Pamela Sue Martin Goes Back to Her ‘Nancy Drew’ Roots — She’s Been Cast in the New CW Pilot

Teenage detective Nancy Drew is coming back to television for the first time in 40 years as the subject of a new pilot from the CW, starring Kennedy McMann in the title role. But for Classic TV fans of the character, the producers have also cast actress Pamela Sue Martin — who played Nancy in the 1977-79 series from ABC, The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries.

The new version of the show will see Kennedy’s Nancy during her first summer after high school graduation, when she is making college plans. However, when a family tragedy takes place, she finds the time isn’t right to leave and decides to push school off for a year. Then things start to get really weird as she finds herself in the middle of what’s described to be a “ghostly murder investigation,” which in turn leads to the uncovering of even more mysteries.

According to Deadline, Pamela will be playing Harriet Grosset, who the site describes as “a small-town psychic who offers her talents to help Nancy investigate a murder — and ends up delivering an otherworldly clue that neither of them bargained for.” Whether she sticks around beyond the pilot should it go to series is anybody’s guess at this point.

In 1977, Pamela found herself costarring with Parker Stevenson and Shaun Cassidy in The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries. As originally conceived, Nancy would alternate adventures with amateur detective brothers Frank and Joe Hardy, with episodes either focusing on her or on the boys. But then in the middle of the show’s second season, the decision was made to have the trio solve mysteries together. That may have been the intent, but as time went on, the Nancy Drew character was continually diminished in favor of the Hardys. Midway through the season, an unhappy Pamela left the series, to be replaced by actress Janet Louise Johnson. Apparently Pamela (who would star on Dynasty) had properly read the writing on the wall, because in season three Nancy Drew was dropped completely and the show was simply retitled The Hardy Boys.

Be sure to check out and subscribe to our Classic TV & Film Podcast for interviews with your favorite stars!