Murder, She Wrote

[Khan]

Yeah, I recall that as well.  In fact, I think, next to (ahem) Bill Cosby's, her Q ratings were the highest in TV.  (But, I could be wrong about that.)

Unfortunately, they never found the right showcase for her to win that elusive Emmy.  They tried -- hence, cousin Emma -- but J.B. Fletcher wasn't as flashy a role as Christine Cagney ("Cagney & Lacey") or Jill Brock ("Picket Fences").

Same.

I'm convinced her success on MSW was at least partially responsible for her landing the gig as Mrs. Potts in the original "Beauty and the Beast," a movie and performance that exposed her to an entirely new generation of fans.

[DaytimeFan]

There are episode of MSW where Jessica encounters mysteries concerning her late husband, Frank, which gave Lansbury her best shots at the Emmy. The Last Flight of the Dixie Damsel (Robin Strasser guest stars) and Thursday's Child (Lansbury's old Hollywood friend Vera Miles plays a woman who claims Frank Fletcher is the father of her child).

I also don't think Emmy voters watched the show. Lansbury said it herself that Hollywood didn't watch the show. She has been nominated so many times, for various things, and never won. There has to be some Hollywood politics at play. Perhaps some were jealous of her success.

[Paul Raven]

No misunderstanding there I totally agree. Just because Angela wanted some retirement funds didn't preclude her from wanting to put out a quality product. In fact , that dedication from all involved ensured MSW resonated with audiences.

That prejudice against certain programmes was around for years.

Look at Peyton Place. Lee Grant was awarded because she did a guest stint whereas the regulars, who turned in some amazing performances, were shut out. This was at a time when there were virtually no women on primetime TV drama.Barbara Bain won for Mission Impossible. She was great but Dorothy, Barbara etc were also deserving.

Same with the nightime soaps in the 80's.The women got some meaty roles but were never acknowledged due to the snobbery around that genre.

Edited February 14, 2022 by Paul Raven

[Khan]

I think the only reason why Barbara Bel Geddes won HER Emmy was because it was for a breast cancer story, which was a kind of story that the primetime soaps generally avoided.

[Khan]

I remember "The Last Flight of the Dixie Damsel" chiefly for two reasons: one, it guest-starred Strasser, back when she still knew how to be subtle in her acting choices; and two, it served as a prequel of sorts to "Prediction: Murder," which had a mystery so obvious that I wonder why it took Jessica an entire hour to figure it out.

[Paul Raven]

And she was Barbara Bel Geddes respected stage actress. The likes of Donna Mills or Susan Sullivan who came from daytime soaps and other primetime gigs were not deemed worthy.

[Soapsuds]

I don't want to side track the topic but were DM and SS ever nominated for an Emmy? I don't recall.

[Khan]

True.  Of course, Julie Harris was ALSO a respected stage actor, but she never won for her work on KNOTS LANDING.

No, they weren't.

[BetterForgotten]

MSW's ongoing popularity also led to very strong DVD sales (which again, was rare for an hour-long drama that had long been off the air). So much so that Universal once released a trailer ahead of the season 9 DVD release.

 

[Paul Raven]

Back to MSW.

Was it a fact that in the final seasons, the guest cast was a lot less'starry' due to budget cuts ?

[Soapsuds]

I have all the seasons on DVD. I'm hoping we get a blu ray release soon.

[Khan]

Maybe.  However, even during its' final seasons, MSW remained a cash cow for CBS on Sunday nights.  I can't see CBS or Universal slashing its' budget so much that they could no longer afford "name" guest stars, if it meant potentially crippling the show.

If anything, I think less older stars were featured, because of a concerted effort from all parties -- CBS, Universal, even Angela herself -- to make the show more appealing to younger audiences.  That's why you saw Jessica begin spending more and more time with people who were young enough to be her children.  They skewed younger and they made Jessica appear younger as well.

[BetterForgotten]

Angela Lansbury on the wide audience (young and old) that watched MSW:

 

Edited February 14, 2022 by BetterForgotten

[Khan]

Well, it's true that once Angela Lansbury took over production, Jessica became a more seasoned world traveler.  However, I think Fischer did a much better job convincing viewers that the show wasn't so studio-bound.  You watch those shows from the later years, when Jessica is supposed to be in Egypt or whatever, and there's just no way in hell you believe it, lol.

Edited February 14, 2022 by Khan

[Paul Raven]

That makes sense.

I just read up on the show  and yes, cheaper guest stars were used to combat costs, so it addressed both issues.

When Angela's Corymore took over production of the show, they were set for life. Several family members worked on the show and her son and stepson secured deals with CBS.