Diane English Movies

In the first part of Murphy Brown's series finale (originally telecast as a single 60-minute episode along with Part Two), Murphy's plans to retire from "FYI" are sidetracked when another mammogram shows a possible malignancy. Wishing that the late tavernkeeper Phil (Pat Corley) were around to provide comfort and support, Murphy is astonished when he shows up in ghostly form--and even more astonished by the ghost's advice. Meanwhile, the rest of the "FYIers" decide to follow Murphy's example by moving on with her lives. Among those making cameo appearances are Bette Midler as Murphy's 93rd and final secretary, Candice Bergen's real-life mother Frances Bergen, an actress who goes by the name of Julia Roberts, and even a computer-generated Edward R. Murrow. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Asking the question, "Can't we all get along?," this TV sitcom attempts to shatter stereotypes with a satirical focus on upwardly mobile suburban couples in a gated, planned community. The arrival of black radio disc jockey Curtis Cook (Dondre T. Whitfield) and his pregnant wife Tamara (Kira Arne) elicit a variety of reactions, including one neighbor who accuses the Cooks of stealing his barbecue grill and another who believes Curtis is the gun-carrying punk who robbed him at an ATM. Various neighborz in the 'hood include Prozac-popping, blocked writer Will Marek (Matthew Letscher) and his wife, Jewish attorney Becca (Melinda McGraw); plus bigoted, gold-chained muffler king Carmine Santucci (Lenny Venito) and his trophy wife Lisa (Mia Cottet). Keeping Woodland Heights safe from intruders is beleaguered security guard Gordon (Terry Rhoads), teetering on a mental precipice. After the intro to these people in the pilot, subsequent episodes turn the spotlight from racism toward sexual insecurities and other areas ripe for social satire. This series has been compared to the '70s sitcom All in the Family, starring Carroll O'Conner as lovable bigot Archie Bunker. Filmed in L.A., Living in Captivity premiered September 11, 1998 on Fox. ~ Bhob Stewart, All Movie Guide

Although Season Seven of Murphy Brown officially ended with the previous episode "Make Room for Daddy", the season was capped by this retrospective episode, hosted by Leslie Stahl. Featured are highlights from past Murphy Brown installments, including a montage of Murphy's weird secretaries, the guest appearances by such notables as Walter Cronkite and Joan Lunden, and an in-depth interview with series creator Diane English. Originally telecast in a single 60-minute slot, "Retrospective" has since been divided into two half-hours for syndication. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In this first episode of a two-part story (originally telecast as a single one-hour installment),Murphy (Candice Bergen) and Frank (Joe Regalbuto) are flying in a airplane that suddenly develops engine trouble. When it appears that they are doomed to a horrible death, the two journalists recall the events of their past lives--and it's quite a show indeed! Future film star Brittany Murphy (Don't Say a Word) and TV leading lady Nikki Cox (Las Vegas) appear in supporting roles. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the conclusion of Murphy Brown's two-part Season Four opener, Murphy (Candice Bergen) has decided to exercise her right as a pro-choice advocate and allow her pregnancy to go to term--but she will not marry her ex-husband Jake (Robin Thomas), the baby's father. Nor does it look as though she can wrest a legal commitment from the other man in her life, Jerry Gold (Jay Thomas). As for Murphy's friends and associatiates are concerned, all of them are aghast at the prospect of her motherhood--all, that is, except her perennial housepainter Eldin (Robert Pastorelli). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Murphy Brown closes out its third season with one of the series' most celebrated episodes, which begins as Murphy (Candice Bergen) must chooses between two lovers: Ex-husband Jake Lowenstein (Jay Thomas), who propose that they remarry, and former sweetheart Jerry Gold (Jay Thomas), who opts for merely living together. Adding to Murphy's emotional burden is the fact that a recent pregnancy test--one of several--has proven positive! Viewers in 1991 would have to wait until the Season Four opener of Murphy Brown to see how this situation would work itself out: Contemporary fans need only press a button on their DVD for a quick answer. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the first episode of Murphy Brown's two-part second season finale, Corky (Faith Ford) is reunited with her once-geeky high school classmate Will Forrest (Scott Bryce in his first series appearance). However, Will's appearance and personality has significantly altered over the years, and as a result Corky almost immediately agrees to become his wife. While asking Murphy (Candice Bergen) to be her maid of honor, Corky lets slip the fact that she's still a virgin--but she doesn't reveal her plan to glean a bit of "life experience" in the arms of the eager Eldin (Robert Pastorelli). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

By an amazing coincidence, the opening episode of Murphy Brown's third season coincides with the 390th edition of "FYI", the fictional TV newsmagazine presided over by temperamental telejournalist Murphy Brown (Candice Brown). Convinced that "FYI" needs a fresh coat of paint after 13 seasons on the air, producer Miles Silverberg (Grant Shaud) hires image consultant Chris Bishop (Harry Shearer), who makes it his mission in life to tackle Murphy's "serious warmth problem"...whether she likes it or not. (Trivia note: Peter Marx appears as Murphy's 37th secretary, even though the role of "Secretary 37" has been essayed at the end of the previous season by Carol Ann Susi.) ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Worried that she'll be tempted to fall off the wagon and make a fool of herself (it's been known to happen), Murphy (Candice Bergen) balks at accepting an invitation to attend a New Year's Eve party held by coworker Corky (Faith Ford). Assured that no alcohol will be served, Murphy agrees to show up, though she's certain that she will have a miserable time. Needless to say, the results are surprising for everyone--especially Murphy. Janet Carroll makes her first appearance as Doris, the wife of uptight anchorman Jim Dial (Charles Kimbrough). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Season two of Murphy Brown begins as the staff of the investigative TV magazine "FYI" is introduced to Josh Silverberg (Jon Tenney), the handsome, extroverted older brother of the show's nerdish producer Miles (Grant Shaud). It doesn't take long for poor Miles to feel upstaged by his dashing sibling--especially when Josh begins making romantic overtures to the not-entirely-resistent star of the show, Murphy Brown (Candice Bergen). Future Frasier regular Jane Leeves makes her first appearance as Miles' off-and-on girlfriend Audrey Cohen. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the conclusion of a two-part story (originally telecast on CBS as a one-hour episode), Murphy (Candice Bergen) is caught in the middle when both her domineering mother Avery (Colleen Dewhurst) and her distant father Bill (Darren McGavin) show up to see Murphy accept the coveted Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Award. Although they've been divorced for 15 years, the Brown start up their bickering exactly where they left off--with Bill's remarriage to a much-younger woman, and Murphy's reluatance to invite either one of her parents to the award ceremony, both grist for the argument mill. Candice Bergen won an Emmy award for her performance in this riotous episode. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Making its first appearance on November 14, 1988, the long-running, Emmy-winning CBS sitcom Murphy Brown starred Candice Bergen as the title character, the driving, driven, often overbearing but essentially likable star reporter of the Washington, D.C.-based TV magazine "FYI." A thorough professional, Murphy never gave less than her best before the cameras -- but behind the cameras, it was a different story. Constitutionally incapable of doing anything by halves, Murphy told her colleagues exactly what she thought of them at all times, seldom made a comment that wasn't laced with sarcasm, and was addicted to tobacco and, for a while, booze (this last shortcoming required her to do some time at the Betty Ford Clinic). Though the rest of the "FYI" staffers were accustomed to Murphy's mood swings and idiosyncrasies, outsiders tended to be scared off by our heroine: indeed, one of the series' most famous running gags was the fact that Murphy had a different secretary in practically every episode! Also in the cast were Charles Kimbrough as "FYI"'s uptight, humorless anchorman Jim Dial; Joe Regalbuto as the show's gonzo (and obviously toupeed) investigative reporter Frank Fontana, Faith Ford as "FYI"'s voluptuous, somewhat vacuous cub reporter and ex-Miss America Corky Sherwood, who considered Murphy to be her role model (often to Murphy's dismay) and who eventually married staff writer Will Forest (Scott Bryce), thereby becoming -- are you ready? -- Mrs. Corky Sherwood Forest; and Grant Shaud as "FYI"'s nebbishy executive producer Miles Silverberg, not exactly what one would call a born leader of men (or of Murphy!).

When not on the set of her show, Murphy could be found in her townhouse apartment, often conversing with quirky, philosophy-spouting house painter Eldin Bernecky (Robert Pastorelli), who spent day and night trying to finish redecorating Murphy's living room -- a job he still hadn't entirely completed when he left the series in season seven. Murphy also hung out with her co-workers at a neighborhood bar owned by another erstwhile philosopher named Phil (Pat Corley), at least until he reportedly died, whereupon Murphy and company purchased the bar themselves (as it turned out, reports of Phil's death were slightly exaggerated -- by Phil!). Additionally, Jay Thomas appeared intermittently as Geraldo-like journalist Jerry Gold, with whom Murphy frequently clashed -- when they weren't romancing one another, that is. As the series progressed, the basic throughline, and the characters, underwent a few changes. After her divorce from Will Forest, Corky eloped with Miles Silverberg, though she stayed in Washington when he left to run a CNN-style news service in New York. Murphy's brief fling with her ex-husband, Jake (Robin Thomas), produced a baby named Avery (who apparently grew up rather quickly, since he was played during the final season by Haley Joel Osment) -- and also stirred up a controversy when no less than Vice President Dan Quayle chastised Murphy Brown for eroding "family values" in America by bearing a child out of wedlock. Later on, dashing international reporter Peter Hunt (Scott Bakula) joined the "FYI" staff, sweeping Murphy off her feet and ultimately asking her to marry him (she didn't). Other additions to the cast included Garry Marshall as new network president Stan Lansing, who waged an ongoing war with Murphy over her non-PC attitude; Paul Reubens (aka Pee-Wee Herman) as Stan's whiny nephew Andrew, who was forced upon Murphy as her secretary -- and actually kept the job for more than a single episode; Christopher Rich as "FYI" co-anchor Miller Redfield, just the sort of gorgeous-looking, empty-headed TV personality whom Murphy despised with every fibre of her being; and Lily Tomlin as Kay Carter-Shepley, "FYI"'s imperious, and not altogether competent, new executive producer. In addition to the main and supporting cast, the series featured a number of real-life news personalities as "themselves," among them Walter Cronkite, Connie Chung, Larry King, Katie Couric, and Paula Zahn. The series' tenth and final season found Murphy undergoing treatment for breast cancer, an outwardly grim situation that, amazingly enough, never intruded upon the laughter. Murphy Brown ended its network run on August 10, 1998. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide