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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Friday, June 20, 2008

Cumming to host PBS' 'Mystery!'

By Kathy Blumenstock
Washington Post

'MASTERPIECE MYSTERY!'

8 p.m. Sundays

PBS

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Scottish actor Alan Cumming grew up watching Inspector Morse and Miss Marple, so he welcomed his new role as host of PBS' "Masterpiece Mystery!"

The Tony Award-winning actor will introduce the programs airing on eight Sundays this summer.

The "Men of Mystery" theme features a new spinoff from a past favorite, as well as a pair of series returning for the final time.

"Inspector Lewis, Series I": The newest "Mystery!" franchise, featuring Kevin Whately as the former partner of the late Inspector Morse, premieres Sunday. Now teamed with detective Hathaway (Laurence Fox), Robbie Lewis is still healing after the deaths of both his wife and his mentor. He focuses on three cases, all set against the backdrop of Oxford University, while struggling to prove himself to his new boss.

"Foyle's War, Series V": In July, Michael Kitchen returns for the last three episodes of the World War II-era drama that features Detective Chief Superintendent Christopher Foyle. While the war has raged across Europe, Foyle has fought crime on the homefront of England's south coast. With an assist from his loyal driver Sam Stewart (Honeysuckle Weeks), Foyle tackles three new cases as action on the battlefront comes to a close.

"The Inspector Lynley Mysteries, Series VII": Aristocratic detective Thomas Lynley (Nathaniel Parker) and his partner Barbara Havers (Sharon Small) are due back in August. Their investigation into the disappearance of Lynley's young godson, whose remains turn up a decade after the boy vanished, finds Lynley in Rome — and later, a murder suspect. When they look into the abduction of two teens, the crime strains their longtime friendship.