Spenser: For Hire

Spenser: For Hire 5u466b

1985
Spenser: For Hire
Spenser: For Hire

Spenser: For Hire 5u466b

7.3 | en | Drama

Mystery and suspense series based on Robert Parker's "Spenser" novels. Spenser, a private investigator living in Boston, gets involved in a new murder mystery each episode.

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EP1  Homecoming
Sep. 27,1987
Homecoming

A cop who helped send a gangster's son to prison years ago has been hiding, cause the gangster wants to get him. But now he wants to come home, so he and his father, asks Spenser to act as intermediary. While the gangster is unwilling to settle for nothing less than seeing him dead. Spenser tries to see what he can do. At the same time Spenser has to deal with Susan, who came back to town, and would like to see if they have a future, but this case is taking up all of his time.

EP2  My Enemy, My Friend
Oct. 04,1987
My Enemy, My Friend

A streetwise young kid gets involved over his head in the underworld. Spenser and Hawk try to protect him from would-be killers.

EP3  The Heart of the Matter
Oct. 11,1987
The Heart of the Matter

Lt. Quirk faces his mortality when he suffers a heart attack. Spenser and Hawk protect him from revenge-minded villains as he recovers.

EP4  On the Night he Was Betrayed
Nov. 01,1987
On the Night he Was Betrayed

Spenser helps an old friend, an alcoholic priest who tries to help homeless teenagers, when he gets involved over his head.

EP5  Sleepless Dreams
Nov. 08,1987
Sleepless Dreams

Spenser becomes obsessed with an apparently suicidal woman after a chance encounter on the street.

EP6  Consilum Abditum
Nov. 15,1987
Consilum Abditum

Susan is in trouble when her claims of sexual harassment lead her college counselor to retaliate by hiring a hit man to keep her quiet. Spenser gets arrested for getting involved in a fight.

EP7  Thanksgiving
Nov. 29,1987
Thanksgiving

Spenser runs into an old friend while visiting a recreation of a Puritan village. Spenser does everything in his power to exonerate said friend when he's accused of a brutal slaying. As he uncovers more and more, Spenser begins to think it might be hard to clear the name of a guilty man.

EP8  Gone Fishin'
Dec. 06,1987
Gone Fishin'

Spenser's fishing trip is interrupted when he has to protect a young man who's not allowed to marry the girl he loves.

EP9  Child's Play
Dec. 20,1987
Child's Play

A sniper takes some shots at Spenser and Susan, and a young boy ends up dead in the crossfire. Spenser sets out to determine why such a tragedy happened and track down the shooter.

EP10  Skeletons in the Closet
Jan. 03,1988
Skeletons in the Closet

Spenser and Hawk find themselves on opposite sides of the same case. Spenser is hired to retrieve a stolen journal containing information damaging to a judge's career. Hawk is hired by the thief to extort money from the judge.

EP11  The Siege
Jan. 10,1988
The Siege

Hawk and Susan along with other people are held captive in a post office. Richard Brooks later seen on Law and Order during Season's 1 & 2 plays one of the hostage takers.

EP12  Arthur's Wake
Jan. 16,1988
Arthur's Wake

Spenser protects an old friend, Arthur, after he's assaulted and robbed. In the course of his investigation, Spenser comes across disturbing information connecting Arthur with racketeering.

EP13  To the End of the Line
Jan. 23,1988
To the End of the Line

When Frank's niece dies of a drug overdose, Spenser and Frank go after the men responsible.

EP14  Play it Again, Sammy
Jan. 30,1988
Play it Again, Sammy

Sammy Backlin calls Spenser for protection when he's being hunted by a 'vicious horde of bloodthirsty assassins'.

EP15  The Big Fight
Feb. 06,1988
The Big Fight

One of Spenser's old trainers lures Spenser to a deserted warehouse where Spenser is supposed to be killed, to get out from under a gambling debt. Spenser survives, then turns around and protects his trainer from the goons now after him.

EP16  Substantial Justice
Mar. 05,1988
Substantial Justice

Spenser protects a theater owner from gangsters, but begins to suspect she's not as innocent as she appears.

EP17  Company Man
Mar. 12,1988
Company Man

Spenser suspects insurance fraud when a building blows up. Susan has a possibly cancerous mass removed.

EP18  Watercolors
Mar. 19,1988
Watercolors

Spenser protects a child artist after the child witnesses a mob execution while painting in the forest.

EP19  Hawk's Eyes
Mar. 26,1988
Hawk's Eyes

Spenser investigates the death of a friend apparently involved with white supremicists. Hawk is rendered blind by an explosion.

EP20  McAllister
Apr. 30,1988
McAllister

Spenser assists a lawyer in proving the innocence of his client, a Navy seaman accused of murdering the captain's daughter. The only witness is a missing Polish sailor.

EP21  Haunting
May. 07,1988
Haunting

Spenser investigates an old child kidnapping case when he tries to track down a teenage girl's biological parents.

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7.3 | en | Mystery | More Info
Released: 1985-09-20 | Released Producted By: , Country: United States of America Budget: 0 Revenue: 0 Official Website:
info

Mystery and suspense series based on Robert Parker's "Spenser" novels. Spenser, a private investigator living in Boston, gets involved in a new murder mystery each episode.

Genre

Mystery

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Spenser: For Hire (1985) is currently not available on any services.

Cast

Ron McLarty

Director

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Spenser: For Hire Audience Reviews 1va5m

Lawbolisted Powerful
SoftInloveRox Horrible, fascist and poorly acted
Raymond Sierra The film may be flawed, but its message is not.
Logan By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.
Gary M. James Several weeks before posting this review, I visited Boston for the first time. While riding the city's MBTA Red Line across the Longfellow Bridge, I could not help but hum variations of the theme song from "Spenser: For Hire," which aired over 25 years ago. I never read the Spenser books written by Robert B. Parker so I have no idea if the show ever captured the essence of the novels. The series never ranked in the top 20 and was switched to several time slots during the show's three seasons. The show's major strengths were Robert Urich as Spenser, Avery Brooks as Hawk and the incredibly strong on location production values that made the show better than some current and past detective shows, depending on the episode.Some episodes, especially within season 1, had strong, intriguing plot twists that kept my interest. Three of my personal favorites were "The Choice," (which starred Patricia Clarkson and Sam Robards as thrill killers), "When Silence Speaks" (with Phyllis Frelich as a newspaper columnist who hires Spenser to locate a letter writer) and "Discord in a Minor," in which the teenage daughter of the city's symphony director tries to run away with the son of a local crime boss. The show was far from perfect. Both of Spenser's love interests, Susan Silverman (played by Barbara Stock, seasons 1 and 3) and Rita Fiori (played by Carolyn McCormick, season 2) were generally thankless, underdeveloped roles. Arguably, both actresses tried their best with the material given but, more often than not, the dynamic between Spenser and Hawk was more interesting. In addition, several episodes depended more on chase scenes and stunts instead of correcting plot deficiencies, great stunt work notwithstanding.I watched "Spenser: For Hire" on SlashControl.com and, as of this post, over 50 of the show's 65 episodes are available for streaming. Overall, the show was a nice diversion and a better-than-average detective series.Update (6/14/2012): Sadly, with AOL ending SlashControl.com, Spenser: For Hire is not being streamed as of this update. I hope Warner Brothers will reconsider and stream and/or release the program on DVD in the future.Update (2/3/2015): The WB Shop has released season 1 of "Spenser: For Hire" on a made-to-order DVD basis.
barbara_f_30066 I think Spenser for Hire is the best shows I've ever watched. The books that Robert Parker wrote are excellent. Just recently been able to purchase all of his shows and watch them non-stop on weekends. Spenser and Hawk were great team partners, Robert Urich is surely missed and Avery Brooks, well he's great also. I have read all of books that Robert Parker wrote about Spenser for Hire. The movie Hawk is also excellent to watch as well. If you have not seen any of the movies and your a fan of both Robert Urich and Avery Brooks, then you should take the time to watch the shows. As for the movies that were released, okay, didn't particularly care for the actor that played Susan Silverman.
sly_puss My brother and I LOVED watching this series, probably one of the only ones my father recommended that ended up being a truly great series. Robert Urich played Spenser magnificently - the understated, under appreciated, well-read, HUGE hottie of the time. Avery Brooks as Hawk was magnificent casting. Couldn't wait for him to show in each episode and say, '....Spen-SAH....' Killer detective-cop show. It was the predecessor to what you see now as Law & Order, L&O Criminal Intent, etc. Can't wait, and don't understand why it's not out on DVD yet to buy for my brother and me. You're missing out if you haven't seen any of this series yet.
hobbitbob What can I say? This series captured the essence of the Spenser novels, written by the one man selected by the Chandler estate to finish the unfinished Philip Marlowe novel (Robert B. Parker). Robert Urich's portrayal of Parker's updated version of "the last good man" is unmatched, and I can't imagine any other actor in this role. Avery Brooks brings out the human side of Hawk, whose humanity developed in the Parker novels. Even Susan, although played by an actress far too young for the role, works.All in all a fine tribute to Parker and his best known character.