Murder, She Wrote (TV Series) Obituary for a Dead Anchor (1986) User Reviews

"Scrutiny" Reporters Scrutinized by Reporters without Scrutiny!

[WeatherViolet · 9/10 · 20 September 2009]

This episode marks one of the last appearances by Mark Stevens, who has acted in film and on television since 1943.

When Paula Roman (Kathleen Lloyd), a reporter of a NYC-based national television expose program, "Scrutiny," arrives in Cabot Cove, Maine, to request to interview Jessica Fletcher (Angela Lansbury) for a human interest segment, Jessica ponders the invitation, she planning to consult with civic leaders to determine their favorability under Paula's promise to present J.B. Fletcher's community as a "picture postcard" of Americana.

Sheriff Amos Tupper (Tom Bosley), Mayor Sam Booth (Richard Paul) and Hill House Hotel Manager George Fish (Rex Robbins) eagerly approach the arrival of the television magazine crew, while Doctor Wylie Graham (Robert Hogan) remains in Jessica's corner as the "voice of reason."

When Paula returns to a studio staff meeting, Investigative Reporter Kevin Keats (Chad Everett), Senior News Reporter Nick Brody (Mark Stevens), Operational Vice-President Richard Abbott (Robert Lipton) and Producer Doug Helman (Robert Pine) inform her that Kevin Keats will take the Cabot Cove assignment, while Paula would cover a tentative segment about a Nebraska male high school pupil who has made the school's female basketball team.

The reason for the switch lies in the fact that Kevin Keats has been amassing a collection of detractors, including some of those within the "Scrutiny" staff, as well as his estranged wife, Judith Keats (Abby Dalton), an irate interviewee who declares revenge, Ronald Ross (Frank Annese), and Ross' henchman, Gerald Foster (Erik Stern).

Keats' arrival in Cabot Cove is met with irresponsible behavior from television crew members, who disturb Jessica's flower garden, commotion from an array of reporters from various news organizations, and evidence that he continues to be followed by unsavory characters.

Thus, a secret plan is launched with ulterior motives, as Keats requests Amos Tupper to rent a boat with a cabin, for Keats to sail upstream.

Amos complies, by renting the vessel of Augee Wilkins (unseen), which Kevin steers into the harbor moments before disaster strikes, causing hysteria among multitudes of reporters, including Clara Polsby (Patti Karr) and TV Commentator (Paul Ryan), all deducing to report an "Obituary for a Dead Anchor."

Network inspired episode

[bkoganbing · 7/10 · 25 July 2017]

Paddy Chayefsky's great film Network was the obvious inspiration for this Murder She Wrote episode. Looking at it today we see the seeds of things like 'alternate facts'.

Controversial "gotcha" news reporter Chad Everett gets what he considers a fluff assignment, a profile of Jessica Fletcher and the place that was her roots, Cabot Cove. But Everett has his own reasons for wanting to make some use of his trip to Cabot Cove that have nothing to do with Angela Lansbury and the place she comes from.

Tom Bosley usually a canny and shrewd individual gets celebrity struck and allows himself to look foolish and do something very stupid that almost costs him his job.

An interesting bit of social commentary comes with this story.

Reporters without scrutiny

[TheLittleSongbird · 7/10 · 4 August 2017]

Have always been quite fond of 'Murder She Wrote'. It is a fun and relaxing watch that makes you think as you try to unwind in the evening. If one wants more complex, twisty mysteries with lots of tension and suspense 'Murder She Wrote' may not be for you, but if you want something light-hearted and entertaining but still provide good mysteries 'Murder She Wrote' fits the bill just fine.

"Obituary for a Dead Anchor" is a slightly strange episode for 'Murder She Wrote'. Not necessarily in a bad way, it's still a pretty good episode but not everything works. For such an obnoxious character, compared to other hated characters on 'Murder She Wrote', Chad Everett didn't always seem to be obnoxious enough. There are a lot of red herrings and clues here, which are nice and they are explained more than satisfactorily, but it's not always easy figuring out which is which.

Usually a shrewd and entertaining character and more than your average bumbling sheriff cliché, Amos is presented as a near-incompetent idiot in "Obituary for a Dead Anchor" and it is very out of character and fairly embarrassing to watch sometimes. Richard Paul has little to do as a recurring Cabot Cove character that had very little development to him.

However, the production values are high in quality as to be expected, with slick photography and it is always a pleasure to see Cabot Cove. The music has energy and has presence but also not making the mistake of over-scoring, while it is hard to forget or resist the theme tune.

Much of the writing is thought-provoking and amiable and the story does engage vastly and often very clever, never being what you think.

Angela Lansbury is great as always as is Tom Bosley despite Amos not being well written here.

In conclusion, pretty good and entertaining. 7/10 Bethany Cox

Shades of 60 Minutes

[safenoe · 8/10 · 27 April 2021]

I don't know about you, but Mark Stevens, who plays a senior journalist, has a bit of a resemblance to Mike Wallace, the legendary 60 Minutes anchor. I like Murder, She Wrote, and this episode touched upon themes of ageism in the news industry and how it impacts on the Mike Wallaces of the world.

Cabot Cove welcomes the TV crews

[Sleepin_Dragon · 8/10 · 25 November 2017]

Scrutiny is a popular and controversial TV news programme, and Paula Roman has convinced her friend Jessica to do a piece for the show, highlighting her life in the sleepy village. When the crews turn up however, it isn't Paula, it's Kevin Keats, a big news anchor who'd recently caused mass controversy by outing wealthy art collector Ronald Ross as a dealer in heroin. Keats is worried by Amos's news that a large bald man has been seen in Cabot Cove, as Amos goes to talk to Keats, there's a large explosion on his boat, a charred body is found.

A very good story, with a clever plot, a clever piece of misdirection, and some very good guest performances. Chad Everett is particularly good as the obnoxious Kevin Keats, he's a strong presence and very charismatic. A great use of pyrotechnics also, that explosion on the boat looked good. There's a lot going on in terms of plot and subplot, but it all hangs together particularly well, at no point is it confusing.

Sadly, Cabot Cove's own don't perform that well, firstly Mayor Sam Booth, is portrayed as a total idiot, with every conceivable cliché thrown in. Sadly Amos Tupper is also written for as if he was totally stupid and clueless, watching this episode it's a wonder he can dress himself let alone hold the role of Sheriff.

Very good 8/10

He blowed up...he blowed up real good!

[planktonrules · 7/10 · 5 November 2022]

A show, obviously modeled after "20/20", is into both investigative journalism and stories about various celebrities. And, they want to interview Jessica Fletcher and visit Cabot Cove. She isn't very interested in it, but pressure from the folks of the town convince her to relent. Unfortunately, because they are coming to see Jessica, that means someone is going to die...and in a spectacular fashion that happens, as he's blown up right before Sheriff Tupper's eyes! But is this what Tupper thinks he's seen or is there something different going on here?

My wife and I enjoyed this Cabot Cove episode because we live a few minutes from the actual location shoot (in Mendocino, California). Additionally, you get to see some lovely shots of nearby Ft. Bragg's Noyo Harbor.

Now whether you care about this location shoot or not, it's a pretty good episode. Not great...but very good. The final confrontation scene, however, is odd...not bad...just odd.

Obituary for a dead anchor

[coltras35 · 6/10 · 16 August 2023]

Jessica reluctantly agrees to a television interview for an old friend but is surprised when a infamous reporter arrives to conduct the taping; a boat explosion leads everyone to believe the journalist has been killed.

Jessica discovers that Keats was unfaithful with colleague Paula Roman, his wife knew and was in town. Dr. Wylie Graham finds the burned corpse isn't Keats'. He staged his disappearance by switching places with the real victim, producer Doug Helman. Jessica digs further in both private and professional lives till the threads meet.

Ratings, horrible TV anchor, drug dealers and murder or us it- this is a bit of convoluted mystery but hold its cards to its chest till the end. Not too striking of an episode but a little interesting due to the picture of Cabot Cove getting into the headline news and the insight into news reporting and ratings.