I always thought it was too bad that Murder She Wrote went several seasons and this show died an early death. I found this one more inventive...particularly the part where Ellery Queen would turn to the camera and challenge the audience to figure out the crime before he did. It was a corny gimmick, but wonderfully fun.
Makes me think of the video game Hitman. I think it's the latest one where you go to a play and the leading role is your target. There is a scene with guns and you switch a fake gun for a fully loaded one. Kaboom.