I hope there will be some type of reunion for the cast.
-
mlbroberts30 September 2018The premise is that a group of emergency room doctors can take all the time they want to solve crimes and also run a barbecue joint on the side. Really.
-
ali-3718 June 1999I never watched this show in prime time. Then I started watching it on Pax TV at 10pm and I was hooked. Now I watch it in prime time rather than watching Frasier. I love the plots and the tongue in cheek dialogue. I especially love their theme shows filled with old TV stars. I like Dick Van Dyke in this better than as Rob Petrie.
This is decent TV. I've also started watching all the Murder She Wrote reruns on A&E. I'm tired of the hackneyed sex-obsessed teeny bopper shows on regular TV. No-I'm not a senior citizen! -
philhayes8025 August 2018Ah, another show from the 90s. one of my favs that still gets broadcast through reruns. great show and brilliant acting from DvD
-
Take all police-crime series you've ever seen, and pick one out in which you were able to laugh and be baffled at the same time. You will only find one, and it is Diagnosis Murder.
The difference between Diagnosis Murder and CSI or NCIS, is that every case is solved in a fun and friendly sphere. The tight friendships between Mark, Amanda and Jack (Or Jesse) or absolutely heart-warming. Every episode also contains a personal touch of one of the characters, as well as a different murder case every time.
Although usually I'm quite good at guessing who did it, in Diagnosis Murder it just isn't always possible.
Now you either love or hate Dick van Dyke, but personally I think every role he has ever played is highly entertaining and iconic.
My final statement is that Diagnosis Murder, unlike many other series is one of the last few family friendly- innocent TV series left. -
CherryBlossomBoy14 January 2010I guess I'm one of those haters other reviewers refer to. I'm actually surprised there isn't more than a handful of bad reviews for this show here. I guess other "haters" just didn't want to bother.
For reasons I don't care to explain I had to sit through a couple of episodes. Good grief! Where is the live studio audience when you need it?
I don't know whether this was supposed to be serious or comical. For a serious show it's almost insultingly nonchalant, for a comedy it's terribly corny and lame. Overall it looks decidedly 70's as if the makers were unaware of contemporary groundbreaking series to be used as a template.
Still, it successfully ran during the 90's, there must have been an audience. Yes, probably mostly geriatrics. And the people who happen to like Dick van Dyke, whose name promises more than the guy delivers. And the people who have such a low criteria that they wouldn't mind watching static on the TV for fun. Bless them.
To others let this serve as a warning. This is the whodunit-type of crime series, featuring a jolly old laid-back doctor chap, who, instead of playing golf somewhere in Florida, solves crimes for kicks. He is played by Dick van Dyke who sports a list of traits that compete to irritate the most: fake tan, gray mustache, lame jokes, getting into people's faces with his mouth half-open. If you are spoiled with quality crime shows of the day, as I am, watching this will only drive you nuts. -
Diagnosis Murder never takes itself too seriously much to its delight, although it does deal with serious issues at time. I don't know if it's a case of Murder, She Wrote vs. Diagnosis Murder, but strangely I find it difficult being drawn into MSW even though it has a legion of fans. Anyway, whilst some episodes of Diagnosis Murder short circuit the plot line to get to the end and wrap things up before the end credits, it is fun and engaging to watch.
The only thing...Diagnosis Murder was broadcast during the Bill Clinton Presidency, and you would have thought the Community General Hospital staff would be more reflective of society. Okay, okay, the actor playing Dr Sloan was of Dutch descent, Dr Bentley's a female African-American, and Dr Stewart is Italian. But I never saw any Indian or East Asian doctors at the Hospital, even though really they constitute a significant proportion of medical staff. Maybe if Diagnosis Murder was to have an episode dealing with murder and mayhem at a Spelling Bee or something like that, then maybe. -
Dick Van Dyke created the original DVD Show - an iconic TV show and then this drivel.
How much does this show fail, even for fiction entertainment? Let us count the ways...beyond Barry Van Dyke's terrible decision to dye his hair: 1. Somehow, residents & dept chief from a major hospital have time and flexibility on their hands to be amateur sleuths, go undercover and physically confront suspects. It's rare for them to see a patient - other than treating each other or family members (illegal & unethical).
2. Without the docs, police detective Sloan (Barry VD) would never close a case & be an incompetent failure.
3. Docs routinely trespass, b&e, once crime scenes, tamper w evidence - so almost every case would be thrown out.
4. Many cases end w geriatric non-law enforcement-trained doctor confronting murder suspects on his own.
5. Scott Baio as an action lead. Again, Scott Baio.
6. DVD frequently breaks the law with no repercussions.
The only redeeming element is the slate of guest stars - good combo of legends & up and coming future stars. -
4-Kane13 February 2001I remember seeing the pre-series TV-movie "Diagnosis of Murder" in 1992, but I didn't watch the Diagnosis Murder TV series until the fall of 1997 (as it was starting its fifth season), when Robert Stack made a guest appearance in the episode "Open and Shut." After that, I didn't watch the show again until January of 1998. That was when I finally started watching it on a regular basis.
Considering the fact that Diagnosis Murder mainly appeals to senior audiences, I joke at the idea of being one of the few twentysomethings who watches it. Nonetheless, it is entertaining. In addition, I consider it to be the most underrated 'whodunit' series, and one of the most underrated TV shows in general.
However, the show's most common error is that many murder victims are declared dead literally seconds after they collapse. In other words, there is little that is done to try and revive them. But that isn't always the case. Sometimes, our heroes make some effort to save them until it becomes impossible to do so.
One interesting piece of trivia is that Diagnosis Murder, which has been on for eight years, has outlasted Dick Van Dyke's other show (The Dick Van Dyke Show), which lasted an impressive five years.
With son Barry Van Dyke as Dr. Mark Sloan's son Steve comes a major advantage: if Barry "mistakenly" calls his father dad while playing their respective roles, then they at least know that it's not a mistake at all. Get it?