I would imagine this short-lived 80's detective show would interest Columbo fans, as it was created by Levinson, Link, and Peter S. Fischer, who had written many Columbo episodes. A interesting but failed attempt to bring together magic, crime fighting, and two long time sit com vets - Hal Linden and Harry Morgan. Linden is a dud in the lead role, as famous illusionist turned amateur detective Alexander Blacke (silent "e"). This was a role tailor-made for famed Columbo villain Jack Cassidy, which sadly never came to pass. Morgan is his usual deadpan charming self in the role as Alex's con-man dad Leonard, but then again he's playing with house money. The bottom line was Blacke's Magic was a quirky hodge-podge of clichéd knock-offs, destined for the dustbin of TV history.

One of the main complaints about Winwood is how pliable a character he has seemingly been, somehow surviving and even thriving through plenty of years of bands where other colleagues quickly burn out. His second solo album heralded yet another resurgence, with consistently strong material backed by a curious blend of burgeoning technology and traditional sounds. The obvious centerpiece is the lead-off track (and hit single) "While You See A Chance", and the general positive mood carries through the entire record through a series of deep grooves and ballads. Definitely one of Winwood's stronger records.

Reasonably similar to Peter Gabriel's debut in that both had emerged from long spells with their former groups with solo releases that were more in line with contemporary tastes, while retaining flashes of earlier, freer explorations. But unlike Gabriel, Winwood's debut went completely under the radar, with no hit singles (unlike Gabriel's "Solsbury Hill"). It's simply a competent, well-crafted set of soul-tinged soft-pop music that is going to please fans and leave doubters unconvinced.

I remember this when it premiered because the pilot episode ran the same night the Pats upset the Los Angeles Raiders in the 1985 playoffs! It was a weird fit in the TV landscape then, and one can only watch with amusement now - or disgust, depending on your point of view - at Hal Linden blindly herding around this bumbling cast of characters for close to two hours. Or should I say miscast - Linden included.

The only redeeming quality of Sandman is "The Flying Saucer Song" which is just a mish-mash of Nilsson imitating different voices. Otherwise, a serious candidate for most boring Nilsson record. "Here's Why I Did Not Go To Work Today" is a new, painful low.