Line #23 Series/FatherDowlingMysteries


1	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/father_dowling_mysteries.jpeg]]
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3	Adapted from the eponymous mystery novel series by Ralph [=McInerny=] and starring Creator/TomBosley, Creator/TracyNelson, Creator/JamesStephens, and [[Film/SisterAct Mary Wickes]], this show got its start as a TV movie in 1987. It became a series in 1989 and ran until 1991, running for one eight-episode season on Creator/{{NBC}} and two more seasons (a combined 35 episodes) on Creator/{{ABC}}.
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5	Set in UsefulNotes/{{Chicago}}, it involves the main characters, Father Francis "Frank" Dowling (Bosley) and Sister Stephanie "Steve" Oskowski (Nelson), stumbling across murders and other such crimes, and solving them. Then there's Father Prestwick (Stephens), the assistant to the Archbishop who often finds himself filling in for Father Dowling in church matters when the latter is out investigating, and rectory housekeeper Marie Mulkin ([[Creator/MaryWickes Wickes]]).
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7	The series also had three appearances by Father Dowling's identical twin brother Blaine (also played by Bosley), a ConMan who invariably caused trouble.
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9	A production of [[Creator/ParamountGlobal Viacom]], its distribution rights were acquired by Creator/{{Paramount}} Television, producers of Bosley's previous series ''Series/HappyDays'', following the acquisition of Paramount Pictures by Viacom. The subsequent 2006 split of Viacom gave the rights to both shows to Creator/{{CBS}} Studios.
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12	!!Tropes:
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14	* ActionGirl: Sister Steve
15	* AmateurSleuth: Dowling and Oskowski are definitely not trained investigators, but they do what they can.
16	* ButtMonkey: Father Prestwick
17	* ChuckCunninghamSyndrome: Father Dowling's original FriendOnTheForce was his nephew, Lietenant Phil Keegan. Keegan was the son of the priest's deceased sister (and not Father's Dowling's EvilTwin Blain). Unfortunately for Lietenant Keegan, he suffers a fatal case fo Chuck Cunningham Syndrome right after the pilot, and is never seen or referred to again. Coincidentally, Tom Bosley, who played Father Dowling, also played Chuck Cunnigham's father on ''Series/HappyDays''.
18	* CoolOldGuy: Father Dowling.
19	* {{Delinquents}}: Sister Steve was one of these before she became a nun, hence her street smarts. Both her brothers also have histories.
20	* DeadpanSnarker: Marie Murkin, the housekeeper.
21	* DealWithTheDevil: "The Devil and the Deep Blue Sea Mystery" was essentially a remake of ''Film/TheDevilAndDanielWebster'', with Sister Steve making the deal to save her brother's life and Father Dowling defending her soul against a JuryOfTheDamned.
22	* TheExoticDetective: Dowling is a priest, so a few of his adventures have started with someone talking about a crime during their confession so Dowling decides to do something about it.
23	* EvilTwin: Blaine Dowling
24	* FixingTheGame: In one episode, Sister Steve rigs an electromagnet to allow Father Dowling to win at roulette. Unbeknownst to him, the device breaks, but he nonetheless goes on a winning streak. Later, Sister Steve asks what happened, and he blithely states that he lost his initial stake.
25	* FriendOnTheForce: In the TV movie, Phil Keegan. In the television series, primarily Sergeant Clancey, but occasionally Lieutenant Foster.
26	* HollywoodNuns: Sister Steve fits the visual criteria on occasion. Mostly a subversion, however.
27	** Lampshaded in "The Hard-Boiled Mystery", where the victim is a writer friend of Father Dowling's who based his novel on one of the Father's cases. The Sister Steve {{Expy}} is a prim, humorless woman who faints at the sight of blood.
28	--->'''Sister Steve''': Talk about a wimp in a wimple.
29	* IdiosyncraticEpisodeNaming: Except for the pilot movie "Fatal Confession," every episode title followed the format "The _______ Mystery."
30	* PilotMovie: ''Fatal Confession: A Father Dowling Mystery''
31	* PlatonicLifePartners: Steve and Frank.
32	* PrettyInMink: When investing a crime scene in a house, there is a lynx coat around. Stephanie can't resist trying it on just once.
33	* SignatureHeadgear: Father Dowling's fedora.
34	* SomethingOnlyTheyWouldSay: Blaine tries to trick the police into arresting Frank, the two dressed alike. Steve asks Frank about what a person told him in confession. Frank says he can't tell her that and Steve announces to the cops this is the real Frank as only a true priest would go to jail rather than break the sanctity of confession.
35	* TomboyishName: Sister Steve
36	* [[LittleOldLadyInvestigates Unassuming Old Priest Investigates]]: The HighConcept driving the show.
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Context Series / FatherDowlingMysteries