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Murder, She Wrote


Franko

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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?

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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.

 

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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.

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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.

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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.

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It's a lesson to never be loyal because once your use is up, you're shown the door.

MSW was the only bright spot for CBS for awhile, and once they were back on top... they promptly sabotaged the show as a repayment for all that the show had done for the network.

 

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CBS was back in third place in 1994/95. That was the season CBS lost NFL broadcasting rights which also cost them several established affiliates in major media markets.

1995 CBS was sold to Westinghouse and Les Moonves arrived.

1995/96 CBS was trying to be young and cool to compete with NBC and Fox, but it was an epic failure and CBS was once again in third place.

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