Father Dowling Mysteries

infobox television
show_name = Father Dowling Mysteries


caption = Father Dowling (Tom Bosley) and Sister Steve (Tracy Nelson)
format = Crime Drama, Mystery
runtime = 60 minutes (per episode)
creator =
starring = Tom Bosley
Tracy Nelson
James Stephens
Mary Wickes
country = USA
network = NBC
ABC
first_aired = November 30, 1987
last_aired = May 2, 1991
num_seasons = 3
num_episodes = 45
imdb_id = 0096582
tv_com_id = 307

"Father Dowling Mysteries" (also known as "Father Dowling Investigates" in the UK) is an American television mystery series that appeared between 30 November 1987 and 2 May 1991, for its first season the show was on NBC, and on the ABC network for its last two seasons. It is based on the adventures of the title character created by Ralph McInerny, [ [http://www.nd.edu/~ndethics/about/mcinerny.shtml Biography of Ralph McInerny - Notre Dame Website] ] Professor of Philosophy, Director of the Jacques Maritain Center, and Michael P. Grace Professor of Medieval Studies at the University of Notre Dame.

Plot

Father Frank Dowling is a Catholic priest who continually stumbles over murders, abductions, and other high crimes in his hometown, Chicago, Illinois. He is assisted by Sister Stephanie "Steve" Oskowski, who does much of the legwork for Frank. Sister Steve is a streetwise nun who grew up in a rough housing project nearby, so she can hotwire a car and handle firearms with ease. She knows the language of the streets and converses in it fluently.

Father Philip Prestwick is the ladder-climbing assistant to the Archbishop, who just happens to drop in before meals, prepared by housekeeper Marie Murkin, who provides comic relief.

Father Dowling has an identical twin brother named Blaine (played by the same actor), who appeared in only three episodes: "The Face in the Mirror Mystery," "The Woman Scorned Mystery," and "The Fugitive Priest Mystery." Blaine Dowling is a thief and con artist who isn't above framing his brother for his crimes.

Cast

*Tom Bosley as Frank Dowling/Father Frank Dowling
*Tracy Nelson as Sister Stephanie "Steve" Oskowski
*James Stephens as Father Philip Prestwick
*Mary Wickes as Marie Murkin

Episodes

After its first season the show left NBC and ABC took the show for a further 2 seasons. In total "Father Dowling Mysteries" had 1 TV movie and 42 episodes in 3 seasons.

Pilot

The pilot was a TV movie entitled "Fatal Confession" which originally aired on NBC on November 1 1987.

Regular Series

The show was supposed to begin in 1988 though because of a writer's strike in 1988 it didn't begin weekly until 1989. The series began airing in 1989 and ended in 1991 after 43 episodes, during which time the show switched from NBC to ABC.

References

*Lovece, Frank, "The Television Yearbook: Complete, Detailed Listings for the 1990-1991 Season" (Putnam / Perigee, 1991) ISBN 0-399-51702-2

External links

*tv.com show|307
*imdb title|0096582
* [http://members.aol.com/sherryberry88/dowling.html "Father Dowling Mysteries" - Episode Guide]