Peter Gunn

Peter Gunn
GenreAction
Crime drama
Created byBlake Edwards[1]
Written by
  • Steffi Barrett
  • Tony Barrett
  • Gene L. Coon
  • Blake Edwards
  • George Fass
  • Gertrude Fass
  • Vick Knight
  • P. K. Palmer
  • Lester Pine
  • Lewis Reed
Starring
ComposerHenry Mancini[1]
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons3
No. of episodes114 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producers
Camera setupSingle-camera
Running time30 minutes
Production companySpartan Productions
Original release
Network
  • NBC (1958–60)
  • ABC (1960–1961)
ReleaseSeptember 22, 1958 (1958-09-22) –
September 18, 1961 (1961-09-18)
Infobox instructions (only shown in preview)

Peter Gunn is an American private eye television series, starring Craig Stevens as Peter Gunn with Lola Albright as his girlfriend, lounge singer Edie Hart. The series was broadcast by NBC from September 22, 1958,[2] to 1960 and by ABC in 1960–61.[3] The series was created by Blake Edwards, who, on occasion, was also writer (for 39 episodes) and director (for nine episodes).[4][5][6]

According to Vincent Terrace, Peter Gunn was the first detective series whose character was created especially for television, instead of adapted from other media.[3]

The series is probably best remembered today for its music, including the iconic "Peter Gunn Theme", which was nominated for an Emmy Award[7] and two Grammys for Henry Mancini. Subsequently it has been performed and recorded by many jazz, rock and blues musicians. The progressive rock band Emerson, Lake & Palmer recorded the song, adding synthesizers. The series was number 17 in the Nielsen ratings for the 1958–59 TV season and number 29 for the 1960–61 TV season.[8][9]

  1. ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference Ct was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Snauffer, Douglas (2006). Crime Television. Greenwood Publishing Group. pp. 22–24. ISBN 9780275988074. Retrieved May 1, 2018.
  3. ^ a b Terrace, Vincent (2003). The Television Crime Fighters Factbook: Over 9,800 Details from 301 Programs, 1937–2003. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Co. pp. 93–94. ISBN 9780786415335. Retrieved April 30, 2018.
  4. ^ "Peter Gunn - Season One Episodes".
  5. ^ "Peter Gunn - Season Two Episodes".
  6. ^ "Peter Gunn - Season Three Episodes". www.petergunn.tv.
  7. ^ "("Peter Gunn" search results)". Emmy Awards. Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Retrieved April 30, 2018.
  8. ^ "ClassicTVguide.com: TV Ratings > 1950s". classictvguide.com.
  9. ^ "ClassicTVguide.com: TV Ratings > 1960s". classictvguide.com.