Series synopsis
Barnaby Jones is an American crime drama mystery television series that premiered on CBS on January 28, 1973. It ended on April 3, 1980. It was created by Edward Hume. It stars Buddy Ebsen, Lee Meriwether, Mark Shera and Liberty Godshall.
Barnaby Jones is a television detective series starring Buddy Ebsen and Lee Meriwether as father- and daughter-in-law who run a private detective firm in Los Angeles. The show ran on CBS from January 28, 1973 to April 3, 1980, beginning as a midseason replacement. William Conrad guest starred as Frank Cannon of Cannon on the first episode of Barnaby Jones, "Requiem for a Son" and the two series had a two-part crossover episode in 1975, "The Deadly Conspiracy".
Premise
Barnaby Jones is a television detective series starring Buddy Ebsen and Lee Meriwether as father- and daughter-in-law who run a private detective firm in Los Angeles. The show ran on CBS from January 28, 1973 to April 3, 1980, beginning as a midseason replacement. William Conrad guest starred as Frank Cannon of Cannon on the first episode of Barnaby Jones, "Requiem for a Son" and the two series had a two-part crossover episode in 1975, "The Deadly Conspiracy".
Cast and characters
Leading cast
- Buddy Ebsen as Barnaby Jones
- Lee Meriwether as Betty Jones
- Mark Shera as JR Jones
- Liberty Godshall as Nancy
- Madeleine Fisher as Jennifer Hunt / Felicia Norris
- William Conrad as Frank Cannon
- Janice Rule as Diane Stewart
- Victoria Shaw as Dorothy Carlyle
Supporting cast
- William Shatner as Phil Carlyle / Fred Williams
- Corinne Camacho as Bonnie Lee
- Geraldine Brooks as Janet Enright
- Jerry Houser as Paul Thayer
- Andrew Parks as Charles Lomax
- Eric Braeden as Steven Kingston
- Jamie Smith-Jackson as Christie Sanders
- Richard Hatch as Eric Garvin
- Barbara Stuart as Winnie Harback
- Nancy Wickwire as Mrs. Sanders
- Michael Blodgett as Kirk
- Nico Minardos as Raul Felipe
Guest cast
- Liberty Godshall as Nancy
- Madeleine Fisher as Jennifer Hunt / Felicia Norris
- William Conrad as Frank Cannon
- Janice Rule as Diane Stewart
- Victoria Shaw as Dorothy Carlyle
- William Shatner as Phil Carlyle / Fred Williams
- Corinne Camacho as Bonnie Lee
- Geraldine Brooks as Janet Enright
- Jerry Houser as Paul Thayer
- Andrew Parks as Charles Lomax
- Eric Braeden as Steven Kingston
- Jamie Smith-Jackson as Christie Sanders
Episodes
This series spans 8 seasons with 178 episodes.
| Season | Episodes | First aired | Last aired |
|---|---|---|---|
| Season 1 | 13 | January 28, 1973 | May 6, 1973 |
| Season 2 | 24 | September 16, 1973 | March 31, 1974 |
| Season 3 | 24 | September 10, 1974 | April 15, 1975 |
| Season 4 | 24 | September 19, 1975 | March 18, 1976 |
| Season 5 | 24 | October 7, 1976 | May 19, 1977 |
| Season 6 | 22 | September 15, 1977 | March 2, 1978 |
| Season 7 | 25 | September 21, 1978 | April 19, 1979 |
| Season 8 | 22 | September 20, 1979 | April 3, 1980 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Requiem for a Son Detective Barnaby Jones comes out of retirement to solve his son's murder with some help from fellow detective Frank Cannon. |
January 28, 1973 |
| 2 |
To Catch a Dead Man A sportsman's plans for a new life begin with murder. |
February 4, 1973 |
| 3 |
Sunday: Doomsday Barnaby engages in a game of cat-and-mouse with a murderer who blames him for his jail time |
February 25, 1973 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Blind Terror Barnaby's investigation into the disappearance of a young girl hinges on a roommate who may have witnessed what happened to her. But the roommate herself now suffers from hysterical blindness because of the traumatic event. Barnaby must find a way to crack the case before the roommate becomes the next victim. |
September 16, 1973 |
| 2 |
Death Leap While investigating the death of an apparent suicide jumper Barnaby learns there was a jewel robbery in the building next door at the very same time the man jumped. Following his gut instinct he suspects the two incidents are connected. |
September 23, 1973 |
| 3 |
Echo of a Murder At the request of his late son Hal's friend, Barnaby investigates a lodge owner who is suspected of murdering his wife. Even though he finds conclusive evidence to exonerate the man, Jones suspects that all is not as it appears. |
September 30, 1973 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
A Gathering of Thieves Barnaby uncovers a trail of lies, deceit, and murder as he investigates the death of a real estate investor on the behalf of his grieving daughter - who is convinced it was not accidental. |
September 10, 1974 |
| 2 |
Dead Man's Run While investigating the whereabouts of some missing embezzlement money, Barnaby uncovers fraud, blackmail, and a couple of murders committed by a man who's suppose to be dead. |
September 17, 1974 |
| 3 |
The Challenge Barnaby is hired to investigate the alleged suicide of a very wealthy woman's husband. What he discovers is another investigator who supplements his income with blackmail, and will murder anyone who gets in his way. |
September 24, 1974 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
The Deadly Conspiracy (II) Cannon and Barnaby Jones investigate the death of a young woman who was about to expose the illegal activities of the large corporation she was working for. The crossover starts on Cannon S05E02 The Deadly Conspiracy (I). |
September 19, 1975 |
| 2 | Theater of Fear | September 26, 1975 |
| 3 | The Orchid Killer | October 3, 1975 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Blood Vengeance | October 7, 1976 |
| 2 | Deadline for Dying | October 14, 1976 |
| 3 | Sins of Thy Father | October 21, 1976 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Death Beat | September 15, 1977 |
| 2 | The Mercenaries | September 22, 1977 |
| 3 | The Wife Beater | September 29, 1977 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Blind Jeopardy | September 21, 1978 |
| 2 |
A Dangerous Affair Barnaby and J.R. investigates an insurance case that was reported as a suicide, but J.R. has a feeling that it could actually be a murder stemming from a blackmail conspiracy. |
September 28, 1978 |
| 3 |
Deadly Sanctuary While taking a couple of days vacation to help out a friend, Betty encounters a serial rapist who prays upon women who frequent a local bar- only to learn that a different man has already been sent to prison for earlier similar assaults. |
October 12, 1978 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Man on Fire Barnaby grudgingly begins to suspect that an arson investigator that he has trusted for years is involved in setting fires and then ruling them as accidental in order to get a cut of the insurance money. |
September 20, 1979 |
| 2 | Nightmare in Hawaii (1) | September 27, 1979 |
| 3 | Nightmare in Hawaii (2) | September 27, 1979 |
Production
Release
| Original network/platform | CBS |
|---|---|
| First aired | January 28, 1973 |
| Last aired | April 3, 1980 |
| Runtime | 46 minutes |
| Status | ended |
| Schedule | Thursday at 22:00:00 |