Archie Goodwin (William Shatner) reads an article about a rocket scientist who had a heart attack during a crucial rocket test to Nero Wolfe (Kurt Kasznar). Wolfe hardly seems to pay attention, mostly complaining about his cold. Archie then moves to the topic of bills and Nero's lack of funds. Well, that is a problem. Nero has Archie read an excerpt of the newspaper article again then announces that the scientist was murdered! Wolfe's conclusion is carried in the morning paper and Archie sets out to do the legwork while Nero waters his flowers and nurses his cold. Soon, all the suspects are summoned to Wolfe's abode where he requests payment from them to solve the case in quick fashion. "If you leave it to the police, it will be a long process that will muddy each of you," he explains. They all agree, signing contracts. And then he solves the case.
This 1959 pilot for the famed sleuth was not greenlit. It is entertaining to see a very young William Shatner playing the sidekick. He has as yet to develop his Shatnerian style of overacting. Here, he is all charm and smiles, a happy-go-lucky unflappable youth. Oddly enough, this is the first time I have watched a Nero Wolfe show so I can't contrast it with other versions. It was fun so I may have to see the Maury Chaykin/Timothy Hutton version from 20 years ago or the William Conrad/Lee Horsley run from 40 years ago! Huh, every 20 years? Interesting.
The pilot is available on YouTube. Thumbs up.
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