The NBC Tuesday Mystery Movie

The NBC Mystery Movie was the 'umbrella' title for one of many mystery series shown on a rotating basis (known as a 'wheel series'), in the same time slot on Sunday nights on NBC. The original 3 series featured, Columbo (1971), McMillan & Wife (1971) and McCloud (1970). Later, several other (often short-lived) series were added to the rotation including Hec Ramsey (1972), Amy Prentiss (1974), McCoy (1975), Quincy M.E. (1976), and Lanigan's Rabbi (1976). The "wheel" concept proved so popular that NBC started a second night on Wednesdays, featuring Banacek (1972), Cool Million (1972), Madigan (1972), Faraday and Company (1973), Tenafly (1973), and The Snoop Sisters (1972). Low ratings forced NBC to move the second wheel to Tuesdays, but it was still canceled in 1974. The Sunday wheel ran its course in 1978. —Gislef