The ABC Mystery Movie

The ABC Mystery Movie was a revival of the original Wheel Program which ran on NBC in the 1970s. The new wheel was far less successful, running for one and a half seasons. The theme music was written by Mike Post, who also wrote or co-wrote the themes for two of the new components. This is the intro.

In order of debut:


 * Columbo: Peter Falk returned to his Star Making Role, this time also serving as an executive producer (he also wrote an episode). Several people who worked on the original series were also involved here, both in front of (William Shatner, Patrick McGoohan) and behind the camera (such as writers Peter S. Fischer, Steven Bochco and Columbo veteran Jackson Gillis).
 * B.L. Stryker (1989-1990): Burt Reynolds as a Vietnam vet and ex-cop who works as a private investigator in Palm Beach, Florida, with Ossie Davis as his ex-boxer pal. Executive produced by Tom Selleck, who knew a thing or two about moustached Vietnam vets/detectives. The opening title with Mike Post theme music.
 * Gideon Oliver (1989): Louis Gossett Jr. as an anthropology professor/detective. Set in New York City. Theme by Mike Post and Stephen James Taylor.

For its second and final season the series was moved to Saturdays and retitled ABC Saturday Mystery. Columbo and B.L. Stryker were retained, and joined by:


 * Christine Cromwell (1989-1990): Jaclyn Smith as an independently wealthy attorney in San Francisco.
 * Kojak (1989-1990): Already brought back earlier in the decade in two successful TV movies, ABC added Inspector Kojak (again played by Telly Savalas) to the wheel when a rerun of the second movie did well in the ratings.

Although this Wheel Program ended in 1990, Columbo continued to air in the form of occasional TV movies until 2003, and Kojak was the subject of another short-lived Revival in 2005 by the USA Network with Ving Rhames as the hair-challenged cop.