Help Wanted, Male (23 Jun. 2002)

Wolfe hires a look-alike double to stand in for him after he receives a death threat, the exact same threat that was carried out earlier against a potential Wolfe client.

Director:

John L'Ecuyer

Writers:

Mark Stein (teleplay), Rex Stout (novel)

Stars:

Timothy Hutton, Maury Chaykin, Colin Fox

Cast

Episode cast overview:
Timothy Hutton	...	Archie Goodwin
Maury Chaykin	...	Nero Wolfe
Colin Fox	...	Fritz Brenner
Bill Smitrovich	...	Inspector Cramer
R.D. Reid	...	Sergeant Purley Stebbins
James Tolkan	...	Ben Jenson
Richard Waugh	...	Major Emil Jensen
George Plimpton	...	General Carpenter
Robert Bockstael	...	Colonel Dickey
Steve Cumyn	...	Peter Root
Kari Matchett	...	Jane Geer
Larry Drake	...	Hackett
Randy Butcher	...	Doyle

Storyline

Wolfe turns away a frightened prospective client who desperately wants Wolfe to defend him after receiving a threatening letter. When the man is murdered hours thereafter, Wolfe fears for his own life after he receives an identical letter. He hires a lookalike to impersonate him at $100 per diem and waits for the murderer to reveal him or herself.

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Plot Keywords:

death threat | police inspector | murder | anonymous letter | ginger snaps | 

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Genres:

Drama | Mystery | Action

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Details

Language:

English

Release Date:

23 June 2002 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

A&E Television Networks, Fremantle Media, Jaffe/Braunstein Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

45 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

"Before I Die" was chosen as the second entry of the thirteen part "Nero Wolfe" radio series and was broadcast by the Canadian Broadcasting Company on January 23, 1982.

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Goofs

The plot and dialogue indicate that this episode takes place during World War II. However, a news headline on Wolfe's morning paper reads, "Work completed on U.N. buildings." The United Nations was not founded until after WWII.

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Quotes

Archie Goodwin: [to Wolfe] Look, I admit that you're a great detective, a champion beer drinker, and a genius, but this is a hell of a way to spend a war. If Carpenter calls, and you tell him you can't do without me, I am going to put gristle in your crabmeeat and sugar in your beer.

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Crazy Credits

In "Help Wanted, Male", the actors' names are pieced together from assorted letters cut out of magazines.

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Soundtracks

"Piano at Midnight"
(uncredited)
Written by Dick Walter
KPM 443:36
A pianist plays while Archie and Jane Geer have cocktails

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