Candice Bergen Movies

Adapted from an unproduced play by Ira Levin (Rosemary's Baby, et al.), the made-for-TV Footsteps stars Candice Bergen as Daisy Lowenthal, a best-selling suspense novelist who has recently "killed off" her most popular fictional character -- and who is recovering from a nervous breakdown. Determined to confront and conquer one of her most dreaded phobias, Daisy elects to spend a weekend alone at her isolated beach house, not even permitting her husband Robbie (Michael Murphy) to keep her company. As Daisy sweats out the weekend -- and an ominous storm -- she finds that she is not quite as alone as she thinks. For one, there's that curious young man named Spencer (Bug Hall), Daisy's self-proclaimed number one fan who possesses a disturbingly thorough knowledge of the writer's professional and personal life; for another, there's lawman Eddie Bruno (Bryan Brown), who has apparently been hired to keep tabs on Daisy. There's yet another player in this taut little melodrama...but to give any more away would be unthinkable. Footsteps debuted October 12, 2003, on CBS. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Unlike her previous cable-TV interview series, Exhale With Candice Bergen, actress Bergen wasted little time with the standard, sedate couch-and-desk format on Candice Checks It Out. Instead, the host emulated both Charles Kuralt and George Plimpton, going on the road in search of courageous women who lived "on the edge," and as often as possible participated in her guests' adventurous activities. Among the professionals profiled on the series were female astronauts, wild-animal trainers, "ladies who luge," bungie-jumpers, street performers, and even dominatrixes. In other words, it was Murphy Brown for real. Candice Checks It Out debuted August 18, 2002. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The tenth and final season of Murphy Brown resolves the previous season's cliffhanger finale, as TV reporter Murphy Brown (Candice Bergen) bids farewell to her co-workers on the Washington-based newsmagazine "FYI," in preparation of starting her new job as a White House correspondent. Not surprisingly, the tactlessly outspoken Murphy loses her White House gig in a record 45 minutes, forcing her to beg for her old job back. But these intrigues pale in significance compared to the central crisis of season ten, wherein Murphy is diagnosed with breast cancer. Despite the seriousness of the situation and the gloominess of its ramifications -- notably Murphy's efforts to break the news to her son, Avery (played this season by a pre-Sixth Sense Haley Joel Osment) -- the series still manages to deliver plenty of laughs amidst the tears. The humor level remains constant even during a potentially depressing subplot, as the second marriage of Murphy's co-worker Corky (Faith Ford) proves to be no more successful than the first. As the series winds down, Murphy is reunited with her former lover (and journalistic rival) Jerry Gold (Jay Thomas) for what would be their last romantic rendezvous. The series concludes with a surrealistic two-parter, in which Murphy has a pointed conversation with God (played by Alan King) while she is anesthetized for an exploratory operation. Without giving away the ending, it can be noted that the final tally of secretaries hired and fired by Murphy Brown throughout the series' ten-year run is an astronomical 93 (and you'll never guess who the last one is!). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

With the defection of series regular Grant Shaud at the end of Murphy Brown's eighth season, it was necessary to eliminate the actor's character Miles Silverberg, executive producer of "FYI," the Washington-based TV newsmagazine on which Murphy Brown (Candice Bergen) is star reporter. Miles' immediately replacement is snotty Andrew Lansing (Paul Reubens), nephew of the network's president -- a promotion that prompts the entire "FYI" staff to resign in protest. As it turns out, Andrew was a saint compared to his replacement, a contentious former game-show producer named Kay Carter-Shepley (new series regular Lily Tomlin). Clearly in over her head on "FYI," Kay hides her ineptitude with her overbearing behavior and her fondness for playing nasty mind games with the staff. Clearly, Murphy and Kay are going to be at each other's throats for the remainder of the season...and only one of them may come out alive. In other developments, Murphy and her co-workers purchase their favorite neighborhood bar when its owner, Phil (Pat Corley), who has functioned as a sort of house philosopher and father confessor for the past eight seasons, suddenly dies (or does he?). And in the series' most outrageously self-referential episode, Murphy discovers that the dozens of secretaries whom she has fired in seasons past have formed their own support group -- with branches on both the East and West coasts! The season-ending cliffhanger finds Kay being fired for an on-the-air gaffe perpetrated by Murphy -- who, as it happens, may be on her way out as well. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

As Murphy Brown begins its eighth season, the titular heroine (played by Candice Bergen) has decided not to marry her current amour (and journalistic rival), Peter Hunt (Scott Bakula). Even so, wedding bells do ring at the outset for season eight -- but they're ringing for Murphy's fellow TV reporter Corky Sherwood (Faith Ford), who in a surprise move has wed Murph's producer, Miles Silverberg (Grant Shaud), in an episode featuring John F. Kennedy Jr. as "himself." Meanwhile, Andrew Lansing (Paul Reubens), Murphy's obnoxious secretary and the nephew of network head Stan Lansing (Gary Marshall), wreaks havoc when he is promoted to an executive post -- and even more so when he decides that he's in love with Murphy. Elsewhere, anchorman Jim Dial (Charles Kimbrough) magnanimously grooms the vacuous Miller Redfield (Christopher Rich) as his potential replacement, then catches everyone unawares by accepting another job with rival network ICN. Also, former Cheers regular Shelley Long makes her first series appearance as Dottie Wilcox, a syrupy morning-TV host clearly patterned after Kathie Lee Gifford. Other guest stars this season include Dom DeLuise, Katie Couric, and Elizabeth Taylor. As in previous years, season eight of Murphy Brown ends on a cliffhanger, with the entire staff of Murphy's TV newsmagazine "FYI" facing unemployment -- and Miles Silverberg preparing to take a job in New York, forcing him to leave wife Corky behind. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Few other TV sitcoms could boast Murphy Brown's distinction of opening its seventh season with an episode guest-starring both Senator Barbara Boxer and TV's "Captain Kangaroo." This initial episode also introduces Dyllan Christopher in the role of Avery, the son of TV reporter Murphy Brown (Candice Bergen) -- and considering that Avery was "born" only three years earlier, how that boy has grown! New to the series this season is actor-producer Gary Marshall as Stan Lansing, the new head of the network carrying Murphy's TV newsmagazine show "FYI." It is clear from the get-go that Lansing and Murphy will never see eye to eye, especially since he is far more interested in staging wild ratings-grabbing publicity stunts than in straight journalism. The limit comes when, upset that Murphy has hired and fired 76 secretaries in the past seven years, Lansing forces our heroine to engage the services of his own nephew Andrew, played by Paul Reubens (aka Pee-Wee Herman). Obnoxious though he is, Andrew does too good a job to get himself canned -- and it is obvious that he will remain a thorn in Murphy's side for several episodes to come. In other developments, Murphy's house painter, Eldin Bernecky (Robert Pastorelli), who still hasn't finished decorating her living room after all these years, leaves the series to accept an opportunity to pursue a stellar art career in Europe. Also, Murphy's co-worker Corky (Faith Ford) has divested herself of her husband Will, and has begun dating vacuous anchorman Miller Redfield (Christopher Rich). And in another affair of the heart, swaggering international reporter Peter Hunt (Scott Bakula) finally proposes to Murphy -- but will she accept? This season, Murphy Brown won the second of two Emmy awards for Outstanding Comedy Series. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the weeks just prior to the opening episode of Murphy Brown's fifth season, the series, and its star Candice Bergen, were at the center of a controversy largely stirred up by then Vice President Dan Quayle. Commenting on the fact that season four had ended with an unmarried Murphy giving birth to a baby, Mr. Quayle decried the series' lack of "family values." In response -- or rather, in protest -- series producer Diane English saw to it that the fifth-season opener made several pointed satirical references to the vice president's verbal attack, capping this skewering by titling the episode "You Say Potatoe, I Say Potato" (a swipe at Mr. Quayle's questionable spelling skills). Once that's over with, Murphy returns home with her new son, Avery, in her arms, quickly going through a series of nannies whom she finds unsuitable. Eventually, Murphy's live-in house painter, Eldin (Robert Pastorelli), proves to be the perfect choice to care for little Avery, a job which, of course, distances Eldin even farther from ever finishing the decorating job for which he was originally hired...five years ago. Back on the set of "FYI," anchorman Jim Dial (Charles Kimbrough) is in for his share of headaches when his wife launches her own showbiz career, while executive producer Miles Silverberg (Grant Shaud) dreads the arrival of his '60s-activist parents for a demonstration on the steps of the U.S. Capitol. Also, author Will Forest's (Scott Bryce) childish reaction to a series of financial setbacks drives the final nail in the coffin so far as his marriage to Murphy's co-worker Corky (Faith Ford) is concerned. And in the episode "Bump in the Night," otherwise fearless investigative reporter Frank Fontana (Joe Regalbuto) is a bundle of nerves while preparing for an appearance on David Letterman's talk show. Season five ends with Murphy seriously considering giving up her career for the sake of her son; and at last count, the number of secretaries hired and summarily fired by our heroine has reached 58. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Season three of Murphy Brown opens with star TV reporter Murphy (Candice Bergen) and her co-workers balking at the "improvements" that executive producer Miles Silverberg (Grant Shaud) has made in the weekly newsmagazine "FYI." In subsequent episodes, a pre-Shield Michael Chiklis is cast as a controversial comic whom Murphy interviews on the air; fearless investigative reporter Frank (Joe Regalbuto) quivers and quakes at the notion of planning his parents' 50th anniversary, just as cool, calm, and collected "FYI" anchorman Jim Dial (Charles Kimbrough) goes into a mammoth panic attack after making his first and only on-air goof; Jim's sometimes replacement, birdbrained pretty boy Miller Redfield (Christopher Rich), once again demonstrates his journalistic ineptitude while covering a strike; and hotshot news personality Jerry Gold (Jay Thomas) briefly joins the "FYI" staff -- but does that mean that he and Murphy will re-stoke the flames of their brief affair? Also, Larry King shows up in the classic episode in which Murphy runs roughshod over the sweet-tempered "environmental terrorists" who have kidnapped her; Jim writes a roman à clef which intimates that he has a crush on Murphy; the marriage between "FYI"'s junior correspondent Corky Sherwood (Faith Ford) and writer Will Forest (Scott Bryce) is already showing signs of erosion; the network is sold to a conglomerate which puts an egotistical and supremely incompetent management consultant (Nancy Youngblut) in charge; Murphy's house painter, Eldin (Robert Pastorelli), has one of his works exhibited in an art gallery, but he's none too happy about the method of presentation; and after being reported killed in a plane crash, a very much alive Murphy and Jim attend their own wake. This is the season that ends with Murphy wondering if she is pregnant -- and if so, who's the father? (Calling Dan Quayle! Calling Dan Quayle!) ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

A cast of celebrities gathered to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Earth Day. It is an entertaining special that points out the crisis state of our planet's environment. It provides scientific facts and detailed analysis. The show provides ways in which everyone can participate in saving the planet. There are ways we can do this everyday with the choices we make. It strives to make us all take responsibility for the condition of the environment. The cast entertains and teaches through comedy, singing, and storytelling. The Earth Day Special is an entertaining motivational tool that encourages everyone to do their part in saving the earth. ~ Beth Deki, All Movie Guide

Within a single year, Gilda Radner rose from talented but obscure improv comedienne to "America's Sweetheart" thanks to NBC's Saturday Night Live. The 60-minute video The Best of Gilda Radner is culled from SNL's vintage years, 1975 to 1980. Included are such beloved Radner creations as Roseanne Roseannadanna ("Thought ah wuz gonna die!"), Emily Litella ("Never mind!"), Lisa Looper ("That was so funny I a'most fergot t' LAFFFFF") and, of course, Baba Wawa. We are also treated to Gilda's takeoff of Lucille Ball and her extended "Dancing in the Dark" number with Steve Martin. You may find yourself alternately laughing and crying through The Best of Gilda Radner--crying because this matchless performer left this world much too soon. ~ 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