Murphy Brown (1988)
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Peter Bonerz — Director
Episodes 93
The Usual Suspects
Murphy goes off the deep end when a tabloid prints lies about her, one of which says she is drinking again.
Read MoreUh-Oh (3)
Jake tells Murphy he has decided he isn't ready to settle down, and they both agree they can't do it together. Murphy decides to exercise her right to choose and her choice is motherhood. Even though it's Jake's baby, Jerry knows fatherhood isn't for him. While everyone else freaks out at the news, only Eldin is truly happy for Murphy. Murphy ""Do you think I'll make a good mother."" Eldin ""No, but I will.""
Read MoreI'm As Much of a Man as I Ever Was
Gene Kinsella finds out about Murphy's pregnancy and considers the idea of taking her off the air. But Miles convinces him not to. Once that is solved, Murphy must get a quote from the president for her latest story. Frank says the only way to get this quote is jogging with him.
Murphy thinks she's up for the job but Frank and Jim don't think so because of her pregnancy. So, Murphy accepts Frank's offer of getting the quote for her. When that doesn't work, Murphy tries to get it herself and ends up running over the president with her bike.
Even though Murphy didn't get her quote she's happy, and concludes that her pregnancy will not make her life any more difficult, all she has to do is be a little more creative.
Read MoreThe Square Triangle
Murphy gets a competent secretary in Miles' girlfriend, Audrey. The pressure of working together causes their break up and Frank becomes the tool Audrey uses to get back at Miles.
Read MoreFull Circle
After learning about her mother's death, Murphy doesn't seem to be that upset, which makes the FYI gang think that she's hiding her true feelings. She claims it's because of a letter her mother left to her saying that she must not cry, and if it's allowed she'll make one last visit to Murphy at the end of the night.
So, Murphy and the Phil crowd decide to celebrate Avery's spirit. Murphy's father, Bill Brown shows up and suggests that they go home so they can talk about the good times the three of them had together.
At Murphy's townhouse, Eldin is grieving Avery's passing and refuses to actually believe it. After he's gone, Murphy and her father decide to open the big trunk Avery left to Murphy containing a photo album, Murphy's indian blanket among other things.
After arguing with her father over things from the past, Murphy finds a little box inside of the trunk, with one of Avery's hats, which Murphy tries on, also in that box there's a smaller one wrapped up as a present with a
Read MoreThe Smiths Go to Washington
It's Nightline vs. FYI when both shows court a small town family that inadvertently taped a senator's romantic rendezvous.
Read MoreIt Came From College
When Murphy looks after a friend's 18-year-old daughter she begins to learn about what being a mother is all about.
Read MoreThe Queen of Soul
Murphy's chance to interview the "Queen of Soul" is in jeopardy when her train arrives late and the limo gets detoured and the staff struggles to fill the air time.
Read MoreInside Murphy Brown
Murphy has an appointment with a gynecologist for a test she can't drive to, when no one else is available, Jim must take her. The results of the test are normal with one exception, it's a boy.
Read MoreHe-Ho, He-Ho, It's Off to Lamaze We Go
Murphy's doctor advises her to take Lamaze classes, and even though Murphy thinks it's not really necessary, she agrees. The problem is that Murphy has to find a partner for that. Frank is her first choice, but he won't be able to make it, because he has to go on location for a story. Murphy then goes after Jim, but only the thought makes him very embarassed and uncomfortable. Miles can't do it either for the same reason. Corky offers to, but Murphy doesn't think it's a good idea.
The only one left is Eldin, who reluctantly agrees saying that ha can't make any promises, because he's a free spirit and he doesnt like to stick around at the same place for too long (yeah, right). And that's a big commitment for him.
They go to the first class and aparently Murphy and Eldin is not the only couple who doesn't know what they're doing. At the second class, one of the couples is absent, because they had thir baby. The other two seem to be getting better, but Murphy is still clueless. Th
Read MoreOn the Rocks
The network tries a temporary replacement for Murphy; however, Murphy recognizes the same signs in her that show she is on the same path Murphy once traveled, alcoholism.
Read MoreA Chance of Showers
Murphy relents when Corky wants to throw her a baby shower and the guests that arrive give her the low down on child birth and children.
Read MoreYou Say Potatoe, I Say Potato (1)
After the delivery, Murphy goes through her ""period of adjustment"" including the sleepless nights, finding a suitable nanny, name for the baby, then Dan opens his mouth.
Read MoreYou Say Potatoe, I Say Potato (2)
Murphy is angry over the Vice President's comments about her choice of ""family values,"" while trying to deal with her choice.
Read MoreLife After Birth
During her first day back at FYI, Murphy discovers just how hard it is to leave the baby at home with a nanny.
Read MoreBlack, White & Brown
The network moves Kinsella into a nothing position, Murphy finds herself unusually pleasant to the new ""black"" vice president of news at the network, Mitchell Baldwin.
Read MoreI Never Sang for My Husband
Doris, feeling that her life is miserable, decides to become a cabaret singer and Jim has hard time dealing with it.
Read MoreNight of Living News
Frank, sensing his ""big break,"" persuades a reluctant Murphy to co-host the network's new overnight news program with him, and the pair get punchy while on the air.
Read MoreA Year to Remember
While working their way through Election Day, the staff recalls casting their first votes.
Read MoreMidnight Plane to Paris
Murphy leaves Eldin as nanny when she must fly to Paris for a European Summit Conference. She also decides on the baby's name, Avery and a full time nanny, Eldin.
Read MoreMe Thinks My Parents Doth Protest Too Much
Miles is embarrassed when his activist parents come to Washington for a large demonstration.
Read MoreWinners Take All
The Museum of Broadcast Arts awards ceremony honoring FYI turns into a colossal battle of egos and nobody has a bigger one than Murphy.
Read MoreTill Death or Next Thursday Do We Part
After finishing his book The Little Dutch Boy and the movie's screenplay, Will gets hit with a plagiarism suit at the premiere. The stress of the situation exposes Corky and Will's marital problems.
Read MoreGames Mother Play
Though she thinks she knows how to relate to Avery, Murphy is swayed into giving him some ""quality time"" by playing games and singing children's songs with a group of other mothers.
Read MoreThe More Things Change
An arrogant new colleague threatens everyone on the staff, especially Murphy who's just reduced her role on FYI resulting from the pressures of motherhood. Their relationship hits it off real well just as the show is ready to air.
Read MoreAngst For the Memories
Murphy gets an interview with a reclusive '60s literary idol, but times and people have changed.
Read MoreBlack and White and Read All Over
After going to a function with Mitchell, Murphy begins to date him. Is there anything there, or do they just like it when heads turn?
Read MorePolitical Correctness
A series of on-air comments made by Peter and Murphy gets the staff forced to attend a seminar on political correctness.
Read MoreThe Young & the Rest of Us
The staff gets nervous when Peter whisks away a depressed Corky on her 30th birthday.
Read MoreTicket to Writhe
Peter and Murphy compete for the Middle East peace story. Miles obtains sideline passes to a Washington football game where he plans to propose to Audrey via the scoreboard, but finds he is so wrapped up with work he didn't even notice that she has left him. Corky thinks the passes are cursed when more bad things occur to anyone in possession of them.
Read MoreI Don't Know You From Madam
Murphy works reluctantly on a story the network brass wants on ""The Beltway Madam,"" a high priced call girl who's just been exposed and is the hottest story in town.
Read MoreAll the Life That's Fit to Print
Murphy has nightmares about what her colleagues will say about her when they are interviewed for a biography that she has authorized to be written.
Read MoreBah Humboldt
Peter, Frank & Murphy are all nominated for the Humboldt Award. While at the ceremony, Murphy can't understand how disinterested Peter is in the award and Frank hears a rumor about a network having to make cutbacks.
Read MoreReaper Madness
Murphy is obsessed with the need to try to explain death to Avery and bothers everyone for their perspective.
Read MoreIt's Not Easy Being Brown
To improve upon her image, Murphy gets a publicist and makes an appearance on a children's puppet show.
Read MoreTo Have and Have Not
Miles comes under public scrutiny when he is misquoted in a magazine article that makes him out to be the biggest male chauvinist in Washington, DC.
Read MoreSocks and the Single Woman
Murphy gets invited to the White House by the Clintons. Once she gets back to the office, she finds out she has a furry stowaway.
Read MoreBrown vs. the Board of Education
Murphy tries to impress the board members of the prestigious ""Ducky Lucky Pre-School,"" by inviting them to a celebrity filled party.
Read MoreWhere Have You Gone, Joe DiMaggio?
A media frenzy ensues when famous ex-astronaut ""Danger Duke"" Robinson is wanted for questioning in the murder of his brother.
Read MoreLoose Affiliations
Murphy bad mouths the network's new fall line-up and the staff is forced to attend an affiliate's meeting.
Read MoreBe Careful What You Wish For
Corky's handling of a tough interview impresses her colleagues, but it isn't a hit with her fans, so she invites a few of the hate mail writers to the FYI offices.
Read MoreBurger, She Wrote
When her life-sized statue of ""Meaty Boy,"" an icon from a childhood burger place, is taken as a prank, Murphy unleashes a reign of terror against the suspected perpetrators.
Read MoreHumboldt IV: Judgment Day
Jim tries to get the staff to be part of the Humboldt Award judging committee. Frank just tries to get on the ballot, since he forgot to send in his entry, but didn't forget his ad campaign. After the judging an easy category, Murphy plans to go to a Motown festival with Peter, but when she gets reassigned to another category, she makes the other judge's experience, including Corky, a living hell.
Read MoreFrank Cuts Loose
FYI is moved out of its time slot to Saturday night, Frank goes upstairs to try to get the show moved back. Instead, he gets his big chance at being the lead anchor of the new magazine show that is taking the time slot. Then the network asks Murphy to interview him before their first show.
Read MoreReporters Make Strange Bedfellows
After her story falls apart, Peter & Murphy try to have a romantic weekend in the Cayman Islands. Just after arriving, Murphy gets word that the story is back on and Peter stumbles onto a lead and then their competition begins.
Read MoreThe Best and Not-So-Brightest
Stuart Best returns to Washington as a congressman and he humiliates Murphy at an inaugural party. To get her revenge, Murphy gets him on FYI to see where he stands on the issues, only Stuart didn't find out who was contributing to his campaign.
Read MoreRumble in the Alley
Murphy and Peter find out how much they don't know; when they go out on a double date with Frank and a quick blind date that Peter finds for him. Corky and Miles relationship begins to gel.
Read MoreRequiem For a Crew Guy
Murphy is the only one who can't remember Jack, a crew member who's just died; everyone else can, but Murphy is the one who's been asked to give the eulogy.
Read MoreI Want My MTV-Jay
While Lansing is in the hospital for a ""heart attack,"" he decides to bring youth and cute animals into the CBS schedule, this includes the addition of a former MTV veejay to FYI. Murphy likes the new anchor, but during a White House press conference, her politics come out.
Read MoreFYI of the Hurricane
The staff is sent down to Florida to cover a hurricane and Murphy is showing signs of being pregnant again. Later after the results of a test are in, Peter asks Murphy an important question.
Read MoreModel Relationships
Miles begins dating Vendela, the supermodel, to make Corky jealous. Murphy relents and lets Corky help make her wedding plans, so that pizza won't be on the menu.
Read MoreAltered States
With her marriage to Peter canceled, Murphy is skeptical at the sudden marriage of Miles and Corky.
Read MoreThe Awful Truth
Lansing's nephew becomes Vice President of Current Affairs and he lures Murphy into a new hard news show he's created featuring Walter Cronkite; however, soon Cronkite becomes Redfield and the hard news becomes infotainment.
Read MoreFearless Frank
Frank escapes death while interviewing a mass murderer. Frank would like to cover less action stories; however, Lansing, hoping for a ratings boost, wants Frank to cover even riskier stories. Frank starts doing the stunts and then Lansing wants him to jump off the building, live.
Read MoreMurphy's Law
Murphy's appearance in traffic court and her need to not get special treatment, because of her celebrity status, gets her a fine and 40 hours of community service. The judge demands that she reappear in court when it is reported that didn't serve her time by getting special treatment, the network hires a high-power ""defense team.""
Read MoreSex or Death
Sex (consummation of his marriage to Corky) or death (from Murphy) is on the line for Miles when he gives a pivotal political story to each of them, then must take it back. He waffles and assigns the story to both of them.
Read MoreBad Company
Andrew comes down to Murphy with a story idea, for a profile of a business mogul. She rejects the idea. Frank takes the idea but doesn't do anything with it. Andrew provides the dirt & Murphy and Frank do a big expose at the same time that this mogul buys the network.
Read MoreThe Ten Percent Solution
Murphy fires her agent and then the rivalry begins when she signs with Jim's agent and gets everything she wants. Jim's jealously builds and is revealed during an airing of the McLaughlin Group.
Read MoreDick and Dottie
Lansing wants Murphy to apologize publicly about a comment she made about a popular talk-show host. She tries, but things only get worse.
Read MoreIf You're Going to Talk the Talk
Murphy is the reluctant winner of an interview with a celebrity who's never given one. Just as she gets into doing the whole ""fluff"" piece, a real news story breaks out. The network decides they want to continue with the ""fluff"" but will Murphy sacrifice her journalistic integrity?
Read MoreMy Fair Miller
Lansing asks Jim to turn Miller into a real newsman. The rest of FYI is shocked to find out that Jim is responsible for the change in Miller. Jim is shocked to find out that a similar thing was done for him many years ago.
Read MoreOld Flames
Murphy misses a social event and tries to pull an all-nighter to work on her latest story. Peter drops by unexpectedly (he's only in town for 24 hours). Murphy wants to keep working on her story; instead she falls asleep. She begins dreaming that she's on trial for all her relationship sins, and begins facing all her previous suitors in court.
Read MoreUp in Smoke
Stuart Best is now a tobacco lobbyist but he has a change of heart when he decides that smoking really stinks. He gives FYI the memos and etc. that will expose the tobacco industry. He becomes a little nervous and meets with the network lawyers where a little detail reveals they could all be sued. Murphy contemplates her future in journalism, but Jim makes the move.
Read MoreAftermath
Jim's surprise resignation last week, impacts the future of FYI. The FYI staff convince Lansing to get him back, but that doesn't work out the way they'd hoped. Lansing makes Miller their new anchor and Jim tells everyone that he is going to head the news division for the new ICN Network. Later, Murphy and Frank go there to convince him to return, but Murphy sees that despite that fact everything is falling apart around him, he is truly enjoying himself.
Read MoreThe Bus Stops Here
Miles gets to use the new T-2000 bus to cover a primary campaign stop in Madison. The bus breaks down before they get there, so they decide to do their coverage from a local diner. GOP aides and other networks discover the broadcast and descend on the diner, turning it into just another campaign story. Meanwhile, Jim and his team get to Madison and get the real story.
Read MoreWhen A. Lansing Loves a Woman
A secret admirer fills Murphy's office with flowers, candy and other gifts. It's obvious who the admirer is, Andrew J. Lansing III. Andrew gets her to his place (under false pretenses), Frank rescues her; however, they discover the hideous truth.
Read MoreStepping Out (1)
Murphy celebrates her 8th year of sobriety, but she has a few steps to go. Making amends is her next step, an awfully big one but she tries really hard; everyone else is concerned about rumors of FYI moving its time slot. Murphy decides to confront Stan about the rumor. She finds out more than she wants to (and even more from Phil) then have to keep it a secret, especially from Corky and Frank. Murphy decides to quit FYI, Frank and Corky join her.
Read MoreMiles Away (2)
The unemployed staff members decide it would be a slap in the face to the network if they helped Jim and his team out. Miller wants to move into Murphy's office. Miles fills Lansing in on the state of things. Lansing offers advice to Miles, which he declines. Lansing concedes, FYI is back, complete with Jim; the network is going to let them run the tobacco story. Charles Kuralt takes over Jim's responsibilities at ICN. Impressed with Miles' hardball tactics, Lansing offers him a big job in New York City and he accepts.
Read MoreExecutive Decision
Andrew moves in as the executive producer and the staff moves him out. They try to interview replacements, but Andrew keeps getting in the way. Lansing makes a decision that puts the executive producer of a game show in charge of FYI and she lays down one of the rules of her game.
Read MorePower Play
Kay begins to wield her power. She starts with the wardrobe policy, the coffee island and holding the story meetings in her office. Murphy fights back and the rest of the staff joins her, even though they like the story assignments she's given them. She stands fast as they all cave in. She confronts Kay and lets her know who's in charge; however we discover who's really the master manipulator. Murphy takes Kay's story idea (moderating the Presidential debates) and finds out the rest have killed their stories. Kay offers to help them get them back as Murphy declares war.
Read MoreA Comedy of Eros
Frank is getting one of his plays produced. When he gets an out of country assignment, he leaves Murphy in charge of looking after his interests in the production. Busy with her own story, Murphy takes a hands off approach to the production, leaving the director to make his own decisions. The director, decides on a major casting change; Murphy finds out about it, just before the curtain rises.
Read MoreSon of Dottie
Dottie invites Avery to her son Harrison's birthday party, despite the fact that Murphy tells her she doesn't like her. Corky finds some interesting information on Dottie's clothing line, Murphy makes a deal and trades stories; then she dishes the dirt on Dottie. Even that doesn't initially keep Dottie away. Finally she hates her; however, Murphy discovers that Avery still wants to go to the party. Murphy sneaks him in, but Dottie still demands an apology.
Read MorePhil's Dead - Long Live Phil's
Phil passes away. When Phyllis announces her intention to sell, the gang decides to buy the bar. Trouble begins when each has their own idea how to improve the place. Finally they decide that they should keep one tradition.
Read MoreDefending Your Life
Murphy is ready to anchor the election coverage. However all her former secretary have formed a support group. The Eastern branch is lead by Robert (Secretary #2) and they all try to show Murphy the error of her ways.
Read MoreUnderdogs
Murphy's former agent, Steve, gives her a copy of TV Q ratings. She discovers that Miller's ratings are very low and she sees an opportunity to finally get rid of him. So she hooks Miller up with her former agent and insists it would be a great time for him to renegotiate his contract using the ""underdog theory."" He is fired and ironically all the other networks start a bidding war for his services.
Read MoreNobody's Perfect
Frank thinks that Dana may finally be the one. He asks Murphy to have lunch with her and give her approval. When she does, he hesitates, but then moves he moves in with her. At their first dinner party, some truths about Dana are revealed. She keeps a menagerie in her apartment, has a son, her furniture is being repossessed and her ex-husband has broken out of prison and is looking for a place to stay.
Read MoreMontezuma's Retreat
Murphy suspects that Kay has ulterior motives when Kay says the network is sending the staff to a retreat in Mexico. Instead, while there, she must contend with filling all her free time avoiding a group of employees from a corporation that she exposed for their corrupt practices. Corky faces being without Miles, yet again. Jim discovers a ""short""-age when he packs his own suitcase for the first time. Frank fearing the worst when Kay wants to talk with him gets the courage to confront her.
Read MoreThe Big Thaw
When Kay and Murphy are the only ones to make it into the office during a snowstorm. Kay seizes the opportunity to get an evaluation of her performance. Instead, she gets Murphy giving her several examples of how she acted in a variety of situations.
Read MoreWho Do You Truss?
Jim is going to the hospital for a hernia operation. Frank and Murphy both fight to do the commentary during his absence. Kay leaves the decision up to them. They decide to ask Jim, despite the fact that Jim is just regaining consciousness from his operation. Corky gets a protégé, who's a lot like she was years ago; it slowly drives her nuts.
Read MoreOh, Danny Boy
Corky complains about the local dry cleaner; she plans to take action. Frank complains about Dana's delinquent son. Murphy suggests that he gets a job. Frank asks Kay and he suddenly becomes a valuable asset to the organization, as a strong arm man. Murphy, stuck keeping an eye on Danny has to take him with her to Atlantic City. While there, gambling fever takes them over.
Read MoreDesperate Times
To combat against some radical changes that Kay is proposing, Murphy enlists the aid of Andrew J. Lansing III, who has been recuperating in a Buddhist monastery.
Read MoreAnd That's the Way it Was?
Frank announces that he's taken the plunge; he bought a new Jaguar XK8. Corky comes in with a story about Walter Cronkite. Only she can't tell them what he said, only she does but can't elaborate on the grunt he made about Murphy. Not knowing what he thinks begin to affect her performance. Frank tries to help out with help from Tom Snyder and Phil Jr.. Murphy goes to confront Walter.
Read MoreHow to Marry a Billionaire
A billionaire media mogul proposes marriage to Murphy while she is conducting an on-air interview with him. Murphy doubts the sincerity of the proposal, then the gift of an 8+ carat diamond ring arrives. She declines the invitation, but that doesn't keep Briggs from trying, by using Frank and the other FYI staffers. He even buys her contract from Lansing, then Kay steps in.
Read MoreHero Today, Gone Tomorrow
Stuart Best is dubbed a hero at a fire. Murphy's probing questions lead the authorities to think he may have actually set the fire.
Read MoreMurphy Redux
Murphy says her goodbyes to the gang of FYI. She takes a month off before her new job at the White House starts. On her first day, Murphy enters the gate of the White House and forty minutes later she makes her exit. She goes back to FYI looking for her old job; though Joan Lunden is a prime candidate. When she does return, her first show back features a report by Corky on breast cancer. Appalled by the fact that neither Murphy nor Kay has had a recent mammogram, Corky insists they each get one. Kay's test is negative, but Murphy has to speak to the doctor.
Read MoreA Butcher, A Faker a Bummed-Out Promo Maker
Murphy needs a biopsy, which she reluctantly gets right away and must wait to hear the results at the end of the next day. In the morning of the next day the staff fights the network lawyers who want to kill their grocery chain story. As a comprise with the network they can do their story if they have a legal consultant with them in the remote unit and Jim must do promos for all the local affiliates. When their undercover operative isn't going to work out and Frank is convinced he is to well known to pull it off, Kay volunteers. Meanwhile, Jim makes his promos. Just before going to dinner that evening, Murphy gets the results of her test and tells Frank the news.
Read MoreEctomy, Schmectomy
When Murphy and Frank don't show up for dinner, Kay speculates they have are a having a relationship. Murphy drops the bomb on the rest of the staff. Jim is speechless. Frank tries to help in every way that he can. Murphy faces a tough decision with the myriad of treatment options for her breast cancer.
Read MoreFrom the Terrace
Murphy fires yet another secretary and while searching for a story idea for Corky, Kay suggests the staff go out on the terrace. They get trapped out there, when the door closes and no one has a key. Jim has a dinner date scheduled with Doris, Corky is going to miss the lighting of the White House tree and Frank has a flight to Costa Rica. They have a chance to get back inside when Murphy's recently fired secretary returns to the office, only for the ex-secretary it's revenge time. Kay feels they've been locked out on the terrace for some greater purpose, while Murphy has her doubts. Meanwhile, in a building across the way, a man and a woman fight about the time they're not spending on their relationship, only to be inspired by a group of people on a balcony.
Read MoreThen and Now
Kay's idea to take the show to Paris turns into the network's idea of airing old stories on a cable special. The staff tries to decide upon which of their old stories to show. Murphy sees herself side-by-side, then and now and that causes her to return to her childhood home in Philadelphia in an attempt to recapture something from her childhood.
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