Made to formula
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Murder, She Wrote (1984)
R+M+J=I
(Relative accused of murder, plus Jessica equals innocent)
A relative/friend of Jessica somehow becomes a murder suspect
The police arrest relative/friend
Jessica pieces together the clues and asks astute questions
Jessica manages to trap the real murderer
Relative/friend goes free!
(Relative accused of murder, plus Jessica equals innocent)
A relative/friend of Jessica somehow becomes a murder suspect
The police arrest relative/friend
Jessica pieces together the clues and asks astute questions
Jessica manages to trap the real murderer
Relative/friend goes free!
Nonfictionguy's rating:

Quincy M.E. (1976)
D+Q=I
(Death plus Quincy equals investigation)
Somebody dies, seemingly by natural causes.
Quincy notices something that causes him to suspect foul play.
Quincy then changes roles from medical examiner to detective.
Quincy's boss gets upset, believing that Quincy is seeing evidence that doesn't exist, that Quincy should work on routine cases and is wasting funds.
Quincy shouts about red tape/bureaucrats impeding the case.
Quincy solves the murder.
(Death plus Quincy equals investigation)
Somebody dies, seemingly by natural causes.
Quincy notices something that causes him to suspect foul play.
Quincy then changes roles from medical examiner to detective.
Quincy's boss gets upset, believing that Quincy is seeing evidence that doesn't exist, that Quincy should work on routine cases and is wasting funds.
Quincy shouts about red tape/bureaucrats impeding the case.
Quincy solves the murder.
Nonfictionguy's rating:

Columbo: Étude in Black (1972)
Q+E+Q=CS
(Questioning plus evidence, plus oh just one last question equals case solved)
A murder is committed
Columbo arrives and suspects the murderer straight away without any evidence
Columbo asks the right questions, goes to leave, remembers on more pointed question.
Columbo gathers evidence to confirm that his initial suspect is the culprit.
Last two points repeat until case solved.
(Questioning plus evidence, plus oh just one last question equals case solved)
A murder is committed
Columbo arrives and suspects the murderer straight away without any evidence
Columbo asks the right questions, goes to leave, remembers on more pointed question.
Columbo gathers evidence to confirm that his initial suspect is the culprit.
Last two points repeat until case solved.
House M.D. (2004)
P+H=D, oops,D,oops D!
(Patient plus House equals diagnosis after diagnosis, until success)
House appears uninterested in work until an unusual symptom/incorrect diagosis peaks his interest
House refuses to actually meet the patient
They come up with a diagnosis and treat it
Oops, no, wrong diagnosis
Another diagnosis, another failure
Wilson comes up with some wise words for why House is such an ass
Patient is visited for:
The eureka moment
Right diagnosis, right treatment
(Patient plus House equals diagnosis after diagnosis, until success)
House appears uninterested in work until an unusual symptom/incorrect diagosis peaks his interest
House refuses to actually meet the patient
They come up with a diagnosis and treat it
Oops, no, wrong diagnosis
Another diagnosis, another failure
Wilson comes up with some wise words for why House is such an ass
Patient is visited for:
The eureka moment
Right diagnosis, right treatment
Nonfictionguy's rating:

T+S+GA=R
(Taste plus Swearing plus Good Advice equals Ratings)
Ramsey visits a failing establishment
Tastes food and almost vomits
Complains about all the reasons establishment is failing
Watches staff get it wrong
Goes chin to chin swearing at a boss/chief/waiter
Transforms establishment
Serves local residents including mayor/star
boss/chief/waiter sees the light
Hugs and handshakes
(Taste plus Swearing plus Good Advice equals Ratings)
Ramsey visits a failing establishment
Tastes food and almost vomits
Complains about all the reasons establishment is failing
Watches staff get it wrong
Goes chin to chin swearing at a boss/chief/waiter
Transforms establishment
Serves local residents including mayor/star
boss/chief/waiter sees the light
Hugs and handshakes
Nonfictionguy's rating:

Knight Rider (1982)
C+D=RBA
(Car plus Driver equals Road Based Adventure)
No matter what happens you know that
1. Man and Car will become separated requiring KITT to self-drive.
2. Michael Knight will want to do something dangerous, KITT will protest - but be overruled.
3. Something will require Michael Knight/KITT to
A. Drive fast
B. Jump over something
4. The bad guys will always try to escape by road
(Car plus Driver equals Road Based Adventure)
No matter what happens you know that
1. Man and Car will become separated requiring KITT to self-drive.
2. Michael Knight will want to do something dangerous, KITT will protest - but be overruled.
3. Something will require Michael Knight/KITT to
A. Drive fast
B. Jump over something
4. The bad guys will always try to escape by road
Nonfictionguy's rating:

The A-Team (1983)
(5xG)x 300 RF=0 C/F
Five Guns, 300 rounds fired = Zero Causalities/fatalities
A-team discover or are asked to help someone
If air travel is required Mr T is drugged
If they can travel by land, Mr T drives Van
Hannibal warns bad guy that A-team are now in charge
Fight/Gun play ensues with zero causalities
If vehicles are involved, they are thrown into air, but occupants are seen healthily stumbling away
Threat level increases
A-team become trapped in barn/house/factory surrounded by useful scrap/tools
A-team build a Tank/water cannon/armoured vehicle
A-team shoot at bad guys, all rounds miss targets.
Explosions throw bad guys into the air
Bad guys surrender/leave town
Hannibal says 'I love it when a plan comes together'
A-team leave as hero's or are chased off by US Army
Five Guns, 300 rounds fired = Zero Causalities/fatalities
A-team discover or are asked to help someone
If air travel is required Mr T is drugged
If they can travel by land, Mr T drives Van
Hannibal warns bad guy that A-team are now in charge
Fight/Gun play ensues with zero causalities
If vehicles are involved, they are thrown into air, but occupants are seen healthily stumbling away
Threat level increases
A-team become trapped in barn/house/factory surrounded by useful scrap/tools
A-team build a Tank/water cannon/armoured vehicle
A-team shoot at bad guys, all rounds miss targets.
Explosions throw bad guys into the air
Bad guys surrender/leave town
Hannibal says 'I love it when a plan comes together'
A-team leave as hero's or are chased off by US Army
Nonfictionguy's rating:

Supernanny (2004)
K+SN=PAQ
(Kids plus Super Nanny equals Peace and Quiet)
Super Nanny watches household
Kids run riot, parents let them
Super Nanny manages kids, they behave
Super Nanny trains parents
Parents try to manage kids and fail
Super Nanny highlights parents errors
Leaves calm household
(Kids plus Super Nanny equals Peace and Quiet)
Super Nanny watches household
Kids run riot, parents let them
Super Nanny manages kids, they behave
Super Nanny trains parents
Parents try to manage kids and fail
Super Nanny highlights parents errors
Leaves calm household
Nonfictionguy's rating:

I hate movies made to formula, but some TV shows thrive on it, here are some of the best tv shows made to formula. Please feel free to submit your own ideas.
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