Jump to content

Murder, She Wrote


Franko

Recommended Posts

  • Members

As mentioned in the 90's rating thread the first MSW TV Movie 'South by Southwest' did well in the ratings. Airing in Nov sweeps 97 and rating #13 as Sunday night movie up against ABC's strong Cinderella/Oprah Evening.

The next aired May 2000-quite a gap.

'Something to Die For' aired as a special Thurs 8-10 and ranked #24. Interesting that they slotted it up against Friends again. Wonder what Angela thought about that? On NBC Ihr Friends was #3 and 1hr Frasier was #2

Then in May 2001 'The Last Free Man' aired on Wed 8-10 and ranked #21 winning the first hour but losing the 2nd to West Wing #7

The final TV movie 'The Celtic Riddle' aired  May 2003 as a Friday movie 9-11. It ranked #32,winning the first hour but running 2nd to Law and Order SVU #19.

So overall a good showing from those 4.

Did they maintain the standard? Over to our MSW afficionados...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Replies 322
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

Top Posters In This Topic

Posted Images

  • Members

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").

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Members
Posted (edited)

I think the first two movies, "South by Southwest" and "A Story to Die For," were okay.  The third movie, "The Last Free Man," is fine, once you get past the premise (Jessica's ancestor solves a murder in the Old South) and the "white savior" trope.  "The Celtic Riddle," however, just feels like every other episode where Jessica travels to Ireland (or, as I collectively call those shows, "Jessie McGill and the Little People").

Edited by Khan
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...
  • Members

I don’t recall MSW having a toy line in the late 80’s or early 90’s like all those Saturday morning cartoons did LOL but thought this was cute when I saw it in a vintage toy store yesterday: 

 

Please register in order to view this content

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Unfortunately, your content contains terms that we do not allow. Please edit your content to remove the highlighted words below.
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.



  • Recent Posts

    • Marland was long gone by this point.  He quit in either August/September 1982. I think it was due to letting the actress play out her contract and use her for party scenes and/or scenes with Phillip/Justin.   I was surprised she was still on in June 1983 myself, because I figured she had been written out before Pam Long joined the writing staff. Thankfully, having episodes uploaded during this period on Spauldingfield YT site has helped to connect some of the dots.  It looks as though Pam Long starts the first week or so of May 1983.. and in those first few weeks: Morgan and Evie were both written off and Lillian/Mindy/Billy/Beth/Annabelle all come onto the show.    
    • @MaximThis really  old song popped into my head this morning .... 

      Please register in order to view this content

       
    • For any military veterans and family: Military discount for *NEW* subscribers for any type of ParamountPlus subscription, "for the life of the subscription" (whatever that means). Includes: active duty, retirees, reservists and National Guard, veterans, dependents and spouses. Military veterans will receive 50% off new subscriptions (They have a verification process) https://help.paramountplus.com/s/article/Does-Paramount-offer-Military-discounts For existing subscribers, who would be eligible but haven't used the discount: (from the same paramount help link) Question: I’m an existing ParamountPlus subscriber in the military. How do I get the discount? Answer: To take advantage of the military discount offer*, you’ll first need to cancel your existing subscription, then re-subscribe to Paramount+ [at the verification link] on your desktop or mobile browser. During the signup process, your credentials will be verified to confirm your current status. Once you've been verified, your discount will be applied in the next billing cycle.
    • What a lovely gif!!!!!! @Maxim

      Please register in order to view this content

        @Maxim  
    • I didn’t find it that interesting

      Please register in order to view this content

    • I can't watch until later (Canada issues). What is Philip's motivation for stealing the drug? Only plot I cared about today and you did not mention it 
    • Doug III’s first day of work. Hope he does a good job… or that Tate tries to sabotage him somehow

      Please register in order to view this content

      His scenes with Holly were nice though. They’re sweet together and I understand why some people think that they have more chemistry than Tate/Holly do. And I liked that Doug III opened up to her about his past. Maybe that could lead to something good happening in the future.  I also enjoyed Roman and Kate, and how they’re both being tied into EJ’s shooting. The mystery of it all is really compelling. I don’t think Roman is the shooter though either.  I didn’t have much sympathy for Kristen though. She has no one to blame for Rachel’s problems than herself. But at the same time, I’m really surprised that Days actually remembered the Alex/Kristen fling. I thought Ron had erased that from existence. I’m not shipping them at all, but I’m definitely shipping a permanent end to Brady/Kristen but after today, I’m not so sure about that either.  And, Johnny and Chanel were still great together
    • https://parade.com/news/beyond-the-gates-actor-flexes-like-a-wrestler-in-viral-shirtless-photo
    • Some country club revelation thoughts from a casual watcher no one asked for. The Great: Daphnee Duplaix gave the best performance we've seen yet. Nicole's dialogue was also well thought out and felt character specific. TJ Maxx Ted was also pretty good. Trisha Mann-Grant steals every scene she's in. Often without even trying. Carrying multiple episodes worth of exposition heavy soap dialogue with starts and stops and recapping and drama and humor is no small feat and she nailed. Vernon telling Lesliana to STFU.  The Bad: So much of the dialogue for the rest of the cast was overly written. Martin said "You are a vile human being with a hole in your heart!". Marty, what are we doing? It's SO dramatic and sounds so silly coming from this grown man. Do Bill and Hayley do anything but talk about the Duprees? And the nerve of her to get so excited to find out Ted is a cheater when she and her husband are too. There should be a hint of shame mixed in with your glee, ma'am. The Questionable: Coffee and a rendition of Amazing Grace after finding out Nicole was betrayed by her husband. The Duprees are an odd bunch. The stinger of one segment had Anita prepared to lambast Lesliana, when we came back someone else was talking. When Anita eventually said something to Wig, it was a lukewarm at best. And then of course she thought singing a song about something that should absolutely not be extended to her son-in-law. The entire family allowing this deranged woman to speech at them in their own was...nuts. I know she said something about what would the neighbors say but my GOD. Is she just going to be allowed to trespass whenever she feels like it now? The focus on Leslie and her wig usage as an oddity is...odd. I think Chelsea said something like "and she wears wigs!" (while wearing a buss down middle part). Okay? It's just not that odd for a black woman to change up her hair. It's the different names that's the problem. I know it's meant to be humorous, in a throwback soap kind of way, but it fell flat for me.  I'm sorry I find the whole family to be WEIRD. It's like they want us to see them as ruthless yet benevolent, open yet furtive, snobbish yet tooth achingly sweet all at the same time. I cannot get a lock on the family dynamics. Everyone is just there.  I'm gonna cry if this show doesn't start giving us ages (or close to it!) for these characters. Because if Eva is 21-22 then Martin was being given crayons, a soda pop and blinders when he was 15-17 years old. Martin had to have been under 8 for me to buy this story, which would make Eva and Kat late 20s (Martin is at least 35 since he wants to run for president), which I don't think they're meant to be. It's honestly minor but it bothers me. I've mentioned this to @Vee but I think the optics on opening the show with both sisters discovering their husbands of over 30 years are cheaters should've been considered. I doubt there was any intention behind it, no one's rubbing their hands together as they scheme to say the married black men can't stay loyal but how does it look? Maybe it's just me. Honestly it's probably just me!
    • Thank you very much!!!! I really appreciate it!!! I also have read the GH coffee table book from the 90s!!!
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy