Burke's Law (1994 TV series)

The revival of the show, which ran on CBS from 1994 to 1995, was produced by Aaron Spelling's production company. Although the final season of the original series had the character become an agent for the government, the revival retconned this and continued the premise of the first two seasons.

In the second incarnation, Burke is now a deputy chief, assisted by his son Peter (Peter Barton).{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=w8KztFy6QYwC&dq=%22BUrke's+Law+Police%22&pg=PA197 |first1=Tim |last1=Brooks |author-link1=Tim Brooks (television historian) |first2=Earle |last2=Marsh |year=2007 |edition=9 |title=The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows 1946–Present |section=Burke's Law (Police/Detective Drama) |pages=197–198 |publisher=Random House Publishing |location=New York |isbn=978-0-345-49773-4 |access-date=2024-05-23 }} The two are assisted by Medical Examiner Lily Morgan (Bever-Leigh Banfield), and Burke's Filipino driver Henry (Danny Kamekona). Burke and Henry raised Peter after the death of his mother when he was young; although they share a close bond, Burke and Peter can butt heads at times, particularly over Peter's impulsiveness.

The series shared several running gags with its original incarnation, such as Burke often being the object of much female interest — something passed onto his son — a variant of someone asking why Burke, a millionaire, is a cop, and Burke dispensing wisdom to his son and others in a professional manner, dubbed "Burke's Law". The revival, even more than the original program, was regarded as being largely camp. In a nostalgic touch, many of the guest stars were Barry's peers in 1960s cop shows and spy-fi programs, including Patrick Macnee (The Avengers) and Peter Graves (Mission: Impossible). Anne Francis appeared reprising the character Honey West (though she was called "Honey Best" for legal reasons).

• Gene Barry as Chief Amos Burke
• Peter Barton as Det. Peter Burke
• Danny Kamekona as Henry
• Bever-Leigh Banfield as Lily Morgan
• Dom DeLuise as Vinnie Piatte

{{Series overview

| color1 = #000070

| link1 = #Season 1 (1994)

| episodes1 = 13

| start1 = {{Start date|1994|01|07}}

| end1 = {{End date|1994|05|13}}

| color2 = #006400

| link2 = #Season 2 (1995)

| episodes2 = 14

| start2 = {{Start date|1995|03|21}}

| end2 = {{End date|1995|07|27}}

}}

{{Episode table

|background=#000070

|overall=7

|season=7

|title=31

|director=20

|writer=20

|airdate=15

|country=US

|episodes=

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 1

| EpisodeNumber2 = 1

| Title = Who Killed the Starlet?

| DirectedBy = Dennis Dugan

| WrittenBy = Chris Ruppenthal & James L. Conway (teleplay), Chris Ruppenthal (story)

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1994|01|07}}

| ShortSummary = When an actress (Denice D. Lewis) is murdered while filming a scene in a movie, in full view of the cast and crew, Amos and Peter investigate. They have a long list of suspects. Guest starring are Michelle Phillips, Polly Bergen, Gloria Loring, Gerald McRaney, Bret Michaels, George Segal, and Grant Show.

| LineColor = 000070

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 2

| EpisodeNumber2 = 2

| Title = Who Killed the Fashion King?

| DirectedBy = Richard Lang

| WrittenBy = Bruce Franklin Singer

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1994|01|14}}

| ShortSummary = A disliked fashion designer (Nolan Miller) is murdered at his own fashion show. He is shot in the back with an ice arrow from an ice sculpture, in full view of everyone. Amos and Peter find many suspects who hate him. Guest starring are Josie Bissett, Carol Channing, James Eckhouse, Robert Guillaume, William Katt, and Connie Stevens.

| LineColor = 000070

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 3

| EpisodeNumber2 = 3

| Title = Who Killed Nick Hazard?

| DirectedBy = Dennis Dugan

| WrittenBy = Joel J. Feigenbaum

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1994|01|21}}

| ShortSummary = At a convention for private investigators, a private investigator (Robert Sacchi) is murdered. He had several enemies in the detective community, so Peter and Amos have several suspects to investigate. Guest stars include Buddy Ebsen, Anne Francis, Martin Kove, Jameson Parker, and Tanya Roberts.

| LineColor = 000070

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 4

| EpisodeNumber2 = 4

| Title = Who Killed the Beauty Queen?

| DirectedBy = Alan J. Levi

| WrittenBy = James L. Conway

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1994|01|28}}

| ShortSummary = When the frontrunner (Denise Richards) in a beauty contest is murdered, Peter and Amos have multitudes of suspects from which to choose. Then, the only witness (Paul Johansson) to the murder is killed before he can be questioned. Guest stars are Jennifer Aniston, Elizabeth Berkley, Diahann Carroll, Joanna Cassidy, Dean Stockwell, and Alan Thicke.

| LineColor = 000070

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 5

| EpisodeNumber2 = 5

| Title = Who Killed the Host at the Roast?

| DirectedBy = Richard Lang

| WrittenBy = Michael Lewis Barry
Gene Barry

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1994|02|04}}

| ShortSummary = A comedian (Jack Carter) being honored at a roast by his peers is electrocuted in front of everyone. Peter and Amos investigate his death and discover various suspects who have motives. Milton Berle, Corey Feldman, Elliott Gould, Gavin MacLeod, Rue McClanahan, Ed McMahon, Tracy Scoggins, Peter Scolari, and Tori Spelling have guest-star roles.

| LineColor = 000070

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 6

| EpisodeNumber2 = 6

| Title = Who Killed Alexander the Great?

| DirectedBy = Charles Correll,
Richard Lang

| WrittenBy = Joel Blasberg ({{abbr|s/t|story and teleplay}}),
Richard Levinson ({{abbr|s|story}}),
William Link ({{abbr|s|story}})

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1994|03|04}}

| ShortSummary = A famous magician named Alexander (John Astin) is murdered while performing a trick in front of other magicians, and no one can figure out how it was accomplished. Peter and Amos realize the other magicians are jealous of Alexander. Guest stars include Melissa Sue Anderson, Tom Bosley, Meagen Fay, Mark Hamill, Roddy McDowall, and Audrey Meadows.

| LineColor = 000070

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 7

| EpisodeNumber2 = 7

| Title = Who Killed the Soap Star?

| DirectedBy = Richard Lang

| WrittenBy = Sean Clark

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1994|03|11}}

| ShortSummary = When the star (Kimberley Simms) of a popular daytime soap arrives at the annual awards show, she is murdered on the red carpet in full view of a television audience. Peter and Amos have many suspects from whom to choose. James Brolin, David Faustino, Bonnie Franklin, John Schneider, and Hunter Tylo guest-star in this episode.

| LineColor = 000070

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 8

| EpisodeNumber2 = 8

| Title = Who Killed Romeo?

| DirectedBy = Christopher Hibler

| WrittenBy = Roger Lowenstein

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1994|04|01}}

| ShortSummary = A philandering hairstylist (Ian Ogilvy) is murdered with his own hair spray. Peter and Amos have a plethora of suspects and jilted lovers. Guest stars in this episode include Dick Butkus, Morgan Fairchild, Eva Gabor, Florence Henderson, Finola Hughes, Tiffani Thiessen, and Jesse White.

| LineColor = 000070

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 9

| EpisodeNumber2 = 9

| Title = Who Killed the Legal Eagle?

| DirectedBy = Christopher Hibler

| WrittenBy = Joel J. Feigenbaum

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1994|04|08}}

| ShortSummary = When an unscrupulous, ambulance-chasing lawyer (Dave Coulier) is run down by a speeding ambulance, it is considered murder by the police. Peter and Amos find many suspects who do not like shysters. Twins Brittany and Cynthia Daniel guest-starred in this episode as Ginny and Jinny, along with Kristian Alfonso, Sherman Hemsley, Linda Purl, David Rasche, Claire Yarlett, and Efrem Zimbalist Jr.

| LineColor = 000070

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 10

| EpisodeNumber2 = 10

| Title = Who Killed Good Time Charlie?

| DirectedBy = Jefferson Kibbee

| WrittenBy = Bruce Franklin Singer

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1994|04|15}}

| ShortSummary = When a man (Rick Dees), noted for his incessant practical jokes, is found at a hotel frozen to death on a hot summer day, Peter and Amos find plenty of suspects who wished him dead. Guest stars include Kevin Dobson, Mary Frann, Don Knotts, Martin Mull, Jane Sibbett, and Parker Stevenson.

| LineColor = 000070

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 11

| EpisodeNumber2 = 11

| Title = Who Killed the Romance?

| DirectedBy = Gilbert M. Shilton

| WrittenBy = Bruce Franklin Singer

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1994|04|29}}

| ShortSummary = Someone takes sweet revenge on a tacky romance novelist (Stella Stevens) by putting boom-booms in her bon-bons. Valerie Perrine and Shirley Jones also guest-star, along with Don Diamont, Shirley Jones, Brian Keith, Tracy Nelson, and Valerie Perrine.

| LineColor = 000070

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 12

| EpisodeNumber2 = 12

| Title = Who Killed Skippy's Master?

| DirectedBy = Christian Nyby II

| WrittenBy = Thomas C. Chapman

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1994|05|06}}

| ShortSummary = A man (Mark DeCarlo) is murdered, leaving only his dog as a witness. Later, his veterinarian (Dick Van Patten) is murdered, leaving Peter and Amos to question why the dog had not barked at the killer. Stephanie Beacham, Morgan Brittany, Steve Lawrence, Dusty Rhodes, and Dick Van Patten guest-star.

| LineColor = 000070

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 13

| EpisodeNumber2 = 13

| Title = Who Killed the Anchorman?

| DirectedBy = Gilbert M. Shilton

| WrittenBy = James L. Conway,
Joel J. Feigenbaum

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1994|05|13}}

| ShortSummary = Before he can leave the station for a new job, a TV anchorman (Peter Keleghan) ends with a deadly newscast. Peter and Amos have to find which of his co-workers is the killer. Guest-starring are Gary Collins, Mike Connors, Erin Gray, David Leisure, Gail O'Grady, and Meshach Taylor.

| LineColor = 000070

}}

}}

{{Episode table

|background=#006400

|overall=7

|season=7

|title=31

|director=20

|writer=20

|airdate=15

|country=US

|episodes=

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 14

| EpisodeNumber2 = 1

| Title = Who Killed the World's Greatest Chef?

| DirectedBy = Michael Lange

| WrittenBy = Michael Lewis Barry
Gene Barry

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1995|03|21}}

| ShortSummary = Amos Burke sniffs out a celebrity chef's (Marty Ingels) circle of friends — who are ingredients for a recipe for murder. Guest starring Melody Anderson, Frankie Avalon, Kathleen Robertson, Barbara Rush, and Doug Savant.

| LineColor = 006400

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 15

| EpisodeNumber2 = 2

| Title = Who Killed the Gadget Man?

| DirectedBy = Dennis Dugan

| WrittenBy = Chris Brancato

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1995|03|28}}

| ShortSummary = When a ruthless TV-infomercial producer (Pat Harrington Jr.) with a host of enemies is murdered, suspicions fall on five of his disgruntled staffers. Guest starring Thomas Calabro, Nicole Eggert, Pat Harrington Jr., Howard Hesseman, Shirley Jones, Vicki Lawrence, and Rita Moreno.

| LineColor = 006400

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 16

| EpisodeNumber2 = 3

| Title = Who Killed the Motorcar Maverick?

| DirectedBy = Gus Trikonis

| WrittenBy = Joel J. Feigenbaum

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1995|04|14}}

| ShortSummary = The president (Jon Cypher) of an electric-car company comes to a dead end while demonstrating his sleek prototype. Guest starring Elizabeth Ashley, David Birney, Erik Estrada, Debi Mazar, and Pat Morita.

| LineColor = 006400

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 17

| EpisodeNumber2 = 4

| Title = Who Killed the Highest Bidder?

| DirectedBy = Chip Chalmers

| WrittenBy = Bruce Franklin Singer

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1995|04|28}}

| ShortSummary = The buyer (Doug McClure) of a reputedly cursed onyx jaguar is found with his throat slashed. Guest starring Loni Anderson, Cyd Charisse, Marcia Cross, Margot Kidder, and Charles Shaughnessy.

| LineColor = 006400

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 18

| EpisodeNumber2 = 5

| Title = Who Killed Mr. Game Show?

| DirectedBy = Gus Trikonis

| WrittenBy = Thomas C. Chapman

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1995|05|05}}

| ShortSummary = Amos quizzes the stars and staff of a game show called Hangman to find clues to the gallows-style murder of the show's ruthless producer (Peter Marshall). Guest starring Richard Karn, Sally Kellerman, Lauren Lane, Belinda Montgomery, Lyle Waggoner, and Craig Richard Nelson.

| LineColor = 006400

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 19

| EpisodeNumber2 = 6

| Title = Who Killed the Lifeguard?

| DirectedBy = Jefferson Kibbee

| WrittenBy = James L. Conway

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1995|05|25}}

| ShortSummary = A lifeguard (Paul Satterfield) is drowned in his pool and Burke investigates. They learn that he was a womanizer and among the women he's been with is another lifeguard, a VJ, a princess whom he promised he would marry, and a swimsuit designer. Also, the designer's ex-husband had reason to want him dead. Guest starring Downtown Julie Brown, Robert Desiderio, Debbe Dunning, Samantha Eggar, Catherine Hicks, and Eugene Lee.

| LineColor = 006400

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 20

| EpisodeNumber2 = 7

| Title = Who Killed the Centerfold?

| DirectedBy = Noel Nosseck

| WrittenBy = Chris Brancato

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1995|06|01}}

| ShortSummary = A centerfold model (Lisa Stahl) is killed on the set of a photo shoot. Among the suspects is another model who was competing with her for the centerfold of the year; her former agent, who claims she stole something from her; a photographer whom she clashed with; the magazine's publisher, whom she's suing for sexual harassment; and her husband, a millionaire whom she's leaving and planning to take to the cleaners. Guest starring Anthony Geary, Robert Goulet, Leann Hunley, Perry King, and Romy Walthall.

| LineColor = 006400

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 21

| EpisodeNumber2 = 8

| Title = Who Killed the Movie Mogul?

| DirectedBy = Tony Mordente

| WrittenBy = Joel J. Feigenbaum

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1995|06|08}}

| ShortSummary = Amos and Peter scare up a cast of suspects in the ghoulish murder of a horror movie mogul (Joseph Bologna). Guest starring Jason Bateman, Crystal Chappell, Christine Elise, Carol Potter, and Robert Vaughn.

| LineColor = 006400

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 22

| EpisodeNumber2 = 9

| Title = Who Killed the Toy Maker?

| DirectedBy = Gilbert M. Shilton

| WrittenBy = James L. Conway

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1995|06|15}}

| ShortSummary = A toy company president (Adam West) meets his maker after his stuffed animal explodes in his hands. Guest starring June Allyson, Priscilla Barnes, J.D. Daniels, Bill Fagerbakke, and Peter Graves.

| LineColor = 006400

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 23

| EpisodeNumber2 = 10

| Title = Who Killed Cock-a-Doodle Dooley?

| DirectedBy = Mike Vejar

| WrittenBy = Bruce Franklin Singer

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1995|06|22}}

| ShortSummary = Foul play is suspected in the death of a fried-chicken entrepreneur (Robert Mandan) who ruffled more than a few feathers and then was run down crossing the road. Guest starring Herb Edelman, Tawny Kitaen, Dan Lauria, Jon Polito, Doris Roberts, and Penny Santon.

| LineColor = 006400

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 24

| EpisodeNumber2 = 11

| Title = Who Killed the King of the Country Club?

| DirectedBy = Dennis Dugan

| WrittenBy = Joel J. Feigenbaum

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1995|07|06}}

| ShortSummary = Wally King (Jed Allan), an obnoxious playboy and member of an exclusive country club, is found dead. Guest starring Greg Evigan, Carl Gordon, Harvey Korman, Darren McGavin, Marion Ross, Sheree J. Wilson.

| LineColor = 006400

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 25

| EpisodeNumber2 = 12

| Title = Who Killed the Sweet Smell of Success?

| DirectedBy = Tony Mordente

| WrittenBy = Stanley Ralph Ross

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1995|07|13}}

| ShortSummary = The Chief smells murder in the scent of a perfumist (Monte Markham) whose heavenly new scent had him on Cloud Nine. Guest starring Jack Coleman, Robert Culp, Nancy Everhard, Heather Medway, and Loretta Swit.

| LineColor = 006400

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 26

| EpisodeNumber2 = 13

| Title = Who Killed the Hollywood Headshrinker?

| DirectedBy = Walter Grauman

| WrittenBy = Bruce Franklin Singer

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1995|07|20}}

| ShortSummary = Someone in a shrink's group therapy sessions wants to terminate the therapy — and the therapist (Jeff Conaway). Then, another group member (Gary Burghoff) is killed before he can be questioned. Guest starring Marla Gibbs, Paula Prentiss, Jake Steinfeld, and Hunter Tylo.

| LineColor = 006400

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 27

| EpisodeNumber2 = 14

| Title = Who Killed the Tennis Ace?

| DirectedBy = Gilbert M. Shilton

| WrittenBy = William Conway

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1995|07|28}}

| ShortSummary = An arrogant tennis player (Matthew Ashford) is killed when someone places a poisonous spider in his shoe box. So Amos and Peter, who knew the man, start by looking at the people who would have wanted to see him dead. Among them are his business manager whom he was considering firing; his former partner and ex-wife, whom he mistreated; his current girlfriend, who has a reputation as a bad girl and who has exotic pets like poisonous spiders; and the shoe company exec who's upset that he's trying to get out of a contract to endorse their shoes. Guest starring Mary Crosby, Michael Nouri, Stephanie Romanov, Nana Visitor, and William Windom.

| LineColor = 006400

}}

}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{IMDb title|0108715|Burke's Law (1994)}}
• {{epguides|BurkesLaw_1994|Burke's Law (1994)}}

Category:1990s American crime drama television series

Category:1994 American television series debuts

Category:1995 American television series endings

Category:Fictional portrayals of the Los Angeles Police Department

Category:Television shows set in Los Angeles

Category:Television series by Spelling Television

Category:Television series reboots

Category:American sequel television series

Category:American detective television series

Category:American English-language television shows

Category:CBS crime dramas