

Season 1 • Episode 39
LatestThe Erie, Pa., fire department is looking for the arsonist terrorizing the town.
Deadline is a 1959-1961 American television drama series that re-enacted famous newspaper stories from the past. Hosted and narrated by Paul Stewart, the syndicated series was produced by Arnold Perl. Guest stars included Peter Falk, Diane Ladd, Robert Lansing, and George Maharis. Thirty-nine 30-minute episodes were produced.
Acting
Peter Falk before Columbo — already magnetic.
Production
Real newspaper stories, dramatized with period detail.
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Arnold Perl later produced *Malcolm X* documentaries; this was his grind-it-out TV apprenticeship.
Syndicated to fill cheap late-night slots, it helped invent the 'true crime' comfort-watch decades before podcasts.