TV SERIES · 1981– · USA
Simon & Simon
15 archived facts 4 topics 1 source Last reviewed Oct 2026
All facts (15)
- #001
The series was nearly cancelled during its first season. After it was rescheduled to follow a crossover episode with Magnum, P.I., its ratings rose substantially. (1980).
- #002
The series was originally titled "Pirates Key," and its pilot episode was shot in South Florida. After the pilot was filmed, the show moved to California (set in San Diego, but mostly shot in Los Angeles).
- #003
The series was set in San Diego and was shot there during its first season. Beginning with the second season, filming took place mostly in Venice and Marina del Rey in Los Angeles County and in and around Universal City, alongside the production base at Universal Studios. San Diego appeared in many episodes, but was usually limited to a few scenes and what is known as "B" roll footage.
- #004
Mary Carver was cast as Cecilia Simon because she got along very well with Gerald McRaney and Jameson Parker.
- #005
At the start of the opening sequence, from the second season onward, the building seen in the wide shot of Rick and A.J. is the Geisel Library at the University of California, San Diego. Another iconic shot is of the Coronado Bridge.
- #006
Rick's boat is moored at slip F-18, a tribute to John D. MacDonald's novel series featuring salvage expert Travis McGee.
- #007
The character Temple Hill takes its name from the street beneath the famous Hollywood sign in the Hollywood Hills.
- #008
Rick's "Macho Power Wagon" truck was part of a line of special 4x4 trucks Dodge produced from 1977 to 1981 as part of its "Adult Toys" campaign aimed at young buyers. The main truck used in the series was a 1979 long-bed model in Sierra red with special Macho paint and decals. Midway through the first season, the production team added a 1980 Dodge long-bed 4x4 copied to resemble the '79 Macho. The '79 Macho has a padded roll bar with perfectly straight diagonal supports. The '80 Macho clone has an aftermarket unpadded roll bar. Its diagonal supports also bend horizontally before connecting to the main bar. Shots often switch between the two trucks within the same scenes.
- #009
The first season's opening title sequence includes stop-motion clips. From the second season to the end, the opening credits feature a montage of video clips.
- #010
The brothers had three different offices over the course of the series, with no explanation ever given.
- #011
Watches: A.J. wears a Rolex GMT Master "Pepsi," and Rick wears a Chronosport UDT Sea Quartz.
- #012
Tim Reid (Lieutenant Marcel 'Downtown' Brown) left the series after appearing many times in seasons 3 and 6, and went on to star in his own TV series, Frank's Place (1987), also with CBS. The series was critically acclaimed but short-lived. Reid returned for the reunion film Simon & Simon: In Trouble Again (1995).
- #013
Myron Fowler's original surname was Schneider.
- #014
For seasons 1 through 8 of the series, they used Panavision cameras and lenses.
- #015
Seasons 1, 2, 3 and 4 were successful, while seasons 5, 6, 7 and 8 declined, so it was cancelled in 1989.
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