Murder, She Wrote

[Paul Raven]

You had to wonder what was going on when CBS moves a Top 10 show to a new night opposite one of the hottest shows of the moment.

CBS was desperately trying to go young-it was the season of Central Park West -but it seemed short sighted.

I suppose MSW represented the 'old' image they were trying to shed and it was probably expensive , but still...

If they did want to freshen Sunday where else MSW be placed?

[kalbir]

1995 CBS was sold to Westinghouse and Les Moonves arrived at CBS.

I pointed out 1995/96 Murder, She Wrote as sabotage in the Tank Jobs and Sabotage thread.

 

[Soaplovers]

I'm so happy that the four MSW tv movies are now on Tubi.. and I also think I saw the 12 seasons of the show on there as well.

[Khan]

I agree with @kalbir: the move to Thursday nights was pure sabotage on CBS' part.  MSW still performed very well on Sunday nights - well enough, in fact, to be one of CBS' only two series to land consistently within the Top 10 (with "60 Minutes" being the other) - but CBS, and Les Moonves in particular, wanted the network's demographics to skew younger.  He and his minions knew damn well MSW never stood a chance on Thursdays against "Friends," but that was precisely why they moved it there.  It's truly shameful when you think about it, lol.

[kalbir]

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Oh how I wish Angela Lansbury would have called out Les Moonves and put him on blast.

 

[Khan]

I've said it before, and I'll say it again (and again): CBS should have extended Angela Lansbury the courtesy of going out on HER terms, not theirs.  The network, Universal and Corymore all should've sat down together before the start of the last season and discussed how to ensure that MSW would go out with a bang.  Leave it on Sunday nights, of course, but really pull out some stops: big name guest stars (Frank Sinatra and Elizabeth Taylor immediately spring to mind), more on-location/international shoots, maybe convince Peter S. Fischer and William Link to return as consultants, you name it.  But give her and the show the dignity they were due.

I do, too, but that's why I love her so much.  She had every right to call him and the rest of the network out, but didn't, because she was simply too classy to do that. 

God bless her.

Edited yesterday at 04:29 PM by Khan

[BetterForgotten]

And of course there was this 60 Minutes interview where her emotions overcame her for a bit while talking about this whole ordeal.

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[kalbir]

100% this. Murder, She Wrote deserved to have a proper final season farewell on Angela Lansbury's terms after all she did for CBS primetime. Sadly Les Moonves denied us this.

In a way Angela did call everyone out through the episodes that shaded both Friends and CBS. 

Angela did not give a f--- about being elegant and classy with her shade. She was hurt and rightfully so and I don't blame her for reacting the way she did.

It was difficult to watch when Angela tore up and it made me sad and angry.