McBride (TV series)
Encyclopedia
McBride is a series of two-hour movies for the Hallmark Channel
that premiered on January 14, 2005, and stars John Larroquette
as a lawyer. Along with the movie series Mystery Woman
, Murder 101
and Jane Doe
, it is broadcast in rotation under the umbrella title Hallmark Channel Mystery Wheel.
, McBride left the force after twelve years and went back to school to become a lawyer. With the aid of his ever-present sidekick, Phil Newberry, and his former girlfriend, Detective Roberta Hansen, McBride and his team solve crimes the old-fashioned way.
) - McBride, although a lawyer for only eight years, is renowned in Los Angeles for his tough persona and commitment to his clients. Quirky and unconventional, his methods often draw less than positive attention from his peers, and a certain measure of dread from every ADA he must face in the courtroom. Larroquette himself decided that McBride should not have a first name, and resisted using even an initial. The name plate on his desk, however, says "M. McBride" and in the first movie, McBride's jury summons is briefly seen, noting that his first name is Mike. Later promos for the show also refer to him as Mike. He is more commonly known as "Mac." McBride has inherited a rundown ranch and a white dog, Jesse, from a client serving a life sentence.
Phil Newberry (Matt Lutz
) - Phil is former public defender who is fortunate enough to try a case in which McBride is a juror. Though Phil fails to convince the rest of the jury of his client's innocence, McBride's contrary vote is enough to hang the jury. Upon meeting face to face, Phil realizes he can learn much from this seasoned litigator, and goes to work for McBride. Phil Newberry is often the "gadget guy," a post-modern counterpoint to McBride's old-fashioned sleuthing. In the first episode we learn that he has a trust fund and is willing to work without pay.
Roberta Hansen (Marta DuBois
) - Roberta is a sharp-tongued homicide detective with the LAPD. She and McBride share a somewhat mysterious romantic past, but have put aside their entanglement to work together as friends. Though sometimes at odds, McBride and Roberta respect and trust one another, often coming together to solve crimes everyone else has abandoned. In later episodes, Roberta's office moves from a roomier one in the corner of the police headquarters to one closer to the middle of the station. Though it is never explained in the story, the switch was made for shooting reasons because the corner office was more difficult to light.
Hallmark Channel
The Hallmark Channel is a cable television network that broadcasts across the United States. Their programming includes a mix of television movies/miniseries, syndicated series, and lifestyle shows that are appropriate for the whole family...
that premiered on January 14, 2005, and stars John Larroquette
John Larroquette
John Edgar Bernard Larroquette, Jr. is an American film, television and Broadway actor. His roles include Dan Fielding on the series Night Court, Mike McBride in the Hallmark Channel series McBride, John Hemingway on The John Larroquette Show, and Carl Sack in Boston Legal.-Personal...
as a lawyer. Along with the movie series Mystery Woman
Mystery Woman
Mystery Woman is the name of a series of two-hour TV movies appearing regularly on the Hallmark Channel since 2003, starring Emmy-nominated actress Kellie Martin as Samantha Kinsey, proprietor of a bookstore specializing in mystery books who gets involved in solving real-life mysteries...
, Murder 101
Murder 101
Murder 101 is the name of a series of two-hour TV movies appearing regularly on the Hallmark Channel since 2006. In it, Dick Van Dyke stars as professor Dr. Jonathan Maxwell, an absent-minded and brilliant criminologist. His son Barry Van Dyke co-stars as a former cop who is working as a private...
and Jane Doe
Jane Doe (television film series)
Jane Doe is the name of a series of two-hour TV movies appearing regularly on the Hallmark Channel. In it, Lea Thompson stars as Cathy Davis, a soccer mom, who is secretly Jane Doe, an agent for the Central Security Agency. Episodes focus on her efforts to keep her lives separate while solving...
, it is broadcast in rotation under the umbrella title Hallmark Channel Mystery Wheel.
Story
McBride is a curmudgeon with a heart of gold. He takes cases based on their merit rather than on their monetary value, which often leads to terse notices from bill collectors. A disillusioned member of the LAPDLos Angeles Police Department
The Los Angeles Police Department is the police department of the city of Los Angeles, California. With just under 10,000 officers and more than 3,000 civilian staff, covering an area of with a population of more than 4.1 million people, it is the third largest local law enforcement agency in...
, McBride left the force after twelve years and went back to school to become a lawyer. With the aid of his ever-present sidekick, Phil Newberry, and his former girlfriend, Detective Roberta Hansen, McBride and his team solve crimes the old-fashioned way.
Main characters
M. McBride (John LarroquetteJohn Larroquette
John Edgar Bernard Larroquette, Jr. is an American film, television and Broadway actor. His roles include Dan Fielding on the series Night Court, Mike McBride in the Hallmark Channel series McBride, John Hemingway on The John Larroquette Show, and Carl Sack in Boston Legal.-Personal...
) - McBride, although a lawyer for only eight years, is renowned in Los Angeles for his tough persona and commitment to his clients. Quirky and unconventional, his methods often draw less than positive attention from his peers, and a certain measure of dread from every ADA he must face in the courtroom. Larroquette himself decided that McBride should not have a first name, and resisted using even an initial. The name plate on his desk, however, says "M. McBride" and in the first movie, McBride's jury summons is briefly seen, noting that his first name is Mike. Later promos for the show also refer to him as Mike. He is more commonly known as "Mac." McBride has inherited a rundown ranch and a white dog, Jesse, from a client serving a life sentence.
Phil Newberry (Matt Lutz
Matt Lutz
Matt Lutz is an American film, television, and theatre actor, who played Phil Newberry on the Hallmark Channel's "McBride" murder-mystery series from 2004–2006, and has had significant roles in the feature films "A Walk to Remember", "Bringing Down the House", and "End of the Spear"...
) - Phil is former public defender who is fortunate enough to try a case in which McBride is a juror. Though Phil fails to convince the rest of the jury of his client's innocence, McBride's contrary vote is enough to hang the jury. Upon meeting face to face, Phil realizes he can learn much from this seasoned litigator, and goes to work for McBride. Phil Newberry is often the "gadget guy," a post-modern counterpoint to McBride's old-fashioned sleuthing. In the first episode we learn that he has a trust fund and is willing to work without pay.
Roberta Hansen (Marta DuBois
Marta DuBois
Marta DuBois is a Panamanian-American actress. She has appeared in various film and television roles, most recently on the Hallmark Channel series McBride.- Selected filmography :* McBride...
) - Roberta is a sharp-tongued homicide detective with the LAPD. She and McBride share a somewhat mysterious romantic past, but have put aside their entanglement to work together as friends. Though sometimes at odds, McBride and Roberta respect and trust one another, often coming together to solve crimes everyone else has abandoned. In later episodes, Roberta's office moves from a roomier one in the corner of the police headquarters to one closer to the middle of the station. Though it is never explained in the story, the switch was made for shooting reasons because the corner office was more difficult to light.
Films in the series
- 1) Murder Past Midnight, directed by Kevin ConnorKevin Connor (director)Kevin Connor is an English film and television director currently based in Hollywood.Connor was born in London on the 24 of September 1937 and grew up during the 2nd World War...
- 2) The Chameleon Murder, directed by Kevin Connor
- 3) It's Murder, Madam, directed by Kevin Connor
- 4) The Doctor is Out ... Really Out, directed by John LarroquetteJohn LarroquetteJohn Edgar Bernard Larroquette, Jr. is an American film, television and Broadway actor. His roles include Dan Fielding on the series Night Court, Mike McBride in the Hallmark Channel series McBride, John Hemingway on The John Larroquette Show, and Carl Sack in Boston Legal.-Personal...
- 5) Tune in for Murder, directed by Stephen Bridgewater
- 6) Anybody Here Murder Marty?, directed by James ContnerJames A. ContnerJames Atwater Contner is an American television and film director and cinematographer. His work includes episodes of such television series as Miami Vice, Angel, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Firefly and Star Trek: Enterprise...
- 7) Fallen Idol, directed by John Larroquette
- 8) Dogged, directed by John Larroquette
- 9) Semper Fi, directed by John Larroquette
- 10) Requiem, directed by Mark Griffiths