This week’s mysterious program was a Count the Man Down, a 1959 pilot for the unsold TV show Nero Wolfe with Kurt Kasznar, William Shatner, Alex Scourby, Phyllis Hill, George Voskovec, Eva Seregni, Frank Marth, John McLiam, John C. Becher, Eileen Fulton and Rene Paul.
Theme composed by Alex North.
Assistant to the producer Joe Scully.
Production supervisor Richard Rosenbloom.
Art direction by Larry Eggleton.
Costumes by William Griffin.
Based on characters created by Rex Stout.
Photography by William Miller.
Recording by James Shields.
Edited by David Cooper.
Assistant director Peter Scoppa.
Executive producer Edwin Fadiman.
Produced by Gordon Duff.
Directed by Tom Donovan.
Nero Wolfe is a CBS Television Network production, filmed in New York in association with Nero Wolfe Attractions.
Restored by Jeff Joseph, 2018.
Count the Man Down is available on DVD from Critics’ Choice Videos.
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It’s always a dicey proposition when I do a TV show as a mystery program. Especially one that never aired. OK, I get it. Let me explain.
This was a substitution for the Edward Arnold movie Meet Nero Wolfe (1936), which came up for discussion in a recent Zoom meeting. I could only find the Edward Arnold film in atrocious prints, but William Shatner as Archie? Possibilities!
There’s no mystery as to why this pilot wasn’t picked up. The script may have worked as a radio show, but in the era of Perry Mason and 77 Sunset Strip, a series about a wealthy eccentric who solves crimes but never leaves his apartment was doomed. Of course all the suspects have to be assembled in a room for the denoument (cliche!) And the plot resolution? Death was the result of a magic gizmo? A total violation of Raymond Chandler’s rules for mystery stories.
Next week, a movie. I promise.
For Monday, we have a mysterious fellow.
Update: This is Rene Paul.
For Tuesday, we have a mystery woman – plus pearls.
Update: This is Eva Seregni.
For “Hm Wednesday,” we have two mysterious people.
Update: This is Alexander Scourby and Phyllis Hill.
And for “Aha Thursday,” we have a mystery gent. And Back of the Head Guy.
Update: This is Kurt Kasznar, a mystery orchid and William Shatner as Back of the Head Guy.
Brain Trust roll call: Jenny M. (Wednesday’s mystery guests), Howard Mandelbaum (Wednesday’s mystery fellow), Mike Hawks (Wednesday’s mystery fellow), B.J. Merholz (Wednesday’s mystery fellow), L.C. (mystery show and mystery cast) and Sheila (Wednesday’s mystery fellow).
For Friday, we have a mystery gent.
Update: Boyish, charming William Shatner.
Brain Trust roll call: Jenny M. (mysterious TV pilot, Thursday’s mystery guest and Back of the Head Guy), Mary Mallory (mystery TV pilot, all mystery guests and Back of the Head Guy), Sylvia E. (mystery TV pilot, all mystery guests and Back of the Head guy), Gary (mystery TV pilot and Thursday’s mysterious detective), Mike Hawks (Thursday’s mysterious detective), Howard Mandelbaum (mysterious TV pilot, all mystery guests and Back of the Head Guy) and Benito (Thursday’s mysterious detective).
ladailymirror.com 
Warner Anderson.
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An excellent guess, but alas….
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Ann Newman Bacal and THE BEST MAN.
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An excellent guess, but alas….
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Alexander Scourby and Phyllis Hill
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Alexander Scourby
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Alexander Scourby.
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Alexander Scourby
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Interesting choice. Count The Man Down, this is an unsold pilot for Nero Wolfe in1959 w/Kurt Kasznar, William Shatner, Phyllis Hill, Alexander Scourby, George Voskovec, Eva Seregni, Frank Marth
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Alexander Scourby for Wednesday?
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Kurt Kasznar and Back of the Head Guy William Shatner in Nero Wolfe television series.
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Ah! Our talk last week. Nero Wolfe’s COUNT THE MAN DOWN. Rene Paul I think on Monday, Eileen Fulton Tuesday, Alexander Scourby and Phyllis Hill Wednesday, and William Shatner BOTH and Kurt Kasznar today.
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It has to be Eva Seregni Wednesday per the Youtube video.
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Aha Thursday strikes again! Thanks to Kurt Kasznar and even BOTHG William Shatner (I recognized his hair!)
A 1959 TV pilot for a Nero Wolfe series that didn’t come to pass. This episode – “Count the Man Down”. It would have been interesting to see Shatner as Archie Goodwin. I like his jacket.
Still working on Monday and Tuesdays images. Wednesday’s image: Alexander Scourby and Phyllis Hill.
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I have never owned a television set and I have never watched television except in passing, but I think this is Kurt Kasner as Nero Wolf in a television series that never happened. Never…being the key word here.
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Kurt Kasznar.
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Nero Wolfe (1959)
Episode: Count The Man Down
Monday: Rene Paul
Tuesday: Unbilled actress as The Widow Lowenberg
Wednesday: Alexander Scourby, Phyllis Hill
Thursday Kurt Kaszner, William Shatner
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Continuing on (or going back to) Monday and Tuesday and the cast of “Count the Man Down”
Mon – victim, Rene Paul
Tues – widow, Eva Seregni
I hope my earlier comments made it through.
A deadly hearing aid – no peak clipping in this story.
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A young Kurt Kasznar today. PS Wednesday’s children are Perry Mason vets
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Friday’s mystery gent looks like William Shatner. Is the mystery TV pilot “Nero Wolfe”?
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Willam Shatner today.
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Monday – Rene Paul
Our flick is the TV pilot for Nero Wolfe
Tues – Eva Seregni
Wed – Alexander Scourby with Phyllis Hill
Thurs – Kurt Mass as with bothg being Wm. Shatner
Fri. – William Shatner
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DRn spell check changed Nero Wolf. Should have been Kurt Kasznar
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William Shatner.
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“A mysterious TV pilot” Movieland Mystery Photo? Count me out..
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William Shatner.
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