[1] It has been claimed ZDF would no longer carry reruns of the show, after Tappert was found to have been quiet about his service in the Waffen-SS in World War II.

In one episode, Derrick says, "no, I am no longer married"; Klein, however, does not seem to have any private life; as a younger inspector, he seems to love getting statements from young, good-looking girls.

As Umberto Eco has pointed out, though, Columbo is the obedient public servant of rich and powerful Californians (even as he relentlessly, remorselessly, and successfully pursues those engaged in wrongdoing, particularly murder) while Derrick, elegantly dressed and impeccably behaved, always appears in control, and is superior even to the wealthy people he is tracking down.

[citation needed] Just like an earlier television series, Der Kommissar (also written by Reinecker), Derrick features many prominent German and Austrian actors and actresses (including a few expatriates), such as Lilli Palmer, Armin Mueller-Stahl, Klaus Maria Brandauer, Maria Schell, Horst Buchholz, Curd Jürgens, Christine Kaufmann, Brigitte Mira, Gottfried John, Sybil Danning, Reinhard Kolldehoff, Carl Möhner, Eric Pohlmann, Anton Diffring, Ursula Buchfellner and Christoph Waltz.

[citation needed] Derrick reached cult status in Australia, where it screened on SBS Television with English subtitles.

This animated film shed some satirical light on the ever-serious and sombre world of the original series, making fun of numerous clichés attributed to the series, including Harry's rumoured envy over Derrick standing in the spotlight, while he, Derrick's assistant for 25 years, always stood behind his boss.

It was humorously claimed that NRK had bought the rights to produce dubbed remakes of the series' original episodes after the show stopped airing in Germany.

However, NRK could not afford expensive remakes, leading to a very simplistic (and, in the viewers' eyes, ridiculous) approach to the show, involving uninspired actors and a strong lack of action.

Herman Koch played the role of inspector Tampert (this name is a corruption of Tappert) and Michiel Romeyn that of his assistant.

A TV campaign was launched in 2002 to make the number more well known, entitled "Geen spoed – wel politie" (no urgency – but still police).

The TV spot showed Tappert at his house, preparing bratwurst, while being constantly disturbed by phone calls from people trying to reach the police.