List of Remington Steele episodes

The following is a list of episodes for the television show Remington Steele; included are the many film references made throughout the series.

Series overview

Season Episodes Originally aired
First aired Last aired
1 22 October 1, 1982 April 12, 1983
2 22 September 20, 1983 May 22, 1984
3 22 September 25, 1984 May 14, 1985
4 22 September 24, 1985 May 10, 1986
5 6 January 5, 1987 February 17, 1987

Episodes

Season 1 (1982–83)

No.
overall
No. in
season
Title Directed by Written by Original air date Prod.
code
U.S. viewers
(millions)
1 1 "License to Steele" Robert Butler Michael Gleason October 1, 1982 2704 N/A

A client who hired Remington Steele Investigations to protect a shipment of rare jewels insisted that Steele himself oversee the operation. Pierce's shady character, who was hanging around looking for profitable opportunities, well-knowingly steps into the role of Remington Steele against Laura Holt's wishes. The gems involved, the royal lavulite, had recently been discovered. This episode was shot after the original pilot, to offer details on the backstory. GUEST STARS: Joseph Hacker, Philip Casnoff, Robert Darnell, John Francis

Film reference: Tea and Sympathy, North by Northwest (obliquely)
2 2 "Tempered Steele" Robert Butler Michael Gleason October 8, 1982 0903 N/A

Laura tackles a case of industrial espionage in a family-owned business while Steele enlists an old pal to help him install a burglar alarm, but when the house is burglarized and Steele's friend murdered it becomes personal. GUEST STARS: Arlen Dean Snyder, David Hayward, Diana Douglas, Brenda King, Curt Lowens
Film references: Casablanca, The Thin Man.

Note: This was the pilot episode.
3 3 "Steele Waters Run Deep" Jeff Bleckner Lee David Zlotoff October 22, 1982 2703 N/A

A video game genius disappears just before a merger, with five million dollars and the plans for his company's latest video game. GUEST STARS: Peter Scolari, George Wallace, Betty Kennedy, Roxanne Hart, Rae Allen, Blake Clark

Film reference: North by Northwest.
4 4 "Signed, Steeled, & Delivered" Robert Butler Glenn Gordon Caron October 29, 1982 2702 N/A

Laura and Steele spend the weekend trying to keep a CIA researcher alive and on time for his wedding. GUEST STARS: Thom Bray, Philip Sterling, Alexandra Johnson, Christopher Lofton, Buddy Powell

Film references: The In-Laws (obliquely)
5 5 "Thou Shalt Not Steele" Leo Penn Lee David Zlotoff November 5, 1982 2706 N/A

A woman from Steele's past asks him to help her steal a valuable painting that Laura has already agreed to protect (and that he had stolen once already), while Laura also has to deal with her visiting mother. GUEST STARS: Beverly Garland, Cassandra Harris, James Blendick, Peter MacLean, Kurt Christian, Benjamin Slack, Ben Mittleman

Film references: The Maltese Falcon (obliquely)
6 6 "Steele Belted" Robert Butler Michael Gleason November 12, 1982 2701 N/A

A loser asks the agency to help him, but his alibi witness is found dead in Steele's apartment and his lawyer seems more interested in Laura than in the case, which for once forces Steele and Murphy to work together. GUEST STARS: Andrew Bloch, Barry Van Dyke, Raymond Singer, Ilene Graff, Lora Staley, Ernest Emling

Film reference: D.O.A..
7 7 "Etched in Steele" Stan Lathan Glenn Gordon Caron November 19, 1982 2707 N/A

A popular author's steamy books mirror her own life, including the murder of her husband. GUEST STARS: Shannon Wilcox, George Morfogen, Richard Cox, Joel Colodner, Lyman Ward

Film reference: The Shining.
8 8 "Your Steele the One for Me" Thomas Carter Lee David Zlotoff November 26, 1982 2709 N/A

While trying to solve a murder case, Laura and Steele clash with the Yakuza. GUEST STARS: Keye Luke, Marc Hayashi, Sab Shimono, Reid Shelton, Emily Kuroda, Richard Stanley, Stephen Lee.

Film references: Enter the Dragon, The Yakuza, The Third Man, Charade.
9 9 "In the Steele of the Night" Burt Brinckerhoff Joel Steiger December 3, 1982 2708 N/A

Laura's former boss is murdered during a reunion of her former colleagues. GUEST STARS: Carlene Watkins, Philip Charles Mackenzie, Arthur Rosenberg, Jeff Pomerantz

Film reference: Witness for the Prosecution
10 10 "Steele Trap" Sidney Hayers Michael Gleason December 10, 1982 2710 N/A

To find out why a client committed suicide, Laura and Steele go undercover to an island party, where people are being murdered one by one. GUEST STARS: Lynne Randall, Paul Hecht, Bruce Kirby, Brandis Kemp, Diane Stilwell.

Film references: Citizen Kane, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, And Then There Were None, The Philadelphia Story.
11 11 "Steeling the Show" Seymour Robbie Peter Lefcourt January 7, 1983 2713 N/A

An aging B-movie actress believes that someone is trying to kill her, and only Steele believes her. GUEST STARS: Bibi Osterwald, Frances Lee McCain, Peter Jurasik.

Film reference: Psycho.
12 12 "Steele Flying High" Nick Havinga Richard Collins January 14, 1983 2711 N/A

Steele gets involved with the murder of a naturalist when he serves on a committee to save the bald eagle. GUEST STARS: Francine Lembi, Michael Goodwin, Michael McGuire.

Film references: The Big Sleep, Chinatown, The Maltese Falcon, Murder Most Foul.
13 13 "A Good Night's Steele" Seymour Robbie R.J. Stewart & Lee David Zlotoff January 21, 1983 2712 N/A

Steele poses as an insomniac in order to find a murderer in a sleep disorder clinic. Paul Reiser guest stars.

Film references: The Big Sleep, Coma.
14 14 "Hearts of Steele" Robert Butler Story by : Charles Rosin
Teleplay by : Glenn Gordon Caron
January 28, 1983 2705 N/A

The detectives pose as a bickering couple while investigating attempts on a divorce attorney's life. GUEST STARS: Mark Hutter, Susan Kellermann, Linda Carlson, Caren Kaye, Alexandra Borrie, Mary Joan Negro.

Film references: Casablanca, Murder on the Orient Express, Notorious.
15 15 "To Stop a Steele" Sidney Hayers Glenn Gordon Caron February 11, 1983 2721 12.00

Laura and Steele wind up working for opposite sides of a jewelry theft when the frightened thief looks for help when someone else beats him to the jewel. GUEST STARS: Cliff Norton, Michael C. Gwynne.

Film references: The Thomas Crown Affair, To Catch a Thief.
16 16 "Steele Crazy After All These Years" Don Weis Story by : Peggy Goldman and R.J. Stewart & Andrew Laskos
Teleplay by : R.J. Stewart & Andrew Laskos
February 18, 1983 2715 15.10

Murphy's college homecoming is marred by a murder that awakens memories of a bombing on campus ten years before. GUEST STARS: Annie Potts, Todd Susman, Allyce Beasley, Tony Plana, Sharon Stone.

Film references: The Third Man, The Uninvited
17 17 "Steele Among the Living" Nick Havinga Andrew Laskos February 25, 1983 2718 N/A

Laura searches for a vanished artist whose works have suddenly appreciated in value, for both her husband and the owner of an art gallery. STARS: Phil Rubenstein, Marilyn Jones, Reid Smith.

Film references: It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World and Laura.
18 18 "Steele in the News" Burt Brinckerhoff Story by : Fred Lyle & Duncan Smith
Teleplay by : Michael Gleason and Fred Lyle & Duncan Smith
March 4, 1983 2717 15.10

The detectives try to solve a case of sabotage and murder on the set of a television news program. GUEST STARS: J. D. Cannon, John Reilly, Maggie Roswell, Ron Frazier, Jenny O'Hara, Tracy Scoggins, Macon McCalman.

Film references: Foreign Correspondent, Peyton Place, Network.
19 19 "Vintage Steele" Larry Elikann Susan Baskin March 15, 1983 2716 16.00

Laura's former flame asks her help when he discovers a corpse in the trunk of his car, a corpse that keeps returning as they check out a winery he's involved with.
The corpse is the Abbot of St. Costello's Monastery!

Film references: The Trouble with Harry, Rasputin and the Empress, and Bud Abbott and Lou Costello.
20 20 "Steele's Gold" Burt Brinckerhoff R.J. Stewart March 22, 1983 2723 15.10

A prospector's journal stolen during a party leads Laura and Steele on a wild gold hunt through the desert.

Film references: Metropolis, The Treasure of the Sierra Madre.
21 21 "Sting of Steele" Seymour Robbie Gary Kott April 5, 1983 2722 N/A

Daniel Chalmers, Steele's mentor back in the days when Steele was a rogue, comes to California to ask for Steele's help in dealing with a vindictive crook and winds up romancing Laura's mother. GUEST STARS: Beverly Garland, John Orchard, Efrem Zimbalist Jr.

Film references: The Sting, Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo.
22 22 "Steele in Circulation" Don Weis Lee David Zlotoff April 12, 1983 2724 15.20

After preventing a man from committing suicide, Steele tries to find out who had tricked the man into stealing over two million dollars. GUEST STARS: John Doolittle, Gina Gallego, Richard Kuss, Patsy Pease.

Film references: Anna Karenina, Gaslight, The Music Lovers, Pennies from Heaven, A Star Is Born.

Season 2 (1983–84)

No.
overall
No. in
season
Title Directed by Written by Original air date Prod.
code
U.S. viewers
(millions)
23 1 "Steele Away with Me" Seymour Robbie Michael Gleason September 20, 1983 3709 20.00
24 2

In this two-part episode, Steele and Laura go after diamond smugglers in Acapulco. Associate detective Murphy Michaels and secretary Bernice Fox have left the agency, while Mildred Krebs (Doris Roberts), an IRS agent hot on Steele's tail, ends up teaming with Laura and Steele. GUEST STARS: Vincent Baggetta, Ray Girardin, Jack Blessing, Pedro Armendáriz Jr., David Warner.

Film references: Bride of Frankenstein, The Maltese Falcon, Casablanca, Key Largo, Notorious.
25 3 "Red Holt Steele" Kevin Conner Lee David Zlotoff September 27, 1983 3710 18.80

Holt and Steele are hired by a woman who thinks someone is trying to destroy her late husband's aircraft company. GUEST STARS: Barbara Cason, Joel Polis, Audrie J. Neenan, Lewis Arquette.

Film reference: It Happened One Night.
26 4 "Altared Steele" Alexander Singer Jeff Melvoin October 11, 1983 3702 18.40

The detectives try to find out which one of an amnesiac's five wives is trying to kill him. GUEST STARS: Fred McCarren, Monique van de Ven, Delta Burke, Jane Kaczmarek, Carole Ita White, Clara Perryman, Sam Anderson.

Film reference: Mirage, Robin Hood, Sands of Iwo Jima, Spellbound.
27 5 "Steele Framed" Sheldon Larry Brian Alan Lane October 18, 1983 3708 19.40
Someone is trying to frame Steele for murder. GUEST STARS: Guy Boyd, Gary Frank, Archie Hahn.
28 6 "A Steele at Any Price" Don Weis Story by : Mitch Paradise
Teleplay by : Mitch Paradise & Richard DeRoy
November 1, 1983 3706 16.40

Steele re-introduces Laura to the thrill of thievery during a case involving stolen paintings. GUEST STARS: Michael Cornelison, Jeffrey Jones, Susan Bay, Stefan Gierasch, Gillian Eaton, Ernest Harada.

Film references: Charade, The Sting.
29 7 "Love Among the Steele" Seymour Robbie Lee David Zlotoff November 8, 1983 3716 16.30

The detectives find themselves in the middle of a mystery involving all the previous owners of a vintage car. GUEST STARS: Clive Revill, Susan French, Peter Hobbs, Al Ruscio.

Film references: Splendor in the Grass, Tom Jones, The Yellow Rolls-Royce.
30 8 "Scene Steelers" Peter Medak Story by : Joyce Armor & Judie Neer
Teleplay by : Joyce Armor & Judie Neer & Michael Gleason
November 15, 1983 3703 15.90
Steele and Laura investigate attempted murder on the set of a frozen-food commercial. GUEST STARS: Barrie Ingham, Bibi Besch, Gwen Humble, Paul Kreppel, Faith Prince.
31 9 "Steele Knuckles and Glass Jaws" Don Weis Jeff Melvoin November 29, 1983 3717 11.20

A mysterious baby plays a central part in a case involving gangsters and professional boxing that draws upon Steele's past as "The Kilkenny Kid". Steele is heard to sing softly "Oh, me name is MacNamara, I'm the leader of the band". GUEST STARS: Bert Remsen, Paul Stewart, Ken Foree, Julie Carmen, George McDaniel, Len Lesser.

Film reference: Little Caesar.
32 10 "My Fair Steele" Seymour Robbie Brian Alan Lane December 6, 1983 3714 20.70

The detectives try to find a kidnapped heiress with the help of her twin sister. GUEST STARS: Stephen Elliott, Ann Dusenberry, Joanna Barnes, Thomas Hill, Judith Chapman, Ian Wolfe.

Film references: Pygmalion, My Fair Lady.
33 11 "Steele Threads" Karen Arthur George Lee Marshall December 13, 1983 3711 17.10
A simple case of industrial espionage during a fashion show leads to foreign espionage and murder. GUEST STARS: Joshua Shelley, Lara Parker, Dean Santoro, John van Dreelen, Carl Weintraub.
34 12 "Steele Eligible" Sheldon Larry Story by : Larry Konner
Teleplay by : Michael Gleason & Larry Konner
January 10, 1984 3719 16.60

Someone is killing a magazine campaign's "five most eligible bachelors" ... and one of them is Steele. GUEST STARS: Roy Dotrice, Mimi Kuzyk, D. D. Howard, Frank Luz, Richard Backus.

Film reference: Rear Window, The Alphabet Murders.
35 13 "High Flying Steele" Karen Arthur George Lee Marshall January 17, 1984 3718 15.30
Mildred's guilty pleasure in a sleazy circus séance draws Laura and Steele into an investigation of an old circus "accident." GUEST STARS: Lisa Pelikan, Michael McGuire, A Martinez, Joy Garrett, Jessie Lawrence Ferguson.
36 14 "Blood Is Thicker Than Steele" Barbara Peters Richard DeRoy January 31, 1984 3712 16.60

Laura and Steele must protect the rather obnoxious children of a Federal witness. GUEST STARS: Eric Brown, Carolyn Seymour, Bridgette Andersen, Jack Betts, Ted LePlat.

Film references: The Bad Seed, The Gauntlet, Stagecoach.
37 15 "Steele Sweet on You" Don Weis Susan Baskin February 7, 1984 3707 21.40

Laura gets involved with her sister's marital problems at a dental convention where a murderer seeks to eliminate the only evidence left against him. GUEST STARS: Maryedith Burrell, Michael Durrell, Patrick Collins, James O'Sullivan.

Film references: Boom Town, The Lost Weekend, The Man Who Knew Too Much.
38 16 "Elegy in Steele" Kevin Connor Brian Alan Lane February 21, 1984 3720 12.70

Major Descoine (Guy Boyd) the villain from the episode "Steele Framed" (No. 27) returns and promises that Laura and Steele will die within an hour. GUEST STARS: Guy Boyd, Quinn Cummings, Michael Fairman, Peter Jason.

Film references: The Major and the Minor, Neptune's Daughter.
39 17 "Small Town Steele" Seymour Robbie Jeff Melvoin February 28, 1984 3721 13.60

Laura and Steele go to a small town to investigate the disappearance of an author who was doing research on the area and apparently found something he shouldn't have. GUEST STARS: Paul Gleason, Ben Slack, Jacques Aubuchon, Carolyn Coates, Ford Rainey.

Film references: Bad Day at Black Rock, In the Heat of the Night.
40 18 "Molten Steele" Christopher Hibler Richard Collins March 6, 1984 3715 13.90

Laura and Steele try to learn how and why a woman's name and phone number came to be printed in a steamy sex-magazine. GUEST STARS: Pippa Scott, Bill Morey, Ellen Regan, John Bedford Lloyd, Ellen Tobie, Andrea Moar.

Film reference: Peyton Place.
41 19 "Dreams of Steele" Don Weis Brian Alan Lane March 20, 1984 3726 16.20

The reputation of the agency is at stake again when the gems that first brought them together are switched with fakes as Laura and Steele are transporting them. GUEST STARS: Judith Light, Woodrow Parfrey, Jack Gwillim, Robert Harper.

Film reference: Ocean's Eleven.
42 20 "Woman of Steele" Christopher Hibler Susan Baskin March 27, 1984 3724 16.00

A woman from Steele's past arranges for the agency to handle the security on an exhibition at an art museum, and contacts Steele with a desperate plea for help. GUEST STARS: Cassandra Harris, James Laurenson, Christopher Stone, Eve Roberts.

Film references: Obsession, Vertigo.
43 21 "Hounded Steele" Don Weis Jeff Melvoin May 15, 1984 3727 16.20

A former Interpol agent turned murderer (Tom Baker) murders a current Interpol agent and takes Mildred as his hostage. Later, the former Interpol agent threatens to kill Mildred and arrest a world famous thief, but Steele stops the former agent by kicking his gun away and the police take the former Interpol Agent to jail. GUEST STARS: J. D. Cannon, Tom Baker, Nita Talbot, Sarah Marshall, Doris Belack, Freddie Weber, Paddi Edwards.
Film reference: Old Yeller.

Note: Tom Baker is famous for portraying the Fourth Doctor on the BBC science-fiction television series Doctor Who.
44 22 "Elementary Steele" Seymour Robbie Michael Gleason May 22, 1984 3705 13.50

Someone is using mystery buffs portraying Sherlock Holmes, Dr. Watson, Miss Marple, and Mr. Moto to solve a make-believe case to find a murderous embezzler. GUEST STARS: Lynne Randall, Peter Evans, Keone Young, Barry Jenner, David Garrison, Pearl Shear.

Film references: The Big Sleep, Death Race 2000.

Season 3 (1984–85)

No.
overall
No. in
season
Title Directed by Written by Original air date Prod.
code
U.S. viewers
(millions)
45 1 "Steele at It" Don Weis Jeff Melvoin September 25, 1984 4707 14.80

Laura is ready for romance as she goes on a vacation on the French Riviera accompanied by Remington Steele, but old friends needing his help in stealing a dagger distract Steele. GUEST STARS: André Maranne, Jacques Maury, Mark Burns, Marianne Lawrence, Bob Sherman, Claude le Saché.

Film references: Beau Geste, Goldfinger, The Maltese Falcon, To Catch a Thief.
46 2 "Lofty Steele" Burt Brinckerhoff Brad Kern October 2, 1984 4703 17.50
A shady building manager tries to convince Laura to move out of her apartment just as she's on the verge of uncovering a corporate embezzlement plot. GUEST STARS: Gregg Henry, Joe Lambie, Ron O'Neal, Armin Shimerman, James David Hinton.
Film references: The Great Escape, Moby Dick (multiple versions).
47 3 "Maltese Steele" Seymour Robbie John Wirth October 16, 1984 4713 17.60
Laura and Steele search for a missing body on the island of Malta, but find an insignificant piece of brass that could get them killed. GUEST STARS: Susan Penhaligon, Frederick Jaeger, John Malcolm, Derek Benfield, Ian Tyler, Bruce Boa.
Film references: The Maltese Falcon, The Third Man.
48 4 "Second Base Steele" Don Weis Rick Mittleman October 23, 1984 4705 19.50
A reunion of high-school athletes at an adult baseball camp is marred by a series of "accidents" that Laura and Steele are hired to investigate; Mickey Mantle and Whitey Ford guest-star. Other guests: Louis Giambalvo, Michael McManus, Marco St. John, Lionel Smith, Patricia McCormack, Elizabeth Baur.
Film references: The Alphabet Murders, And Then There Were None, Fear Strikes Out, The Pride of the Yankees, That Championship Season.
49 5 "Blue Blooded Steele" Burt Brinckerhoff Story by : Brady Westwater & John Pashdag
Teleplay by : John Wirth & Brady Westwater & John Pashdag
October 30, 1984 4701 15.70

Daniel Chalmers enters Steele's life again when it appears that he is about to inherit an English title, its fortune and some enemies.

Film reference: The Fuller Brush Man.
50 6 "Steele Your Heart Away" Seymour Robbie Brian Clemens November 13, 1984 4711 15.60

Laura flies off to help an amnesiac Steele recall why he came to Ireland and why someone is trying to kill him.

Film references: Casablanca, Citizen Kane, A Day at the Races, From Russia with Love, Gone with the Wind, Laura, The 39 Steps, Wait Until Dark.
51 7 "A Pocketful of Steele" Harry Harris Brad Kern November 20, 1984 4721 15.80

Steele tries to help a street-wise kid who picks his pocket and grabs evidence that a loan shark will do anything to retrieve.

Film reference: Boys Town, The Big Sleep (obliquely).
52 8 "Puzzled Steele" Don Weis Story by : Jeff Melvoin & Dennis Spooner & Brian Clemens
Teleplay by : Jeff Melvoin
November 27, 1984 4712 17.10

Laura and Steele accept the invitation of an eccentric millionaire to compete in finding a missing journalist but the game soon turns deadly.

Film reference: The Wizard of Oz.
53 9 "Cast in Steele" Harry Harris Jeff Melvoin December 4, 1984 4720 17.60

Three aging film stars — Virginia Mayo, Dorothy Lamour, and Lloyd Nolan as themselves — hire Steele and Laura to find out who is behind their curious fan mail and the attempts on their lives.

Film references: Dirty Harry, The Fan, The Godfather, Johnny Apollo, The Maltese Falcon, Moon Over Burma, The Postman Always Rings Twice, Road to Singapore, St. Louis Blues, The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, Somewhere in the Night, Three Days of the Condor, Typhoon, White Heat.
54 10 "Breath of Steele" Don Weis John Wirth December 11, 1984 4702 19.40

Laura and Steele try to protect two singing-telegram girls who witnessed a murder while they also hunt for the killers.

Film reference: Little Murders.
55 11 "Let's Steele a Plot" Christopher Hibler Joe Gores & Richard DeRoy December 18, 1984 4704 18.60

Laura and Steele get lots of advice and help when they investigate the embezzlement of a mystery-writers guild's treasury.

Film references: Arsenic and Old Lace, Jaws.
56 12 "Gourmet Steele" Burt Brinckerhoff Bob Shayne January 8, 1985 4716 16.70

Steele inadvertently goes undercover as the restaurant critic they've been hired to find, and who has incensed several restaurant owners with his blistering reviews.

Film reference: The Thin Man.
57 13 "Stronger Than Steele" Stan Lathan John J. Sakmar & Kerry Lenhart January 15, 1985 4718 18.50

Laura has a personal stake in the investigation of the death of a movie producer who was planning on making a movie of an old TV series without the original star.

Film references: Gone with the Wind, Heaven's Gate.
58 14 "Have I Got a Steele For You" Christopher Hibler Jeff Melvoin January 22, 1985 4725 18.40

Mulch returns with a new business venture that his partner is using to swindle an investor.

Film references: Blood Alley, The Day of the Jackal.
59 15 "Springtime for Steele" Christopher Hibler John Wirth January 29, 1985 4722 18.90

The unexpected success of singer Rocky Sullivan (from episode No. 44, "Elementary Steele") threatens a little scheme cooked up by her managers and might get her killed.

Film reference: The Producers.
60 16 "Steele in the Family" Larry Elikann Brad Kern February 5, 1985 4723 19.90

Mildred's nephew comes to her for some help in hiding the body a hit man needs to confirm his contract with his employers.

Film reference: The Corpse Came C.O.D.
61 17 "Diced Steele" Don Weis Jeff Melvoin February 12, 1985 4727 17.50
An investigator from an insurance company digs into Steele's past after the agency loses their money in an effort to buy back stolen jewels.
62 18 "Now You Steele It, Now You Don't" John Tracy John Wirth March 5, 1985 4724 14.30

Laura feels used by a client when she finds out an importer commits suicide after she unknowingly delivers a blackmail message to him.

Film references: The Barefoot Contessa, T-Men.
63 19 "Illustrated Steele" Gabrielle Beaumont Kerry Lenhart & John J. Sakmar March 12, 1985 4726 15.00

A young cartoonist finds his life threatened as the events of his strip start happening to him.

Film references: Gaslight, How to Murder Your Wife, Psycho.
64 20 "Steele in the Chips" Sheldon Larry Story by : Howard Baldwin & Stephanie Zimbalist & Robin Bernheim
Teleplay by : Stephanie Zimbalist & Robin Bernheim
March 19, 1985 4710 15.80

Laura and Steele get involved in the search for the inventor of a no-cal cookie and his only batch of prototypes. Guest stars: Geena Davis as a tennis pro, Jean Smart as the inventor's fiancée, G. W. Bailey as a cookie manufacturer.

Film references: Bambi, It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World.
65 21 "Steele Trying" Rocky Lang Michael Gleason May 7, 1985 4717 19.50

Mr. Steele's plans for a romantic weekend in San Francisco are upset when his imaginary case turns into a real one.

Film reference: The Lost Weekend.
66 22 "Steele of Approval" Seymour Robbie Brad Kern May 14, 1985 4728 17.70
Laura investigates the background of a senatorial candidate while Steele dodges an investigator from the state licensing board.

Season 4 (1985–86)

No.
overall
No. in
season
Title Directed by Written by Original air date Prod.
code
U.S. viewers
(millions)
67 1 "Steele Searching: Part 1" Seymour Robbie Michael Gleason September 24, 1985 5701 18.00

Laura races with Scotland Yard to locate Steele, who has become involved in murder while searching for a man with a clue to his past. Steele masquerades as an assassin hired by Daniel Chalmers to kill the Earl of Claridge. However, evidence indicates that the Earl is Steele's own father.

Film references: Invasion of the Body Snatchers, Smokey and the Bandit.
68 2 "Steele Searching: Part 2" Christopher Hibler Michael Gleason October 1, 1985 5702 17.60

See Part 1, above.

Film reference: The Day of the Jackal.
69 3 "Steele Blushing" Alexander Singer John Wirth October 22, 1985 5704 15.20

Laura protects a photographer (Kenneth Mars) and his files from angry clients and the FBI even after her doctored photo appears in a porno magazine. Guest star: Nana Visitor (near the end of the episode)

Film reference: Hide in Plain Sight.
70 4 "Grappling Steele" Don Weis Rick Mittleman October 29, 1985 5709 15.40

Laura and Steele are hired to protect a professional wrestler who has been receiving death threats and having mysterious "accidents."

Film reference: A Bill of Divorcement (1932).
71 5 "Forged Steele" Harry Harris Rick Mittleman November 12, 1985 5710 15.10

Steele awakens from a 36-hour blackout to find that he has apparently gambled away the agency.

Film references: The Great Impostor, North by Northwest, 36 Hours.
72 6 "Corn Fed Steele" Don Weis Pamela Norris November 19, 1985 5712 13.80

Laura and Steele look into the disappearance of some prized breeding pigs from an experimental farm in Iowa.

Film references: Easy Rider, North by Northwest, Witness.
73 7 "Premium Steele" Gabrielle Beaumont Gerald Sanoff December 3, 1985 5711 13.90

Laura and Steele try to discover why phony obituaries are being printed about people like poor garlic farmer Lester Shane.

Film references: D.O.A., Gaslight, Gone with the Wind, The List of Adrian Messenger.
74 8 "Coffee, Tea, or Steele" Christopher Hibler Robin Bernheim December 10, 1985 5714 16.00
Laura and Steele fly the unfriendly skies to learn why the body of a hired killer turned up on the baggage carousel of a luxury airline.
75 9 "Dancer, Prancer, Donner and Steele" Christopher Hibler Michael Gleason & Elliott Lewis December 17, 1985 5708 15.80

The agency Christmas party is interrupted by three gun-wielding Santas who take everyone hostage and threaten to blow up the building.

Film references: The Shanghai Cobra, The Taking of Pelham One Two Three.
76 10 "Steele on the Air" Christopher Hibler John J. Sakmar & Kerry Lenhart January 7, 1986 5717 14.40

A traffic reporter dies while aloft in a helicopter and the two prime suspects are the disc jockeys, who were on the air at the time.

Film references: Body Heat, The Third Man.
77 11 "Steele, Inc." Don Weis Brad Kern January 14, 1986 5703 13.90

Mulch's latest brainstorm to franchise the agency gets an unfortunate investigator killed by an angry client.

Film reference: The Maltese Falcon.
78 12 "Steele Spawning" Will Mackenzie John Wirth January 28, 1986 5715 15.60

Laura and Steele are hired by the spoiled son of a caviar importer to find a missing shipment before daddy returns home.

Film reference: The Macomber Affair.
79 13 "Suburban Steele" Stan Lathan Robin Bernheim February 11, 1986 5716 12.60

Laura's sister finds a dead body on her kitchen floor and asks for help from a reluctant Laura and Steele.

Film reference: Beverly Hills Cop. The A-Team.
80 14 "Santa Claus Is Coming to Steele" Seymour Robbie Michael Gleason February 18, 1986 5721 15.60

One of the phony Santas from the ill-fated Christmas party (in episode No. 75, "Dancer, Prancer, Donner and Steele") returns to persuade a witness not to testify against him.

Film references: Dirty Harry, Rear Window.
81 15 "Steele Blue Yonder" Don Weis Brad Kern February 22, 1986 5718 13.80

A woman is afraid her father may need help but Laura and Steele learn he knows exactly what he's doing.
Airport scene filmed at Indian Dunes Park, location used in numerous other films and TV shows.

Film reference: Going in Style.
82 16 "Sensitive Steele" Don Weis Rick Mittleman March 1, 1986 5719 14.00

Laura and Steele go undercover at a self-improvement spa to find out why there have been a series of mysterious accidents.

Film references: Save the Tiger, Hamlet.
83 17 "Steele in the Spotlight" Burt Brinckerhoff John J. Sakmar & Kerry Lenhart March 8, 1986 5705 16.00

The search for a singer from the 1950s has unexpected, deadly consequences.

Film references: Out of the Past, Sunset Boulevard.
84 18 "Steele at Your Service" Rocky Lang Lee H. Grant March 15, 1986 5723 15.40

The servants of the wealthy Wellingtons hire Laura and Steele to find out who killed the former butler, who had planned on publishing his memoirs.

Film reference: Blowup.
85 19 "Steele in the Running" Gabrielle Beaumont Susan Woollen March 22, 1986 5713 14.10
Laura is assaulted while running in a triathlon after a desperate woman switches numbers with her.
86 20 "Beg, Borrow, or Steele" Kevin Inch Brad Kern March 29, 1986 5722 13.00

Laura and Steele return from the East to find reports of their murder on the news and Mildred arrested for the crime.

Film reference: Death Takes a Holiday.
87 21 "Steele Alive and Kicking" Stan Lathan John Wirth May 3, 1986 5720 14.70

A man who framed himself so his wife could collect the reward learns he isn't terminally ill and wants Laura and Steele to clear him.

Film reference: Convicted.
88 22 "Bonds of Steele" Seymour Robbie Jeff Melvoin May 10, 1986 5706 15.10

Laura has her hands full trying to discover why an accountant at a huge corporation was killed. However, Steele's desire to quickly wed a call girl (Nancy Everhard) so as to avoid being deported distracts Laura from her murder investigation. Steele eventually ends up marrying Laura herself.

Film references: Bride of Frankenstein, Casablanca, Death Takes a Holiday, The Happy Hooker, They Won't Believe Me.

Season 5 (1987)

No.
overall
No. in
season
Title Directed by Written by Original air date Prod.
code
U.S. viewers
(millions)
89 1 "The Steele That Wouldn't Die" Kevin Inch Brad Kern January 5, 1987 6702 19.70
90 2 6708

Steele is arrested for the murder of Norman Keyes while he and Laura try to honeymoon in Mexico.

Film reference: Romancing the Stone, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, And Then There Were None, Beverly Hills Cop.
91 3 "Steele Hanging in There" Christopher Hibler Robin Bernheim February 3, 1987 6706 13.80
92 4 February 10, 1987 6707 11.50

Their phony marriage faces a real test when a woman from Steele's past shows up, pretending to be married to him, and the archaeologist from Mexico returns, this time as an immigration officer. In London, Tony blackmails Steele into delivering a dangerous package, while Laura delves into Shannon's past.

Film reference: Arsenic and Old Lace.
93 5 "Steeled with a Kiss" Seymour Robbie Robin Bernheim & Brad Kern February 17, 1987 6709 15.50
94 6 6710
Laura and Steele visit the Irish castle he's inherited and decide to hide Tony there until he can prove he isn't a double agent. Daniel Chalmers must turn him over to the KGB as part of a scam he is running to help the daughter of an old friend. Daniel Chalmers does reveal himself as Steele's biological father. Remington and Laura do indeed get to settle their marriage.