Simon & Simon 

Two brothers of disparate tastes and manners run a private detective agency.

Creator:

Philip DeGuere Jr.

Stars:

Jameson Parker, Gerald McRaney, Mary Carver

Nominated for 2 Primetime Emmys. Another 4 nominations.

Cast

Complete series cast summary:
Jameson Parker	...	A.J. Simon / ... 156 episodes, 1981-1989
Gerald McRaney	...	Rick Simon 156 episodes, 1981-1989
Mary Carver	...	Cecilia Simon 153 episodes, 1981-1989
Tim Reid	...	Lt. Marcel 'Downtown' Brown 79 episodes, 1983-1987

Storyline

A.J. Simon is a polished fellow with a taste for classic cars and tailored suits. Rick Simon is his less refined (but still pleasant) older brother who has a taste for cowboy boots and four-wheel drive pickups. The two of them live in San Diego, where they own a private detective agency. The series chronicles their exploits.

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Plot Keywords:

1980s | character names as series title | punctuation in series title | surnames as series title | detective | 

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Genres:

Action | Drama | Mystery

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

24 November 1981 (USA)

Also Known As:

Pirate's Key

Filming Locations:

Colonial Street, Backlot, Universal Studios - 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal Television

Technical Specs

Runtime:

60 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The show was set in San Diego, but mainly filmed in Venice and Marina del Rey in Los Angeles County, and near and around Universal City, next to its production base at Universal Studios. San Diego appeared in many episodes, but usually limited to a few scenes, and what is known as "B" roll.

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Goofs

Although the series is set in San Diego, California, it's abundantly clear during many of the outdoor scenes that it was filmed in the Los Angeles metro. In several episodes the San Gabriel Mountains, which are outside of Los Angeles, can be clearly seen in the distance.

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Quotes

Rick Simon: Alright, let's put this thing into perspective. Now, correct if I'm wrong, OK? but this is how I got this thing figured. What we have here is a whole bunch of people with no money who go out and buy brand new cars just after they die. Is that pretty much the way you got it figured?
A.J. Simon: That's pretty much the way I've got it figured, yeah. And what, I ask myself, has Terry Hudson got to do with all of this?
Rick Simon: If he's dead, he probably just bought a new car.

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Connections

Referenced in Saturday Night Live: Jesse Jackson/Andrae Crouch, Wintley Phipps (1984)

User Reviews

Fun and interesting

Didn't watch this series that often when it ran in the '80s, but did catch a few episodes then and saw nearly all when A&E replayed it. It is one of the best action, detective series ever. Some shows are better than some Rockford Files episodes.

The relationship and interaction between the brothers seemed real and genuine. The acting and directing was top notch and the locations are special as one can get a taste for that time period in San Diego or Florida (my favorite episode when they went back to where they started, it was a two-parter) or where ever the guys were.

The acting was the best as this series easily tops Magnum for quality and enjoyment... well except for guys, seeing the sights in Hawaii ; ) and a Ferrari Testarossa and for women, Tom Selleck.