Ellery Queen

Ellery Queen follows a young, cerebral mystery writer who also helps his father, Inspector Richard Queen, with New York homicide investigations. The series sets up each episode as a puzzle, with Ellery gathering clues, interviewing suspects, and laying out his reasoning before the police close the case. A distinctive feature is that Ellery turns directly to the camera to invite the audience to work out the solution, stopping short of the final reveal. The show keeps the tone light but focused on logical deduction, and the regular cast, including Sgt. Velie, provides steady support and occasional comic relief. No twists or endings are spoiled here.

The series aired on NBC for the 1975-76 season. It was created by William Link and Richard Levinson and adapts the long-running fictional character Ellery Queen for television. Jim Hutton starred as Ellery Queen, with David Wayne as Inspector Richard Queen and Tom Reese as Sgt. Thomas Velie.

The show ran only a single season, so it did not collect major awards during its original broadcast. Its brief run limited awards attention, though it has been revisited by classic TV enthusiasts in retrospectives and fan discussions.

Ellery Queen is best remembered for breaking the fourth wall, pausing near the end of acts to pose a direct challenge to the audience to solve the case. That device became a talking point among mystery fans and is often cited when people discuss interactive storytelling techniques on television. Hutton and Wayne’s on-screen chemistry, plus the program’s emphasis on puzzle solving, made certain episodes linger in public memory.

Critical reception was generally favorable among viewers who appreciate old-school whodunits, reflected in a steady vote average of 7.4 out of 10 from audience ratings. Reviewers and fans have praised the series for its structured mysteries, clear logical reasoning, and the father-son dynamic, while some critics found the formula and the didactic asides a bit repetitive. Overall, it remains a tidy, brainy example of 1970s television mystery.