Tenspeed And Brown Shoe

Watch Tenspeed And Brown Shoe

  • TV-PG
  • 1980
  • 1 Season
  • 7.5  (533)

Tenspeed and Brown Shoe was a detective series that was aired on ABC in 1980. The series starred Jeff Goldblum as Lionel Whitney, a smooth-talking hustler, and Ben Vereen as E.L. "Brown Shoe" Turner, a mildly inept accountant. The series was created by Stephen J. Cannell, who was also the creator of hit shows like The A-Team, 21 Jump Street, and Wiseguy.

The show's premise revolved around Lionel Whitney, a con artist who is trying to go straight. After being released from prison, Lionel hears about a job opening at a detective agency from his parole officer. The job requires him to partner up with E.L. Turner, a by-the-books accountant who has always played it safe. The two men, who are complete opposites, start working together to solve various crimes.

The show is a mix of comedy and drama, with Lionel's slick persona often clashing with E.L.'s conservative nature. The two men initially have trouble working together, but as the series progresses, they learn to respect each other's strengths and weaknesses. Lionel takes charge in the field, using his street smarts and charm to gather information and get the job done. E.L., on the other hand, is more comfortable in the office, using his accounting skills to analyze data and make sense of the clues.

Aside from the main characters, the show also features a supporting cast of interesting characters. These include Lionel's parole officer, played by John Hancock, who keeps a close eye on Lionel's activities. There's also Lionel's love interest, played by Amber Denyse Austin, who is a reporter trying to get the inside scoop on the agency. Rounding out the cast is Tracey Walter, who plays Lionel's friend and informant, who helps him get information on various cases.

One of the key strengths of Tenspeed and Brown Shoe is its writing. The series was created by Stephen J. Cannell, who was known for his ability to create compelling characters and great dialogue. The show's writers managed to create unique and interesting cases for Lionel and E.L. to solve, which kept the show fresh and exciting. The series also featured plenty of humor, which helped to balance out the more serious moments.

Another strength of the show is its lead actors. Jeff Goldblum and Ben Vereen have great chemistry together, and their performances elevate the material. Goldblum is perfect as Lionel Whitney, delivering his lines with the kind of wit and charm that only he can pull off. Vereen, on the other hand, brings a level of gravitas to the role of E.L. Turner, making him more than just the straight man to Lionel's wisecracks.

The show was also notable for its production values. The series was shot on location in Los Angeles, giving it an authentic feel. The show's opening credits, which featured Lionel and E.L. racing down the streets of LA in a convertible, became iconic and set the tone for the show.

Overall, Tenspeed and Brown Shoe is a fun and enjoyable series. It may not have been as successful as some of Cannell's other shows, but it's still worth checking out for its great writing, performances, and production values. If you like detective shows with a mix of comedy and drama, this is definitely one to watch.

Tenspeed And Brown Shoe is a series that is currently running and has 1 seasons (12 episodes). The series first aired on February 3, 1980.

Tenspeed And Brown Shoe
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Seasons
S1 E14 - Diamonds Aren't Forever
12. S1 E14 - Diamonds Aren't Forever
June 27, 1980
The partners try to impress Lionel's parents and get involved with diamond thieves.
S1 E13 - The Treasure Of Sierra Madre Street
11. S1 E13 - The Treasure Of Sierra Madre Street
June 20, 1980
A judge hires the agency to do a background check on a criminal feigning insanity, but the partners soon discover that she's not what she seems.
S1 E12 - Untitled
10. S1 E12 - Untitled
June 13, 1980
The agency's cleaning woman is Russian royalty and a desperate Russian professor wants her so he can obtain a jeweled dagger from her.
S1 E11 - This One's Gonna Kill Ya
9. S1 E11 - This One's Gonna Kill Ya
June 6, 1980
When Lionel investigates the 40-year-old murder of a woman, people start shooting at the partners.
S1 E10 - Loose Larry's List Of Losers
8. S1 E10 - Loose Larry's List Of Losers
May 30, 1980
E.L.'s tough new parole officer wants to put him away, and the partners go after someone who wants to kill the officer to convince him otherwise.
S1 E9 - It's Easier To Pass An Elephant Through The Eye Of A Needle Than A Bad Check In Bel Air
7. S1 E9 - It's Easier To Pass An Elephant Through The Eye Of A Needle Than A Bad Check In Bel Air
March 30, 1980
E.L. is busy running a real estate scam on an Arab sheik when his nephew B.L. arrives in town. The boy has stolen a numbers runner' book and has convinced the crook that E.L. has it.
S1 E8 - Savage Says,
6. S1 E8 - Savage Says, "The Most Dangerous Bird Is The Jailbird"
March 23, 1980
A lounge singer comes to the partners for help against a crazed gangster.
S1 E7 - The Millionaire's Life
5. S1 E7 - The Millionaire's Life
March 16, 1980
E.L. gets his old partner, Mike McGill, to run a scam to pay Lionel with con money to keep the agency afloat.
S1 E6 - The Sixteen Byte Data Chip And The Brown-eyed Fox
4. S1 E6 - The Sixteen Byte Data Chip And The Brown-eyed Fox
March 9, 1980
E.L. is smitten with Lola Marshall, a beautiful dancer who hires the partners to find her missing brother, a computer programmer who was used in a scheme to liquidate a tax evader's company against his will.
S1 E5 - Savage Says,
3. S1 E5 - Savage Says, "What Are Friends For?"
March 2, 1980
A stockbroker and friend of Lionel's hires the detectives to investigate two men who are having him make investments with negotiable bonds.
S1 E4 - Savage Says,
2. S1 E4 - Savage Says, "There's No Free Lunch"
February 10, 1980
Lionel falls in love with a female client, who has hired him to find who is trying to kill her. Meanwhile, E.L. tries to duck a former partner from his past.
S1 E3 - The Robin Tucker's Roseland Roof And Ballroom Murder
1. S1 E3 - The Robin Tucker's Roseland Roof And Ballroom Murder
February 3, 1980
Lionel takes on his first case, tracking down a missing girl on behalf of a millionaire. But he soon discovers that the millionaire wants her dead, and others start dropping dead round her.
Description
Where to Watch Tenspeed And Brown Shoe
Tenspeed And Brown Shoe is available for streaming on the Shout! Factory website, both individual episodes and full seasons. You can also watch Tenspeed And Brown Shoe on demand at Amazon and FuboTV.
  • Premiere Date
    February 3, 1980
  • IMDB Rating
    7.5  (533)