Jump to content

Murder, She Wrote


Franko

Recommended Posts

  • Members

In general, the period between 1990/91 to 1992/3 is a weird transition period for most of tv.

Murder She Wrote went in a more procedural/gritty direction in the early 90s before settling into that mid 90s minimalist vibe (where the guest stars were no longer Hollywood Starlets.. but mostly unknowns)

I think season 8 was a transition season and the tone just didn't fit with the more 80s comfort vibe.  Personally I understood why Jessica would have more then one residence... but I would have had her in LA instead of NYC since her books were starting to be adapted to movies/tv... and East Coast Jessica in West Coast Hollywood would have been an interesting element to explore.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Replies 329
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

Top Posters In This Topic

Posted Images

  • Members

That's an interesting idea, @Soaplovers, but I think the show's overall tone would have changed even more than it actually did when she acquired the NYC apartment.  Sort of like when "Diagnosis: Murder" shifted locales (from Denver to L.A.) between seasons with no on-screen explanation.  When they moved to L.A., the show itself became campier and harder to believe.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Members

I always love how townspeople like Seth complain about tourists and newcomers "invading" CC.  It's like, "Well, maybe if you told more outsiders about all the murders that occur in town, they wouldn't be so inclined to visit or move there, lol!"

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Members

Angela Lansbury was 59 in 1984 and 71 in 1996.

I would guess by the time of Murder, She Wrote, she must have cut down/quit smoking and was more vigilant about sun protection.

Whatever work she had done during Murder, She Wrote was not blatantly obvious and in your face.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Members

No, Angela had refreshed herself several times before Jessica got her NY apartment. 

Angela had her facelift a lot earlier than people think. She had her first facelift when she debuted as Mame on Broadway in 1966. She had her lower eyes done a few years later to rid herself of under eye bags. 

She then had her neck and chin tightened up in the late 1970s before having another neck tuneup in 1986. Angela had another facelift in the early 90s. 

She was really something of a pioneer in very good, conservative work. 

Yes, indeed. When she lost 20 lbs it inspired her to launch Positive Moves...

Angela really took herself as a potential role model for women, especially older women, very seriously. 

Angela was mostly preoccupied with her jawline and any perceived jowls. It's somewhat hard to screw up a lower face lift except if the pull is too tight around the mouth. Angela left her lines alone, so she never strove to look 'young' she strove to look 'good' and she looked great as a result.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Members

Angela Lansbury's wardrobe was an inspiration for ladies of a certain age -- and even in the repeats 3 decades later, her style has translated well because she stuck with the classics. Aquascutum tweed/houdstooth blazers (which Talbots would copy for her fanbase at the time), pencil skirts, a sensible heel, silk patterned scarves, beautiful gold broaches and earrings. She knew what would look good but wouldn't detract from the story. 

My mom noticed something years ago on MSW which was, in addition to her conservative, judicious face-lift, Lansbury also utilized a 'veil' or special filter in her close-ups in the early seasons of the show. It is not so apparent in the later New York seasons, but the fuzzier filter was noticeable in many episodes when the show would cut from her close-up to another person's close-up. I think some of the special guest stars who had been female movie stars in the 1950s (like Celeste Holm, for example) also utilized the 'veil' when they appeared on the show.

Edited by Cat
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Members

Definitely!  I probably should list them all in a spoiler tag, though, lol.  Bookend and two-hour episodes notwithstanding...

Please register in order to view this content

Edited by Khan
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Members

No problem! 

Please register in order to view this content

As you can see, the majority of atypical episodes happened during the Peter S. Fischer era (1984-1991).  Once he departed as showrunner, and especially after Lansbury took over production in '92, MSW became more risk-averse.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Members

1980s hangover, plus a good number of the big 1980s hit shows were winding down.

1993/94 I think was the season that the 1990s really began on primetime: peak Beverly Hills 90210, Melrose Place took off, peak Home Improvement, Seinfeld blew up, NYPD Blue premiered. Then of course the following season ER and Friends premiered and we know the rest.

By Fall 1993, the only dramas premiering in the 1980s that were still on were Murder, She Wrote; L.A. Law, Matlock, In the Heat of the Night. L.A. Law and In the Heat of the Night ended Spring 1994, Matlock ended Spring 1995, and Murder, She Wrote ended Spring 1996.

Murder, She Wrote was bookended by two very different eras in primetime dramas. It started in the Dallas/Dynasty era and ended in the ER/NYPD Blue era. Murder, She Wrote may not have been as cool and trendy as Miami Vice, Moonlighting, and L.A. Law but Murder, She Wrote out-rated and outlasted them.

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...
  • Members

I'm very sorry to hear that.  Edgar was highly respected w/in the theatre industry, and he had extraordinary tastes.

His son, David, appeared in at least three episodes of MSW: "Moving Violation" (season 7, episode 13), "Murder on Madison Avenue" (season 8, episode 22) and "Threshold of Fear" (season 9, episode 16).

Thanks, @DRW50, for sharing the news.

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

    • Please register in order to view this content

       
    • What a miracle to have all these 1973 dates for Y&R and the other soaps!! You are truly a godsend my friend and I can never thank you enough!!
    • 5-27   Mixed bag! lol.   In the designer department I can feel JM rolling his eyes at being in anything related to a suit, but she did go for comfort with Nick. And I felt it worked. And I liked what Nikki had on. And what Lily had on was something different for her, but she looked great in purple just as Amanda looked superb in white.   I could care less about the 'drama' between Adam and Chelesa. It's not even Chelesa's first time dealing with Victor's controlling ways. So my finger found the FF buttons quick.   Victor and Michael on the outs. Same ole, same ole. Not bored with it, but same ole. They could use Michael and Lauren for so much more. And Michael must have quit in one of those episodes I missed.   The highlight was easily Lily vs Phyllis. I don't know who wrote that, but THANK YOU. Lily was feeling her mama, and I loved every minute of that moment. I was just sad that the Dumas plot...and Amanda's role in it this episode...was clear C plot.
    • FROM THE VAULT: WEEKLY DAYTIME NIELSEN RATINGS: WEEKS OF 12/10/73-12/14/73 & 12/17/73-12/21/73:  

      Please register in order to view this content

      FAST WEEKLY WEEK OF 12/24/73-12/28/73 NOT AVAILABLE (Note: Per newspaper listings, the only scheduled preemptions were 12/25/73 for Dinah's Place and Baffle (preempted by Christmas Service from Washington National Cathedral). All other daytime shows were scheduled to air every day this week). That's a wrap for 1973!  Coming next are the 1973 specials, the spot checks of the 1973 non-soap daytime shows and a look at the 1973 Saturday & Sunday morning/afternoon series. 
    • KMH was annoying AF as Emily or as I call her "Emiloon" that screech crying yikes, so bad
    • spoiler alert AMC...   Ha..this is one of those storylines, much like the Salem Stalker...and whatever Alex was supposed to be holding over Alan's head that Henry knew about...what was the original intention of the through line..who is Mary Bauer and why does Meta know Zach (I know what Zach is supposed to be but was he human before...is Chele a reincarnation of Mary? )Eventually was he supposed to become human? Why is he so dull if he who is supposed to be...but it does make sense on why he is so sexless.  Of course, what the hell was the burial ground storyline of Qualo..it was like they were trying to reenact the 80s with that  temple storyline Marland gave them...would have been more interesting to have Stacy come back with "return from the dead" Silas Crocker in disguise as an older lover.  McTavish is at loose threads here and you can tell she just does not give a damn anymore.  A great idea is hidden in the whole Roger/Dinah/Hart mess....Roger having a midlife crisis and breakdown would have been good...being confronted with all of his misdeeds, the two rapes, and also his murders (the show always likes to forget that he pushed a woman down the stairs and had to have killed people in the CIA.) Maybe something he does accidentally causes Holly to miscarry, and then he does something again accidnetly to hurt Hart so he thinks he killed him. 
    • Please register in order to view this content

       
    • OMG! Not Lily vs Phyllis with Amanda giving the sip tea look!  The Dru came out in Lily!!! lol.
    • I remember, for their wedding, TPTB pulled out the old Stewart patio which had not been seen for years (and was not seen again). But during the 1960s, Ellen and David's patio was seen somewhat often during the summer months.  
    • OMG! Yes!! Best of the episode and double so after my rewatch. She got Anita ALL...THE...WAY...TOGETHER. I can't wait to get caught up and see Sharon.   Now you.  re: Samantha.   Same. I was so annoyed with Month 2 for stalling on Martin's Secret, but in hindsight...that was perfect because I got used to their characters and their lives so NOW I feel so much more invested when the Secret comes out. And how it's been done as a slow burn during May Sweeps with Bill toying with them keeps Bill in villain mode while giving organic conflict for Martin and Smitty due to what's been written for them building up to this month. Bonus...it's clear the actors are soooo much more comfortable with each other.    The one thing that I looove about Vernon is that while that is very much true what you said...when need be...he shows very brief moments of an edge. CHOOSE SILENCE...like BE STILL...lives rent free in my head. lol. I can't wait to use that on someone.  You wouldn't be alone in that. While not perfect...and haters are going to hate...if you get enjoyment even with flaws, why does anyone have an issue with Pollyanna? I see people are enjoying GH, and I have well documented reasons for liking and disliking it. And I don't at all hate on everyone who have been enjoying it and regularly watch it. It's like seeing a tweet you don't like on the Twitter. You see it, have no need to add to it, and keep scrolling.  Same. But tbf...is ANYONE screaming that now...or just naturally liking the show?  Same. But I am a sucker for bangs.  
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

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