Philip Fibiger

As the television seasons wind down, there is one jewel remaining that will keep me entertained through the summer. A&E’s near-perfect Nero Wolfe. My parents had dog-eared copies of nearly all of Rex Stout’s novels in the mystery section of their library, and I read my way through all of them. As far as adaptations of books go, this television show is about as good as it gets. The show is colorful, fun, witty, and smart. Timothy Hutton is absolutely perfect as Archie Goodwin, and while rough at the beginning, Maury Chaykin has matured into a wonderful Wolfe. Toss in a rotating cast of regulars, that make the show feel more like a stage production and less like a television show, and it is without a doubt one of the best shows on television. I leave you with a couple of choice quotes from Mr. Wolfe that should give you an idea of how the books and the show work:

Mr. Goodwin’s professional reputation and competence have been challenged, and by extension my own. You invoked respondeat superior; I will not only answer, I will act.

Mr. Kearns, an irate visitor : ‘I demand an explanation! I intend to hold you to account for alienating the affection of my wife.’
‘Affections,’ Wolfe said.
‘What?’
‘Affections. In that context the plural is used.’ He lifted the glass and drank, and licked his lips.
Kearns stared at him. ‘I didn’t come here,’ he said, ‘to have my grammar corrected.’
‘Not grammar. Diction.’