Ritch Brinkley Movies

While covering the Presidential Primary in Wisconsin, the "FYI" staff is stranded at a diner several miles from Madison when their fancy T-2000 bus breaks down. Undaunted, Murphy (Candice Bergen) decides to seek out interviews and photo ops amongst the diner's patrons. Alas, what begins as a unique and compelling "human interest" story degenerates into Politics as Usual when the other networks and several GOP aides find out what Murphy is up to. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

When the "FYI" studio is decimated by a truck (you had to be there!), the news team heads en masse to Murphy's alma mater, where our heroine is to receive a doctorate for helping to create the school's Women's Studies Program. Murphy (Candice Bergen) of course anticipates being received like a conquering warrior by the female students. Unfortunately, times have changed, and now Murphy's "protégées" regard her particular brand of feminism as being hopelessly out of date! Featured among the students is future That 70s Show regular Lisa Robin Kelly. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Once again drawing from "today's headlines" for story material, this episode concerns itself with the notorious "Beltway Madam", who as owner of Washington's most expensive prostitution ring has plenty of dirt to dish out. Miles (Grant Shaud) manages to outscoop his competition by securing an interview with the Beltway Madam; the problem now is to persuade a reluctant Murphy (Candice Bergen) to go through with the assignment. And wait until you see who's been hired as Murphy's "Secretary No. 63." ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the concluding half-hour of Murphy Brown's Season Five opener (originally telecast as a single hour-long episode), Murphy is still seething over the words of Vice President Dan Quayle, who has publicly chastised her decision to bear a child out of wedlock as a mockery of "Family Values" (this episode is of course based on the real-life controversy surrounding Mr. Quayle's reaction to the series' Season Four finale). While trying to mount a suitable response to these words, Murphy is also being stressed out by her efforts to choose a name for her baby--to say nothing of hiring a suitable nanny and prepping herself to return to "FYI". ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In an episode blatantly inspired by current events (those of early 1991, that is), the network carrying "FYI" is taken over by a huge corporation called American Industrial Enterprises. Almost immediately, the company's barracudalike VP Barbara Boyle (Nancy Youngblut) begins imposing Draconian budget limitations on the "FYI" staffers; at one point, investigative reporter Frank [Joe Regalbuto] is forced to go undercover wearing only a ludicrous pair of "Groucho glasses" as a disguise. Finally, Murphy (Candice Bergen) decides to stage a revolt--with astonishing results. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Silhouette, an excellent made-for-cable thriller, is the story of a businesswoman who is stranded by car trouble in a small town and who is the only witness to a murder. Samantha Kimball (Faye Dunaway), while waiting for her car to be repaired, stays in a rundown hotel in a small town. There, unable to sleep, she watches through her window as a car drives up to the home of a local waitress. She sees the shadow of a man get out and a violent attack and murder take place inside the home. After having made her statement to the police, Samantha becomes increasingly frightened as the killer begins to stalk her and her daughter, afraid that he can be identified. Dunaway is terrific as the woman who must fight to protect herself and her child, and she gives a cool, nuanced performance in a somewhat cliched role. The identify of the killer, not revealed until the bloody finale of the film, is not much of a surprise, but Silhouette, fast-paced and nicely directed by Carl Schenkel, makes the most of its familiar material and delivers an exciting, suspenseful lady-in-distress thriller. ~ Linda Rasmussen, All Movie Guide

Although the network has given the okay to Murphy's unwed pregnancy and allows her to remain on "FYI", Miles (Grant Shaud) worries that Murphy (Candice Bergen) will soon be physically incapable of maintaining her usual exhausting pace. Her first big challenge is to secure an interview with President Bush, who agrees to talk with her only while he's jogging. Once she realizes that being on foot with the Prez is out of the question, Murphy tries to keep up with the Chief Executive on a bicycle--yet another in a long line of blunders! ~ 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

Once again, the "FYI" newsroom is hit by a strike. Before, it was the techinal staff who walked out; this time, it's the talent, headed by Murphy Brown (Candice Bergen), who take a hike. Assigned to deliver Murphy's report on the S&L crisis, empty-headed anchor wannabe Miller Redfield (Christopher Rich) proves anew that he is way out of his league--forcing nervous producer Miles Silverberg (Grant Shaud) to step before the cameras himself! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Not only has potty-mouthed tabloid journalist Jerry Gold (Jay Thomas) ended his romance with Murphy Brown (Candice Bergen), but he has also given up his own show to accept a post with "FYI" team. Miles (Grant Shaud) cooks up a point-counterpoint weekly feature called "Nose to Nose", then assigns Murphy and Jerry to debate over a variety of hot-button topics on each telecast. At first, the two journalists really heat up the airwaves with their arguments and insults--but when the romantic flames are rekindled, the couple's on-camera performance suffers mightily. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the conclusion of Murphy Brown's two-part second season finale, Corky (Faith Ford) develops a bad case of pre-nuptual jitters on the eve of her marriage to Will Forrest (Scott Bryce). Yes, this will mean that she will soon be known as Corky Sherwood-Forrest--and this as much as anything is making her reconsider going through with the wedding. It is up to Murphy (Candice Bergen) to make sure that the ceremony proceeds as planned. . .though in all fairness, Murphy is given a bit of help by the soul-singing Temptations. Frances Bergen, real-life mother of Candice Bergen, appears as Will's mom, while Entertainment Tonight's Leeza Gibbons and John Tesh and telejournalist Kathleen Sullivan show up as "themselves." ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

It's ethics vs. ratings when the staff of "FYI" decide to fight fire with fire in their ongoing battle with tabloid talk-show reporter Jerry Gold. Having long disdained Gold's fondness for sensationalism, Murphy (Candice Bergen) and Jim (Charles Kimbrough) begin to prepare a serious, dignified piece on the homeless. Unfortunately, the spectre of sensationalism rears its ugly head when, in their desperation to get viewers to watch their story, Murphy and Jim agree to precede the piece with a debate between housewives and hookers. What follows is on-the-air donnybrook, the likes of which has seldom been seen outside the realm of Geraldo Rivera and Jerry Springer! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide