Diagnosis: Murder was a CBS network mystery\medical crime drama series created by Joyce Burditt and a spin-off to "Jake and the Fatman".
The show first aired as a set of three made-for-TV movies and then as a weekly TV series which lasted from October 29, 1993 to May 11, 2001, lasting for eight seasons & 178 episodes.
The series struggled at first and was almost cancelled at the end of the second season, but it returned as a midseason replacement in the third season, and was regularly renewed thereafter. During the show's 8 seasons, 178 episodes were produced and aired on the CBS network in the United States, and two more TV movies aired after the series' final episode aired on May 11, 2001.
In the Jake and the Fatman episode, Dr. Mark Sloan was a widower with no sons. Dr. Amanda Bentley is played by Cynthia Gibb in the TV movies and, finally, by Victoria Rowell in the TV series. Stephen Caffrey played Dr. Jack Parker in the movies, a role that went to Scott Baio as Dr. Jack Stewart in the weekly series (first 2 seasons).
The first two TV movies were shot in Vancouver, British Columbia, and the third was shot in Denver, Colorado. The first eight episodes of the series were also shot (and set) in Denver, before quickly (and without explanation) shifting to Los Angeles for the remainder of the show's run. All 5 TV movies and all 8 seasons of Diagnosis: Murder were released on VHS in the UK by CIC Video until 1999 and Paramount Home Entertainment from 2000 to 2002.
Plot[]
The series centered around Dr. Mark Sloan, a former United States Army doctor who served in a MASH unit and became a renowned physician after his service who consults with the local police department & can't resist a good mystery or helping out a friend in need.
Cast[]
- Dick Van Dyke as Dr. Mark Sloan
- Barry Van Dyke as Lieutenant Detective Steve Sloan
- Victoria Rowell as Dr. Amanda Bentley
- Charlie Schlatter as Dr. Jesse Travis (season 3 onwards)
- Michael Tucci as Norman Briggs (seasons 1-4)
- Delores Hall as Delores Mitchell (seasons 1-2)
- Scott Baio as Dr. Jack Stewart (seasons 1-2)
Production[]
Television Movies[]
"Diagnosis: Murder" had five TV movies between 1992 and 2002, three of which aired prior to the TV series.
- Diagnosis of Murder, the first TV movie, aired before the regular series, January 5, 1992, on CBS.
- The House on Sycamore Street, the second TV movie, aired before the regular series, May 1, 1992, on CBS.
- A Twist of the Knife, the third TV movie, aired before the regular series, February 13, 1993, on CBS.
- A Town Without Pity, the fourth TV movie, aired after the end of the regular series, February 6, 2002, on CBS.
- Without Warning, the fifth and final TV movie, aired after the end of the regular series, April 26, 2002, on CBS.