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{{Short description|American crime drama television series}}
{{Short description|American crime drama television series}}
{{Featured article}}
{{Infobox television
{{Infobox television
| name = Veronica Clare
| image = VeronicaClareTitleCard.jpg
| image_alt = The words "Veronica Clare" are shown in two fonts on a postcard-style image of a cityscape with a black-and-white image of a woman in front of it.
| image = VeronicaClareTitleCard.jpg
| genre = [[Crime drama]]
| image_alt = The words "Veronica Clare" are shown in two fonts on a postcard-style image of a cityscape with a black-and-white image of a woman in front of it.
| genre = [[Crime drama]]
| based_on =
| based_on =
| creator = [[Jeffrey Bloom]]
| creator = [[Jeffrey Bloom]]
| developer =
| developer =
| writer =
| writer =
| director =
| director =
| creative_director =
| creative_director =
| presenter =
| presenter =
| starring = {{plain list|
*[[Laura M. Robinson|Laura Robinson]]
| starring = {{plain list|
*[[Laura McKinlay Robinson|Laura Robinson]]
*[[Robert Beltran]]
*[[Robert Beltran]]
*[[Tony Plana]]
*[[Tony Plana]]
Line 21: Line 21:
*Wayne Chou
*Wayne Chou
}}
}}
| judges =
| judges =
| voices =
| voices =
| narrated =
| narrated =
| theme_music_composer =
| theme_music_composer =
| opentheme=
| opentheme =
| endtheme =
| endtheme =
| composer = [[Gil Mellé]]
| composer = [[Gil Mellé]]
| location = Los Angeles, California
| location = Los Angeles, California
| country = United States
| country = United States
| language = English
| language = English
| num_seasons = 1
| num_seasons = 1
| num_episodes = 9
| num_episodes = 9
| list_episodes =
| list_episodes =
| executive_producer = {{Plainlist|
| executive_producer = {{Plainlist|
* Jeffrey Bloom
* Jeffrey Bloom
* Chad Hoffman
* Chad Hoffman
}}
}}
| producer = {{Plainlist|
| producer = {{Plainlist|
* Sascha Schneider
* Sascha Schneider
* Anthony Santa Croce
* Anthony Santa Croce
* Scott Citron
* Scott Citron
}}
}}
| editor = Maureen O'Connell
| editor = Maureen O'Connell
| cinematography = Edward J. Pei
| cinematography = Edward J. Pei
| camera =
| camera =
| runtime = 60 minutes
| runtime = 60 minutes
| company = Hearst Entertainment, Inc.
| company = Hearst Entertainment, Inc.
| distributor =
| network = [[Lifetime (TV network)|Lifetime]]
| network = [[Lifetime (TV network)|Lifetime]]
| first_aired = {{Start date|1991|7|23}}
| picture_format =
| last_aired = {{End date|1991|9|17}}
| audio_format =
| related =
| first_aired = {{Start date|1991|7|23}}
| last_aired = {{End date|1991|9|17}}
| related =
| website =
| production_website =
}}
}}
'''''Veronica Clare''''' is an American [[Crime Drama|crime drama]] created by [[Jeffrey Bloom]] that aired nine episodes on [[Lifetime (TV network)|Lifetime]] between July and September of 1991. The title character, played by [[Laura McKinlay Robinson|Laura Robinson]], is a [[private investigator]] and the co-owner of a restaurant and [[jazz club]] in [[Chinatown, Los Angeles]]. She pursues only cases that interest her, often finding these herself, and refuses payment. Clare solves cases using her intelligence and intuition. The supporting characters consist of her close friends and co-workers, played by [[Robert Beltran]], [[Tony Plana]], [[Christina Pickles]], Robert Ruth, Robert Sutton, and Wayne Chou. The series incorporates elements of [[film noir]].
'''''Veronica Clare''''' is an American [[Crime Drama|crime drama]] created by [[Jeffrey Bloom]] that aired nine episodes on [[Lifetime (TV network)|Lifetime]] between July and September 1991. The title character, played by [[Laura M. Robinson|Laura Robinson]], is a [[private investigator]] and the co-owner of a restaurant and [[jazz club]] in [[Chinatown, Los Angeles]]. She pursues only cases that interest her, often finding these herself, and refuses payment. Clare solves cases using her intelligence and intuition. The supporting characters consist of her close friends and co-workers, played by [[Robert Beltran]], [[Tony Plana]], [[Christina Pickles]], Robert Ruth, Robert Sutton, and Wayne Chou. The series incorporates elements of [[film noir]].


Lifetime developed ''Veronica Clare'' as one of its first [[List of Lifetime original programming|original scripted programs]], along with [[The Hidden Room (TV series)|''The Hidden Room'']] and ''[[Confessions of Crime]]''. Bloom created the show's premise after imagining [[Lauren Bacall]] as a Los Angeles detective. [[Gil Mellé]] composed the soundtrack, which uses [[jazz]] to create its [[Ambience (sound recording)|ambience]]. Episodes were shot in May and June 1991 in a television studio in the [[San Fernando Valley]] and [[Location shooting|on-location]] in Los Angeles.
Lifetime developed ''Veronica Clare'' as one of its first [[List of Lifetime original programming|original scripted programs]], along with [[The Hidden Room (TV series)|''The Hidden Room'']] and ''[[Confessions of Crime]]''. Bloom created the show's premise after imagining [[Lauren Bacall]] as a Los Angeles detective. [[Gil Mellé]] composed the soundtrack, which uses [[jazz]] to create its [[Ambience (sound recording)|ambience]]. Episodes were shot in May and June 1991 in a television studio in the [[San Fernando Valley]] and [[Location shooting|on-location]] in Los Angeles.


After nine of its commissioned 13 episodes aired, Lifetime placed ''Veronica Clare'' on hiatus and later canceled it. The series was not released on [[DVD]] or any [[Streaming service provider|streaming service]]. In 1991 and 1992, the episodes were rebroadcast as four [[Television movie|television movies]]. Critics praised Bloom's script for the first episode, but criticized the show's storylines, look, and tone as well as Robinson's performance. The series attracted [[Feminism|feminist]] analysis with a focus on Clare's role as a female private investigator.
After nine of its commissioned 13 episodes aired, Lifetime placed ''Veronica Clare'' on hiatus and later canceled it. The series was not released on [[DVD]] or any [[Streaming service provider|streaming service]]. In 1991 and 1992, the episodes were rebroadcast as four [[television movie]]s. Critics praised Bloom's script for the first episode, but criticized the show's storylines, look, and tone as well as Robinson's performance. The series attracted [[Feminist theory|feminist analysis]] with a focus on Clare's role as a female private investigator.


== Premise ==
== Premise ==


=== Story and characters ===
=== Story and characters ===
The title character of ''Veronica Clare'' ([[Laura McKinlay Robinson|Laura Robinson]]) is a [[private investigator]] and partial owner of an [[Art Deco]] restaurant and [[jazz club]] in [[Chinatown, Los Angeles]]. Clare often investigates cases that help women while using her club as a place to meet potential clients and suspects.{{sfn|Bang|2020|p=168}} She is the show's narrator, and at the end of each episode, she writes about her cases to a former lover in letters signed "Love, Veronica".{{sfn|Baker|1991|p=5}}{{sfn|Sharbutt|1991|p=6A}} However, she does not mail any of these letters,{{sfn|Sharbutt|1991|p=6A}} and the name and gender of her lover are never explicitly stated.<ref>{{harvnb|Belcher|1991|p=6}}; {{harvnb|Green|1998|p=164}}; {{harvnb|Johnson|1994|p=62}}</ref>{{efn|The [[Associated Press]]'s Jay Sharbutt identifies Clare's lover as a man who has left town,{{sfn|Sharbutt|1991|p=6A}} while scholar Susan White says she is writing to her dead lover Michael and refers to him as a former [[United States Marine Corps|US Marine]].{{sfn|White|1994|p=81}}}} Throughout the series, Clare is portrayed as mysterious,{{sfn|Baker|1991|p=5}}{{sfn|Belcher|1991|p=6}} although there were plans to explore more of her past in future episodes had the show continued beyond its first season.{{sfn|Brooks|Marsh|2009|p=1467}} In the [[Television pilot|pilot episode]], a [[Flashback (narrative)|flashback]] provides some information on her backstory,{{sfn|Belcher|1991|p=6}} and she is referenced as a [[detective]]'s daughter.{{sfn|Buck|1991|p=D6}}
The title character of ''Veronica Clare'' ([[Laura M. Robinson|Laura Robinson]]) is a [[private investigator]] and partial owner of an [[Art Deco]] restaurant and [[jazz club]] in [[Chinatown, Los Angeles]]. Clare often investigates cases that help women while using her club as a place to meet potential clients and suspects.{{sfn|Bang|2020|p=168}} She is the show's narrator, and at the end of each episode, she writes about her cases to a former lover in letters signed "Love, Veronica".{{sfn|Baker|1991|p=5}}{{sfn|Sharbutt|1991|p=6A}} However, she does not mail any of these letters,{{sfn|Sharbutt|1991|p=6A}} and the name and gender of her lover are never explicitly stated.<ref>{{harvnb|Belcher|1991|p=6}}; {{harvnb|Green|1998|p=164}}; {{harvnb|Johnson|1994|p=62}}</ref>{{efn|The [[Associated Press]]'s Jay Sharbutt identifies Clare's lover as a man who has left town,{{sfn|Sharbutt|1991|p=6A}} while scholar Susan White says she is writing to her dead lover Michael and refers to him as a former [[United States Marine Corps|US Marine]].{{sfn|White|1994|p=81}}}} Throughout the series, Clare is portrayed as mysterious,{{sfn|Baker|1991|p=5}}{{sfn|Belcher|1991|p=6}} although there were plans to explore more of her past in future episodes had the show continued beyond its first season.{{sfn|Brooks|Marsh|2009|p=1467}} In the [[Television pilot|pilot episode]], a [[Flashback (narrative)|flashback]] provides some information on her backstory,{{sfn|Belcher|1991|p=6}} and she is referenced as a [[detective]]'s daughter.{{sfn|Buck|1991|p=D6}}


Clare only accepts cases that interest her and refuses any payment for her work.{{sfn|Brooks|Marsh|2009|p=1467}}{{sfn|Rosenberg|1991}} The series has very few action scenes as Clare does not perform [[hand-to-hand combat]] with men or participate in [[car chase]]s.<ref>{{harvnb|Green|1998|p=164}}; {{harvnb|Mills|1991|p=7}}; {{harvnb|Rhein|1991|p=3}}; {{harvnb|Sharbutt|1991|p=6A}}</ref> Although she owns a [[Walther PPK]], she uses it only for self-defense;{{sfn|Bang|2020|p=168}}{{sfn|Green|1998|p=164}} political theorist [[Philip Green (author)|Philip Green]] wrote that the series portrays Clare's "skill as a private investigator" as her "weapons".{{sfn|Green|1998|p=164}} Television critic [[Mark Dawidziak]] described Clare as operating on her own "extremely personal code of ethics" throughout the episodes.{{sfn|Dawidziak|1991|p=3}} According to author Derrick Bang and the [[Associated Press]]'s Jerry Buck, the series portrays Clare as a "private eyeful",{{sfn|Bang|2020|p=168}}{{sfn|Buck|1991|p=D6}} and Buck explained this was done through scenes in which she uses her "seductive charms" during investigations.{{sfn|Buck|1991|p=D6}} Clare often uses her intelligence and intuition for her cases,<ref>{{harvnb|Mills|1991|p=7}}; {{harvnb|Rhein|1991|p=3}}; {{harvnb|Terrace|2008|pp=1139{{endash}}1140}}</ref> and because of this, Robinson described the show as a "cerebral drama" about "the [[Cat and mouse|cat-and-mouse]] game played by Veronica and her adversaries".{{sfn|Rhein|1991|p=3}}
Clare only accepts cases that interest her and refuses any payment for her work.{{sfn|Brooks|Marsh|2009|p=1467}}{{sfn|Rosenberg|1991}} The series has very few action scenes as Clare does not perform [[hand-to-hand combat]] with men or participate in [[car chase]]s.<ref>{{harvnb|Green|1998|p=164}}; {{harvnb|Mills|1991|p=7}}; {{harvnb|Rhein|1991|p=3}}; {{harvnb|Sharbutt|1991|p=6A}}</ref> Although she owns a [[Walther PPK]], she uses it only for self-defense;{{sfn|Bang|2020|p=168}}{{sfn|Green|1998|p=164}} political theorist [[Philip Green (author)|Philip Green]] wrote that the series portrays Clare's "skill as a private investigator" as her "weapons".{{sfn|Green|1998|p=164}} Television critic [[Mark Dawidziak]] described Clare as operating on her own "extremely personal code of ethics" throughout the episodes.{{sfn|Dawidziak|1991|p=3}} According to author Derrick Bang and the [[Associated Press]]'s Jerry Buck, the series portrays Clare as a "private eyeful",{{sfn|Bang|2020|p=168}}{{sfn|Buck|1991|p=D6}} and Buck explained this was done through scenes in which she uses her "seductive charms" during investigations.{{sfn|Buck|1991|p=D6}} Clare often uses her intelligence and intuition for her cases,<ref>{{harvnb|Mills|1991|p=7}}; {{harvnb|Rhein|1991|p=3}}; {{harvnb|Terrace|2008|pp=1139{{endash}}1140}}</ref> and because of this, Robinson described the show as a "cerebral drama" about "the [[Cat and mouse|cat-and-mouse]] game played by Veronica and her adversaries".{{sfn|Rhein|1991|p=3}}


Robinson characterized Clare as a loner,{{sfn|Mills|1991|p=6}} and Dawidziak noted that she had few close friends.{{sfn|Dawidziak|1991|p=3}} Clare lives alone in a hotel suite, a living situation that media studies scholar Eithne Johnson called "impersonal" and "anti-domestic".{{sfn|Johnson|1994|p=60}} Despite this, the ''[[Missoulian]]''<nowiki/>'s Jon Burlingame noted that the show often surrounds her with "offbeat settings and people".{{sfn|Burlingame|1991|p=C2}} She co-owns her club with Duke Rado ([[Robert Beltran]]), who is the show's male lead character.{{sfn|Bang|2020|p=168}}{{sfn|Green|1998|p=164}} Green argued the series presents Rado only as Clare's business partner, and not as her love interest or as a "source of wisdom and authorization for her".{{sfn|Green|1998|p=164}} Clare's best friend is Kelsey Horne ([[Christina Pickles]]), a former spy who owns a store selling rare books.<ref>{{harvnb|Brennan|1991}}; {{harvnb|Buck|1991|p=D6}}; {{harvnb|Burlingame|1991|p=C2}}</ref> Nikki Swarcek ([[Tony Plana]]), a Polish [[expatriate]] and a [[lieutenant]] for the [[Los Angeles Police Department]], is attracted to Clare.<ref>{{harvnb|Brennan|1991}}; {{harvnb|Brooks|Marsh|2009|p=1467}}; {{harvnb|Buck|1991|p=D6}}; {{harvnb|Burlingame|1991|p=C2}}</ref> Other [[Supporting character|supporting characters]] include [[Sergeant]] Tweed (Robert Ruth), bartender Rocco (Robert Sutton), and valet Jimmy (Wayne Chou).<ref>{{harvnb|Brooks|Marsh|2009|p=1467}}; {{harvnb|Johnson|1994|p=60}}; {{harvnb|Terrace|2008|pp=1139{{endash}}1140}}</ref> Series creator [[Jeffrey Bloom]] emphasized ''Veronica Clare'' was not focused on its [[ensemble cast]], explaining "they're in for 10 percent of the time [while] Veronica is there 100 percent".{{sfn|Mills|1991|p=7}}
Robinson characterized Clare as a loner,{{sfn|Mills|1991|p=6}} and Dawidziak noted that she had few close friends.{{sfn|Dawidziak|1991|p=3}} Clare lives alone in a hotel suite, a living situation that media studies scholar Eithne Johnson called "impersonal" and "anti-domestic".{{sfn|Johnson|1994|p=60}} Despite this, the ''[[Missoulian]]''<nowiki/>'s Jon Burlingame noted that the show often surrounds her with "offbeat settings and people".{{sfn|Burlingame|1991|p=C2}} She co-owns her club with Duke Rado ([[Robert Beltran]]), who is the show's male lead character.{{sfn|Bang|2020|p=168}}{{sfn|Green|1998|p=164}} Green argued the series presents Rado only as Clare's business partner, and not as her love interest or as a "source of wisdom and authorization for her".{{sfn|Green|1998|p=164}} Clare's best friend is Kelsey Horne ([[Christina Pickles]]), a former spy who owns a store selling rare books.<ref>{{harvnb|Brennan|1991}}; {{harvnb|Buck|1991|p=D6}}; {{harvnb|Burlingame|1991|p=C2}}</ref> Nikki Swarcek ([[Tony Plana]]), a Polish [[expatriate]] and a [[lieutenant]] for the [[Los Angeles Police Department]], is attracted to Clare.<ref>{{harvnb|Brennan|1991}}; {{harvnb|Brooks|Marsh|2009|p=1467}}; {{harvnb|Buck|1991|p=D6}}; {{harvnb|Burlingame|1991|p=C2}}</ref> Other [[supporting character]]s include [[Sergeant]] Tweed (Robert Ruth), bartender Rocco (Robert Sutton), and valet Jimmy (Wayne Chou).<ref>{{harvnb|Brooks|Marsh|2009|p=1467}}; {{harvnb|Johnson|1994|p=60}}; {{harvnb|Terrace|2008|pp=1139{{endash}}1140}}</ref> Series creator [[Jeffrey Bloom]] emphasized ''Veronica Clare'' was not focused on its [[ensemble cast]], explaining "they're in for 10 percent of the time [while] Veronica is there 100 percent".{{sfn|Mills|1991|p=7}}


=== Style and comparisons ===
=== Style and comparisons ===
{{multiple image
{{multiple image
| footer = Critics have likened Veronica Clare, played by [[Laura McKinlay Robinson|Laura Robinson]] (''pictured left in 1987''), to [[Lauren Bacall]] (''pictured right in 1945'') and discussed how the series uses elements from 1940s [[film noir]].
| footer = Critics have likened Veronica Clare, played by [[Laura M. Robinson|Laura Robinson]] (''pictured left in 1987''), to [[Lauren Bacall]] (''pictured right in 1945'') and discussed how the series uses elements from 1940s [[film noir]].
| image1 = Laura Robinson headshot.jpg
| image1 = Laura Robinson headshot.jpg
| width1 = 185
| width1 = 185
Line 83: Line 78:
| alt2 = A woman in dark clothing and looking towards the camera.
| alt2 = A woman in dark clothing and looking towards the camera.
| align = right}}
| align = right}}
''Veronica Clare'' borrows elements from [[film noir]], including "first-person narration, smoke-filled rooms, [[classic car|period cars]] and skin-tight dresses".{{sfn|Bang|2020|p=168}} Clare is shown driving a vintage white [[Mercedes-Benz|Mercedes]] [[coupe]].{{sfn|Sharbutt|1991|p=6A}}{{sfn|Johnson|1994|p=60}} Episodes also include [[camera angle]]s similar to those used in noir films.{{sfn|Bang|2020|p=168}}{{sfn|Burlingame|1991|p=C2}} Bonnie Baker, writing for ''[[The Arizona Republic]]'', described the series as resembling "a '40s movie that's been [[Film colorization|colorized]] by [[Ted Turner]]".{{sfn|Baker|1991|p=5}} While episodes draw inspiration from [[detective fiction]] published in the 1940s, Dawidziak viewed its stories as having a more "90s sensibility".{{sfn|Dawidziak|1991|p=3}}
''Veronica Clare'' borrows elements from [[film noir]], including "first-person narration, smoke-filled rooms, [[classic car|period cars]] and skin-tight dresses".{{sfn|Bang|2020|p=168}} Clare is shown driving a vintage white [[Mercedes-Benz|Mercedes]] [[coupe]].{{sfn|Sharbutt|1991|p=6A}}{{sfn|Johnson|1994|p=60}} Episodes also include [[camera angle]]s similar to those used in noir films.{{sfn|Bang|2020|p=168}}{{sfn|Burlingame|1991|p=C2}} Bonnie Baker, writing for ''[[The Arizona Republic]]'', described the series as resembling "a '40s movie that's been [[Film colorization|colorized]] by [[Ted Turner]]".{{sfn|Baker|1991|p=5}} While episodes draw inspiration from [[detective fiction]] published in the 1940s, Dawidziak viewed its stories as having a more "90s sensibility".{{sfn|Dawidziak|1991|p=3}}


Journalists considered ''Veronica Clare'' to be similar to [[detective fiction]] by [[Raymond Chandler]] and [[Dashiell Hammett]].<ref>{{harvnb|Dawidziak|1991|p=3}}; {{harvnb|Helmbreck|1991|p=D1}}; {{harvnb|Mills|1991|p=6}}</ref> Critics characterized the series' tone as "low-key",<ref>{{harvnb|Burlingame|1991|p=C2}}; {{harvnb|Dawidziak|1991|p=3}}; {{harvnb|White|1991|p=D3}}</ref> specifically in reference to its narration,{{sfn|Dawidziak|1991|p=3}}{{sfn|Burlingame|1991|p=C2}} as well as cold and distant.{{sfn|Hughes|1991|p=2D}}{{sfn|''The Times Herald''|1991|p=8B}} Episodes have elements of humor,{{sfn|Sharbutt|1991|p=6A}}{{sfn|Dawidziak|1991|p=3}} such as when Clare's aunt said she could tell a [[gangster]] was a "man of dubious integrity" because "he never even provided a [[pension plan]]".{{sfn|Sharbutt|1991|p=6A}}
Journalists considered ''Veronica Clare'' to be similar to [[detective fiction]] by [[Raymond Chandler]] and [[Dashiell Hammett]].<ref>{{harvnb|Dawidziak|1991|p=3}}; {{harvnb|Helmbreck|1991|p=D1}}; {{harvnb|Mills|1991|p=6}}</ref> Critics characterized the series' tone as "low-key",<ref>{{harvnb|Burlingame|1991|p=C2}}; {{harvnb|Dawidziak|1991|p=3}}; {{harvnb|White|1991|p=D3}}</ref> specifically in reference to its narration,{{sfn|Dawidziak|1991|p=3}}{{sfn|Burlingame|1991|p=C2}} as well as cold and distant.{{sfn|Hughes|1991|p=2D}}{{sfn|''The Times Herald''|1991|p=8B}} Episodes have elements of humor,{{sfn|Sharbutt|1991|p=6A}}{{sfn|Dawidziak|1991|p=3}} such as when Clare's aunt said she could tell a [[gangster]] was a "man of dubious integrity" because "he never even provided a [[pension plan]]".{{sfn|Sharbutt|1991|p=6A}}


The series frequently uses [[jazz]], which was composed by [[Gil Mellé]], as part of its [[Ambience (sound recording)|ambience]]. Some of these instances are [[Diegesis|diegetic]] as Clare's club features jazz music, which is sometimes played with "unusual combos" of instruments such as a combination of piano, [[bass guitar]], and [[accordion]].{{sfn|Bang|2020|p=168}} The show's [[background music]] often features [[Cover version|cover]]s of [[George Gershwin]] and [[Cole Porter]]'s music, such as a jazz version of the 1926 song "[[Someone to Watch Over Me (song)|Someone to Watch Over Me]]",{{sfn|Baker|1991|p=5}}{{sfn|Helmbreck|1991|p=D1}} and the [[theme music]] has a "[[Blues|bluesy]] [[Saxophone|sax]], piano and bass".{{sfn|Sharbutt|1991|p=6A}}
The series frequently uses [[jazz]], which was composed by [[Gil Mellé]], as part of its [[Ambience (sound recording)|ambience]]. Some of these instances are [[Diegesis|diegetic]] as Clare's club features jazz music, which is sometimes played with "unusual combos" of instruments such as a combination of piano, [[bass guitar]], and [[accordion]].{{sfn|Bang|2020|p=168}} The show's [[background music]] often features [[Cover version|cover]]s of [[George Gershwin]] and [[Cole Porter]]'s music, such as a jazz version of the 1926 song "[[Someone to Watch Over Me (song)|Someone to Watch Over Me]]",{{sfn|Baker|1991|p=5}}{{sfn|Helmbreck|1991|p=D1}} and the [[theme music]] has a "[[blues]]y [[Saxophone|sax]], piano and bass".{{sfn|Sharbutt|1991|p=6A}}


Critics compared Clare to [[Veronica Lake]]{{sfn|Bang|2020|p=168}}{{sfn|Dawidziak|1991|p=3}} and ''Veronica Clare'' to a 1940s noir starring [[Lauren Bacall]] as the private investigator instead of [[Humphrey Bogart]].<ref>{{harvnb|Belcher|1991|p=6}}; {{harvnb|Buck|1991|p=D6}}; {{harvnb|Dawidziak|1991|p=3}}</ref> Television historians [[Tim Brooks (historian)|Tim Brooks]] and Earle F. Marsh believed this "Lauren Bacall look" was evoked by Clare's hairstyle and mysterious persona.{{sfn|Brooks|Marsh|2009|p=1467}} While promoting ''Veronica Clare'', Robinson referred to her character as a combination of Bogart's strength and intelligence as well as Bacall's looks and wit.{{sfn|Belcher|1991|p=6}} She also viewed Clare as an adult version of [[Nancy Drew]], but doubted that the show's producers shared her opinion.{{sfn|Buck|1991|p=D6}} Journalists have associated the character with other fictional detectives, such as [[Mike Hammer]], [[Nick and Nora Charles|Nick Charles]], [[Philip Marlowe]], and [[Sam Spade]].{{sfn|Baker|1991|p=5}}{{sfn|Henniger|1991|p=3}} Paul Henniger, writing for the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'', compared Clare's "rapid-talking, short, staccato outbursts" to [[Jack Webb]] and supporting characters to those in the television show ''[[Peter Gunn]]''.{{sfn|Henniger|1991|p=3}}
Critics compared Clare to [[Veronica Lake]]{{sfn|Bang|2020|p=168}}{{sfn|Dawidziak|1991|p=3}} and ''Veronica Clare'' to a 1940s noir starring [[Lauren Bacall]] as the private investigator instead of [[Humphrey Bogart]].<ref>{{harvnb|Belcher|1991|p=6}}; {{harvnb|Buck|1991|p=D6}}; {{harvnb|Dawidziak|1991|p=3}}</ref> Television historians [[Tim Brooks (historian)|Tim Brooks]] and Earle F. Marsh believed this "Lauren Bacall look" was evoked by Clare's hairstyle and mysterious persona.{{sfn|Brooks|Marsh|2009|p=1467}} While promoting ''Veronica Clare'', Robinson referred to her character as a combination of Bogart's strength and intelligence as well as Bacall's looks and wit.{{sfn|Belcher|1991|p=6}} She also viewed Clare as an adult version of [[Nancy Drew]], but doubted that the show's producers shared her opinion.{{sfn|Buck|1991|p=D6}} Journalists have associated the character with other fictional detectives, such as [[Mike Hammer (character)|Mike Hammer]], [[Nick and Nora Charles|Nick Charles]], [[Philip Marlowe]], and [[Sam Spade]].{{sfn|Baker|1991|p=5}}{{sfn|Henniger|1991|p=3}} Paul Henniger, writing for the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'', compared Clare's "rapid-talking, short, staccato outbursts" to [[Jack Webb]] and supporting characters to those in the television show ''[[Peter Gunn]]''.{{sfn|Henniger|1991|p=3}}


== Production ==
== Production ==
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[[File:Jb image.jpg|thumb|[[Jeffrey Bloom]] (''pictured'') created ''Veronica Clare'', which [[Lifetime (TV network)|Lifetime]] picked up as one of its first [[List of Lifetime original programming|original scripted programs]].|alt=A photograph of a man standing in his studio.]]
[[File:Jb image.jpg|thumb|[[Jeffrey Bloom]] (''pictured'') created ''Veronica Clare'', which [[Lifetime (TV network)|Lifetime]] picked up as one of its first [[List of Lifetime original programming|original scripted programs]].|alt=A photograph of a man standing in his studio.]]


Television network [[Lifetime (TV network)|Lifetime]] developed ''Veronica Clare'' in 1991 as one of three [[List of Lifetime original programming|original scripted programs]], along with [[The Hidden Room (TV series)|''The Hidden Room'']] and ''[[Confessions of Crime]]''.{{sfn|Lotz|2004|p=26}} Each of the shows feature elements of [[Mystery fiction|mystery]] or [[suspense]];{{sfn|Newman|Witsell|2016|p=10}} [[The Record (North Jersey)|''The Record'']]'s Virginia Mann described ''Veronica Clare'' as having the lightest tone of the three programs.{{sfn|Mann|1991|p=B10}} This was the first time Lifetime had its own television shows, although in 1989, the network acquired ''[[The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd]]'' to produce new episodes following its [[NBC]] cancelation.{{sfn|Lotz|2004|p=26}}{{sfn|Meehan|Byars|2000|p=37}} [[Mass communication]] professor Eileen R. Meehan and [[media studies]] professor Jackie Byars identified these shows as part of an "emergent period" of Lifetime, describing them as the network's "first experiments" with original dramas.{{sfn|Meehan|Byars|2000|p=37}}
Television network [[Lifetime (TV network)|Lifetime]] developed ''Veronica Clare'' in 1991 as one of three [[List of Lifetime original programming|original scripted programs]], along with [[The Hidden Room (TV series)|''The Hidden Room'']] and ''[[Confessions of Crime]]''.{{sfn|Lotz|2004|p=26}} Each of the shows feature elements of [[Mystery fiction|mystery]] or [[suspense]];{{sfn|Newman|Witsell|2016|p=10}} [[The Record (North Jersey)|''The Record'']]'s Virginia Mann described ''Veronica Clare'' as having the lightest tone of the three programs.{{sfn|Mann|1991|p=B10}} This was the first time Lifetime had its own television shows, although in 1989, the network acquired ''[[The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd]]'' to produce new episodes following its [[NBC]] cancelation.{{sfn|Lotz|2004|p=26}}{{sfn|Meehan|Byars|2000|p=37}} [[Mass communication]] professor Eileen R. Meehan and [[media studies]] professor Jackie Byars identified these shows as part of an "emergent period" of Lifetime, describing them as the network's "first experiments" with original dramas.{{sfn|Meehan|Byars|2000|p=37}}


In 1991, [[Patricia Fili-Krushel|Patricia Fili]], the senior vice president of Lifetime's programming, explained that the network would invest $1 billion into its original programming over a decade and identified ''Veronica Clare'' as part of this strategy.{{sfn|Belcher|1991|p=6}} Mike Hughes, while writing for the [[Gannett News Service]], considered ''Veronica Clare'' a "crucial test of the notion that [[Basic cable|basic-cable channels]] can do one-hour, [[prime time]] series".{{sfn|Hughes|1991|p=2D}} Fili described the focus on television shows as a risk, but felt it was a "natural evolution" in establishing Lifetime's identity as a network.{{sfn|''The Times Herald''|1991|p=8B}}
In 1991, [[Patricia Fili-Krushel|Patricia Fili]], the senior vice president of Lifetime's programming, explained that the network would invest $1 billion into its original programming over a decade and identified ''Veronica Clare'' as part of this strategy.{{sfn|Belcher|1991|p=6}} Mike Hughes, while writing for the [[Gannett News Service]], considered ''Veronica Clare'' a "crucial test of the notion that [[Basic cable|basic-cable channels]] can do one-hour, [[prime time]] series".{{sfn|Hughes|1991|p=2D}} Fili described the focus on television shows as a risk, but felt it was a "natural evolution" in establishing Lifetime's identity as a network.{{sfn|''The Times Herald''|1991|p=8B}}
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=== Production and filming ===
=== Production and filming ===
''Veronica Clare'' was produced by Hearst Entertainment, Inc.<ref name=":0">{{harvnb|Library of Congress|1991a}}; {{harvnb|Library of Congress|1991b}}; {{harvnb|Library of Congress|1992a}}; {{harvnb|Library of Congress|1992b}}</ref> Bloom served as the show's [[executive producer]] alongside Chad Hoffman. Sascha Schneider was the [[supervising producer]], Anthony Santa Croce the show's producer, and Scott Citron a co-producer.{{sfn|Tone|1991}} The series was filmed in May and June 1991.{{sfn|Bawden|1991|p=S94}}{{sfn|Moca|1991|p=4}} Episodes were shot in a television studio in the [[San Fernando Valley]].{{sfn|Tone|1991}} The studio was an old factory, and during an interview with the ''[[Toronto Star]]'', Robinson recounted how nearby trains could be so loud that there would sometimes be breaks in filming.{{sfn|Moca|1991|p=4}} Scenes were also shot [[Location shooting|on-location]] in Los Angeles.{{sfn|Mills|1991|p=6}}{{sfn|Tone|1991}}
''Veronica Clare'' was produced by Hearst Entertainment, Inc.<ref name=":0">{{harvnb|Library of Congress|1991a}}; {{harvnb|Library of Congress|1991b}}; {{harvnb|Library of Congress|1992a}}; {{harvnb|Library of Congress|1992b}}</ref> Bloom served as the show's [[executive producer]] alongside Chad Hoffman. Sascha Schneider was the [[supervising producer]], Anthony Santa Croce the show's producer, and Scott Citron a co-producer.{{sfn|Tone|1991}} The series was filmed in May and June 1991.{{sfn|Bawden|1991|p=S94}}{{sfn|Moca|1991|p=4}} Episodes were shot in a television studio in the [[San Fernando Valley]].{{sfn|Tone|1991}} The studio was an old factory, and during an interview with the ''[[Toronto Star]]'', Robinson recounted how nearby trains could be so loud that there would sometimes be breaks in filming.{{sfn|Moca|1991|p=4}} Scenes were also shot [[Location shooting|on-location]] in Los Angeles.{{sfn|Mills|1991|p=6}}{{sfn|Tone|1991}}


Various Los Angeles locations are featured as [[postcard]]s, which are shown as transitions between each episode's [[Act (drama)|acts]].{{sfn|Tone|1991}} The show's [[production designer]] was Shay Austin, and according to a writer from [[Variety (magazine)|''Variety'']], his designs focused on "a colorful [[wiktionary:nitery|nitery]] and its street location". Edward J. Pei was the [[cinematographer]] and Maureen O'Connell was the [[editor]].{{sfn|Tone|1991}} For his work on the show, Pei received the [[CableACE Award|ACE Award]] for Direction of Photography and/or Lighting in a Comedy or Dramatic Series at the 13th Annual ACE awards.{{sfn|Johnson|1994|p=63}}{{sfn|Associated Press|1992}}
Various Los Angeles locations are featured as [[postcard]]s, which are shown as transitions between each episode's [[Act (drama)|acts]].{{sfn|Tone|1991}} The show's [[production designer]] was Shay Austin, and according to a writer from [[Variety (magazine)|''Variety'']], his designs focused on "a colorful [[wiktionary:nitery|nitery]] and its street location". Edward J. Pei was the [[cinematographer]] and Maureen O'Connell was the [[editor]].{{sfn|Tone|1991}} For his work on the show, Pei received the [[CableACE Award|ACE Award]] for Direction of Photography and/or Lighting in a Comedy or Dramatic Series at the 13th Annual ACE awards.{{sfn|Johnson|1994|p=63}}{{sfn|Associated Press|1992}}
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|EpisodeNumber=3
|EpisodeNumber=3
|WrittenBy= Jeffrey Bloom
|WrittenBy= Jeffrey Bloom
|ShortSummary= After an [[amnesia|amnesiac]] Romanian woman is found severely beaten, Veronica tries to help her remember her past and locate her attacker.
|ShortSummary= After an [[amnesia]]c Romanian woman is found severely beaten, Veronica tries to help her remember her past and locate her attacker.
|LineColor=3399ff
|LineColor=3399ff
}}
}}
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Despite this statement, Lifetime canceled the series. According to Derrick Bang, the cancelation occurred because of "weak scripts, inadequate publicity and too much competition from [[Big Three television networks|the established networks]]".{{sfn|Bang|2020|p=168}} ''[[The Baltimore Sun]]''{{'}}s Steve McKerrow felt it was a surprising choice, writing that shows for [[niche market]]s did not require immediate high ratings when compared to [[network television]]. He described ''Veronica Clare''{{'}}s ratings as "pretty respectable", and reported that ''[[Media Monitor]]'' considered the series to have "some promise".{{sfn|McKerrow|1991|p=C6}} ''Veronica Clare'', along with ''The Hidden Room'' and ''Confessions of a Crime'', had lower [[Nielsen ratings|ratings]] than Lifetime's original films.{{sfn|Lotz|2004|p=26}} Wagner said the three shows performed well for women between the ages of 18 and 49, and believed the ratings could have improved with time. ''Veronica Clare'' had the lowest average ratings among the three.{{sfn|Johnson|1994|p=64}} Lifetime continued to broadcast reruns of the show until June 13, 1992.{{sfn|Meehan|Byars|2000|p=97}} A 1991 issue of ''[[Broadcasting & Cable|Broadcasting]]'' reported that the first six episodes of ''Veronica Clare'' had averaged a 0.8% of Lifetime's 51 million household audience.{{sfn|Moshavi|1991|p=27}}
Despite this statement, Lifetime canceled the series. According to Derrick Bang, the cancelation occurred because of "weak scripts, inadequate publicity and too much competition from [[Big Three television networks|the established networks]]".{{sfn|Bang|2020|p=168}} ''[[The Baltimore Sun]]''{{'}}s Steve McKerrow felt it was a surprising choice, writing that shows for [[niche market]]s did not require immediate high ratings when compared to [[network television]]. He described ''Veronica Clare''{{'}}s ratings as "pretty respectable", and reported that ''[[Media Monitor]]'' considered the series to have "some promise".{{sfn|McKerrow|1991|p=C6}} ''Veronica Clare'', along with ''The Hidden Room'' and ''Confessions of a Crime'', had lower [[Nielsen ratings|ratings]] than Lifetime's original films.{{sfn|Lotz|2004|p=26}} Wagner said the three shows performed well for women between the ages of 18 and 49, and believed the ratings could have improved with time. ''Veronica Clare'' had the lowest average ratings among the three.{{sfn|Johnson|1994|p=64}} Lifetime continued to broadcast reruns of the show until June 13, 1992.{{sfn|Meehan|Byars|2000|p=97}} A 1991 issue of ''[[Broadcasting & Cable|Broadcasting]]'' reported that the first six episodes of ''Veronica Clare'' had averaged a 0.8% of Lifetime's 51 million household audience.{{sfn|Moshavi|1991|p=27}}


The series was not released on [[DVD]] or any [[Streaming service provider|streaming service]].{{sfn|TVShowsOnDVD.com}}{{sfn|''TV Guide''}} In 1991 and 1992, the nine episodes were converted into four 90-minute [[Television movie|television movies]].<ref name=":0" />{{sfn|Meehan|Byars|2000|p=97}} They can be requested through the [[Library of Congress]] as [[Video Reel|video reels]]. The titles of these films are ''Affairs with Death'', ''Deadly Minds'', ''Naked Hearts'', and ''Slow Violence''.<ref name=":0" /> In 2020, Bang wrote that ''Veronica Clare'', as well as Gil Mellé's score, are "nowhere to be found in today's market".{{sfn|Bang|2020|p=168}}
The series was not released on [[DVD]] or any [[Streaming service provider|streaming service]].{{sfn|TVShowsOnDVD.com}}{{sfn|''TV Guide''}} In 1991 and 1992, the nine episodes were converted into four 90-minute [[television movie]]s.<ref name=":0" />{{sfn|Meehan|Byars|2000|p=97}} They can be requested through the [[Library of Congress]] as [[Video Reel|video reels]]. The titles of these films are ''Affairs with Death'', ''Deadly Minds'', ''Naked Hearts'', and ''Slow Violence''.<ref name=":0" /> In 2020, Bang wrote that ''Veronica Clare'', as well as Gil Mellé's score, are "nowhere to be found in today's market".{{sfn|Bang|2020|p=168}}


== Reception ==
== Reception ==
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Critics praised Jeffrey Bloom's script for "Veronica's Aunt".<ref>{{harvnb|Dawidziak|1991|p=3}}; {{harvnb|Rosenberg|1991}}; {{harvnb|Sharbutt|1991|p=6A}}</ref> Jay Sharbutt, while writing for the Associated Press, liked that Bloom put "a lot of verbal playfulness" in the episode. Sharbutt appreciated the show's lack of violence, and felt Bloom distinguished Clare from "today's hordes of wild-eyed geeks fresh from the University of [[Uzi]]".{{sfn|Sharbutt|1991|p=6A}} In the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'', [[Howard Rosenberg]] commended Bloom's script as having a "subtlety and a charming playfulness", but felt the show's quality rapidly deteriorated with its subsequent episodes. Rosenberg panned the second episode "Reed" for its [[plot hole]]s and unintentional comedy, comparing its [[Camp (style)|campy]] tone to the 1991 film ''[[The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear]]''.{{sfn|Rosenberg|1991}} While reviewing "Veronica's Aunt", Mark Dawidziak appreciated how Bloom balanced the episode's plot with its 1940s noir aesthetic, but believed it was "at times too deliberate and plodding to sustain the pace". Despite this criticism, Dawidziak felt the series had potential and wrote: "It would be a crime if [Bloom] doesn't chase down the obvious remaining clues to success."{{sfn|Dawidziak|1991|p=3}}
Critics praised Jeffrey Bloom's script for "Veronica's Aunt".<ref>{{harvnb|Dawidziak|1991|p=3}}; {{harvnb|Rosenberg|1991}}; {{harvnb|Sharbutt|1991|p=6A}}</ref> Jay Sharbutt, while writing for the Associated Press, liked that Bloom put "a lot of verbal playfulness" in the episode. Sharbutt appreciated the show's lack of violence, and felt Bloom distinguished Clare from "today's hordes of wild-eyed geeks fresh from the University of [[Uzi]]".{{sfn|Sharbutt|1991|p=6A}} In the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'', [[Howard Rosenberg]] commended Bloom's script as having a "subtlety and a charming playfulness", but felt the show's quality rapidly deteriorated with its subsequent episodes. Rosenberg panned the second episode "Reed" for its [[plot hole]]s and unintentional comedy, comparing its [[Camp (style)|campy]] tone to the 1991 film ''[[The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear]]''.{{sfn|Rosenberg|1991}} While reviewing "Veronica's Aunt", Mark Dawidziak appreciated how Bloom balanced the episode's plot with its 1940s noir aesthetic, but believed it was "at times too deliberate and plodding to sustain the pace". Despite this criticism, Dawidziak felt the series had potential and wrote: "It would be a crime if [Bloom] doesn't chase down the obvious remaining clues to success."{{sfn|Dawidziak|1991|p=3}}


''Veronica Clare'' received criticism for its storylines, which reviewers described as unoriginal and unlikely.<ref>{{harvnb|Helmbreck|1991|p=D1}}; {{harvnb|Henniger|1991|p=3}}; {{harvnb|Tone|1991}}</ref> Paul Henniger and ''[[The News Journal]]''{{'}}s Valerie Helmbreck found its premise to be derivative of previous detective stories.{{sfn|Helmbreck|1991|p=D1}}{{sfn|Henniger|1991|p=3}} Citing the show as a negative example of [[Hollywood]]'s fixation with Raymond Chandler, Helmbreck believed the episodes relied too much on clichés and [[stock character]]s.{{sfn|Helmbreck|1991|p=D1}} When Lifetime promoted ''Veronica Clare'' as "original steamy and seductive", Henniger wondered how a show about a Los Angeles private investigator could be considered original.{{sfn|Henniger|1991|p=3}} Despite enjoying its style, a ''Variety'' writer felt the series had too many implausible plots and believed this would result in its cancelation.{{sfn|Tone|1991}}
''Veronica Clare'' received criticism for its storylines, which reviewers described as unoriginal and unlikely.<ref>{{harvnb|Helmbreck|1991|p=D1}}; {{harvnb|Henniger|1991|p=3}}; {{harvnb|Tone|1991}}</ref> Paul Henniger and ''[[The News Journal]]''{{'}}s Valerie Helmbreck found its premise to be derivative of previous detective stories.{{sfn|Helmbreck|1991|p=D1}}{{sfn|Henniger|1991|p=3}} Citing the show as a negative example of [[Hollywood (film industry)|Hollywood]]'s fixation with Raymond Chandler, Helmbreck believed the episodes relied too much on clichés and [[stock character]]s.{{sfn|Helmbreck|1991|p=D1}} When Lifetime promoted ''Veronica Clare'' as "original steamy and seductive", Henniger wondered how a show about a Los Angeles private investigator could be considered original.{{sfn|Henniger|1991|p=3}} Despite enjoying its style, a ''Variety'' writer felt the series had too many implausible plots and believed this would result in its cancelation.{{sfn|Tone|1991}}


Reviewers were critical of the show's look and tone, including comments on Clare's role as a detective and the application of film noir elements to a more contemporary story.<ref>{{harvnb|Hiltbrand|1991}}; {{harvnb|Hughes|1991|p=2D}}; {{harvnb|''The Times Herald''|1991|p=8B}}; {{harvnb|White|1991}}</ref> Scholar Susan White thought the attempt to emulate a 1940s setting was not successfully translated to 1990s Los Angeles.{{sfn|White|1991}} [[People (magazine)|''People'']]'s David Hiltbrand considered the show's characterization of Clare as a female Sam Spade to be "murky and contrived".{{sfn|Hiltbrand|1991}} Mike Hughes and a writer for ''[[The Times Herald]]'' found ''Veronica Clare'' to be too reserved; when discussing the programming block, they instead recommended ''The Hidden Room'' for viewers who wanted a more emotional experience.{{sfn|Hughes|1991|p=2D}}{{sfn|''The Times Herald''|1991|p=8B}}
Reviewers were critical of the show's look and tone, including comments on Clare's role as a detective and the application of film noir elements to a more contemporary story.<ref>{{harvnb|Hiltbrand|1991}}; {{harvnb|Hughes|1991|p=2D}}; {{harvnb|''The Times Herald''|1991|p=8B}}; {{harvnb|White|1991}}</ref> Scholar Susan White thought the attempt to emulate a 1940s setting was not successfully translated to 1990s Los Angeles.{{sfn|White|1991}} [[People (magazine)|''People'']]'s David Hiltbrand considered the show's characterization of Clare as a female Sam Spade to be "murky and contrived".{{sfn|Hiltbrand|1991}} Mike Hughes and a writer for ''[[The Times Herald]]'' found ''Veronica Clare'' to be too reserved; when discussing the programming block, they instead recommended ''The Hidden Room'' for viewers who wanted a more emotional experience.{{sfn|Hughes|1991|p=2D}}{{sfn|''The Times Herald''|1991|p=8B}}
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{{refbegin|colwidth=30em|indent=yes}}
{{refbegin|colwidth=30em|indent=yes}}
* {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/71693093/arizona-republic/|title=Triple treat caters to market|last=Baker|first=Bonnie|date=July 21, 1991|department=Television|work=[[The Arizona Republic]]|page=5|via=[[Ancestry.com#Newspapers.com|Newspapers.com]]|archive-date=April 17, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210417012343/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/71693093/arizona-republic/|url-status=live}}
* {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/71693093/arizona-republic/|title=Triple treat caters to market|last=Baker|first=Bonnie|date=July 21, 1991|department=Television|work=[[The Arizona Republic]]|page=5|via=[[Ancestry.com#Newspapers.com|Newspapers.com]]|archive-date=April 17, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210417012343/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/71693093/arizona-republic/|url-status=live}}
* {{cite book|last=Bang|first=Derrick|title=Crime and Spy Jazz on Screen Since 1971: A History and Discography|year=2020|publisher=[[McFarland & Company]]|isbn=978-1-4766-3989-5|url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Crime_and_Spy_Jazz_on_Screen_Since_1971/FuvaDwAAQBAJ|archive-date=April 17, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210417012335/https://www.google.com/books/edition/Crime_and_Spy_Jazz_on_Screen_Since_1971/FuvaDwAAQBAJ|url-status=live}}
* {{cite book|last=Bang|first=Derrick|title=Crime and Spy Jazz on Screen Since 1971: A History and Discography|year=2020|publisher=[[McFarland & Company]]|isbn=978-1-4766-3989-5|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FuvaDwAAQBAJ|archive-date=April 17, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210417012335/https://www.google.com/books/edition/Crime_and_Spy_Jazz_on_Screen_Since_1971/FuvaDwAAQBAJ|url-status=live}}
* {{cite news|url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/436513691|title=Laura Robinson|last=Bawden|first=Jim|page=S94|date=November 23, 1991|work=[[Toronto Star]]url-access=subscription|via=[[ProQuest]]|archive-date=June 10, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210610171854/https://www.proquest.com/docview/436513691|url-status=live}}{{subscription required}}
* {{cite news|url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/436513691|title=Laura Robinson|last=Bawden|first=Jim|page=S94|date=November 23, 1991|work=[[Toronto Star]]|id={{ProQuest|436513691}} |url-access=subscription|via=[[ProQuest]]}} {{subscription required}}
* {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/71693496/the-tampa-tribune/|title=New female detective series is 'Clare'-ly sultry drama|last=Belcher|first=Walt|date=July 28, 1991|department=This Week In Television|work=[[The Tampa Tribune]]|page=6|via=[[Ancestry.com#Newspapers.com|Newspapers.com]]|archive-date=April 17, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210417012336/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/71693496/the-tampa-tribune/|url-status=live}}
* {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/71693496/the-tampa-tribune/|title=New female detective series is 'Clare'-ly sultry drama|last=Belcher|first=Walt|date=July 28, 1991|department=This Week In Television|work=[[The Tampa Tribune]]|page=6|via=[[Ancestry.com#Newspapers.com|Newspapers.com]]|archive-date=April 17, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210417012336/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/71693496/the-tampa-tribune/|url-status=live}}
* {{cite web|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/tv/1991/07/21/lifetime-premieres-three-original-series-tuesday/b320b374-21cd-4dfa-9750-11639daaa427/|title=Lifetime Premieres Three Original Series Tuesday|last=Brennan|first=Patricia|date=July 21, 1991|work=[[The Washington Post]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171022200911/https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/tv/1991/07/21/lifetime-premieres-three-original-series-tuesday/b320b374-21cd-4dfa-9750-11639daaa427/|archive-date=October 22, 2017|url-status=live}}
* {{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/tv/1991/07/21/lifetime-premieres-three-original-series-tuesday/b320b374-21cd-4dfa-9750-11639daaa427/|title=Lifetime Premieres Three Original Series Tuesday|last=Brennan|first=Patricia|date=July 21, 1991|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171022200911/https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/tv/1991/07/21/lifetime-premieres-three-original-series-tuesday/b320b374-21cd-4dfa-9750-11639daaa427/|archive-date=October 22, 2017|url-status=live}}
* {{cite book |last1 = Brooks |first1 = Tim |author1-link = Tim Brooks (historian) |last2 = Marsh |first2 = Earle F. |title = The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows, 1946-Present |year = 2009 |publisher = [[Random House Publishing Group]] |isbn = 978-0-345-49773-4 |url = https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Complete_Directory_to_Prime_Time_Net/w8KztFy6QYwC?hl=en&gbpv=1|archive-date = April 17, 2021 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210417012336/https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Complete_Directory_to_Prime_Time_Net/w8KztFy6QYwC?hl=en&gbpv=1 |url-status = live }}
* {{cite book |last1 = Brooks |first1 = Tim |author1-link = Tim Brooks (historian) |last2 = Marsh |first2 = Earle F. |title = The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows, 1946–Present |year = 2009 |publisher = [[Random House Publishing Group]] |isbn = 978-0-345-49773-4 |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=w8KztFy6QYwC|archive-date = April 17, 2021 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210417012336/https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Complete_Directory_to_Prime_Time_Net/w8KztFy6QYwC?hl=en&gbpv=1 |url-status = live }}
* {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/71691726/the-press-democrat/|title=''Veronica Clare'' Bogie and Baby rolled into one|last=Buck|first=Jerry|date=July 23, 1991|department=Life|work=[[The Press Democrat]]|agency=[[Associated Press]]|page=D6|via=[[Ancestry.com#Newspapers.com|Newspapers.com]]|archive-date=July 22, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210722223440/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/71691726/the-press-democrat/|url-status=live}}
* {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/71691726/the-press-democrat/|title=''Veronica Clare'' Bogie and Baby rolled into one|last=Buck|first=Jerry|date=July 23, 1991|department=Life|work=[[The Press Democrat]]|agency=[[Associated Press]]|page=D6|via=[[Ancestry.com#Newspapers.com|Newspapers.com]]|archive-date=July 22, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210722223440/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/71691726/the-press-democrat/|url-status=live}}
* {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/71827047/the-missoulian/|title=Three new series debut on Lifetime|last=Burlingame|first=Jon|date=July 23, 1991|department=Tune In Tonight|work=[[Missoulian]]|page=C2|via=[[Ancestry.com#Newspapers.com|Newspapers.com]]|archive-date=July 22, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210722223440/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/71827047/the-missoulian/|url-status=live}}
* {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/71827047/the-missoulian/|title=Three new series debut on Lifetime|last=Burlingame|first=Jon|date=July 23, 1991|department=Tune In Tonight|work=[[Missoulian]]|page=C2|via=[[Ancestry.com#Newspapers.com|Newspapers.com]]|archive-date=July 22, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210722223440/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/71827047/the-missoulian/|url-status=live}}
* {{cite web|url=https://apnews.com/article/3762b1a8b8a716547da3ce663a74b37d|title=Cable’s ACE Award Winners|date=January 12, 1992|publisher=[[Associated Press]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210510200225/https://apnews.com/article/3762b1a8b8a716547da3ce663a74b37d|archive-date=May 10, 2021|url-status=live|ref={{sfnref|Associated Press|1992}}}}
* {{cite web|url=https://apnews.com/article/3762b1a8b8a716547da3ce663a74b37d|title=Cable's ACE Award Winners|date=January 12, 1992|publisher=[[Associated Press]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210510200225/https://apnews.com/article/3762b1a8b8a716547da3ce663a74b37d|archive-date=May 10, 2021|url-status=live|ref={{sfnref|Associated Press|1992}}}}
* {{cite web|url=https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/the-spirit-tv-series-that-almost-happened/|title=''The Spirit'' TV Series That Almost Happened|last=Cecchini|first=Mike|date=December 18, 2017|work=[[Den of Geek]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210506050808/https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/the-spirit-tv-series-that-almost-happened/|archive-date=May 6, 2021|url-status=live}}
* {{cite web|url=https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/the-spirit-tv-series-that-almost-happened/|title=''The Spirit'' TV Series That Almost Happened|last=Cecchini|first=Mike|date=December 18, 2017|work=[[Den of Geek]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210506050808/https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/the-spirit-tv-series-that-almost-happened/|archive-date=May 6, 2021|url-status=live}}
* {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/71693250/the-akron-beacon-journal/|title=Idealized peek at '40s sleuth|last=Dawidziak|first=Mark|author-link=Mark Dawidziak|date=July 21, 1991|department=Channels|work=[[Akron Beacon Journal]]|page=3|via=[[Ancestry.com#Newspapers.com|Newspapers.com]]|archive-date=April 17, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210417012619/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/71693250/the-akron-beacon-journal/|url-status=live}}
* {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/71693250/the-akron-beacon-journal/|title=Idealized peek at '40s sleuth|last=Dawidziak|first=Mark|author-link=Mark Dawidziak|date=July 21, 1991|department=Channels|work=[[Akron Beacon Journal]]|page=3|via=[[Ancestry.com#Newspapers.com|Newspapers.com]]|archive-date=April 17, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210417012619/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/71693250/the-akron-beacon-journal/|url-status=live}}
* {{cite journal|last1=de Villiers|first1=Nicholas|title=Rebooting Trafficking|journal=Anti-Trafficking Review|volume=|issue=7|year=2016|publisher=[[Global Alliance Against Traffic in Women]]|pages=|url=https://doi.org/10.14197/atr.20121779|archive-date=April 17, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210417012619/https://antitraffickingreview.org/index.php/atrjournal/article/view/205/202|url-status=live}}
* {{cite journal|last1=de Villiers|first1=Nicholas|title=Rebooting Trafficking|journal=Anti-Trafficking Review|volume=|issue=7|year=2016|publisher=[[Global Alliance Against Traffic in Women]]|doi=10.14197/atr.20121779 |doi-access=free}}
* {{cite book |last1 = Dines |first1 = Gail |author1-link = Gail Dines |last2 = Humez |first2 = Jean M. |title = Gender, Race, and Class in Media: A Text-Reader |year = 2003 |publisher = [[SAGE Publishing]] |location = |isbn = 0-7619-2260-1 |url = https://archive.org/details/genderraceclassi0000unse }}
* {{cite book |last1 = Dines |first1 = Gail |author1-link = Gail Dines |last2 = Humez |first2 = Jean M. |title = Gender, Race, and Class in Media: A Text-Reader |year = 2003 |publisher = [[SAGE Publishing]] |location = |isbn = 0-7619-2260-1 |url = https://archive.org/details/genderraceclassi0000unse }}
* {{cite web|url=http://articles.courant.com/1991-07-19/features/0000213980_1_pat-fili-production-for-lifetime-television-victims|date=July 19, 1991|title=''Confessions Of Crime'' Opens Lineup|last=Endrst|first=James|work=[[Hartford Courant]]|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171023050500/http://articles.courant.com/1991-07-19/features/0000213980_1_pat-fili-production-for-lifetime-television-victims|archive-date=October 23, 2017}}
* {{cite web|url=https://www.courant.com/1991/07/19/confessions-of-crime-opens-lineup/|date=July 19, 1991|title=''Confessions Of Crime'' Opens Lineup|last=Endrst|first=James|work=[[Hartford Courant]]|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171023050500/http://articles.courant.com/1991-07-19/features/0000213980_1_pat-fili-production-for-lifetime-television-victims|archive-date=October 23, 2017}}
* {{cite journal|last1=Goldberg|first1=Lee|author-link=Lee Goldberg|title=Hour Long Series Dead or Just Resting|journal=[[Writers Guild of America West]]|volume=4|issue=10|year=1991|publisher=[[International Affiliation of Writers Guilds]]|pages=24{{endash}}28}}
* {{cite journal|last1=Goldberg|first1=Lee|author-link=Lee Goldberg|title=Hour Long Series Dead or Just Resting|journal=[[Writers Guild of America West]]|volume=4|issue=10|year=1991|publisher=[[International Affiliation of Writers Guilds]]|pages=24{{endash}}28}}
* {{cite book|last1=Green|first1=Philip|title=Cracks in the Pedestal: Ideology and Gender in Hollywood|year=1998|publisher=[[University of Massachusetts Press]]|isbn=978-1-558-49120-5|url=https://archive.org/details/cracksinpedestal0000gree_1998}}
* {{cite book|last1=Green|first1=Philip|title=Cracks in the Pedestal: Ideology and Gender in Hollywood|year=1998|publisher=[[University of Massachusetts Press]]|isbn=978-1-558-49120-5|url=https://archive.org/details/cracksinpedestal0000gree_1998}}
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* {{cite web|url=http://people.com/archive/picks-and-pans-review-veronica-clare-vol-36-no-4/|title=Picks and Pans Review: Veronica Clare|last=Hiltbrand|first=David|date=August 5, 1991|work=[[People (magazine)|People]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171022200911/http://people.com/archive/picks-and-pans-review-veronica-clare-vol-36-no-4/|archive-date=October 22, 2017|url-status=live}}
* {{cite web|url=http://people.com/archive/picks-and-pans-review-veronica-clare-vol-36-no-4/|title=Picks and Pans Review: Veronica Clare|last=Hiltbrand|first=David|date=August 5, 1991|work=[[People (magazine)|People]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171022200911/http://people.com/archive/picks-and-pans-review-veronica-clare-vol-36-no-4/|archive-date=October 22, 2017|url-status=live}}
* {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/71692239/press-and-sun-bulletin/|title=''Veronica Clare'' is cable's new sleuth|last=Hughes|first=Mike|date=July 30, 1991|department=Living|work=[[Press & Sun-Bulletin]]|agency=[[Gannett News Service]]|page=2D|via=[[Ancestry.com#Newspapers.com|Newspapers.com]]|archive-date=April 17, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210417012554/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/71692239/press-and-sun-bulletin/|url-status=live}}
* {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/71692239/press-and-sun-bulletin/|title=''Veronica Clare'' is cable's new sleuth|last=Hughes|first=Mike|date=July 30, 1991|department=Living|work=[[Press & Sun-Bulletin]]|agency=[[Gannett News Service]]|page=2D|via=[[Ancestry.com#Newspapers.com|Newspapers.com]]|archive-date=April 17, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210417012554/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/71692239/press-and-sun-bulletin/|url-status=live}}
* {{cite journal|last1=Johnson|first1=Eithne|title=Lifetime's Feminine Psychographic Space and the 'Mystery Loves Company' Series|journal=[[Camera Obscura (journal)|Camera Obscura]]|volume=11-12|issue=3-1|year=1994|publisher=[[Duke University Press]]|pages=42{{endash}}75|url=https://doi.org/10.1215/02705346-11-12-3-1_33-34-42}}
* {{cite journal|last1=Johnson|first1=Eithne|title=Lifetime's Feminine Psychographic Space and the 'Mystery Loves Company' Series|journal=[[Camera Obscura (journal)|Camera Obscura]]|volume=11-12|issue=3–1|year=1994|publisher=[[Duke University Press]]|pages=42{{endash}}75|doi=10.1215/02705346-11-12-3-1_33-34-42 |url=https://doi.org/10.1215/02705346-11-12-3-1_33-34-42}}
* {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/71693651/the-times-herald/|title=Lifetime livens up summer offerings|last=|first=|date=July 23, 1991|department=Daily Television Guide|work=[[The Times Herald]]|agency=[[Gannett News Service]]|page=8B|via=[[Ancestry.com#Newspapers.com|Newspapers.com]]|ref={{sfnref|''The Times Herald''|1991|p=8B}}|archive-date=April 17, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210417012611/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/71693651/the-times-herald/|url-status=live}}
* {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/71693651/the-times-herald/|title=Lifetime livens up summer offerings|last=|first=|date=July 23, 1991|department=Daily Television Guide|work=[[The Times Herald]]|agency=[[Gannett News Service]]|page=8B|via=[[Ancestry.com#Newspapers.com|Newspapers.com]]|ref={{sfnref|''The Times Herald''|1991|p=8B}}|archive-date=April 17, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210417012611/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/71693651/the-times-herald/|url-status=live}}
* {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/71837427/the-times-tribune/|title=''Veronica Clare'' Dead on Arrival|last=Logan|first=Joe|date=August 12, 1991|department=Television|work=[[The Scranton Times-Tribune]]|agency=[[Knight Ridder]]|page=20|access-date=February 23, 2021|via=[[Ancestry.com#Newspapers.com|Newspapers.com]]}}
* {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/71837427/the-times-tribune/|title=''Veronica Clare'' Dead on Arrival|last=Logan|first=Joe|date=August 12, 1991|department=Television|work=[[The Scranton Times-Tribune]]|agency=[[Knight Ridder]]|page=20|access-date=February 23, 2021|via=[[Ancestry.com#Newspapers.com|Newspapers.com]]}}
* {{cite journal|last1=Lotz|first1=Amanda D.|author-link=Amanda D. Lotz|title=Textual (im)possibilities in the U.S. post‐network era: negotiating production and promotion processes on lifetime's ''any day now''|journal=[[Critical Studies in Media Communication]]|volume=21|issue=1|year=2004|publisher=[[Taylor & Francis]]|pages=22–43|url=https://doi.org/10.1080/0739318042000184389|archive-date=April 17, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210417012621/https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/0739318042000184389|url-status=live}}
* {{cite journal|last1=Lotz|first1=Amanda D.|author-link=Amanda D. Lotz|title=Textual (im)possibilities in the U.S. post-network era: negotiating production and promotion processes on lifetime's ''any day now''|journal=[[Critical Studies in Media Communication]]|volume=21|issue=1|year=2004|publisher=[[Taylor & Francis]]|pages=22–43|doi=10.1080/0739318042000184389 |s2cid=39892479 |url=https://doi.org/10.1080/0739318042000184389|archive-date=April 17, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210417012621/https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/0739318042000184389|url-status=live}}
* {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/71837247/the-record/|title=For Lifetime channel, a night to remember|last=Mann|first=Virginia|date=July 23, 1991|department=Television|work=[[The Record (North Jersey)|The Record]]|page=B10|via=[[Ancestry.com#Newspapers.com|Newspapers.com]]|archive-date=April 17, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210417012600/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/71837247/the-record/|url-status=live}}
* {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/71837247/the-record/|title=For Lifetime channel, a night to remember|last=Mann|first=Virginia|date=July 23, 1991|department=Television|work=[[The Record (North Jersey)|The Record]]|page=B10|via=[[Ancestry.com#Newspapers.com|Newspapers.com]]|archive-date=April 17, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210417012600/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/71837247/the-record/|url-status=live}}
* {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/71966576/the-evening-sun/|title=Mr. Rogers welcomes kids to school|last=McKerrow|first=Steve|date=August 20, 1991|department=Accent|work=[[The Baltimore Sun]]|page=C6|via=[[Ancestry.com#Newspapers.com|Newspapers.com]]|archive-date=April 17, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210417012603/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/71966576/the-evening-sun/|url-status=live}}
* {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/71966576/the-evening-sun/|title=Mr. Rogers welcomes kids to school|last=McKerrow|first=Steve|date=August 20, 1991|department=Accent|work=[[The Baltimore Sun]]|page=C6|via=[[Ancestry.com#Newspapers.com|Newspapers.com]]|archive-date=April 17, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210417012603/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/71966576/the-evening-sun/|url-status=live}}
* {{cite journal|last1=Meehan|first1=Eileen R.|last2=Byars|first2=Jackie|title=Telefeminism: How Lifetime Got Its Groove, 1984-1997|journal=Television & News Media|volume=1|issue=1|year=2000|publisher=[[SAGE Publishing]]|pages=|url=https://doi.org/10.1177/152747640000100103|archive-date=April 17, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210417012625/https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/152747640000100103|url-status=live}}
* {{cite journal|last1=Meehan|first1=Eileen R.|last2=Byars|first2=Jackie|title=Telefeminism: How Lifetime Got Its Groove, 1984-1997|journal=[[Television & New Media]]|volume=1|issue=1|year=2000|publisher=[[SAGE Publishing]]|pages=|doi=10.1177/152747640000100103 |s2cid=220732529 |url=https://doi.org/10.1177/152747640000100103|archive-date=April 17, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210417012625/https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/152747640000100103|url-status=live}}
* {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/71966017/the-philadelphia-inquirer/|title=A smart, sensitive sleuth|last=Mills|first=Nancy|date=August 4, 1991|department=TV Week|work=[[The Philadelphia Inquirer]]|page=6{{emdash}}7|via=[[Ancestry.com#Newspapers.com|Newspapers.com]]|archive-date=April 17, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210417012603/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/71966017/the-philadelphia-inquirer/|url-status=live}}
* {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/71966017/the-philadelphia-inquirer/|title=A smart, sensitive sleuth|last=Mills|first=Nancy|date=August 4, 1991|department=TV Week|work=[[The Philadelphia Inquirer]]|page=6{{emdash}}7|via=[[Ancestry.com#Newspapers.com|Newspapers.com]]|archive-date=April 17, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210417012603/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/71966017/the-philadelphia-inquirer/|url-status=live}}
* {{cite book|last=Mizejewski|first=Linda|title=Hardboiled & High Heeled: The Woman Detective in Popular Culture|year=2004|publisher=[[Routledge]]|isbn=978-0-4159-6971-0|url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Hardboiled_High_Heeled/-Sf0DM7p2sEC?hl=en|archive-date=April 17, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210417012627/https://www.google.com/books/edition/Hardboiled_High_Heeled/-Sf0DM7p2sEC?hl=en|url-status=live}}
* {{cite book|last=Mizejewski|first=Linda|title=Hardboiled & High Heeled: The Woman Detective in Popular Culture|year=2004|publisher=[[Routledge]]|isbn=978-0-4159-6971-0|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-Sf0DM7p2sEC|archive-date=April 17, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210417012627/https://www.google.com/books/edition/Hardboiled_High_Heeled/-Sf0DM7p2sEC?hl=en|url-status=live}}
* {{cite news|url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/256331470|title=Laura Robinson gets `Veronica' for birthday|last=Moca|first=Diane Joy|page=4|date=July 21, 1991|work=[[Austin American-Statesman]]|url-access=subscription|via=[[ProQuest]]|archive-date=June 10, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210610171854/https://www.proquest.com/docview/256331470|url-status=live}}{{subscription required}}
* {{cite news|url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/256331470|title=Laura Robinson gets 'Veronica' for birthday|last=Moca|first=Diane Joy|page=4|date=July 21, 1991|work=[[Austin American-Statesman]]|id={{ProQuest|256331470}} |url-access=subscription|via=[[ProQuest]]}} {{subscription required}}
* {{cite journal|volume=121|issue=10|pages=27{{endash}}28|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1991/BC-1991-09-02.pdf|title=Original Movies Boosting Lifetime's Fortunes|last=Moshavi|first=Sharon D.|date=September 2, 1991|journal=[[Broadcasting & Cable|Broadcasting]]|archive-date=July 14, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210714152655/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1991/BC-1991-09-02.pdf|url-status=live}}
* {{cite journal|volume=121|issue=10|pages=27{{endash}}28|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1991/BC-1991-09-02.pdf|title=Original Movies Boosting Lifetime's Fortunes|last=Moshavi|first=Sharon D.|date=September 2, 1991|journal=[[Broadcasting & Cable|Broadcasting]]|archive-date=July 14, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210714152655/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1991/BC-1991-09-02.pdf|url-status=live}}
* {{cite book|editor-last1=Newman|editor-first1=Emily L.|editor-last2=Witsell|editor-first2=Emily|last1=Newman|first1=Emily L.|last2=Witsell|first2=Emily|chapter=Introduction|title=The Lifetime Network: Essays on "Television for Women" in the 21st Century|year=2016|publisher=[[McFarland & Company]]|isbn=978-0-7864-9830-7|url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Lifetime_Network/BTb8CwAAQBAJ|archive-date=April 17, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210417012604/https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Lifetime_Network/BTb8CwAAQBAJ|url-status=live}}
* {{cite book|editor-last1=Newman|editor-first1=Emily L.|editor-last2=Witsell|editor-first2=Emily|last1=Newman|first1=Emily L.|last2=Witsell|first2=Emily|chapter=Introduction|title=The Lifetime Network: Essays on "Television for Women" in the 21st Century|year=2016|publisher=[[McFarland & Company]]|isbn=978-0-7864-9830-7|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BTb8CwAAQBAJ|archive-date=April 17, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210417012604/https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Lifetime_Network/BTb8CwAAQBAJ|url-status=live}}
* {{cite web|url=http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/1991-08-11/entertainment/9108090275_1_agatha-christie-millhone-ngaio-marsh|title=This Summer, Women Sleuths Are On The Case|date=August 11, 1991|last=Pate|first=Nancy|work=[[Orlando Sentinel]]|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171023115812/http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/1991-08-11/entertainment/9108090275_1_agatha-christie-millhone-ngaio-marsh|archive-date=October 23, 2017}}
* {{cite web|url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/1991/08/11/this-summer-women-sleuths-are-on-the-case/|title=This Summer, Women Sleuths Are On The Case|date=August 11, 1991|last=Pate|first=Nancy|work=[[Orlando Sentinel]]|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171023115812/http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/1991-08-11/entertainment/9108090275_1_agatha-christie-millhone-ngaio-marsh|archive-date=October 23, 2017}}
* {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/71692742/the-des-moines-register/|title=''Veronica'' was made for me, Robinson says|last=Rhein|first=Dave|date=July 21, 1991|department=TV & Cable Guide|work=[[The Des Moines Register]]|page=3|via=[[Ancestry.com#Newspapers.com|Newspapers.com]]|archive-date=April 17, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210417012618/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/71692742/the-des-moines-register/|url-status=live}}
* {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/71692742/the-des-moines-register/|title=''Veronica'' was made for me, Robinson says|last=Rhein|first=Dave|date=July 21, 1991|department=TV & Cable Guide|work=[[The Des Moines Register]]|page=3|via=[[Ancestry.com#Newspapers.com|Newspapers.com]]|archive-date=April 17, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210417012618/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/71692742/the-des-moines-register/|url-status=live}}
* {{cite web|url=http://articles.latimes.com/1991-07-23/entertainment/ca-48_1_tv-reviews|title=A Crime Package That Doesn't Pay Off|last=Rosenberg|first=Howard|author-link=Howard Rosenberg|date=July 23, 1991|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171022200911/http://articles.latimes.com/1991-07-23/entertainment/ca-48_1_tv-reviews|archive-date=October 22, 2017|url-status=live}}
* {{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-07-23-ca-48-story.html|title=A Crime Package That Doesn't Pay Off|last=Rosenberg|first=Howard|author-link=Howard Rosenberg|date=July 23, 1991|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171022200911/http://articles.latimes.com/1991-07-23/entertainment/ca-48_1_tv-reviews|archive-date=October 22, 2017|url-status=live}}
* {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/71826720/the-times-and-democrat/|title=Private eye named Veronica Clare arrives in new cable series|last=Sharbutt|first=Jay|date=July 23, 1991|department=Entertainment|work=[[The Times and Democrat]]|agency=[[Associated Press]]|page=6A|via=[[Ancestry.com#Newspapers.com|Newspapers.com]]|archive-date=April 17, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210417012606/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/71826720/the-times-and-democrat/|url-status=live}}
* {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/71826720/the-times-and-democrat/|title=Private eye named Veronica Clare arrives in new cable series|last=Sharbutt|first=Jay|date=July 23, 1991|department=Entertainment|work=[[The Times and Democrat]]|agency=[[Associated Press]]|page=6A|via=[[Ancestry.com#Newspapers.com|Newspapers.com]]|archive-date=April 17, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210417012606/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/71826720/the-times-and-democrat/|url-status=live}}
* {{cite book |last = Terrace |first = Vincent |title = Encyclopedia of Television Shows, 1925 through 2010 |year = 2008 |publisher = [[McFarland & Company]] |isbn = 978-0-7864-6477-7 |url = https://www.google.com/books/edition/Encyclopedia_of_Television_Shows_1925_th/YX_daEhlnbsC |archive-date = July 22, 2021 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210722223441/https://www.google.com/books/edition/Encyclopedia_of_Television_Shows_1925_th/YX_daEhlnbsC |url-status = live }}
* {{cite book |last = Terrace |first = Vincent |title = Encyclopedia of Television Shows, 1925 through 2010 |year = 2008 |publisher = [[McFarland & Company]] |isbn = 978-0-7864-6477-7 |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=YX_daEhlnbsC |archive-date = July 22, 2021 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210722223441/https://www.google.com/books/edition/Encyclopedia_of_Television_Shows_1925_th/YX_daEhlnbsC |url-status = live }}
* {{cite journal|volume=|issue=17|pages=|url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Variety_TV_REV_1991_92_17/RxHbPxbBM1AC|issn=1064-9557|last=Tone|first=|date=July 29, 1991|title=''Veronica Clare''|journal=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210225043239/https://www.google.com/books/edition/Variety_TV_REV_1991_92_17/RxHbPxbBM1AC|archive-date=February 25, 2021|url-status=live}}
* {{cite journal|volume=|issue=17|pages=|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RxHbPxbBM1AC|issn=1064-9557|last=Tone|date=July 29, 1991|title=''Veronica Clare''|journal=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|isbn=9780824037963 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210225043239/https://www.google.com/books/edition/Variety_TV_REV_1991_92_17/RxHbPxbBM1AC|archive-date=February 25, 2021|url-status=live}}
* {{cite web|url=http://www.thrillingdetective.com/eyes/clare.html|title=''Veronica Clare''|website=Thrilling Detective|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010221015911/http://www.thrillingdetective.com/eyes/clare.html|archive-date=February 21, 2001|url-status=dead|ref={{sfnref|''Thrilling Detective''}}}}
* {{cite web|url=http://www.thrillingdetective.com/eyes/clare.html|title=''Veronica Clare''|website=Thrilling Detective|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010221015911/http://www.thrillingdetective.com/eyes/clare.html|archive-date=February 21, 2001|url-status=dead|ref={{sfnref|''Thrilling Detective''}}}}
* {{cite web|url=https://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/veronica-clare/1000205004/|title=''Veronica Clare''|work=[[TV Guide]]|url-status=live|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20210410044222/https://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/veronica-clare/1000205004/|archivedate=April 10, 2021|ref={{sfnref|''TV Guide''}}}}
* {{cite web|url=https://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/veronica-clare/1000205004/|title=''Veronica Clare''|work=[[TV Guide]]|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210410044222/https://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/veronica-clare/1000205004/|archive-date=April 10, 2021|ref={{sfnref|''TV Guide''}}}}
* {{cite web |title=''Veronica Clare'' |url=https://directories.wga.org/project/195984/veronica-clare/ |url-status=live |publisher=[[Writers Guild of America West]] |ref={{sfnref|Writers Guild of America West}} |archive-date=April 17, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210417012110/https://directories.wga.org/project/195984/veronica-clare/ }}
* {{cite web |title=''Veronica Clare'' |url=https://directories.wga.org/project/195984/veronica-clare/ |url-status=live |publisher=[[Writers Guild of America West]] |ref={{sfnref|Writers Guild of America West}} |archive-date=April 17, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210417012110/https://directories.wga.org/project/195984/veronica-clare/ }}
* {{cite web |url=http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/shows/Veronica-Clare/4489 |title=''Veronica Clare'' (1991) |publisher=[[TVShowsOnDVD.com]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130304183308/http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/shows/Veronica-Clare/4489 |archive-date=March 4, 2013 |ref={{sfnref|TVShowsOnDVD.com}} }}
* {{cite web |url=http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/shows/Veronica-Clare/4489 |title=''Veronica Clare'' (1991) |publisher=[[TVShowsOnDVD.com]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130304183308/http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/shows/Veronica-Clare/4489 |archive-date=March 4, 2013 |ref={{sfnref|TVShowsOnDVD.com}} }}
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* {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75854126/chillicothe-gazette/|title=''Veronica Clare'': 'Veronica Clare'|date=September 17, 1991|department=TV/Entertainment|work=[[Chillicothe Gazette]]|page=3B|via=[[Ancestry.com#Newspapers.com|Newspapers.com]]|ref={{sfnref|''Chillicothe Gazette''|1991|p=3B}}|archive-date=April 17, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210417012853/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75854126/chillicothe-gazette/|url-status=live}}
* {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75854126/chillicothe-gazette/|title=''Veronica Clare'': 'Veronica Clare'|date=September 17, 1991|department=TV/Entertainment|work=[[Chillicothe Gazette]]|page=3B|via=[[Ancestry.com#Newspapers.com|Newspapers.com]]|ref={{sfnref|''Chillicothe Gazette''|1991|p=3B}}|archive-date=April 17, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210417012853/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75854126/chillicothe-gazette/|url-status=live}}
* {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75910357/the-daily-news-journal/|title=''Veronica Clare'': 'Veronica Clare'|date=September 17, 1991|department=Television|work=[[The Daily News Journal]]|page=8|via=[[Ancestry.com#Newspapers.com|Newspapers.com]]|ref={{sfnref|''The Daily News Journal''|1991|p=7}}|archive-date=April 19, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210419175045/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75910357/the-daily-news-journal/|url-status=live}}
* {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75910357/the-daily-news-journal/|title=''Veronica Clare'': 'Veronica Clare'|date=September 17, 1991|department=Television|work=[[The Daily News Journal]]|page=8|via=[[Ancestry.com#Newspapers.com|Newspapers.com]]|ref={{sfnref|''The Daily News Journal''|1991|p=7}}|archive-date=April 19, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210419175045/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75910357/the-daily-news-journal/|url-status=live}}
* {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75910398/palladium-item/|title=''Veronica Clare'': 'Veronica Clare'|date=September 17, 1991|department=Television|work=[[Palladium-Item]]|page=B6|via=[[Ancestry.com#Newspapers.com|Newspapers.com]]|ref={{sfnref|''Palladium-Item''|1991|p=B6}}|archive-date=April 19, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210419175045/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75910398/palladium-item/|url-status=live}}
* {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75910398/palladium-item/|title=''Veronica Clare'': 'Veronica Clare'|date=September 17, 1991|department=Television|work=[[Palladium-Item]]|page=B6|via=[[Ancestry.com#Newspapers.com|Newspapers.com]]|ref={{sfnref|''Palladium-Item''|1991|p=B6}}}}
* {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/71837065/lexington-herald-leader/|title=Cable's Lifetime deserves A for effort, but series rate only C|last=White|first=Susan|date=July 23, 1991|department=Television|work=[[Lexington Herald-Leader]]|page=D3|via=[[Ancestry.com#Newspapers.com|Newspapers.com]]|archive-date=April 17, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210417012853/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/71837065/lexington-herald-leader/|url-status=live}}
* {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/71837065/lexington-herald-leader/|title=Cable's Lifetime deserves A for effort, but series rate only C|last=White|first=Susan|date=July 23, 1991|department=Television|work=[[Lexington Herald-Leader]]|page=D3|via=[[Ancestry.com#Newspapers.com|Newspapers.com]]|archive-date=April 17, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210417012853/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/71837065/lexington-herald-leader/|url-status=live}}
* {{cite journal|last1=White|first1=Susan|title=''Veronica Clare'' and the ''New Film Noir'' Heroine|journal=[[Camera Obscura (journal)|Camera Obscura]]|volume=3|issue=1|year=1994|publisher=[[Duke University Press]]|pages=76–101|url=https://doi.org/10.1215/02705346-11-12-3-1_33-34-76|archive-date=April 17, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210417012922/https://read.dukeupress.edu/camera-obscura/article-abstract/11-12/3-1%20(33-34)/76/97473/Veronica-Clare-and-the-New-Film-Noir-Heroine?redirectedFrom=fulltext|url-status=live}}
* {{cite journal|last1=White|first1=Susan|title=''Veronica Clare'' and the ''New Film Noir'' Heroine|journal=[[Camera Obscura (journal)|Camera Obscura]]|volume=3|issue=1|year=1994|publisher=[[Duke University Press]]|pages=76–101|doi=10.1215/02705346-11-12-3-1_33-34-76 |url=https://doi.org/10.1215/02705346-11-12-3-1_33-34-76|archive-date=April 17, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210417012922/https://read.dukeupress.edu/camera-obscura/article-abstract/11-12/3-1%20(33-34)/76/97473/Veronica-Clare-and-the-New-Film-Noir-Heroine?redirectedFrom=fulltext|url-status=live}}
* {{cite web|url=http://articles.baltimoresun.com/1991-07-23/features/1991204100_1_veronica-clare-laura-robinson-hidden-room|title='Veronica Clare' stands out among new Lifetime series|last=Zurawik|first=David|author-link=David Zurawik|date=July 23, 1991|work=[[The Baltimore Sun]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171022200911/http://articles.baltimoresun.com/1991-07-23/features/1991204100_1_veronica-clare-laura-robinson-hidden-room|archive-date=October 22, 2017|url-status=live}}
* {{cite web|url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/1991/07/23/veronica-clare-stands-out-among-new-lifetime-series/|title='Veronica Clare' stands out among new Lifetime series|last=Zurawik|first=David|author-link=David Zurawik|date=July 23, 1991|work=[[The Baltimore Sun]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171022200911/http://articles.baltimoresun.com/1991-07-23/features/1991204100_1_veronica-clare-laura-robinson-hidden-room|archive-date=October 22, 2017|url-status=live}}
{{Refend}}
{{Refend}}


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{{Lifetime Shows}}
{{Lifetime Shows}}
{{Good article}}

{{authority control}}
{{authority control}}


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[[Category:1991 American television series endings]]
[[Category:1991 American television series endings]]
[[Category:1990s American crime drama television series]]
[[Category:1990s American crime drama television series]]
[[Category:English-language television shows]]
[[Category:American English-language television shows]]
[[Category:Lifetime (TV network) original programming]]
[[Category:Lifetime (TV channel) television dramas]]
[[Category:Television shows set in Los Angeles]]
[[Category:Television shows set in Los Angeles]]

Latest revision as of 04:53, 9 October 2024

Veronica Clare
The words "Veronica Clare" are shown in two fonts on a postcard-style image of a cityscape with a black-and-white image of a woman in front of it.
GenreCrime drama
Created byJeffrey Bloom
Starring
ComposerGil Mellé
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes9
Production
Executive producers
  • Jeffrey Bloom
  • Chad Hoffman
Producers
  • Sascha Schneider
  • Anthony Santa Croce
  • Scott Citron
Production locationsLos Angeles, California
CinematographyEdward J. Pei
EditorMaureen O'Connell
Running time60 minutes
Production companiesHearst Entertainment, Inc.
Original release
NetworkLifetime
ReleaseJuly 23 (1991-07-23) –
September 17, 1991 (1991-09-17)

Veronica Clare is an American crime drama created by Jeffrey Bloom that aired nine episodes on Lifetime between July and September 1991. The title character, played by Laura Robinson, is a private investigator and the co-owner of a restaurant and jazz club in Chinatown, Los Angeles. She pursues only cases that interest her, often finding these herself, and refuses payment. Clare solves cases using her intelligence and intuition. The supporting characters consist of her close friends and co-workers, played by Robert Beltran, Tony Plana, Christina Pickles, Robert Ruth, Robert Sutton, and Wayne Chou. The series incorporates elements of film noir.

Lifetime developed Veronica Clare as one of its first original scripted programs, along with The Hidden Room and Confessions of Crime. Bloom created the show's premise after imagining Lauren Bacall as a Los Angeles detective. Gil Mellé composed the soundtrack, which uses jazz to create its ambience. Episodes were shot in May and June 1991 in a television studio in the San Fernando Valley and on-location in Los Angeles.

After nine of its commissioned 13 episodes aired, Lifetime placed Veronica Clare on hiatus and later canceled it. The series was not released on DVD or any streaming service. In 1991 and 1992, the episodes were rebroadcast as four television movies. Critics praised Bloom's script for the first episode, but criticized the show's storylines, look, and tone as well as Robinson's performance. The series attracted feminist analysis with a focus on Clare's role as a female private investigator.

Premise

[edit]

Story and characters

[edit]

The title character of Veronica Clare (Laura Robinson) is a private investigator and partial owner of an Art Deco restaurant and jazz club in Chinatown, Los Angeles. Clare often investigates cases that help women while using her club as a place to meet potential clients and suspects.[1] She is the show's narrator, and at the end of each episode, she writes about her cases to a former lover in letters signed "Love, Veronica".[2][3] However, she does not mail any of these letters,[3] and the name and gender of her lover are never explicitly stated.[4][a] Throughout the series, Clare is portrayed as mysterious,[2][6] although there were plans to explore more of her past in future episodes had the show continued beyond its first season.[7] In the pilot episode, a flashback provides some information on her backstory,[6] and she is referenced as a detective's daughter.[8]

Clare only accepts cases that interest her and refuses any payment for her work.[7][9] The series has very few action scenes as Clare does not perform hand-to-hand combat with men or participate in car chases.[10] Although she owns a Walther PPK, she uses it only for self-defense;[1][11] political theorist Philip Green wrote that the series portrays Clare's "skill as a private investigator" as her "weapons".[11] Television critic Mark Dawidziak described Clare as operating on her own "extremely personal code of ethics" throughout the episodes.[12] According to author Derrick Bang and the Associated Press's Jerry Buck, the series portrays Clare as a "private eyeful",[1][8] and Buck explained this was done through scenes in which she uses her "seductive charms" during investigations.[8] Clare often uses her intelligence and intuition for her cases,[13] and because of this, Robinson described the show as a "cerebral drama" about "the cat-and-mouse game played by Veronica and her adversaries".[14]

Robinson characterized Clare as a loner,[15] and Dawidziak noted that she had few close friends.[12] Clare lives alone in a hotel suite, a living situation that media studies scholar Eithne Johnson called "impersonal" and "anti-domestic".[16] Despite this, the Missoulian's Jon Burlingame noted that the show often surrounds her with "offbeat settings and people".[17] She co-owns her club with Duke Rado (Robert Beltran), who is the show's male lead character.[1][11] Green argued the series presents Rado only as Clare's business partner, and not as her love interest or as a "source of wisdom and authorization for her".[11] Clare's best friend is Kelsey Horne (Christina Pickles), a former spy who owns a store selling rare books.[18] Nikki Swarcek (Tony Plana), a Polish expatriate and a lieutenant for the Los Angeles Police Department, is attracted to Clare.[19] Other supporting characters include Sergeant Tweed (Robert Ruth), bartender Rocco (Robert Sutton), and valet Jimmy (Wayne Chou).[20] Series creator Jeffrey Bloom emphasized Veronica Clare was not focused on its ensemble cast, explaining "they're in for 10 percent of the time [while] Veronica is there 100 percent".[21]

Style and comparisons

[edit]
= A woman with long blonde hair is smiling towards the camera.
A woman in dark clothing and looking towards the camera.
Critics have likened Veronica Clare, played by Laura Robinson (pictured left in 1987), to Lauren Bacall (pictured right in 1945) and discussed how the series uses elements from 1940s film noir.

Veronica Clare borrows elements from film noir, including "first-person narration, smoke-filled rooms, period cars and skin-tight dresses".[1] Clare is shown driving a vintage white Mercedes coupe.[3][16] Episodes also include camera angles similar to those used in noir films.[1][17] Bonnie Baker, writing for The Arizona Republic, described the series as resembling "a '40s movie that's been colorized by Ted Turner".[2] While episodes draw inspiration from detective fiction published in the 1940s, Dawidziak viewed its stories as having a more "90s sensibility".[12]

Journalists considered Veronica Clare to be similar to detective fiction by Raymond Chandler and Dashiell Hammett.[22] Critics characterized the series' tone as "low-key",[23] specifically in reference to its narration,[12][17] as well as cold and distant.[24][25] Episodes have elements of humor,[3][12] such as when Clare's aunt said she could tell a gangster was a "man of dubious integrity" because "he never even provided a pension plan".[3]

The series frequently uses jazz, which was composed by Gil Mellé, as part of its ambience. Some of these instances are diegetic as Clare's club features jazz music, which is sometimes played with "unusual combos" of instruments such as a combination of piano, bass guitar, and accordion.[1] The show's background music often features covers of George Gershwin and Cole Porter's music, such as a jazz version of the 1926 song "Someone to Watch Over Me",[2][26] and the theme music has a "bluesy sax, piano and bass".[3]

Critics compared Clare to Veronica Lake[1][12] and Veronica Clare to a 1940s noir starring Lauren Bacall as the private investigator instead of Humphrey Bogart.[27] Television historians Tim Brooks and Earle F. Marsh believed this "Lauren Bacall look" was evoked by Clare's hairstyle and mysterious persona.[7] While promoting Veronica Clare, Robinson referred to her character as a combination of Bogart's strength and intelligence as well as Bacall's looks and wit.[6] She also viewed Clare as an adult version of Nancy Drew, but doubted that the show's producers shared her opinion.[8] Journalists have associated the character with other fictional detectives, such as Mike Hammer, Nick Charles, Philip Marlowe, and Sam Spade.[2][28] Paul Henniger, writing for the Los Angeles Times, compared Clare's "rapid-talking, short, staccato outbursts" to Jack Webb and supporting characters to those in the television show Peter Gunn.[28]

Production

[edit]

Background

[edit]
A photograph of a man standing in his studio.
Jeffrey Bloom (pictured) created Veronica Clare, which Lifetime picked up as one of its first original scripted programs.

Television network Lifetime developed Veronica Clare in 1991 as one of three original scripted programs, along with The Hidden Room and Confessions of Crime.[29] Each of the shows feature elements of mystery or suspense;[30] The Record's Virginia Mann described Veronica Clare as having the lightest tone of the three programs.[31] This was the first time Lifetime had its own television shows, although in 1989, the network acquired The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd to produce new episodes following its NBC cancelation.[29][32] Mass communication professor Eileen R. Meehan and media studies professor Jackie Byars identified these shows as part of an "emergent period" of Lifetime, describing them as the network's "first experiments" with original dramas.[32]

In 1991, Patricia Fili, the senior vice president of Lifetime's programming, explained that the network would invest $1 billion into its original programming over a decade and identified Veronica Clare as part of this strategy.[6] Mike Hughes, while writing for the Gannett News Service, considered Veronica Clare a "crucial test of the notion that basic-cable channels can do one-hour, prime time series".[24] Fili described the focus on television shows as a risk, but felt it was a "natural evolution" in establishing Lifetime's identity as a network.[25]

Lifetime developed Veronica Clare, as well as The Hidden Room and Confessions of Crime, for a female audience.[33] This follows Lifetime's tradition of acquiring shows about women in traditionally male occupations; examples include a police officer in Lady Blue, a physician in Kay O'Brien, and a private detective in Partners in Crime.[34] Hughes wrote that Veronica Clare "mirrors the channel's view of its audience", following this up with Fili's description of Clare as attractive, intelligent, sensual, and feminine.[24]

Concept and casting

[edit]

Jeffrey Bloom developed Veronica Clare after imagining Lauren Bacall as a private investigator in Los Angeles; he referenced Bacall's roles in the films To Have and Have Not (1944), The Big Sleep (1946), Dark Passage (1947), and Key Largo (1948) as inspiration for Clare. A fan of noir, Bloom had previously worked in the genre by writing the screenplay for the 1978 film adaptation of Raymond Chandler's 1939 novel The Big Sleep. During this time period, he first considered a story about a female detective and wrote the script for the pilot episode in 1986. In a 1991 interview with The Philadelphia Inquirer, Bloom said he had difficulty pitching the series to networks, and attributed this to their resistance to air dramas with a young female lead.[21] Lifetime picked up Veronica Clare in 1991 for 13 episodes.[35]

Over 500 actresses auditioned for the role of Veronica Clare.[6][15] To prepare for the part, Laura Robinson watched Humphrey Bogart films and styled herself like Bacall.[14] While promoting the series, she described herself as a fan of noir,[14] and discussed her appreciation for Bacall, Katharine Hepburn, and "those kinds of characters who could balance strength and femininity".[6] Before Veronica Clare, Robinson was typecast as a villain or a femme fatale;[6] an example of this was her role as P'Gell Roxton in a 1987 television pilot based on the comic book character Spirit.[36] While reflecting on this in a 1991 interview, she suggested it was either her voice or her eyes that inspired those casting choices.[15] She viewed Clare as a welcome career change, explaining: "Playing a woman who is strong and resourceful, and also sexy and feminine and all those things is great."[14] Bloom attributed Robinson's casting to her "tremendous sense of confidence about herself" in her audition, and said she physically looked like how he imagined Clare.[15]

Production and filming

[edit]

Veronica Clare was produced by Hearst Entertainment, Inc.[37] Bloom served as the show's executive producer alongside Chad Hoffman. Sascha Schneider was the supervising producer, Anthony Santa Croce the show's producer, and Scott Citron a co-producer.[38] The series was filmed in May and June 1991.[39][40] Episodes were shot in a television studio in the San Fernando Valley.[38] The studio was an old factory, and during an interview with the Toronto Star, Robinson recounted how nearby trains could be so loud that there would sometimes be breaks in filming.[40] Scenes were also shot on-location in Los Angeles.[15][38]

Various Los Angeles locations are featured as postcards, which are shown as transitions between each episode's acts.[38] The show's production designer was Shay Austin, and according to a writer from Variety, his designs focused on "a colorful nitery and its street location". Edward J. Pei was the cinematographer and Maureen O'Connell was the editor.[38] For his work on the show, Pei received the ACE Award for Direction of Photography and/or Lighting in a Comedy or Dramatic Series at the 13th Annual ACE awards.[41][42]

Each episode cost $700,000, which was cheaper than shows aired on network television. Bloom said he did not take foreign investments, instead keeping expenses low by hiring a small staff of producers and writers.[43] In a 1991 article for the Writers Guild of America West, writer Lee Goldberg identified a trend in U.S. networks working with foreign companies to lower production costs.[44] According to Goldberg, a majority of the shows aired on cable networks had foreign investments,[44] and he noted Veronica Clare was one of the few exceptions.[43] Bloom wrote and directed the first episode "Veronica's Aunt".[45] Directors for the subsequent episodes were Mark Cullingham, Deborah Dalton, Donna Deitch, Amy Goldstein, Leon Ichaso, Frederick King Keller, and Rafal Zielinski.[46]

Episodes

[edit]
No.Title [46][b]Written by [45]Original air date [46]
1"Veronica's Aunt"Jeffrey BloomJuly 23, 1991 (1991-07-23)
Veronica helps her aunt when she is threatened by her recently deceased husband's mob employers.
2"Reed"Jeffrey BloomJuly 30, 1991 (1991-07-30)
Veronica works on a mystery that involves one of Duke's close friends.
3"Anonymous"Jeffrey BloomAugust 6, 1991 (1991-08-06)
After an amnesiac Romanian woman is found severely beaten, Veronica tries to help her remember her past and locate her attacker.
4"The Boxing Story"Jeffrey Bloom and Frank MegnaAugust 13, 1991 (1991-08-13)
A female boxing manager hires Veronica to determine why her most popular boxer chose to abandon her career.
5"Phoebe"Jeffrey BloomAugust 20, 1991 (1991-08-20)
Veronica helps a woman locate her missing husband.
6"Slow Violence"Nancy BondAugust 27, 1991 (1991-08-27)
A club singer pushes Veronica into babysitting her child and then suddenly disappears.
7"Mr. Duvall"Jane AtkinsSeptember 3, 1991 (1991-09-03)
Veronica is tasked with finding the missing wife of a wealthy man.
8"Love, Amanda"Nina ShengoldSeptember 10, 1991 (1991-09-10)
Veronica tries to discover what is behind a young girl's murder by piecing together clues from her diary.
9"Pilot"Jeffrey BloomSeptember 17, 1991 (1991-09-17)
Veronica is assigned to find a man's brooch, which is believed to have been stolen by his son.

Broadcast history

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Veronica Clare aired on Tuesdays at 10:00 pm EST, and reruns were broadcast on Saturdays at the same time.[48] The series was shown after The Hidden Room and Confessions of Crime as a two-hour programming block, promoted as "Lifetime Original Night" and "Mystery Loves Company".[49] On September 24, 1991, Lifetime put Veronica Clare on hiatus.[50] Although 11 episodes were filmed, only nine were aired.[50][51] Publicist C. Alex Wagner attributed this decision to production issues, and explained: "We're stopping production to rewrite and retool. We are committed to the series."[41][50] Wagner added that Lifetime still had an interest in airing a show about a female private investigator.[41]

Despite this statement, Lifetime canceled the series. According to Derrick Bang, the cancelation occurred because of "weak scripts, inadequate publicity and too much competition from the established networks".[1] The Baltimore Sun's Steve McKerrow felt it was a surprising choice, writing that shows for niche markets did not require immediate high ratings when compared to network television. He described Veronica Clare's ratings as "pretty respectable", and reported that Media Monitor considered the series to have "some promise".[52] Veronica Clare, along with The Hidden Room and Confessions of a Crime, had lower ratings than Lifetime's original films.[29] Wagner said the three shows performed well for women between the ages of 18 and 49, and believed the ratings could have improved with time. Veronica Clare had the lowest average ratings among the three.[53] Lifetime continued to broadcast reruns of the show until June 13, 1992.[51] A 1991 issue of Broadcasting reported that the first six episodes of Veronica Clare had averaged a 0.8% of Lifetime's 51 million household audience.[54]

The series was not released on DVD or any streaming service.[55][56] In 1991 and 1992, the nine episodes were converted into four 90-minute television movies.[37][51] They can be requested through the Library of Congress as video reels. The titles of these films are Affairs with Death, Deadly Minds, Naked Hearts, and Slow Violence.[37] In 2020, Bang wrote that Veronica Clare, as well as Gil Mellé's score, are "nowhere to be found in today's market".[1]

Reception

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Critical reception

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Critics praised Jeffrey Bloom's script for "Veronica's Aunt".[57] Jay Sharbutt, while writing for the Associated Press, liked that Bloom put "a lot of verbal playfulness" in the episode. Sharbutt appreciated the show's lack of violence, and felt Bloom distinguished Clare from "today's hordes of wild-eyed geeks fresh from the University of Uzi".[3] In the Los Angeles Times, Howard Rosenberg commended Bloom's script as having a "subtlety and a charming playfulness", but felt the show's quality rapidly deteriorated with its subsequent episodes. Rosenberg panned the second episode "Reed" for its plot holes and unintentional comedy, comparing its campy tone to the 1991 film The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear.[9] While reviewing "Veronica's Aunt", Mark Dawidziak appreciated how Bloom balanced the episode's plot with its 1940s noir aesthetic, but believed it was "at times too deliberate and plodding to sustain the pace". Despite this criticism, Dawidziak felt the series had potential and wrote: "It would be a crime if [Bloom] doesn't chase down the obvious remaining clues to success."[12]

Veronica Clare received criticism for its storylines, which reviewers described as unoriginal and unlikely.[58] Paul Henniger and The News Journal's Valerie Helmbreck found its premise to be derivative of previous detective stories.[26][28] Citing the show as a negative example of Hollywood's fixation with Raymond Chandler, Helmbreck believed the episodes relied too much on clichés and stock characters.[26] When Lifetime promoted Veronica Clare as "original steamy and seductive", Henniger wondered how a show about a Los Angeles private investigator could be considered original.[28] Despite enjoying its style, a Variety writer felt the series had too many implausible plots and believed this would result in its cancelation.[38]

Reviewers were critical of the show's look and tone, including comments on Clare's role as a detective and the application of film noir elements to a more contemporary story.[59] Scholar Susan White thought the attempt to emulate a 1940s setting was not successfully translated to 1990s Los Angeles.[60] People's David Hiltbrand considered the show's characterization of Clare as a female Sam Spade to be "murky and contrived".[61] Mike Hughes and a writer for The Times Herald found Veronica Clare to be too reserved; when discussing the programming block, they instead recommended The Hidden Room for viewers who wanted a more emotional experience.[24][25]

Laura Robinson's acting was the subject of criticism.[62] A Variety reviewer and Hiltbrand did not believe she brought enough believability to the role.[38][61] As part of a negative review of the series, Helmbreck described Robinson as "an actress better suited to car commercials where sultry blondes only stroke gearshifts or hood ornaments and make animal sounds for their paycheck".[26] Although he enjoyed the show's concept and writing, Sharbutt felt it was undercut by Robison's flat performance of her lines. Despite this, he hoped she would improve over time, and wrote "all the star has to do is live up to the promise of the show's premise".[3] While promoting Veronica Clare to critics, Robinson apologized for one of the early episodes and explained: "We're just getting the kinks out now on later episodes and starting to roll." She said that she had a tendency to talk fast and was consciously working on it during filming.[28] In more positive reviews, Dawidziak and Bonnie Baker praised Robinson as ideally cast for the role.[2][12]

Gender analysis

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Following the show's premiere, journalists associated Veronica Clare with a rising interest in stories about female detectives.[61][63] The Orlando Sentinel's Nancy Pate cited the series, as well as the 1991 film adaptation of Sara Paretsky's V. I. Warshawski novels and Sue Grafton's success with Kinsey Millhone, as examples supporting this trend.[63] Eithne Johnson believed Lifetime produced the show after seeing the popularity of Murder, She Wrote and Moonlighting.[64] While discussing Veronica Clare as potentially having cultural importance, The Baltimore Sun critic David Zurawik remarked that Clare fits with the "boom of women writing and starring in mystery fiction".[33] Rosenberg questioned the representation of female investigators, writing: "Beyond male biases among network programmers, there’s no reason at all for female detectives to be such a TV curiosity."[9]

Veronica Clare and its title character have been the subject of academic analysis on gender. Cinema studies professor Linda Mizejewski believed Clare was another example of the "profile of enigmatic, noir detective heroine" used by other television shows.[65] While interpreting Clare as a postfeminist character, film professor Nicholas de Villers wrote that the series consciously addresses the "gender expectations raised by her unusual occupation as a lone, female sleuth".[66] Philip Green considered Clare an instance in which a heroine is not represented as a "fetishized male in disguise".[67] Green wrote that the series identifies Clare's skills as separate from "masculine toughness" or "hypermasculine aggression" and focuses on her beauty without reducing her to "pure feminized sexuality".[68]

Gender and women's studies scholar Susan White noted that Veronica Clare's fashion and scenic design was a sharp contrast to the "codes of the hardboiled narrative and style".[69] She questioned whether Clare's dual role as femme fatale and detective would ever connect with an audience, and felt her "restrained, smoldering sexuality" seemingly contradicted her "emphatic or identificatory modus operandi".[70] While discussing Clare's frequent costume changes, Johnson associated the series with fashion photography and thought "Robinson's body was packaged and posed for the viewers' contemplation".[71] Johnson argued Clare had the same attributes as other hardboiled detectives, while also operating with "the fashionably autonomous manner of the idealized careerist".[16]

Notes

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  1. ^ The Associated Press's Jay Sharbutt identifies Clare's lover as a man who has left town,[3] while scholar Susan White says she is writing to her dead lover Michael and refers to him as a former US Marine.[5]
  2. ^ Some newspaper listings name the final episode "Veronica Clare" instead of "Pilot".[47]

References

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Footnotes

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Bang 2020, p. 168.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Baker 1991, p. 5.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i Sharbutt 1991, p. 6A.
  4. ^ Belcher 1991, p. 6; Green 1998, p. 164; Johnson 1994, p. 62
  5. ^ White 1994, p. 81.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g Belcher 1991, p. 6.
  7. ^ a b c Brooks & Marsh 2009, p. 1467.
  8. ^ a b c d Buck 1991, p. D6.
  9. ^ a b c Rosenberg 1991.
  10. ^ Green 1998, p. 164; Mills 1991, p. 7; Rhein 1991, p. 3; Sharbutt 1991, p. 6A
  11. ^ a b c d Green 1998, p. 164.
  12. ^ a b c d e f g h Dawidziak 1991, p. 3.
  13. ^ Mills 1991, p. 7; Rhein 1991, p. 3; Terrace 2008, pp. 1139–1140
  14. ^ a b c d Rhein 1991, p. 3.
  15. ^ a b c d e Mills 1991, p. 6.
  16. ^ a b c Johnson 1994, p. 60.
  17. ^ a b c Burlingame 1991, p. C2.
  18. ^ Brennan 1991; Buck 1991, p. D6; Burlingame 1991, p. C2
  19. ^ Brennan 1991; Brooks & Marsh 2009, p. 1467; Buck 1991, p. D6; Burlingame 1991, p. C2
  20. ^ Brooks & Marsh 2009, p. 1467; Johnson 1994, p. 60; Terrace 2008, pp. 1139–1140
  21. ^ a b Mills 1991, p. 7.
  22. ^ Dawidziak 1991, p. 3; Helmbreck 1991, p. D1; Mills 1991, p. 6
  23. ^ Burlingame 1991, p. C2; Dawidziak 1991, p. 3; White 1991, p. D3
  24. ^ a b c d Hughes 1991, p. 2D.
  25. ^ a b c The Times Herald 1991, p. 8B.
  26. ^ a b c d Helmbreck 1991, p. D1.
  27. ^ Belcher 1991, p. 6; Buck 1991, p. D6; Dawidziak 1991, p. 3
  28. ^ a b c d e Henniger 1991, p. 3.
  29. ^ a b c Lotz 2004, p. 26.
  30. ^ Newman & Witsell 2016, p. 10.
  31. ^ Mann 1991, p. B10.
  32. ^ a b Meehan & Byars 2000, p. 37.
  33. ^ a b Zurawik 1991.
  34. ^ Dines & Humez 2003, p. 620.
  35. ^ Endrst 1991.
  36. ^ Cecchini 2017.
  37. ^ a b c Library of Congress 1991a; Library of Congress 1991b; Library of Congress 1992a; Library of Congress 1992b
  38. ^ a b c d e f g Tone 1991.
  39. ^ Bawden 1991, p. S94.
  40. ^ a b Moca 1991, p. 4.
  41. ^ a b c Johnson 1994, p. 63.
  42. ^ Associated Press 1992.
  43. ^ a b Goldberg 1991, p. 26.
  44. ^ a b Goldberg 1991, pp. 24–25.
  45. ^ a b Writers Guild of America West.
  46. ^ a b c Thrilling Detective.
  47. ^ Chillicothe Gazette 1991, p. 3B; The Daily News Journal 1991, p. 7; Palladium-Item 1991, p. B6
  48. ^ Brennan 1991.
  49. ^ Brennan 1991; Johnson 1994, p. 46; Meehan & Byars 2000, p. 97
  50. ^ a b c Logan 1991, p. 20.
  51. ^ a b c Meehan & Byars 2000, p. 97.
  52. ^ McKerrow 1991, p. C6.
  53. ^ Johnson 1994, p. 64.
  54. ^ Moshavi 1991, p. 27.
  55. ^ TVShowsOnDVD.com.
  56. ^ TV Guide.
  57. ^ Dawidziak 1991, p. 3; Rosenberg 1991; Sharbutt 1991, p. 6A
  58. ^ Helmbreck 1991, p. D1; Henniger 1991, p. 3; Tone 1991
  59. ^ Hiltbrand 1991; Hughes 1991, p. 2D; The Times Herald 1991, p. 8B; White 1991
  60. ^ White 1991.
  61. ^ a b c Hiltbrand 1991.
  62. ^ Helmbreck 1991, p. D1; Hiltbrand 1991; Sharbutt 1991, p. 6A; Tone 1991
  63. ^ a b Pate 1991.
  64. ^ Johnson 1994, p. 66.
  65. ^ Mizejewski 2004, p. 208.
  66. ^ de Villiers 2016.
  67. ^ Green 1998, p. 241.
  68. ^ Green 1998, pp. 164–165.
  69. ^ Mizejewski 2004, p. 199.
  70. ^ White 1994, p. 92.
  71. ^ Johnson 1994, p. 54.

Citations

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