Shades of LA
Det. Michael Burton of the Los Angeles Police Department is a shallow, casual kind of guy until a near-death experience changes his life. Grazed in the head by a bullet during a stake-out, Burton dies and finds himself in limbo, surrounded by "shades"--spirits of the dead who are trapped there, unable to proceed to Heaven or Hell until they can complete whatever unfinished business binds them to Earth. Paramedics restart his heart, and Burton wakes up in the hospital--only to discover he can still see shades.
- 1990-1991
- 1 season
- Suspense, Drama, Fantasy
Det. Michael Burton of the Los Angeles Police Department is a shallow, casual kind of guy until a near-death experience changes his life. Grazed in the head by a bullet during a stake-out, Burton dies and finds himself in limbo, surrounded by "shades"--spirits of the dead who are trapped there, unable to proceed to Heaven or Hell until they can complete whatever unfinished business binds them to Earth. Paramedics restart his heart, and Burton wakes up in the hospital--only to discover he can still see shades.
Season 1 Episode Guide
20 Episodes 1990 - 1991
Episode 1
Shades of L.A.
Wed, Oct 10, 1990
A dead astronaut contacts Michael.
Episode 2
The Wrong Man
Wed, Oct 17, 1990
A deceased thief feels guilty that the wrong man was convicted and sent to death row for a crime he committed and asks Burton to clear the man.
Episode 3
Coopers Coroner
Wed, Oct 24, 1990
The ghost of a baseball announcer seeks Burton's help to redress things with a player he rebuffed years before.
Episode 4
Where There's No Will, There's a Weigh-In
Wed, Oct 31, 1990
Janis Paige plays a shade who wants Burton to find out why her nephew is stalling the execution of her will and testament that instructs that her money be given to her financially strapped senior center.
Episode 5
Concrete Evidence
Wed, Nov 7, 1990
Burton meets the late Frankie Mannis at an Italian restaurant who requests that he find his missing corpse so that he may move on to the after-life.
Episode 6
Pointers from Paz
Wed, Nov 14, 1990
A slain policeman, supposedly shot because he was corrupt, wants Burton's help to find the officer who framed him.
Episode 7
Episode #1.7
Wed, Nov 21, 1990
Episode 8
Big Brother Is Watching
Wed, Nov 7, 1990
A murdered ventriloquist returns to point out his killer.
Episode 9
Some Like It Cold
Wed, Dec 5, 1990
Detective Burton falls for the shade of a murdered attorney (Lee Purcell) while searching for her killer.
Episode 10
The Teacher from Hell
Wed, Dec 12, 1990 60 mins
The ghost of Michael Burton's former high-school science teacher helps him in the investigation of a reporter's murder.
Episode 11
Dead Dogs Tell No Tales
Tue, Jan 8, 1991
Michael is haunted by the ghost of a dog that was used in a bank robbery and accidentally run over by the getaway car.
Episode 12
Send Up the Clowns
Sun, Jun 2, 1991
Michael is entertained by the ghosts of two circus clowns whose amusing antics provides clues to their mysterious deaths.
Episode 13
Last Laugh
Wed, Jan 9, 1991
Episode 14
Burial Ground
Sun, Jun 16, 1991
The ghost of a policeman leads Detective Burton to a hidden payroll meant for Nevada Indians and the murderous thieves who stole it.
Episode 15
Cross the Center Line
Wed, Jan 23, 1991
The ghosts of two bikers from the 1950s help Detective Burton clear Lt. Wesley of charges that he planted a gun on a suspect he shot.
Episode 16
Till Death Do Us Part
Wed, Jan 30, 1991
Det. Michael Burton tries to clear the name of a shade accused of killing his wife, however the original investigator impedes his efforts.
Episode 17
Ten Little Thespians
Wed, Feb 6, 1991
Michael Burton attends a murder mystery weekend where he encounters a murdered novelist who wants him to discover the identity of her killer.
Episode 18
The Really Big Sleep
Sat, Feb 23, 1991
Don Stroud plays a private detective who was murdered 50 years ago who seeks Burton's help to find his killer.
Episode 19
Line of Fire: Part 1
Sun, Mar 31, 1991
Michael Burton becomes romantically involved with his former partner's widow, a TV producer who obtained a videotape of a murder committed by an evangelist.
Episode 20
Line of Fire: Part 2
Sat, Apr 6, 1991