"Murder, She Wrote" (1984) TV series 1984-1996

User Rating:

7.1/10   

Creators:

Peter S. Fischer
Richard Levinson
William Link

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12

Release Date:

30 September 1984 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Crime | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

Plot:

Mystery writer finds herself investigating murders that occur around her.

Plot Keywords:

Murder | Mystery Writer | Writing | Woman Detective | Amateur Detective

Awards:

Won 6 Golden Globes. Another 25 wins & 54 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Mon. Nov. 9	1:00 PM	HALMRK	Who Threw the Barbitals in Mrs. Fletcher's Chowder?	#4.12
Mon. Nov. 9	2:00 PM	HALMRK	Harbinger of Death	#4.13

Cast

Angela Lansbury

...

Jessica Fletcher / ... (264 episodes, 1984-1996)

Runtime:

60 min (264 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Singapore:PG | Singapore:NC-16 (season 7) | New Zealand:M (seasons 3 - 8) | New Zealand:PG (seasons 1-2) | Australia:M (some episodes) | Australia:PG (some episodes) | Argentina:13

Filming Locations:

Beverly Hills, California, USA

Company:

Corymore Productions

Trivia:

The episodes "Jack and Bill" and "Whatever Happened to Mary Margaret" are apparently pilot episodes for other shows that were broadcast as "Murder She Wrote" episodes, apparently in an attempt to create a spin-off. The only successful spin off of this series was "The Law and Harry McGraw" (1987).

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Exclusive (1992) (TV)

One of the greatest shows ever

You don't have to be an old lady to like this show; I'm sixteen years old and a male to boot. I am a big fan of whodunits, and always have been. This is one of the best. In the first few seasons, several episodes featured creative and delightful gimmicks. Although creatively the series sagged a bit in the "middle years," the last two seasons showed a resurgence in quality. Throughout the series' twelve years, however, very few episodes failed to deliver in terms of the mystery itself: it's always fun to try to find the clues and deduce their meaning before the detective does, but if you don't, it's also fun to hear the explanation.

Although there are several lovable recurring characters, the only real regular in the series is Angela Lansbury. Consequently, the format is refreshingly free, and the writers aren't forced to bog the stories down for a boatload of regulars. However, there are always plenty of interesting characters acting as suspects. Frequently there are famous beloved older guest stars, especially in the first few seasons, but the special guest star is not always the killer; the mystery always comes first! This is an old-fashioned mystery series, unmarred by an overdose of violence or melodrama. Plus, Jessica Fletcher is a character that one can't help but love, and Angela Lansbury plays it to charming perfection.

There is, of course, the obvious creative license: that Jessica Fletcher always accidentally stumbles across a murder. If you are willing to put this aside, this is a show one can really enjoy. (Note: The show pokes fun at itself on occasion, including one where Jessica reveals that she is nicknamed "the Bloody Mary of murder.")