"Murphy Brown" (1988) TV series 1988-1998

User Rating:

7.1/10   

Creator:

Diane English

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10

Release Date:

14 November 1988 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot:

The misadventures of a tough female television journalist and her friends.

Plot Keywords:

Television | Office | Journalism | Pub | Washington D.C.

Awards:

Won 3 Golden Globes. Another 40 wins & 78 nominations

Cast

Candice Bergen	...	Murphy Brown (247 episodes, 1988-1998)
Charles Kimbrough	...	Jim Dial (121 episodes, 1988-1998)
Faith Ford	...	Corky Sherwood / ... (120 episodes, 1988-1998)
Joe Regalbuto	...	Frank Fontana (120 episodes, 1988-1998)

Runtime:

30 min (247 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Australia:G (some episodes) | Singapore:PG | Australia:PG

Filming Locations:

Stage 4, Warner Brothers Burbank Studios - 4000 Warner Boulevard, Burbank, California, USA

Company:

Shukovsky English Entertainment

Trivia:

One of the running series jokes was Murphy Brown's inability to get a good secretary or one that could work with her. One that was very efficient was Marcia Wallace, playing her Carol Kester character from 'The Bob Newhart Show (1972)'. At the end of the show, Bob Hartley (Bob Newhart) showed up and pleaded for her to return, which she did.

Quotes:

Murphy: I was waiting for the universe to dispense some justice but sometimes the universe is just too damn slow. The effects of putting Nair in someone's styling gel, however, only take a few minutes.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "I Love the '90s" (2004)

It was one of the best shows then and now!

Murphy Brown's intelligence and comedic wit is pure genius and fun to watch. Lifetime began airing the repeats for a while until 2000 which is a shame because it is such a high quality, well-written, and extremely well-acted show overall. While Candice Bergen plays the title character, she never uses her status to ruin the show. She allows her excellent supporting cast including Faith Ford, Grant Shaud, Jim Regalbuto, and the guy who plays Jim Dial. When Grant Shaud left the show, the show brought Lily Tomlin who did an excellent job. I loved Garry Marshall and Pat Corbett as Phil, the local bar owner and the guy that knew everything in Washington D.C. There are several hilarious episodes with guest stars like Barry Manilow serenading Baby Avery, the wonderful Colleen Dewhurst as the memorable Avery Brown, Murphy's mom, Darren McGavin as her father, Broadway Legend Marian Seldes as her aunt during a fabulous Christmas episode. I am sad that Robert Pastorelli passed away recently but he was memorable as the house painter/artist and nanny for Avery. Somebody told me that guest stars shaked the cast for making their experience to be the most pleasurable during their stay. Murphy Brown lasted 11 years for several reasons--it's great cast and staff of writers like Diane English.