What’s going on with Murphy Brown? Recently, CBS boss Kelly Kahl spoke with The Hollywood Reporter about the future of the TV show revival.
The comedy series stars Candice Bergen as the titular Murphy Brown, who is now hosting the CNC morning show, Murphy in the Morning. The cast also includes Grant Shaud, Faith Ford, and Joe Regalbuto, Nik Dodani, Jake McDorman, Adan Rocha, and Tyne Daly.
In the interview, Kahl revealed Murphy Brown is still being considered for renewal for the 2019-20 season:
I heard from people that they really enjoyed the show. [Creator] Diane English came to us and said this was the show she wanted to do and we let her do that show. I think she would agree with that. It was a very fun show to be involved with and it certainly remains in contention for next year.”
Notably, ratings for Murphy Brown’s 11th season were lower than expected and CBS did not order any additional episodes for the 2018-19 season. Both those factors have led many to believe the CBS series would be cancelled, but Kahl says creator Diane English only wanted 13 episodes:
Diane and Warner Bros. TV came to us from minute one and said we’d like to do 13 episodes of the show — and only 13 episodes of the show. We understood we were doing 13 episodes of the show and planned it that way. There was really no talk of anything beyond that because that’s what we understood; that was the deal with the show when it came to us.”
And what are the chances of a season 12 renewal for Murphy Brown? Kahl says CBS will decide this spring:
It depends. You get to May [upfronts] and you have to look at all the pieces in contention and piece together a new season. You have to try to make everything fit the schedule to the best of your ability.
So if Murphy Brown‘s fate is still up in the air, what about Life in Pieces? The show’s fourth season does not yet have a premiere date, but according to Kahl, the season will air this season.
What do you think? Did you watch the Murphy Brown revival? Would you watch another season? Are you looking forward to seeing Life In Pieces return?
Love the reboot of this show! Very smart and funny writing. I watch the show over and over on the CBS app. Please don’t cancel it!
Love Murphy Brown, so sad to hear it has or may be cancelled. 🙁
I hope Murphy Brown will be renewed. It’s a great commentary on our time.
I enjoy both Murphy Brown and Life in Pieces. I think Murphy Brown needs to find its rhythm in its new format, but I think it’s a viable show. I’d like to see it explore how the relationships among the team have changed over the years. Was so glad to see Jim Dial in so many episodes. He’s a class act, a perfect counterpoint to Murphy’s shoot-from-the-hip approach. I love Life in Pieces, too. It’s quirky, and I like quirky.
We love Life in Pieces. Probably the only show we look forward to watch. Though, we like to collect several episodes on the DVR because we love to binge watch it.
I loved every minute of this show. It is hilarious. Would be so happy for more of this.
Please renew Murphy Brown!
Life in pieces all the way. By far our favorite TV show. Will be horribly disappointed if it is bot renewed
Our family is all about how we love, love, love Murphy Brown. It was so pleasant to have a new comedy to watch and loved all the topics they had. Was so shocked when I seen that it had been cancelled. I feel that when they are going to make so many, and end it after that that they should tell us up front so we don’t watch and not have so much disappointment I know, they wouldn’t do that and have so many people not watch.
I did watch Murphy Brown and liked it. Also, I definitely want Life in Pieces to stay on! It is very clever and different from everything else, I am really missing it!
If I had to pick one, Life In Pieces over Murphy Brown. I’m tired of everything being politics which Murphy Brown seemed to concentrate on. Too much for me, I found it not as funny as the original. Murphy, it could’ve been better.
PLEASE Bring back both Murphy Brown and Life In Pieces! We need all the intelligent humor we can get these days.