Watch Tenspeed And Brown Shoe

Tenspeed and Brown Shoe was a detective series that was aired on ABC in 1980. The series starred Jeff Goldblum as Lionel Whitney, a smooth-talking hustler, and Ben Vereen as E.L. "Brown Shoe" Turner, a mildly inept accountant. The series was created by Stephen J. Cannell, who was also the creator of hit shows like The A-Team, 21 Jump Street, and Wiseguy.

The show's premise revolved around Lionel Whitney, a con artist who is trying to go straight. After being released from prison, Lionel hears about a job opening at a detective agency from his parole officer. The job requires him to partner up with E.L. Turner, a by-the-books accountant who has always played it safe. The two men, who are complete opposites, start working together to solve various crimes.

The show is a mix of comedy and drama, with Lionel's slick persona often clashing with E.L.'s conservative nature. The two men initially have trouble working together, but as the series progresses, they learn to respect each other's strengths and weaknesses. Lionel takes charge in the field, using his street smarts and charm to gather information and get the job done. E.L., on the other hand, is more comfortable in the office, using his accounting skills to analyze data and make sense of the clues.

Aside from the main characters, the show also features a supporting cast of interesting characters. These include Lionel's parole officer, played by John Hancock, who keeps a close eye on Lionel's activities. There's also Lionel's love interest, played by Amber Denyse Austin, who is a reporter trying to get the inside scoop on the agency. Rounding out the cast is Tracey Walter, who plays Lionel's friend and informant, who helps him get information on various cases.

One of the key strengths of Tenspeed and Brown Shoe is its writing. The series was created by Stephen J. Cannell, who was known for his ability to create compelling characters and great dialogue. The show's writers managed to create unique and interesting cases for Lionel and E.L. to solve, which kept the show fresh and exciting. The series also featured plenty of humor, which helped to balance out the more serious moments.

Another strength of the show is its lead actors. Jeff Goldblum and Ben Vereen have great chemistry together, and their performances elevate the material. Goldblum is perfect as Lionel Whitney, delivering his lines with the kind of wit and charm that only he can pull off. Vereen, on the other hand, brings a level of gravitas to the role of E.L. Turner, making him more than just the straight man to Lionel's wisecracks.

The show was also notable for its production values. The series was shot on location in Los Angeles, giving it an authentic feel. The show's opening credits, which featured Lionel and E.L. racing down the streets of LA in a convertible, became iconic and set the tone for the show.

Overall, Tenspeed and Brown Shoe is a fun and enjoyable series. It may not have been as successful as some of Cannell's other shows, but it's still worth checking out for its great writing, performances, and production values. If you like detective shows with a mix of comedy and drama, this is definitely one to watch.

Tenspeed And Brown Shoe is a series that ran for 1 seasons (13 episodes) between February 3, 1980 and on Shout! Factory