• by Adam Buckman , Featured Columnist, January 4, 2024

No hints are dropped nor clues proffered to explain how the lead character in Fox’s new animated detective comedy came to look suspiciously like a detective from the 1970s heyday of TV P.I.’s.

The detective that seems to be have been plucked from decades past to inspire the creation of former police detective Marvin Flute in the new “Grimsburg” is Frank Cannon, played by William Conrad in “Cannon” (1971-76 on CBS).

The two are nearly identical, as demonstrated in the comparison photo above. The title of “Grimsburg” refers to the small city where Det. Flute was once a star detective on the Grimsburg PD.

Whether driven from the force by scandal, disillusionment or ennui, Flute has returned home to redeem himself as a father to a son he barely knew.

At the same time, a violent murderer has begun to make his presence known in the town, and the police chief asks Flute to help investigate the case.

Jon Hamm provides the voice of Flute, a man who is bitter, cynical and depressed. The comedy springs from the repartee between Flute and the other residents of Grimsburg. 

The show shares this tone of voice with dozens of animated series seen everywhere on TV these days.

The Flute character has a potbelly that extends well over his belt line. Actor William Conrad was similarly built, if not more so.

To come out and call Conrad a fat man is not as offensive as it might sound, since he also starred later in another detective show called “Jake and the Fatman” in which he played the latter role.

The “Cannon” era was rich in TV cop shows and detective shows with titles consisting of the lead character’s last name or both names -- “Cannon,” “Columbo,” “Mannix,” “Kojak,” “Ironside,” “Banacek,” “Longstreet,” “Barnaby Jones” and others.

In fact, MeTV has “Mannix,” “Cannon” and “Barnaby Jones” set up 1-2-3 in the wee hours of the morning every weekday.

“Cannon” never fails to fascinate. I recently caught an episode in which Frank Cannon -- a man not exactly physically agile -- took on two or three thugs in hand-to-hand combat and vanquished them all.

There were some vague hints in the premiere episode of “Grimsburg” that the show is not set in the modern era, but might indeed be set in the era of “Cannon.” The most conspicuous of these clues is the lack of cellphones.

Perhaps the reason why Marvin Flute looks like Frank Cannon will be revealed on a later episode of “Grimsburg.” On the other hand, the whole thing might be just a coincidence. 

“Grimsburg” premieres Sunday, January 7, at 8 p.m. Eastern on Fox.

William Conrad “Cannon” photo courtesy of MeTV.