Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, June 30, 1990 TAG: 9006300495
SECTION: SPECTATOR PAGE: 1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JERRY BUCK ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
"I've built my own background for the character," said Bosley, whose show was picked up by ABC after NBC dropped it following a spring tryout last year.
"I think he probably always wanted to be a detective but failed the physical. He went into the priesthood and never lost his passion for crime."
Father Frank Dowling is the pastor of St. Michael's Church in a blighted section of Chicago. His assistant in the parish, and in unraveling mysteries, is Sister Steve, played by Tracy Nelson, who is sort of a street urchin in a habit.
"He's insulated and naive about the real world," Bosley said. "He can't even drive. Sister Steve, on the other hand, is naive about the church but wise to the ways of the world. They sort of balance each other."
ABC revived "Father Dowling Mysteries" in January and gave it the task of competing against "The Cosby Show" on NBC on Thursday. Although it is returning this fall, its future is a mystery even Father Dowling might have trouble unraveling because it's certainly taken its lumps in the ratings.
With a priest-like optimism about opposing the Cosby powerhouse and, this fall, Fox's hit series "The Simpsons," Bosley says "Father Dowling" has more than a prayer.
"Our show does appeal more to older people," he said, "but with all due respect to Bill Cosby, time is on our side. He could decide to quit. I think a portion of the audience watches his show because until now there had been no alternative. I think we appeal to the people who watch `Murder, She Wrote.'"
Bosley, a busy actor best known as Richie's father on "Happy Days" and as Angela Lansbury's foil on "Murder, She Wrote," made his debut as a priest in a "Perry Mason" movie in 1986.
Although he looks like he was born to wear his collar backward, he is Jewish. He grew up in Chicago, where his great-grandfather had been chief Orthodox rabbi. He began his career in New York in 1955 and won a Tony for his role as New York's legendary Mayor LaGuardia in the musical "Fiorello." He starred in six other TV series, was the voice of the father in "Wait Till Your Father Gets Home" and narrated "That's Hollywood."
"Father Dowling Mysteries," although set in Chicago, is filmed on location in Denver. Silverman and his co-executive producer, Dean Hargrove, also film the "Perry Mason" movies in Denver.
"The people are wonderful and we get great cooperation," Bosley said. "But the weather there fluctuates. It's bad when you're on location and it's clear one day and it snows the next. I'd rather not go back to Denver because of the weather and the long separation from my family."
When he returned home for a break between filming, he took his wife, son, three daughters and grandson to a ranch near Santa Barbara for a brief vacation.
"Father Dowling Mysteries" also stars Mary Wickes as the rectory's housekeeper and James Stephens as Dowling's nemesis, Father Prestwick.
"Prestwick is the bishop's private secretary and more or less my antagonist," Bosley said. "He always seems to show up at the rectory at meal time."
As the original sheriff on "Murder, She Wrote," Bosley usually stood around and watched Angela Lansbury unmask the killer.
"I did get to solve the crime once by accident," he said. "It was around Christmas and Angela wanted some time off to visit her daughter. She shot her stuff in two days. She dropped hints until I stumbled on the solution."
by CNB