Silk Stalkings: Season one

1991 represented a unique opportunity for U.S. TV show creators. Unlike today, when cable networks make up much of the original programming, there were few markets for new shows. The fledgling Fox network was only four years old, and the triumvirate of broadcasting giants (ABC, CBS, and NBC) had the power of dinosaurs. But there was a hiccup in late-night scheduling: David Letterman had signed a new contract to host a talk show on CBS, but his NBC contract still had two years to run. So CBS decided to run a slate of dramatic fare -- five new shows to keep the seat warm for Letterman -- which they called "Crime Time After Primetime". Stephen J. Cannell, creator of literally dozens of TV shows, had something called "Silk Stalkings" that he'd been working on for a few years; he pitched it, got the go-ahead, and quickly went into production.This was a cop show featuring a pair of Palm Beach (Florida) police detectives who specialized in crimes of passion in that enclave of the wealthy, said crimes being referred to as "silk stalkings". A first for television, they were a mixed-sex pair who were friends and partners on an equal footing (both Sergeants) -- but NOT romantically involved. The headliners were Rob Estes (whom Cannell had been attempting to fit into a series for a while) as Chris Lorenzo, and newcomer Mitzi Kapture as Rita Lee Lance. Longtime Cannell friend Ben Vereen completed the short list of headliners as Captain Hutchinson. But the important element of "Silk Stalkings" was the dynamic duo of Rob & Mitzi as Chris & Rita, with a natural screen chemistry that shone over such dialog as "That woman would leave skidmarks on your libido."From the first episode of "Silk Stalkings" it's easy to see that this show is long on style and short on budget. The low advertising rates for late-night TV meant that the show had to be shot on a relative shoestring, so Cannell and company decided to emphasize stylistic elements, such as vivid colors in both sets and wardrobe. Chris and Rita both refer affectionately to each other as "Sam". This isn't the expected reference to Dashiell Hammett's detective, but rather to "Slammin' Sammy Sneed, the greatest golfer of all time". Golf is VERY important in the first season of "Silk Stalkings", because it's used mostly as a metaphor for sex. When you're specializing in crimes of passion sex takes center stage, and the riveting opening credits featuring many quick cuts of attractive bodies capably sets the tone for the show.Two years before "NYPD Blue" brought "partial nudity" to prime time TV, "Silk Stalkings" established it as a late-night mainstay. In the very first episode there are topless women jumping into a pool. The bare breasts here happen to be moving quickly and in dim lighting, but this was just a start. With the limited budget they couldn't afford to re-shoot accidental exposures any more than they could redo the frequent poor acting of an episode's bimbo of the week, so there are several nipple exposures that would have caused fits with the prime time censors. To be fair these only show up for a second or two each, but DVD sets mean never having to say "I missed that". (There are also a couple of actresses who wore flesh-tone pasties for modesty.)The first season tried a bunch of experiments toward achieving a workable series formula, and many failures were quickly discarded. Rita is introduced with an inoperable brain aneurism; a questionable life expectancy is supposed to make her wring the most out of every day. After a few episodes the aneurism is never mentioned again. In the first season women's hosiery is worn ubiquitously (silk stockings for the "silk stalkings" crowd, of course) after bare legs had been the fashion norm for the beach crowd a couple years already. Plus there was lots of 1980's big hair to go with the hosiery (perhaps an attempt at copying some of the feel of "Miami Vice", which had been airing while Cannell was developing "Silk Stalkings"). The golfing metaphors dropped off quite a bit after this season, too. And there were a couple too many hillside homes used from the San Diego shooting locations than made sense for Florida, where a 20-story Miami Beach hotel towers over the highest spot in that very flat state.Guest stars for this season included Gary Hudson, Cindy Ambuehl, William Anton, Ann Turkel, R.G. Armstrong, Kim Morgan Greene, Jay Acovone, Terri Treas, Dennis Paladino, Judith Chapman, William McNamara, Elizabeth Barondes, Denice Duff, Marta DuBois, Kristen Cloke, Vanity, and Bobbie Phillips.The DVD collection doesn't have any audio commentaries, and lacks closed captions. The audio and video are of very good quality, though. The bonus material features a few minutes each of reflections on the show and the people they worked with from Rob Estes, Mitzi Kapture, Steven J. Cannell, and Ben Vereen.Summary: If you can overlook frequents signs of a low-budget show, "Silk Stalkings" has a lot to offer. Highly recommended.

Disc 1 was missing from the DVD package. I was refunded for it.

I watched "Silk Stalkings" when it first aired and I never missed an episode. It is a crime drama set in Palm Beach, Florida. Palm Beach, a place where the rich and beautiful have a different set of rules and if you like provocative and fun, you'd enjoy this show.The show is like "chocolate". It is sweet, delicious and decadent; you know it is probably bad for you but you keep endulging.I have purchased all five seasons of "Silk Stalkings" for my library and I recommend this series. Keep in mind that season 5 has dramatic surprises and changes.For a show that takes you to a world of the rich, sexy and dangerous-it is another winner created by Stephen J. Cannell. You can't go wrong by paying a visit.

Okay..okay.....One must overlook the stange unrealistic sets and odd exaggerated use of color (NEVER is there a scene without pink or purple either in clothing, buildings, room colors, etc...)One must overlook the sometimes cheesy predictable plots, stiff dialogues and cornball humor.Okay.. one must also overlook the fact that this looks NOTHING like West Palm Beach Florida............One must also overlook the tight budget and fast shooting schedules that makes the plots predictable and sometimes even illogical with gaping holes....BUT despite all this... a chemisty in the show works to make it one of the 90's most entertaining and enjoyable "cop duo" partner shows around.It's like chocolate cake....... not full of nutrition or good quality calories, but enjoyable just the same !

I got excited when I heard that Silk Stalkings was getting a DVD release after all these years. I was about 7 or 8 when I used to watch the show in the early 90's. Thinking back to these days brought back good memories of these times, the times of when on friday or saturday nights '21 Jump Street, then 'Werewolf' and then 'The Twilight Zone' were on late at night on TV.I didn't remember all the episodes in the series, except two things, the one with Partrick Muldoon being the psycho, and the title credits with that unforgettable music.Rob Estes and Mitzi Kapture are wonderful. These two have good chemistry on screen.

when chemistry is involved you get magic every story is a scene stealer they just mesh like two of the same person

I remember this show from long ago. I really liked it then and, although it is very dated and some what cheesy, I'm finding myself getting sucked into the stories again. This is vintage cable programming, that shows some skin now and then, and with simple story lines, but you have to admit the lead actors have chemistry and it is good entertainment. I watch a couple episodes on nights when there isn't much worth watching on TV, which now days means I should be finished with the first season in a few weeks. I recommend this to the more seasoned viewer, the younger generations won't grasp the life without the technical wonders of today.

I have watched only the first three episodes so far. SPOILER ALERT!I did not know Det. Rita had an aneurysm. That kind of makes it better, in the way that Buffy the Vampire Slayer is doomed? (I'm unsure how to phrase that: I like strong female characters, but not ball-busters, and pretty never hurts, with the sword of Damocles adding a certain frisson?)

This was shown in the USA in the early 90's at 10 pm. It is about two homicide detectives in Palm Beach near Miami (filmed in San Diego). As far as I know it was never shown in the UK. Much of it is the platonic relationship between Mitzi and Rob. The DVD's are region 1 and NTSC, there are 5 seasons. It is made to a formula, but it is pretty good. It involves two homicide detectives solving murders etc etc. It has some scenes of Bikini clad woman, the language is OK, no nudity, strictly for adults. I bought the DVD for nostalgia reasons as it helped to get me to sleep nearly 20 years ago, for longer reviews go to Amazon.com.The creator of the series, Stephen J. Cannell also helped to create "The Rockford Files" with James Garner.

Very risqué for its era. A series of good plots. Old but interesting as part of film history.

Plenty of superb women throughout the series which everybody will enjoy,in action and diversity.Not at all in the great Miami Vice though.B.Griffiths.

fantastic

Video quality very good. Be advised there are no subtitles or closed captioning. Also the DVD case is pretty low-budget with paper sleeves for the discs, but on the other hand, no holders to get worn out or chipped.