Khan

I've heard/read two explanations for that gap. One explanation was that Corymore Productions (meaning, of course, Angela Lansbury and her family) was having such difficulties getting CBS to approve the story for the next movie. The other explanation was that they were so upset with how Leslie Moonves treated MSW, they were in no rush to fulfill the rest of their agreement. Regardless, Lansbury remembered J. Michael Straczynski, who pitched to CBS what became the second movie ("A Story to Die For").

I'd add CAPITOL, GENERATIONS and SANTA BARBARA to that list.

I think part of the problem with S6, aside from Julianne Phillips' absence and the fact that Sheila Kelley was a poor replacement even for Jo Anderson, was that Alex, Georgie and Teddy had grown so far apart as siblings and as people. Those sisterly bonds that helped define the show in the beginning were gone. (Having each actress absent for several episodes also didn't help). Moreover, with John and Georgie now divorced and John living in Seattle, Teddy still grieving over Falconer's death (as well as recovering from a brain injury) and Alex and Big Al, a recurring character who isn't in every episode, forced to carry the mantle of the show's tentpole couple, it just felt like "Sisters" no longer had a core.

Carly: "Are you there, God? It's me, Carly." God: "Who??"

Hey, you can't blame DAYS for writing to an actor's strengths! (Relax, everyone, I'm kidding!)

As do I. I always thought it was ridiculous seeing Abby spar with Paige. Just as I always thought it was ridiculous seeing AMC's Erica Kane spar with women who were young enough to be her daughter.

One of the sisters DID kill him. Alex, in fact, helped Truman die. She was brought up on charges and sent to trial. However, she was exonerated.

Personally, I wonder why P&G hired Joanna Lee as a producer and not as a writer.

The thing is...Linda kinda made a good point. Sorry to hear of Lincoln's passing. May she RIP.

It figures that Irna Phillips and the man they called "the Smiling Cobra" would've made a connection, lol.

I think the relationship that I enjoyed the most of any characters on "Sisters" was Truman and Beatrice's. I feel like they gave a lot of people hope. Plus, it was especially sweet to see Bea discover what love REALLY was after being mistreated for so long by Thomas. I just hate that her and Truman's love story had to end with a depressing storyline about Alzheimer's.

I haven't listened to the podcast yet. What did DM say? Did she express resentment or concern about that?

True dat. I mean, I'd much rather see him play a dick than see him in his default "Game Show Host" mode, always on the verge of asking newlyweds to name the last place where they made whoopie.

Whenever I think of David Bailey, the only thing that comes to mind is, well, this:

Perhaps, if they had marketed those rings as a sex toy, they might've saved the show.

I ask myself the same question all the time: what does it say about Cameron Mathison as a person when he's more authentic as a heel than he is as a hero?

Not to mention: the Skipper and Millie Swanson from "Mayberry R.F.D."! Every time I watch "Trial by Error," and I hear Brock Peters prattle on once more about people like Tony Bill's character getting away with murder on account of being rich and white, I'm like, "Ain't you got a chiffarobe to bust up somewhere?" (IYKYK, lol). Between Macdonald Carey, Allan Miller, Lenore Kasdorf, Jon Cypher, Brock Peters, David Ackroyd and Michael Swan, "Error" is like a little piece of soap opera heaven. And speaking of Kasdorf and Arlene Golonka, here's another piece of trivia: years later, the two would appear on the same episode of "In the Heat of the Night," with Golonka as Robert Ginty's mistress, and Kasdorf as his ill wife, who dies of a heart attack while confronting Golonka, lol!

I think I know the action you're referring to, lol. I agree that you'd never think of a sci-fi writer like J. Michael Straczynski as being comfortable with writing and producing a "cozy mystery" series like MSW. I know I, myself, was stunned at first to see his name in the credits, because I still remembered when he wrote for "The Real Ghostbusters", lol! Years ago, I read Fischer's memoir, and one of the coolest things about reading that book was reading how, at certain points in his life, like when he was starting out in the business, or when he had finally retired, he'd watch AMC and become totally fascinated with Erica Kane, lol.

It might have been a little of both, but I think it's also due to Peter S. Fischer's decision to leave after the 1990-91 season. In the next season, there's a new showrunner (David S. Moessinger, who lasts for just that season before he, too, exits); and while some of MSW's original vibe remains, there also are noticeable changes. Under Moessinger, the pacing is edgier, for lack of a better word, and the music is more synthesized. (I sometimes call S8 the Sexy Sax Season for that very reason). There isn't as much humor on display, so that, for example, Cabot Cove and its' denizens are less eccentric than they were in seasons past. Similarly, the overall acting style on the show is less broad and more naturalistic (although, some guest stars and recurring actors clearly didn't get the memo, lol). The episodes penned by writer/producer J. Michael Straczynski maintain Fischer's tradition of tightly plotted mysteries with clever endings. However, MSW's eighth season has always felt to me like one of Dean Hargrove's shows ("Matlock," "Diagnosis: Murder," etc.). The season contains some very good episodes, but it also feels slightly dumbed-down and not as literate as the Fischer-produced seasons had been.

Which was the best decision to make, IMO. There comes a point for every successful, long-running series when you realize you've done all you could with these characters, and that to keep going would just hurt the show in the long run. As I've said before, MSW never reaches a point where it becomes unwatchable (due mostly to Lansbury herself), but there IS a sense in S12 that it has become too hard to invent new stories or new ways to surprise the audience. If CBS and/or Corymore had decided to keep producing MSW, they would've needed to do something major - such as maybe have Jessica relocate once again (this time, to L.A., or maybe somewhere outside the U.S.), or sign on as a "consultant" with the CIA or DHS - in order to shake up the series.

Thanks, @kalbir, for sharing that article! It's a shame Angela Lansbury never got around to writing her memoirs. I would've enjoyed reading more about her career, her process in preparing for each new part and how much certain parts, including that of Jessica Fletcher, truly meant to her.

Sounds like a porn name, or a Sheena Easton song.

It certainly was better than "The Szechuan Dragon," which probably ranks among the very worst of the "bookend episodes." (I still can't believe Peter S. Fischer thought it'd be good to center an episode around Grady and Donna, lol). Jessica didn't always show disgust toward the culprit. Most of the time, it seemed like she felt sorry for them. But "Trial by Error" might be the one time she comes closest to appearing judgmental, lol. I think what gets me about that episode is how the killer thought their defense, for lack of a better word, would be believable to everyone, including the jury. Their entire story was just so illogical, I was surprised at how they were able to use it at trial.

Frankly, I'm not even down with that. If you can't kill him off or send him to jail, then just have him leave Salem in disgrace, never to return.