Leg Work

CBS premiered this offbeat detective show in 1987, however it died a quick death after a handful of episodes due to poor scheduling and a lack of promotion. Although they re-ran it during the summer season, it failed to find enough of an audience to be worthy of renewal. It centered on female private detective Claire McCarron (Margaret Colin), an attractive brunette who looked good in nylons and a black leather skirt (the few men who actually saw this show probably gave a thought to doing some work on her legs). It also featured Frances McDormand as Willie Pipal. McDormand has been a staple of Coen Brothers films such as Blood Simple, Fargo, and The Man Who Wasn’t There. Most people may recall her as the loving but overprotective mother from Cameron Crowe’s Rock and Roll masterpiece Almost Famous. Whether she’s playing a doting mother, a small town sheriff, or a cold-blooded adulteress, she can always be counted on for an enjoyable performance.