Burke's Law

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Burke's Law ranks 2,813 out of the 18,221 shows on TV.com.

The 26 users who count themselves as Burke's Law fans have written a total of 2 reviews.

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Burke's Law was an Aaron Spelling-produced detective series that starred Gene Barry as Amos Burke, Los Angeles' millionaire chief of detectives. The jet-setting, swinging Burke was chauffeured to crime scenes in his Rolls-Royce and had a penchant for dropping professorial axioms ("Never ask a... more »

Burke's Law was an Aaron Spelling-produced detective series that starred Gene Barry as Amos Burke, Los Angeles' millionaire chief of detectives. The jet-setting, swinging Burke was chauffeured to crime scenes in his Rolls-Royce and had a penchant for dropping professorial axioms ("Never ask a question unless you already know the answer. Burke's law!") Gary Conway and Regis Toomey played Burke's supporting detectives, and Leon Lontoc played Henry, Burke's chauffeur.
This tongue-in-cheek mystery aired from 1963 to 1965 on ABC. For the 1965-1966 season, the show was retooled as Amos Burke, Secret Agent and changed to a spy show. The new Burke lasted only 17 episodes.
In 1994, Barry returned as Burke in a brief revival of the show that aired on CBS along with Diagnosis Murder. The new series kept much of the style of the original (elaborate crimes and big-name guest stars) but lasted only 13 episodes.less «

• Love Burke's Law

  Is anyone else watching Burke's Law on ALTV? I TIVO them all. I love to see the bit actors who become famous years later. You could never have this show on today, way to sexist. Still, a great program that inspired most of the later crime dramas.

  Is anyone else watching Burke's Law on ALTV? I TIVO them all. I love to see the bit actors who become famous years later. You could never have this show on today, way to sexist. Still, a great program that inspired most of the later crime dramas. less «

  45wheelgun Last online 7 days ago
  1 comments, last one Jul 1, 2008 + Add Comment

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  10 Perfect

  This show was mainly a tongue-in-cheek 'dramedy'. After all, how realistic is it for a homicide cop to live in Beverly Hills and ride in a Rolls-Royce to work? The show was always good for a laugh and as an escape from reality. A great show for families. hide « show »

  Burke's Law was one of the first shows I really enjoyed watching with my mom. Granted, I was watching reruns in the early 90's on cable, but I loved it. Yes, the plot was always the same- Amos is interrupted by a phone call and has to go off to solve a murder while leaving some poor girl in the lurch, Detective Tilson was always spouting off more information than anyone ever needed to know, and Sgt. Hart was always mildly amused by his millionaire, debonaire boss. So what if it lacked realism? Isn't that the point of watching a television show? Personally, I hope this entire series is released on DVD at some point, because I know several people who will be watching with me!

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  ladyfuzz Added Jul 9, 2007 All my reviews
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  10 Perfect

  A millionaire police homicide captain -- how realistic is THAT? It doesn't matter. This show was pure genius. hide « show »

  When people ask my favorite TV show of all-time, I answer, "Burke's Law." I was too young to see this show when it originally aired, but I was introduced to it as a teenager when it aired in between two other favorite TV shows ("Department S" and "The Champions") on an independent TV station. It stood out, not because it was the only U.S. show on the channel on Saturday nights, but because it was rich in comedy and suspense simultaneously.
  
  Each episode title begins with the words "Who Killed..." Nearly every episode also begins with Amos Burke, so deliciously played by Gene Barry, either at a party or romancing a woman. He would get a call that he, as the Captain of the Homicide division, was needed on a murder case. Off he went in his chauffeured car to the crime scene. As the car drives toward the scene we hear the theme music, interrupted by a sensuous whisper of a woman's voice: "It's Burke's law!" How can you NOT love this?
  
  The shows had great suspense, presenting a list of possible suspects in true 60's crime drama fashion. Also, the person who answered the "who killed" question wasn't always the obvious choice (or the least likely choice). However, "Burke's Law" had two other features that made it most unique. First, although the plots centered around murder, the show had more than its fair share of humor. Some episodes were more laugh-out-loud funny than a lot of sitcoms. Secondly, it was the first series to make judicious -- and frequently hilarious -- use of the cameo. In one great example, Edd "Kookie" Byrnes is featured as a tour bus driver in "Who Killed Mr. Colby in Ladies' Lingerie?" He points out a house, saying it's the home of Kirk Douglas (while impersonating him). A woman on the bus says that she had been on the tour the day before and the house in question did NOT belong to Kirk Douglas but Edd Byrnes. "Yeah, sure, lady," Kookie replies, "but I don't DO him!"
  
  The other thing that makes "Burke's Law" worth watching is the recitation of the laws. Amos will make a comment about something then inform his listener, "it's Burke's law." (The show summary has a good list of "Burke's Law"isms included.) He would state his comment and leave, usually leaving others with blank stares on their faces.
  
  This remarkable series needs to be on DVD for new generations to see. It is not only a classic of the 1960s, but one of the greatest shows television ever saw.

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  KarenHlly Added Aug 27, 2005 All my reviews