Network: CBS
Episodes: 247 (half-hour)
Seasons: 10
TV show dates: November 14, 1988 – May 18, 1998
Series status: Cancelled/ended
Performers include: Candice Bergen, Grant Shaud, Faith Ford, Joe Regalbuto, Charles Kimbrough, Robert Pastorelli, Pat Corley, Ritch Brinkley, Lily Tomlin, John Hostetter, and Garry Marshall
TV show description:
Recovering alcoholic Murphy Brown (Candice Bergen) is a tough investigative reporter and news anchor for a national TV newsmagazine named FYI.
She works alongside stuffy and old-style newsman Jim Dial (Charles Kimbrough), and her best friend, insecure undercover reporter Frank Fontana (Joe Regalbuto). Young and neurotic Miles Silverberg (Grant Shaud) becomes the show’s producer and adds a perky former Miss America, Corky Sherwood (Faith Ford), to the anchor desk. The Washington-based group frequently congregate at the bar of gruff Phil (Pat Corley).
Corky eventually finds love with lawyer Will Forrest (Scott Bryce) and later, with Miles. When Miles leaves town for another job, he’s replaced by tough Kay Carter-Shepley (Lily Tomlin), a former game-show producer.
Strong-willed Murphy dates infrequently but finds love with men like tabloid talk show host Jerry Gold (Jay Thomas), reporter Peter Hunt (Scott Bakula), and her ex-husband Jake (Robin Thomas), who ends up fathering her child Avery (Haley Joel Osment).
The only consistent man in Murphy’s life is her philosophical house painter, Eldin Bernecky (Robert Pastorelli). He ends up moving on, as does Miles. The latter is replaced by uptight Kay Carter-Shepley (Lily Tomlin)
