 THIRTEEN YEARS OF
DAMES,
DANGER,
DEATH...
Yeah, so, happy birthday to us.
As of April 1, this site has been wasting your time (and mine) for thirteen years. Believe me, I'm finding that as hard to believe as you do.
And yes, what a long strange trip it's been. It's taken me from Montreal to California, from a mild diversion to a labour of love. The places it's taken me, the people I've met and may now presume to call friend, the fun I've had, the beers I've cadged, the hand-wringing over the realization I've spent 13 years kissing the wrong asses, the hours and hours spent tracking down a reference to an obscure pulp story for an entry nobody will ever read -- somehow, when I look at myself today, I'm not sure I would have done it any other way.
True confession time: I love this stuff.
And so, to honour this momentous (or momentously stupid) occasion, I've got some goodies for you...
THE CHOSEN THIRTEEN
I asked people of our mailing list, on Twitter, and on Rara-Avis (and on the site as well, of course) to list their 13 Favourite Eyes. The results are here... and trust me, while there are no really big shockers, there are a few pleasant surprises.
I thought I'd also give a little something back to some of you who've been hanging around here, making it all worthwhile, supporting the site, supporting the genre, supporting me, in some cases: my advertisers.
I put out a call to writers, fans, dealers and anyone else I could think of who had some sort of connection to P.I. fiction, and offered then a month of free advertising, starting April 1.You can check out the Lucky Thirteen here.
FREE TV
Here's a birthday present for ya! Watch "The Blue Panther," based on a Norbert Davis story, first broadcast (live) in 1952. Cheesy but entertaining.
WHAT ABOUT THE SITE?
Glad you asked. The State of the Union is strong. Or at least stronger than it has been for years. We're back to regular updates and traffic is up. Links are being clicked and people have pretty much stopped spitting on me in public.
This Just In... down below has proven quite popular for those who want to know what's happening in the P.I. world and we're picking up a following on Twitter, as well.
Of course, this site was never a one-man show, and so I'd like to thank all of you out there who have lent a hand over the years: the writers, the fans, the advertisers, the members of "the staff" and especially, of course, Victoria and Gerald, who for so long served as fiction editors, and Chris Baldemor, our ongoing film/television editor.
Meanwhile, the big wheel keeps on turning. Got some P.I. news? Got a book coming out? Saw a great flick last week? Found an eye we've missed? Let us know...
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Quote of the Week
"I'm not going to hurt him.
He won't feel a thing."
-- Mr. Chapel reassures his assistant, K.C.,
about his treatment of a suspect he's captured
on television's Vengance Unlimited (1998-99).
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This Just In...
What's New in the P.I. World
(Plus Random Thoughts & Other Provocations)
- Smile, Harry, You're on DVD
At long last Harry O is going to be available on DVD. Or at least, one of its pilots will be. The 1974 TV flick "Smile, Jenny, You're Dead," starring David Janssen as the cranky, wry SoCal P.I. who many say was the best TV private eye ever, will be released by Warner Home Video as a "made on demand" (MOD) DVD. The film also stars Andrea Marcovicci and a young Jodie Foster.
- Ace Atkins to Continue Robert B. Parker's Spenser Series???
Okay, I could swallow Collins continuing Spillane, or Gores doing Hammett. I could even get behind Parker doing Chandler. The results may have varied, but they were honourable and sincere attempts by gifted writers to do their writing heroes justice.
But Ace Atkins? WTF???
Couldn't they at least wait until the body was cool? I mean, shit, Parker hasn't been dead two years. And the final Spenser, Sixkill, isn't even out until next month.
Like him or not, Parker's was a unique and influential voice in crime fiction, and this just reeks of opportunism and greed. There's a very bad taste in my mouth right now.
Hawk? We have a job for you...
- Welcome to Thrilling Detective TV
Watch "The Blue Panther," based on a Norbert Davis story, first broadcast in 1952. Cheesy but entertaining.
- Antonio Banderas's Trippy New P.I. Flick Pushes Envelope
As one character asks ""What the fuck's all this got to do with finding a stripper?"
- Life, Death, Fog... and POPCORN!
Ronald Tierney, creator of private eyes Deets Shanahan and Carly Paladino & Noah Lang has a great weekly feature on his blog: a suggested crime flick double feature, plus appropriate beverage recommendations.
- New e-Book List!
Still a work in progress, but because you demanded it, our popular Word on the Street listings will now feature a separate e-book listing.Noir City: 13th Annual LA Film Noir Festival
Presented in collaboration with the Film Noir Foundation.
- The Chosen Thirteen
The results are in! After all, what better way was there to mark our thirteenth than having YOU pick your favourite private eyes of all time?
- Cat Run
An honest-to-goodness P.I. film! In theatres this Friday! From an original script! Too bad it doesn't look so promising.
- Noir Journal Reviews Cocaine and Blue Eyes
Great review of Fred Zackel's 1970s P.I. classic by Ann Snuggs
- What the Sam Hill?
Archie Comics to do hard-boiled private eye series? Again?
Looking for more?
Word on the Street
Hardcovers
Paperbacks
E-books
Collections & Anthologies
DVDs & Video
Comics & Graphic Novels
Reference, Non-Fiction & True Crime
Movies
TV, Radio, Web & Pod Casts
Conventions, Fan Events & Other Fun Suff
Drama, Activities & Other Fun Stuff
Got something coming out?
Got something? Agree? Disagree?
Spill...
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HELP US OUT
Send Chris Baldemor, our Film Editor, any news you can on upcoming theatrical P.I. films and DVD releases. We're also hoping to expand our non-fiction and review sections, so don't be shy.
If you want to help contribute to the site, be it as a writer or an editor or even simply as a sponsor or an advertiser, please drop us a line. We'd be glad to hear from you..
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