After being shot in the line of duty, British Detective Inspector Henry Crabbe (Richard Griffiths) decides to chuck his career in favor of pursuing his dream: to open a restaurant. But would-be chef Henry is forced to put his ambitions on hold, pending a full investigation of the shooting, and since his boss, Assistant Chief Constable Freddy Fisher (Malcolm Sinclair), doesn't want to lose his best officer, he refuses to approve disbursement of Henry's full retirement pension, keeping him around on an as-needed basis while taking credit for Henry's brilliant detective work. Working in his spare time to launch the eatery, Henry has conflicts with his strong-willed accountant wife Margaret (Maggie Steed), who's generally supportive but insists that the restaurant be managed in a cost-effective manner, even if that means cutting corners on food quality. The show's large supporting cast includes both cops (played by Bella Enahoro, Derren Litten, and Mary Woodvine) and restaurant staffers (Ashley Russell, Alison McKenna, Samantha Janus, Marsha Thomason, Joe Duttine, and Nicholas Lamont), but more weight is given to the culinary scenes than the police-procedural material, making you wonder if the series' creators simply added the cop stuff to bolster their chances of selling the show. Veteran character actor Griffiths carries the series effortlessly on his portly frame—if his Henry Crabbe is one of the most intuitively brilliant sleuths since Sherlock Holmes, he's also one of the most amiable. Some mystery fans will find Pie in the Sky a bit too fluffy and lighthearted, but others will appreciate the often disarmingly clever and amusing writing in these 10 episodes from the 1994 debut season. DVD extras include an interview with costar Steed, production notes, and a bio of Griffiths. A strong optional purchase. (E. Hulse)
Pie in the Sky: Series 1
Acorn, 3 discs, 488 min., not rated, DVD: $49.99 Volume 24, Issue 4
Pie in the Sky: Series 1
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