Pete's Luncheonette makes a reused footage cameo on Spenser: For Hire
Spenser is both the collective term for and the protagonist of a long running series of detective novels created by Robert B. Parker. The character, introduced in 1973, is a private detective who combines brawn (from a boxing background) with intelligence and culture (frequently quoting poetry). Working out of Boston, he lives by a moral code of his own. His most frequent ally, originally a rival, is professional hitman Hawk who can operate outside the law and Spenser's scruples.
The books have been adapted several times, most notably as the ABC TV series Spenser: For Hire (1985-1988) along with the spin-off A Man Called Hawk (1989). While set in other states, both series frequently used New York actors, including occasional Sesame Street alumni. For an establishing shot of a restaurant, the first season episode "A Day's Wages" uses a B-Roll clip of Pete's Luncheonette from The Muppets Take Manhattan. (The interior, when cut to, is a much more spacious and upscale eatery.)
After author Parker died in 2010, the estate authorized the continuation of the series with other writers, and one of the books was adapted as the Netflix movie Spenser Confidential (with Mark Wahlberg in the lead and Alan Arkin in support).
Muppet Mentions[]
- In the 1984 novel Valediction, Spenser (who narrates in first person) notes that his teenage friend Paul Giacomin is watching "The Muppets on Channel Nine," specifically episode 305, while Spenser pours himself a glass of whiskey: "On the tube, Floyd was singing a duet with Pearl Bailey."
- In the 2020 book Angel Eyes by Ace Atkins, Spenser is walking along the Hollywood Walk of Fame: "I ran over stars for James Garner. Steve McQueen. Kermit the Frog."
Connections[]
- from Spenser: For Hire
- Bruce Bilson directed the episodes "If You Knew Sammy," "Gone Fishin'" and ""Play It Again, Sammy" (1987-1988)
- Nesbitt Blaisdell played Sam Valette in "Widow's Walk" (1986)
- Fran Brill played Joan Cahill in "My Brother's Keeper" (1987)
- Reg E. Cathey played Shepard in "The Man Who Wasn't There" (1987)
- Bill Cobbs played Larry Sills in "If You Knew Sammy" (1987)
- Ruby Dee played Eleanor Simpson in "Personal Demons" (1987)
- Paul Dooley played Bryce Taylor in "resurrection" (1985)
- Giancarlo Esposito played Ramos in "On the Night He Was Betrayed" (1987)
- Laurence Fishburne played David Mukende in "Personal Demons" (1987)
- Colin Fox played Father Brendan in "Shadowsight" (1986)
- Sarah Michelle Gellar played Emily in "Company Man" (1988)
- Seth Green played Andy Chandler in "The Hopes and Fears" (1986)
- Page Hannah played Laura Findlay in "White Knight" (1986)
- Kadeem Hardison played Bobby Waters in "My Enemy, My Friend" (1987)
- William Hickey played Gus Harley in "Homecoming" (1987)
- Leonard Jackson played Jock in "The Song of Orpheus" (1987) and Larry in "The Siege" (1988)
- Samuel L. Jackson played Leroy Clancy in "White Knight" (1986) and Ned in "My Enemy, My Friend" (1987)
- Charles Kimbrough played Louis Groton in "An Eye for an Eye" (1986) and Roger Thornwood in "To the End of the Line" (1988)
- John Bedford Lloyd played a henchman in "Promised Land" (1986) and Keith Kincaid in "Sleepless Dream" (1987)
- Andie MacDowell played Maggie in "McAllister" (1988)
- Bill McCutcheon played a bailiff in "Children of a Tempest Storm" (1985)
- Frances McDormand played Mary Bellino in "A Day's Wages" (1986)
- John C. McGinley played K.C. in "The Big Fight" (1988)
- William H. Macy played a district attorney in "The Choice" (1985) and Efrem Connors in "If You Knew Sammy" (1987) and "Play It Again, Sammy" (1988)
- Noah Moazezi played Rick in "Children of a Tempest Storm" (1985)
- Gary Morgan played Albert in "Child's Play" (1987)
- James Murtaugh played Morton Fuller in "I Confess" (1987)
- Ed O'Neill played Buddy Almeida in "Widow's Walk" (1986)
- Austin Pendleton played the Professor in "The Big Fight" (1988)
- David Hyde Pierce played O'Neill in "The Man Who Wasn't There" 1987)
- Jaime Sánchez played Jose Perez in ""In a Safe Place" (1986)
- Tony Shalhoub played Dr. Hambrecht in "The Road Back" (1987)
- Joe Silver played Guzman in "In a Safe Place" (1986)
- Jimmy Smits played Hector Valdez in "In a Safe Place" (1986)
- John Spencer played Joe Moran in "Home Is the Hero" (1986)
- Clarice Taylor played Miss Emma in "Rockabye Babye" (1986)
- Lynne Thigpen played Mrs. Jarvis in "The Hopes and Fears" (1986)
- Lauren Tom played a criminal's girlfriend in "Children of a Tempest Storm" (1985)
- Tamara Tunie played Nina in "Shadowsight" (1986)
- Samuel E. Wright played Dave Watkins in "Company Man" (1988)
- Louis Zorich played Manuel Almeida in "Widow's Walk" (1986) and Jack Delroy in "Company Man" (1988)