Remington Steele

Laura Holt, a licensed private detective, opens a detective agency but finds that potential clients refuse to hire a woman, however qualified. To solve the problem, Laura invents a fictitious male superior whom she names Remington Steele. Through a series of events that unfold in the first episode, "License to Steele," a former thief and con man, whose real name is never revealed, assumes the identity of Remington Steele. Behind the scenes, Laura remains firmly in charge.

Remington Steele (1982-1987) is an American network detective comedy-drama created by Robert Butler and Michael Gleason for NBC. Laura Holt (Stephanie Zimbalist), a licensed private investigator, cannot win clients who refuse to hire a woman, so she invents a fictitious male superior named Remington Steele. When a charming former thief and con man (Pierce Brosnan) steps into that identity, the two must keep the fiction alive while Laura quietly stays in charge of the agency. Each episode is a self-contained case of the week, with the detective office crew, including the sardonic landlady Mildred Krebs (Doris Roberts) and the agency's investigators, chasing clients through the usual twists of the trade. The engine is the running gag of a borrowed identity and the sparring romance between two equals who trade wit across the desk. Set in contemporary 1980s America, the show has a breezy, witty, warmly romantic tone with a light sting of sexism satire. Fans of Moonlighting, Magnum, P.I. and Hustle will find the same playful banter and caper charm. Across five seasons, the series keeps its light, episodic format and quick comic rhythm throughout.

Audiences generally regard the series as a witty, charming detective comedy-drama carried by its leads' chemistry, though uneven in its later seasons.

• Moonlighting (1985)light romantic detective banter, private investigator procedural with a con artist lead
• Hustlecharming con man protagonist, playful caper tone
• Magnum, P.I.case of the week private detective format with witty tone
• Bond filmsPierce Brosnan's suave debonair detective persona, mystery adventure

Created by

Robert Butler, Michael Gleason

Release Date

1982-10-01

Episode runtime

60 min

Rating

7.3 / 10 (148)

What is Remington Steele about?

A female private detective invents a fictitious male boss to win clients, then falls in with a charming con man who assumes his name.

What is Remington Steele like to watch?

Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Remington Steele as brisk, its intensity as mild and its storytelling as easy to follow.

Is Remington Steele violent?

No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Remington Steele.

What did critics think of Remington Steele?

Audiences generally regard the series as a witty, charming detective comedy-drama carried by its leads' chemistry, though uneven in its later seasons.

Which shows are like Remington Steele?

Shows with a similar feel include Moonlighting (1985), Hustle, Magnum, P.I., and Bond films.

How long is Remington Steele?

Remington Steele: 5 seasons, 94 episodes.

Is Remington Steele still running?

No, Remington Steele has ended.

Where can I watch Remington Steele?

In United States, Remington Steele streams on fuboTV, Philo, Hallmark+ Amazon Channel, Hallmark+ Apple TV channel, Hallmark TV Amazon Channel.