DVD Release and Review

This week has a lone crime release: Remington Steele season 3. Going back and watching this, I am amazed that the producers of the James Bond franchise did not make better use of the humor and charm of Pierce Brosnan. One look at Remington shows us that he has a lot more to offer than we ever saw in the Bond films. And if RS does not make you a fan, just wait until The Matador comes out later this spring. That will show you a Brosnan you have never seen before.
Jeremy Lynch
Entertainment Editor

DVD releases for 04/18/06


Remington Steele: Season 3
20th Century Fox
Season Three Four-disc set with 22 episodes, $39.98. Extras:
Commentary on select episodes. (Fox).

When I was asked to review season 3 of Remington Steele, I found myself afraid, very afraid. Having loved it when it was on TV, I was afraid it would, like others I have revisited, fail to stand the test of time.
But with in the first half hour of the first episode I realized it had not lost any of its charm or wit. What I can now realize, that I could not when I was thirteen, was WHY I liked it: the unbelievable chemistry between Pierce Brosnan and Stephanie Zimbalist. Doris Roberts (Everybody Loves Raymond) adds more comedy as the rough but lovable former IRS Agent turned secretary for Remington Steele, Mildred Krebbs. She garnered the series only Emmy nomination for her performance in the third season.

Brosnan displayed not only comedic timing, but an ability to be suave and debonair one minute and a hilarious buffoon the next, AND make you believe it. Reminiscent of Cary Grant in Arsenic and Old Lace. Movie producers of today need to go back and watch Remington Steele to see just how good Mr. Brosnan can be. He was able to show it a little bit in The Matador, but he has "So much more to give." But that is only my opinion as a movie goer, so what the BLEEP do I know?

For those who do not know, the premise is: Detective Laura Holt (Zimbalist) is having trouble getting work because “nobody wants to hire a woman detective.” So she invents a boss, named Remington Steele, starts getting cases, and a good reputation. In the Pilot, a handsome and mysterious con man and art/jewel thief (Brosnan) is mistaken for the renowned, but fictitious detective. Hijinks ensue (I could go into detail, but this is not a review of the first season) and they decide to carry on the charade (for 5 seasons).

By the start of the third season Mr. Steele and Miss Holt have revealed their feelings for each other, but have not yet acted on them. This adds to the sparks between the two while they are solving all the murders of the season, and there are a lot of sparks and murder. If it starts out as what seems to be a benign case, just wait, someone will likely die.

Season three also has lots of guest stars. Well some are guest stars; others just haven’t become famous yet. Star Trek geeks (such as me) will recognize Armin Shimerman as one of Miss Holt’s neighbor’s that tries to get her kicked out of her apartment. Baseball greats Mickey Mantle and Whitey Ford appear as themselves in a baseball camp episode. Screen legends Virginia Mayo, Dorothy Lamour, Lloyd Nolan appear in an episode about….wait for it….screen legends. Lloyd Nolan is very funny trying to teach an annoyed Remington how to be a detective. Stephanie’s father Ephrim Zimbalist Jr also reprises his role, from season two, as Remington’s mentor from his days as a con man. John Larroquette, Robert Pastorelli, Geena Davis and Jean Smart also appear.

Randy Otteson