Murphy Brown

1988 - 1998

Respect

14th November 1988

Episode 1

Murphy returns to FYI after ""drying out"" at the Betty Ford clinic. The show has undergone some changes while she was gone, including the addition of a beauty queen to the anchor desk and a new young executive producer. In her first week back she isn't sure whether she still has her edge.

Devil With a Blue Dress On

21st November 1988

Episode 2

Miles assigns Corky to work with Murphy on a big story about a corporate big shot. Corky inadvertently uncovers the fact that he is a drug smuggler, this isn't immediately apparent to her. Murphy almost feels guilty about taking credit for the story, but she doesn't get the chance, Corky ""grabs the brass ring.""

Nowhere to Run

28th November 1988

Episode 3

Murphy investigates a federal prosecutor who's linked to mob-run prostitution, Miles fears for his life when he receives his first death threat.

Signed, Sealed, Delivered

5th December 1988

Episode 4

Miles schedules Murphy to interview her radical ex-husband. Murphy & Jake's feelings for one another begin to ruin the chance of a professional interview.

Murphy's Pony

11th December 1988

Episode 5

During the Christmas holidays, a mother abandons her children to the care of Murphy Brown. Murphy goes all out to help them out.

Baby Love

12th December 1988

Episode 6

Murphy feels maternal pangs after visiting with a pregnant friend. She considers in vitro fertilization and talks Frank into being the donor. When that option doesn't pan out, they consider a physical union.

Set Me Free

19th December 1988

Episode 7

Murphy's having a rotten day, complicated by a gunman who interrupts the show and demands they read his statement on the air and it gets capped off by the painter she hired to do her kitchen sticking around to finish ""extending myself.""

And So He Goes

2nd January 1989

Episode 8

Murphy's long time nemesis asks for her to deliver the eulogy at his funeral, and Murphy sees it as her chance to have the last laugh or so she thinks.

I Would Have Danced All Night

9th January 1989

Episode 9

Murphy is perplexed and angry when everyone on the staff is invited to the inaugural ball of President-elect Bush. Was it something she reported? Miles debates about asking a taller woman to the ball.

Kyle

16th January 1989

Episode 10

Murphy's story wins freedom for an innocent man; when the rest of the team realizes he has a problem adjusting with the outside world, Miles offers him a job as Murphy's secretary.

Off the Job Experience

23rd January 1989

Episode 11

Miles suspends Murphy for her handling of an interview. So she leaves the office for two weeks and becomes miserable.

Why Do Fools Fall in Love?

13th February 1989

Episode 12

Cupid strikes the staff when Murphy reluctantly fixes Frank up on the condition he finds someone for her. Murphy's latest secretary has a crush on Jim.

Soul Man

20th February 1989

Episode 13

Murphy tries to gain entry into Washington's last exclusive club, trouble is, it's for men only. Murphy tries to get Jim to sponsor her, when she discovers a loophole in the by-laws.

It's How You Play the Game

27th February 1989

Episode 14

To get the public to see Frank's piece on the homeless, the FYI team competes with Jerry Gold's show on its level, with surprising results.

Mama Said

Episode 15

Murphy's overbearing mother comes to visit for an unspecified length of time.

Moscow on the Potomac

13th March 1989

Episode 16

Murphy prepares for a joint broadcast with the Soviet news equivalent of Murphy Brown.

My Dinner with Einstein

20th March 1989

Episode 17

Murphy dates a physicist to prove looks aren't everything, but he proves to be a party guy.

Funnies Girl

10th April 1989

Episode 18

An on-camera slip of the tongue, makes Murphy the butt of a cartoonist's joke in ""The Adventures of Mouthy Brown,"" then the rest of the staff falls victim.

The Unshrinkable Murphy Brown

Episode 19

While Murphy is grilling him on the show, a judge dies of a heart attack. This causes Murphy to lose her edge, so she attends a group therapy session.

The Summer of '77

Episode 20

Eldin meets Corky for the first time and becomes infatuated with her. Phil reflects on the first time he met Murphy, when she first came to Washington to audition against Linda Ellerbee & Frank Fontana for FYI.

The Bickners

Episode 21

A minor traffic accident, with a sweet elderly couple, results in a 1.5 million dollar lawsuit for Murphy.

The Morning Show

Episode 22

During an off week at FYI, Murphy & Corky co-anchor the network's morning show, and Murphy finds it's a job she just isn't made for. Murphy's new secretary has a passing resemblance to a ""dead"" celebrity.

Top Cast

Candice Bergen•Faith Ford•Joe Regalbuto

Murphy Brown (Candice Bergen) is a recovering alcoholic who returns to the fictional newsmagazine FYI for the first time following a stay at the Betty Ford Clinic residential treatment center. Over 40 and single, she is sharp tongued and hard as nails. In her profession, she is considered one of the boys, having shattered many glass ceilings encountered during her career. Dominating the FYI news magazine, she is portrayed as one of America's hardest-hitting (though not the warmest or more sympathetic) media personalities.

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Full Cast

Candice Bergen Image

Candice Bergen

Murphy Brown

Faith Ford Image

Faith Ford

Corky Sherwood

Joe Regalbuto Image

Joe Regalbuto

Frank Fontana

Charles Kimbrough Image

Charles Kimbrough

Jim Dial

Lily Tomlin Image

Lily Tomlin

Kay Carter-Shepley

Full Crew

Candice Bergen Image

Candice Bergen

Co-Executive Producer

Diane English Image

Diane English

Executive Producer

Gary Dontzig

Executive Producer

Steve Dorff Image

Steve Dorff

Music

Gil Hubbs

Cinematography

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