Regardless of any denials, we just don't like old people in America. In 1973 a sexagenarian and a septuagenarian had a brief run as The Snoop Sisters which perhaps paved the way for another sexagenarian led series, Murder she wrote. But it was Mildred Natwick and Helen Hayes who attempted to show that being old didn't mean being senile. Hayes was Ernesta Snoop, a mystery writer, with Natwick (Gwendolyn Snoop Nicholscon) as her amanuenses. Their nephew, Lieutenant Ostrowski (Lawrence Pressman) and chauffeur cum bodyguard, Barney (Art Carney) are their unwilling collaborators as the two seniors became involved in a series of mysteries. The show was part of a "wheel" on NBC meaning it alternated with three other shows Banachek, Tenafly, and Faraday and Company. Only Banachek survived. However, after the first episode both Pressman and Carney were unfortunately replaced with Bert Convy and Lou Antonio. The series didn't make it past the fifth episode but featured a guest star cast of up and coming stars (Jill Clayburgh, Bill Dana, Ed Flanders, etc.) and established but now forgotten stars (Cyril Ritchard, Maurice Evans, Geraldine Page, etc). Even today, it is still a great watch as two pros, Hayes and Natwick, demonstrate age is not a deterrent to being a star.
While you still had murder aplenty, it was the subtle wit and byplay dialogue between the sisters that was featured. Of course, the two always seemed to be well ahead of the nephew in finding suspects; and could always outwit their chauffeur. The DVD release is OK but on today's large high def TV's the resolution can fuzz a bit.
While you still had murder aplenty, it was the subtle wit and byplay dialogue between the sisters that was featured. Of course, the two always seemed to be well ahead of the nephew in finding suspects; and could always outwit their chauffeur. The DVD release is OK but on today's large high def TV's the resolution can fuzz a bit.