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 June 4 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.

[Soaplovers]

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.

 

[kalbir]

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.

[Soapsuds]

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[BetterForgotten]

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). 

 

 

[DRW50]

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 June 11 by DRW50

[Soaplovers]

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.

[Soapsuds]

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.