Simon & Simon
The Dead Letter File
TV Flash files “The Dead Letter File” as hour 6 of 156 in the TV Flash guide — Simon & Simon (1981–1989) on CBS, season 1, episode 6, aired 1982-01-05, 60 min.
From the desk
How this hour is filed
This leaf is S01E06: listed hour 6 of 156 in the Simon & Simon guide, hour 6 of 13 in season 1. It aired 1982-01-05 (60 min). The listed hour before it is “The Least Dangereous Game” (S01E05). Next is “The Hottest Ticket in Town” (S01E07).
Catalog log
Broadcast listing — not a TV Flash recap.
Rick and AJ investigate a twenty-three year old murder after they receive an old letter delivered to them by mistake.
Viewer FAQ
Where does The Dead Letter File sit in the Simon & Simon guide?
S01E06 is listed hour 6 of 156 — hour 6 of 13 in season 1, season 1 episode 6.
When did Simon & Simon S01E06 air?
The Dead Letter File aired 1982-01-05 and is listed at 60 minutes.
Did Magnum, P.I. actually save it?
Scheduling after Magnum turned a struggling show into a hit. The brother contrast might have died without that CBS action-night gravity. Lead-in as life support, then eight seasons.
In the series
Why this series still plays
San Diego brother PIs: denim-and-Camaro Rick versus preppy A.J., a contrast that would have died in the ratings if Magnum's lead-in hadn't rescued it. Gerald McRaney and Jameson Parker sell the bickering as love language. Buddy-crime comfort food that ran eight seasons on chemistry, convertibles, and CBS action-night gravity.
The instrument is contrast: denim-and-Camaro Rick versus preppy A.J., sibling PIs whose bickering is the love language. CBS's *Simon & Simon* (1981–1989) starred Gerald McRaney and Jameson Parker in Philip DeGuere's brother-buddy template — a detective agency in San Diego that would have died in the ratings if pairing after *Magnum, P.I.* hadn't rescued it. Convertibles, chemistry, CBS action-night gravity. The blotter will lead with the lead-in. The text is the contrast, not the cases.
Filed against
- Gerald McRaney as Rick Simon
Gerald McRaney's Rick Simon was denim-and-Camaro opposite preppy A.J. on Simon & Simon — San Diego brother PIs, bickering as love language, a contrast Magnum's lead-in helped rescue. Eight seasons of buddy-crime comfort. TV Flash files…
- Jameson Parker as A.J. Simon
Jameson Parker’s A.J. Simon prepped the bickering on Simon & Simon — San Diego brother PIs, denim-and-Camaro Rick versus the prep, eight seasons of buddy-crime comfort Magnum’s lead-in helped rescue. Love language as a case file. TV Flash…