Simon & Simon
It's Only a Game
TV Flash files “It's Only a Game” as hour 29 of 156 in the TV Flash guide — Simon & Simon (1981–1989) on CBS, season 2, episode 16, aired 1983-02-03, 60 min.
From the desk
How this hour is filed
This leaf is S02E16: listed hour 29 of 156 in the Simon & Simon guide, hour 16 of 23 in season 2. It aired 1983-02-03 (60 min). The listed hour before it is “The Club Murder Vacation” (S02E15). Next is “A Design for Killing” (S02E17).
Catalog log
Broadcast listing — not a TV Flash recap.
Rick and AJ's good friend, the coroner, asks the brothers to deliver a new video game to Las Vegas and they don't understand just how valuable it is until thieves attack.
Viewer FAQ
Where does It's Only a Game sit in the Simon & Simon guide?
S02E16 is listed hour 29 of 156 — hour 16 of 23 in season 2, season 2 episode 16.
When did Simon & Simon S02E16 air?
It's Only a Game aired 1983-02-03 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…