Diagnosis Murder never takes itself too seriously much to its delight, although it does deal with serious issues at time. I don't know if it's a case of Murder, She Wrote vs. Diagnosis Murder, but strangely I find it difficult being drawn into MSW even though it has a legion of fans. Anyway, whilst some episodes of Diagnosis Murder short circuit the plot line to get to the end and wrap things up before the end credits, it is fun and engaging to watch.The only thing...Diagnosis Murder was broadcast during the Bill Clinton Presidency, and you would have thought the Community General Hospital staff would be more reflective of society. Okay, okay, the actor playing Dr Sloan was of Dutch descent, Dr Bentley's a female African-American, and Dr Stewart is Italian. But I never saw any Indian or East Asian doctors at the Hospital, even though really they constitute a significant proportion of medical staff. Maybe if Diagnosis Murder was to have an episode dealing with murder and mayhem at a Spelling Bee or something like that, then maybe.

What network was , Diagnosis Murder on? I thought it was CBS. Am I right or?? Also, Back in those days, the actual production H.Q. was near about the Van Nuys Airport. I surely remember, because I practically made nearly two episodes in those daze. More. I remember the early days. I had found an article in Reader's Digest giving this actor/writer a clue to a terrific episode. So just for suggesting it I was awarded. Awarded or not, I sadly didn't develop it, and was cut out of it all due to poor publicity of mine. So as a justification I learned as I always have, the hard way... Roll the dice..Craps!!! Just a side bar on Mr. Van Dyke. He had a house in the Brentwood area on Chalon Road and it was an incredible party house. Dick had a terrific sense of modernism when he built that house.

I liked the series in the early years, it leaned a little towards the geriatric set, kind of a male based "Murder She Wrote", but Dick Van Dyke is a great actor so I enjoyed watching him portray the amiable Dr. Mark Sloan. He worked well with his real life son, Barry Van Dyke. The series was well written in the beginning, but towards the end it got really lame. It seemed that every episode featured the whole "Van Dyke" clan, and sadly to say, none of them could act with the exception of Dick and Barry. I've heard of nepotism but this took the cake, and some of the story lines got really,really out there, especially "The Blair Nurse Project" which had the young Van Dykes searching (and yikes-finding) there is a ghost in the basement of Community General Hospital. The series was cancelled shortly thereafter and I wasn't surprised. Occasionally I will watch the reruns on the PAX network or Hallmark Channel and I do enjoy them in small doses.

This movie was well played by Mark Sloan and his son Steve Sloan who was a detective for the police. This movie was not only filmed at Community General but also in the community were they live. They have friends that also with them at the hospital and with cases Mark helps his son with their names are Jack and Amanda. Sometimes while working Mark and his still had time to have fun which was at Mark's house where he lives that is on the beachfront. These people sometimes work on tough cases at the beachhouse and sometimes in the community at a coffee shop. Over the years Diagnosis Murder was real great but too bad that before this show came on the air Murder She Wrote left the air but at least now this show keeps mystery on the air.