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 328
  • 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

  • Members
Posted (edited)

Please register in order to view this content

Angela Lansbury stars as Jessica Fletcher in one of the longest-running and most beloved TV series of all-time, Murder, She Wrote. Set in Cabot Cove, Maine, Jessica is a mystery writer and amateur detective who is quick to outwit both criminals and the police when it comes to solving a murder. Winner of 4 Golden Globes and nominated for 12 consecutive Primetime Emmy Awards for Best Actress in a Drama, the series showcases unforgettable guest stars including Tom Bosely, George Clooney, Shirley Jones, Courteney Cox, Leslie Nielsen, Mickey Rooney, Tom Selleck, John Amos, Dorothy Lamour, Cyd Charrise and many more. In Murder, She Wrote: The Complete Series, help Jessica get to the bottom of every crime she encounters in this completely remastered collection featuring all 264 episodes, 4 TV movies, and bonus features.

Special Features: "Novel Connection" (Crossover Episode of Magnum P.I.); The Great 80's TV Flashback; Origin of a Series; Recipe for a Hit; America's Top Sleuths; The Perils of Success

https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?t=385164

Edited by Soapsuds
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Members

Me neither, lol.  She literally kept the network afloat for YEARS, and that (the timeslot change) was the thanks she received?

I definitely agree with Tom Shales' sentiments that not everything in pop culture has to be geared toward 12-to-18 year olds, and that MSW "had good manners."  MSW was a fun show that never gave into excessive, gratuitous violence; but because it wasn't sensationalistic, CBS assumed only "old people" enjoyed the show, when, in fact, MSW appealed to viewers of all ages.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Members

It cannot be emphasized enough that Angela Lansbury carried CBS primetime on her back through some pretty awful years from the late 1980s to the mid-1990s.

Les Moonves will forever be on my s--- list for the sabotage of Murder, She Wrote. He is the reason Angela cried on 60 Minutes. There's a special place in hell for him for that alone.

100% this.

Edited by kalbir
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

    • What we're watching now was filmed in the early week after the premiere but I wouldn't imagine we'll see any changes based on audience feedback until August/September because of how far they ahead film/write.
    • I'm trying to remember the Brian Gaskell-as-Dylan years, and I don't recall him ever playing the character as blind. Am I right? Did Dylan's blindness get cured at some point off-screen? And did the show ever acknowledge this, or did they just hope that the viewers had forgotten about Dylan's life-changing disability (ala DOOL's Phillip, who used to have only one leg back when he was played by Kyle Brandt, but hasn't mentioned that he's an amputee war veteran in years now)? 
    • I just watched today (U.S Wednesday) episode. I love the Chelsea/Dani scenes.  Dani was way over the top; but Chelsea was the voice of reason trying to stop Dani from being so extra.  Every time Dani said the ridiculous dramatic thing, Chelsea was trying to calm her down, to be reasonable.   See, in this episode, Dani wasn't the star, Chelsea was the star with her calming presence. I felt like the show itself was acknowledging that Dani is too much - she is who she is -- not a villain, but not a heroine either.   This feels (to me) like a change from three months ago when BTG began.  At the beginning of BTG, I thought we were being told to root for Dani.  Now it's not that.  So I'm team Chelsea today.
    • This is so great, thanks for sharing!!!  Ahh, this must have been right after Jenny died. The flashback montage with Jesse/Jenny was very sweet. I remember my mom saying she was always devastated when Jenny died.
    • I enjoyed reading your perspective. I did shed a tear when Tracy showed Gio the broach and the photo of Edward and Lila. 
    • Today has been another great one. This has to be some of the best work of Dee’s career. Hate the circumstances but it’s so believable because I’m sure a lot of it isn’t really acting. It’s wonderful. Christie Clark came back in like she never left. I had assumed John raised Carrie in the RoJohn days since he was taking care of Sami and Eric. The flashback to young Carrie and John telling Carrie Marlena died was great. Carrie and Marlena scenes were excellent and so emotional. Marlena telling Carrie she’s her daughter and she’s John’s daughter

      Please register in order to view this content

      “You will always be our daughter.” John grabbing Carrie’s hand I don’t hate Stacy, but the John of it all needs Eileen.  Rachel doesn’t feel like a demon spawn anymore boooo. Really wish we could’ve seen Kate visit John. They were once a couple, but ontop of that had been friends and business partners throughout the years.    Mumbles Taylor is just getting harder and harder to understand. Omg a flashback to the penthouse. What an incredible set. Really enjoyed the Abe and John scenes as well. Drake truly was so charismatic and committed to the material for his entire tenure on the show. I don’t care what anyone thought of his talent. His dedication and charisma and charm was exactly what the character of John needed.
    • Yeah, I would get it if its been years, or they left town normally... but with Dylan, he only left like 3 months before ghost Reva showed up, and then less than a year before Goshen Reva made it back to Springfield. When you add in something as serious as going blind and then amnesia, you'd think there would at least be some throwaway line to acknowledge it like "Oh I need to go visit Dylan at his school, I'll be back tomorrow" haha.  Oh well.

      Please register in order to view this content

      Oh and yes @DRW50, when I looked up the character of Dylan earlier, I noticed a familiar name in Brian Gaskell and got excited haha.  
    • Unpopular opinion, but the Chelsea coming out scene reeked of Afterschool Special and I really didn't care that we didn't see her coming out to her grandparents.  We were spared the 'We're Duprees and we're better than everyone' speech. As a gay person, I kind of like watching straight people acting all messy and cringey (which is why I probably have a soft spot for Ashley/Derek... and sometimes wish Jacob would take his balls back from his warden Naomi) LOL If the show were willing to take risks, I would think the Dani arc is basically a 2020's version of Betty Broderick... but I doubt Dani would actually shot/kill Bill and Hayley.  Though I do have a feeling that if Hayley is pregnant that Dani will cause to miscarry the baby.
    • I don't think that's clever, though. Maybe the writers should forget about throwing shade and write dialogue and story for Ashley and Derek that isn't boring and doesn't paint them as boring.   I agree -- both of those still need a ton of work. I still say the fades to commercials look like someone walked past the camera and hit the OFF button.   Yep, this was regression in every way. Dani was all hopped up with Chelsea like she'd taken some party drug, and then it got worse when she literally broke into Bill and Hayley's house.   -- The fakeout scene was good, but I don't want them to go to that well too often. They're already in danger of doing that. -- I'm good with Brandon Claybon's acting style. It's different, but in a good way. -- It was an interesting turn to have Tyrell question Jessica's intentions. -- I didn't see anything special about the plated food on today's show. At Orphey Gene's, it looked like everyone had a plate of french fries.
    • Diana's BSOD in Gary and Abby's hot tub is yet another gif-worthy moment.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

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