Jump to content

Recommended Posts

  • Members
Posted

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?

  • Replies 382
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

Top Posters In This Topic

Posted Images

  • Members
Posted

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.

 

  • Members
Posted

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.

  • Members
Posted

Please register in order to view this content

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

 

  • Members
Posted (edited)

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 by Khan
  • Members
Posted

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.

  • Members
Posted

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.

 

  • Members
Posted

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.

  • Members
Posted

People often underestimate how popular and commercially successful MSW continues to be - even to this day. The initial DVD release sold well, and it would never have gotten the blue ray box set treatment if it wasn’t in demand. Many shows that people swear are popular never get that treatment (because they don’t sell well). 

 

 

  • Members
Posted (edited)

I think this is where the show having an older audience comes in handy as that is who is buying these releases. And buying the books, presumably. 

I have family who in the last few years have watched the show pretty much every day. 

Edited by DRW50
  • Members
Posted

MSW streams on Peacock (for members), Tubi (for free), is on DVD, and is rerun on cable.... and I know a lot of young millennials/older Gen Z's that have recently been exposed to Murder She Wrote... and they love it.

It's timeless.

  • Members
Posted

It's on Prime too and Pluto TV. It's also available digitally.

 

The Blu-ray release has the movies that haven't been seen in HD, and they've corrected the premiere two-hour movie as it originally aired. The DVD and digital release use the syndicated split two episodes.

 

My maternal grandmother was a big fan of the show. I had no idea until later in its run.

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

    • In regards to Long's 2nd stint, it appears as though she officially came back as head-writer between the 4th of July/Bauer Barbeque episodes 1987 and mid August 1987.. and then between April and September 1988 were episodes written by the scabs.  I almost count her having 3 stints head-writing Guiding Light since the writer strike lasted five months. In her 2nd stint, she seemed focused on the following: - Sonni returning from the dead thus keeping Reva/Josh apart yet again so she naturally turns to Alan and causes the ending of the Vanessa/Alan relationship.   I wonder if Maeve's decision to leave affected some of this because she was gone by January 1988, a few months after Long's return so she had to come up with a way to get Vanessa to take off (and it was to be there for Billy during a low point if I recall). - Phillip/Chelsea were pretty heavily focused on during this 2nd stint period and I liked their rapport. - A lesser focused story in the background was the Lillian/Hawk/Sarah situation - Formulating her next version of the 4 Muskateers with Cam/Dinah/Harley/Alan Michael... but in order to include a more rough around the edges Harley.. Dinah was softened quite a bit (though I did see a cat fight between Harley/Dinah where Dinah belted Harley so I think Turco could have played an edgier Dinah). - There also seemed to be a Spaulding takeover going on with Phillip trying to oust Alan.. and it affected his relationship with Chelsea. Post-writer strike, I noticed that the Phillip/Harley arc kicked into gear with him pretending to be 'my fair lady' with Harley.. but trying to set it up to look as though they were sleeping together.  That arc plus the aftermath of Maeve's death were what Long started when she came back after the strike. I don't know how the Alan/Reva situation would have gone had CB remained in the role and if the writer strike hadn't happened.
    • I've only been solidly watching the show for the first time the past few months. I was familiar with parts of the show and some of the character just from being a soap fan. I do have to say that I am enjoying GH more than any other shows right now. Sure, it has flaws but it seems to move along fairly well, and most of all, the eye-candy. Damn, there are so many cute men on this show. Nathan and Michael are at the top of my list.

      Please register in order to view this content

    • I have to say that I was honestly surprised by the exit this week. With spoilers and casting news, it is tough to pull off an honest shocker, and this shooting actually made gasp out loud.  I would bet many of you would enjoy it, if you watch it more regularly, I know that has been my experience this month.  
    • I believe she is talented and maligned for a reason. I fundamentally disagree with what she thinks soaps should be. And I am far from a traditionalist when it comes to the genre. There are many direct sources of her behavior and bad decisions, and my own eyes watching ratings decline after sweeps bumps on her her shows, it’s pretty clear she survived in power, especially at GH, specifically because the genre was declining. I will not further derail this thread with JFP unless it is pertinent. But I finish with this. She was asked directly over the years if she regretted killing Maureen off from Guiding Light. And for years she said she did. But someone pinned her down when she was at Y&R the first time, Michael Logan perhaps, and she admitted what she regretted and would never do again is making the audience care so much about a character right before killing then off. The tragic nature of the story leading into killing Maureen is what she regrets, not that she misjudged the audience, or that she didn’t have the foresight to see how destabilizing that was going to be for that particular show.    
    • If they bring back Connie, that kooky lady who kidnapped Melinda, or if Stephanie's stalker is a crazed fan, or if it is something based on her book, I may pluck an eyelash. I think the misdirect is that the stalker is after Alex, when they are really after Stephanie (unless it is Joy Wesley - that would be a surprise).
    • I feel very bad for BF that Giggly Heffa is being forced onto him.  At least BF looked yummy in a scene that otherwise was very icky to watch. I still can’t believe Flynn took this role. He also seems a tad bored/underwhelmed sometimes I almost see the regret in his face. 
    • Darn MM!

      Please register in order to view this content

        I'm not sure if this belongs here or in the hotness thread.  
    • Liking Mansi is not the issue. The character has flopped and it is clear FV has downgraded her after making a hard, hard push for Kristina in her most unwatchable state. Or what @DRW50 said.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

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