That opening credits theme and use of books, then later a maze, is most effective in introducing this series of updated adaptations of Hardy Boys & Nancy Drew books. Nancy Drew having been filmed before in the late 1930's with Bonita Granville in a series of four films. Parker Stevenson, Shaun Cassidy, and Pamela Sue Martin were good choices for the title characters. The first season was quite good, especially Nancy Drew: 'The Mystery Of Pirate's Cove' was best.Second season was where things went wrong, especially for poor Nancy! First, the creators decided to team them up in a pair of silly episodes; when Pamela Sue Martin abruptly quit the series as a result, since she was credited as "guest star" on a series as much hers as theirs!(Wow!) She was then recast(!) with another actress, who tried, and was pretty, but looked nothing like Pamela, so that became a big mistake...Not to mention Nancy's friend George was recast, and not only was her other friend Ned recast, he was reintroduced as if he never existed before! (Huh?) I hate it when producers think we viewers are dummies with no memories! Third season dropped Nancy altogether, and didn't last long. Whole series is on DVD, and is worth watching for the first year, and nostalgic reasons.

for anyone who can't last five minutes with the Jonas bros without hurling, it comes as a revelation to find Shaun Cassidy to not be such a bad memory in comparison.when i was a little kid i would hang out in the school library at recess time because i was shy and would avoid the other kids. i remember reading the Hardy boys books and really liking them. they were great escape from the trivial, hum drum, activities the other kids were in to. i also remember watching the 'Partridge Family'(hey!i was only like 10 yrs old)and buying a David Cassidy/Partridge record. i also remember being a teen ager and watching this TV show on ABC.i watched it again last night just out of nostalgic interest and expected to think it was terrible, but was surprised to find it wasn't all that bad.sure it was cheesy. but the episode i watched featured Paul Williams singing his hit from 'Phantom of the Paradise' and i frickin love the heck out of Paul Williams so i was in to it.and Shaun Cassidy wasn't sickening or anything. definitely a lot less anal repulsive than the Jonas babies. i've actually sat thru the Jonas 'LA' show. a infantile 'Entourage' rip off without the sex or drugs or swearing. BORING!!! i know it's Disney, but why try to be 'Entourage' in the first place. the comparisons are embarrassing.at least the 'Hardy Boys' did'nt try to be something it wasn't. it just tried to base itself on innocent children's books.the Jonas Bros. and Miley Cyrus are indicative of why this generation can be kind of slimes. they rail too hard against innocence.

My memories of this show when it was on in the late 70's is vague. LOVED Shaun Cassidy back in the day. Not my type anymore though. Too pretty boy. But as a show it is fun. More of a Saturday morning view of detective work than say even Charlie's Angels but it is fun.Shaun & Parker (who has not aged a bit I must say as seen recently at school events with his children) had great chemistry. Though Frank sometimes comes off as a know it all and Joe comes off a bumbling idiot. Through it all it's campy fun. The pilot episode for the boys has Parker riding a motorcycle in his boxers. Cheeky fun!! Pamela Sue Martin as Nancy Drew was nice. I really liked her stories. But reading that the producers backed off from Nancy stories as the boys proved more popular- she had an uphill battle. Shaun was THE teen idol of the day. Hit records and this show- no one could have equaled that level of popularity. The girls were more interested in Shaun & Parker. Duh!! In all honesty the shows and the supporting characters were one note performances. 99% of all of the cops/sheriffs were beyond stupid. It was the 70's after all and they never set out to make a serious drama/action show. This was not "The Streets of San Francisco" ya know. But if you were once fans of either show or the actors- check it out. It's lighthearted, campy fun for the most part.

Finally! Quite nearly three decades after this show appeared, it's BACK! This series starred Shaun Cassidy, Pamela Sue Martin/Janet Louise Johnson, and Parker Stevenson, and was shown on ABC from January 1977 to to January 1979. The Hardys alternated with Nancy Drew once a week in the first season. By 1978 the Nancy Drew series was failing. In a last ditch attempt to save the series, ABC combined the Hardys and Nancy for a few episodes. This didn't work and Ms. Drew was canceled in the fall of '78. The Hardys followed this fate early in 1979. Thus season two is the only FULL season out there.If you enjoy Hart to Hart, Magnum PI, or even Murder She Wrote, this classic DVD set is for you -- and they'll even throw in a poster of Shaun!