Perry Mason was a long-running TV series that aired on CBS from 1957 to 1966. Based on the equally long established series of detective novels by Erle Stanley Gardner, the show starred Raymond Burr as the titular defense attorney, whose courtroom theatrics and careful sleuthing resolved many murder cases. A major boast, often mocked in parodies or guest spots on comedy shows, was that Perry never lost a case (and apart from three known exceptions or so, he never did, and even those were usually either reversed or the client turned out to be an imposter).

Although there were other adaptations (in radio, film, and even a 1973 series with a different cast), it was Raymond Burr's portrayal of Perry Mason that became iconic (and moved Burr from character actor status to a major celebrity), continued in a series of recurring TV movies from 1985 to 1993 (similar to Columbo). Even after Burr's death in 1993, the series continued (retitled A Perry Mason Mystery) through 1995 with guest lawyers.

The concept was revamped loosely, focusing on Mason's pre-law days and early career, as an HBO series starring Matthew Rhys (2020-2023).

References

• In the January 21, 1966 broadcast of The Jimmy Dean Show, Rowlf the Dog is seen in jail in a prison dream. He laments, "Perry Mason finally lost a case and it had to be mine."

• Raymond Burr, visiting a stand-in Sesame Street on The Flip Wilson Show (October 15, 1970), uses flowery words to describe the show's purpose. Big Bird compliments him on speaking whatever language it is beautifully. Burr references Perry Mason by replying that "it's all those years in the courtroom. I never lost a case, you know."

• "Monster Quiz" in Muppet Magazine issue 4 asks what destroyed the original Godzilla. One of the answers is Perry Mason (referencing Raymond Burr's appearance in the US footage).

• In the fourth season Muppet Babies episode "Weirdo for the Prosecution," when Baby Gonzo is on trial, help arrives in the form of Baby Piggy as famous attorney "Piggy Mason" (who enters to a variation of the TV theme song). She is referred to as the greatest lawyer in the world, and she says she's never lost a case.

• Penguin Mason in The Furchester Hotel episode "Mystery Weekend" parodies the character.

Connections

• Jason Bernard played Sergeant Koslow in "Case of the Murdered Madam" (1987)
• Raymond Burr played Perry Mason
• Julius Carry played Temple Brown in "Case of the All-Star Assassin" (1989)
• Dick Clark played Leif Early in "The Case of the Final Fade-Out" (1966)
• James Coburn played Donald Fletcher in "Case of the Envious Editor" and General Addison Brand in "The Angry Astronaut."
• Harold Gould played Lawrence West in "Case of the Latent Lover" (1964)
• Cloris Leachman played Gloria Shine in "Case of the Crafty Kidnapper" (1966)
• Robert Mandan played Dr. Michaels in "Case of the Lost Love" (1987)
• Leonard Nimoy played Pete Chennery in "Case of the Shoplifter's Shoe" (1963)
• Richard Portnow played Harry Long in "Case of the Murdered Madam" (1987)
• William Schallert played Donald Graves in "Case of The Sulky Girl," Dr. Bradbury in "The Misguided Missile," and Len Dykes in "The Melancholy Marksman"
• Hal Smith played a supper club owner in "Case of the Treacherous Toupee" (1960) and a police moulage expert in "Case of the Shapely Shadow" (1962)
• Olan Soule played the court clerk in four episodes (1958-1964), a bank teller in "Case of the Rolling Bones," and a water company official in "Case of the Shapely Shadow"
• John Stephenson played Ed Davenport in "Case of the Runaway Corpse," Grant Reynolds in "The Borrowed Brunette," and Frank Avery in "The Gallant Grafter"
• William Woodson played a medical examiner or other doctor in five episodes (1962-1965) and a news commentator in "The Case of the Two-Faced Turn-a-bout" (1963)