Father Dowling Mysteries (1989)
Father Dowling Mysteries is an American television mystery series that aired from January 20, 1989 to May 2, 1991. Prior to the series, a TV movie aired on November 30, 1987. For its first season, the show was on NBC; it moved to ABC for its last two seasons. It is based on the adventures of the title character created by Ralph McInerny, in a series of mystery novels. The series was produced by The Fred Siverman Company and Dean Hargrove Productions in association with Viacom Productions.
-
Episode 1 - The Royal Mystery
Release Date: 1990-09-20It looks like a royal mess when Sister Steve find herself trapped in a Royal scandal. The Sister trades places with a frisky British noblewoman in order to infiltrate a trade delegation. Father Dowling has his hands full riding shotgun, trying to keep an eye open for the Sister's Royal killer.
-
Episode 2 - The Medical Mystery
Release Date: 1990-09-27The local hospital is the scene of some 'extra' deaths when Father Dowling and Sister Steve uncover a string of mystery murders. Father Prestwick insists on helping out and almost becomes the next victim.
-
Episode 3 - The Devil In The Deep Blue Sea Mystery
Release Date: 1990-10-04When most people look at Harry Deil they see one of the most powerful men in underworld crime. Father Dowling sees something else, something even more sinister: The devil. Now Father Dowling must beat him at his own game in order to save Sister Steve.
-
Episode 4 - The Showgirl Mystery
Release Date: 1990-10-18A showy showgirl of a shady nightclub is surprised to discover that her late husband's estate consists of nothing but debts. Or is she the victim of a scam to deprive her out of a small fortune? The investigation reveals a motley crew of underworld characters as Father Dowling and Sister Steve go hunting for a suspect.
-
Episode 5 - The Movie Mystery
Release Date: 1990-10-25Everyone is enjoying the slice of Hollywood as a movie crew uses St. Michael's as a location, until a series of unexplained, and life-threatening, accidents put a damper on the mood. Father Dowling and Sister Steve are enlisted to assist in the investigation while Father Prestwick decides to make his screen debut...as a stand in.
-
Episode 6 - The Undercover Nun Mystery
Release Date: 1990-11-01Sister Steve's return to her Mother's house to celebrate the convent's Silver Jubilee ceremonies should be a time of great joy for everyone. But shortly after arriving the Sister discovers a nun with a gun. Not quite what she expected. And her worst fears are indeed realized when another visiting nun is murdered.
-
Episode 7 - The Murder Weekend Mystery
Release Date: 1990-11-08It's man against machine when a hired killer uses computer technology to conceal his crime during a weekend retreat for mystery writers. A series of traps further complicate the investigation and one of them almost costs Sister Steve her life.
-
Episode 8 - The Reasonable Doubt Mystery
Release Date: 1990-11-15Father Dowling does his duty, jury duty, in a murder case that should have been open and shut. Father Dowling is not so sure and his claim of reasonable doubt ends in a deadlocked jury. While the DA angrily works toward a retrial, Father Dowling and Sister Steve conduct an investigation of their own, at the center of which is the testimony of an eyewitness who seems to keep company with some unusual sorts.
-
Episode 9 - The Vanishing Victim Mystery
Release Date: 1990-11-29Father Dowling stumbles into a kidnapping plot when he befriends a young woman who is about to disappear. Fearing the worst, Sister Steve signs on as the family's new maid to try and find out what happened to the girl.
-
Episode 10 - The Christmas Mystery
Release Date: 1990-12-13There's a murder attempt on a woman who has left her son in the temporary care of St. Michael's and the search for the culprit leads to a department store on Christmas Eve.
-
Episode 11 - The Fugitive Priest Mystery
Release Date: 1991-01-03Trouble is brewing for Father Dowling when his evil twin brother rolls into town. Blaine manages to frame his brother for a bank robbery, while protecting himself with a perfect alibi: He's been arrested for overdue parking tickets. With the help of Sister Steve, Father Dowling masquerades as his troublesome twin in order to track down his underworld associates.
-
Episode 12 - The Substitute Sister Mystery
Release Date: 1991-01-10Father Dowling and Sister Steve are caught in the middle of the battle of the bugs when warring exterminators do battle over franchise rights. The plot is further thickened by a nun who isn't, a hitman who is and a mobster who will do anything to rescue his daughter.
-
Episode 13 - The Missing Witness Mystery
Release Date: 1991-01-24Sister Steve has disguised herself as a trashy lady-of-the-evening in order to track down a witness who can clear the name of a young businessman charged with murder. But was he really framed or is he actually guilty? Father Dowling is not certain.
-
Episode 14 - The Prodigal Son Mystery
Release Date: 1991-01-31A blast from the past rocks Father Dowling's world when a man he's never met shows up claiming to be his son. The man disappears before Father Dowling can question him. And then his would-be son is charged with murder.
-
Episode 15 - The Moving Target Mystery
Release Date: 1991-02-07A hired killer has a change of heart when he discovers that Father Dowling is his intended victim. He warns the priest that someone else is certain to accept the contract. Now it's up to Father Dowling to figure out who, and why, someone is out to get him.
-
Episode 16 - The Priest Killer Mystery
Release Date: 1991-02-14When a rooftop sniper almost kills Father Dowling, Sister Steve goes undercover as a cab driver, hoping the flush out the would-be priest-killer.
-
Episode 17 - The Mummy's Curse Mystery
Release Date: 1991-02-21While visiting the Chicago Museum to take in a Pharaoh's burial chamber, Father Dowling and Sister Steve encounter an ancient Egyptian curse. Father Prestwick almost becomes a victim himself when he attempts to uncover the tomb's deadly secrets.
-
Episode 18 - The Monkey Business Mystery
Release Date: 1991-03-07Father Dowling and Sister Steve go out on a limb when they kidnap a chimp accused of murdering an animal activist. The killer-chimp will be put to sleep unless they can prove it has been framed.
-
Episode 19 - The Hard Boiled Mystery
Release Date: 1991-03-28An author who used Dowling and Steve as characters in his murder mystery dies before its completion.
-
Episode 20 - The Malibu Mystery
Release Date: 1991-04-04Father Dowling is on the trail of a runaway teen who is taking a walk on the wild side of L.A.'s night life.
-
Episode 21 - The Consulting Detective Mystery
Release Date: 1991-04-25It is difficult to tell who is consulting with whom when Sherlock Holmes comes to the aid of Father Dowling. The pair prove to be an unbeatable team as they put their powers of deduction to the supreme test as eyewitnesses to multiple murders. There's only one hitch: No one other than Dowling can actually see Mr. Holmes!
-
Episode 22 - The Joyful Noise Mystery
Release Date: 1991-05-02The local District Attorney's office is home to bullets and ballots as deadly rivals battle for power. One man is already dead and an innocent boy has been charged with murder. Father Dowling tries to expose the real killer before a political rally becomes a blood bath.