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Wes Craven is widely known for shaping the horror genre with hits like Nightmare on Elm Street and Scream, but his lesser-known works reveal a filmmaker with a more nuanced approach to storytelling. Although many of his movies didn't achieve the same level of success, they highlight the director-writer-producer's ability to explore deeper themes and push the limits of genre filmmaking, particularly horror movies.

Craven’s work outside his most famous titles often explored darker, more experimental ideas, combining horror with psychologically intense themes. Some of his most underrated movies are not merely about shocking and scaring the viewer; they also examine human nature, fear, and the consequences of societal issues. Titles such as Wes Craven’s New Nightmare and The People Under the Stairs demonstrate Craven’s potential to innovate and challenge expectations, all while continuing to offer a still-fresh perspective on what horror can be. With much-deserved praise for his most popular works,...

Murphy Brown was a hit in the '90s for its strong portrayal of a female reporter tackling real issues. The 2018 revival of Murphy Brown only lasted one season, likely due to its heavy focus on politics. Candice Bergen and the rest of the cast have continued with guest appearances and new projects since the show ended.

Murphy Brown was one of the biggest comedies of the 1990s. Candice Bergen's titular investigative reporter for the Fyi news magazine captured viewers' attention on CBS for ten seasons and nearly 250 episodes. That's a run that fewer and fewer shows see these days.

Murphy Brown stood out for its strong portrayal of a no-nonsense female reporter tackling significant issues of the day. The show was a hallmark of its time, so it's no surprise it was given the reboot treatment in 2018. However, this revival only lasted one season before CBS pulled the plug.

Arnold Schwarzenegger made a whole slew of classic 80s action movies. Still, one remains totally obscure despite being released smack dab in the middle of his amazing The Terminator to Predator run of movies from 1984-87. That film in 1986’s Raw Deal. A formulaic 80s action flick, it’s the most modestly mounted Schwarzenegger action epic of the era, with Arnie coerced into starring in it to complete a long-standing contract he had with producer Dino De Laurentiis following Conan The Barbarian.

In it, Schwarzenegger is somewhat unconvincingly cast as a small-town sheriff named Kaminski, who used to be an FBI agent but was forced out of the bureau after roughing up a suspect. He’s recruited by his old mentor (The Night Stalker’s legendary Darren McGavin) whose son was killed by the Chicago mob. He wants Kaminski to go undercover in the mob and tear them apart from the inside.

Shelley Smith, a model and actress known for her roles in the TV shows The Associates and For Love and Honor, has died. She was 70 years old. Michael Maguire, Smith’s husband, announced her passing in a Facebook video, telling supporters that she died on August 8 after cardiac arrest put her in a coma at Hollywood Presbyterian Hospital three days earlier. “She wasn’t in any pain, and she passed peacefully, with me and Nicky and Miranda, her children, holding her hand and kissing her head and telling her how much we loved her,” Maguire said in the video. Born in 1952 in Princeton, New Jersey, Smith found success as a model, appearing on the cover of Vogue, Glamour, Mademoiselle, and Harper’s Bazaar, according to The Hollywood Reporter. She segued into acting in 1979, starring that year in the ABC comedy The Associates, in which she played Wall Street lawyer Sara James opposite Martin Short,...

Shelley Smith, the statuesque super model who starred alongside Martin Short on a sitcom and was a regular on game shows like The $10,000 Pyramid before she launched an egg-donor program to assist infertile couples, has died. She was 70.

Smith died Tuesday at Hollywood Presbyterian Hospital, her husband of 18 years, actor Michael Maguire, tearfully announced on social media. She had been in a coma after experiencing cardiac arrest three days earlier, and her health had deteriorated in the past year, he said.

On the 1979-80 ABC comedy The Associates, a sequel of sorts to The Paper Chase from creators James L. Brooks, Ed. Weinberger, Stan Daniels and Charlie Hauck, Smith played a sharp, upper-class Bostonian who works at a Wall Street law firm.

The show, which also featured Short, Joe Regalbuto, Alley Mills and Wilfrid Hyde-White — with whom she graced the cover of TV Guide in November 1979 — lasted just 13 episodes.

The 5-foot-9 Smith then played Capt.

For people in my feed who've never heard of Street Hawk, following the success of Knight Rider, it was the shameless motorcycle cashgrab. It starred Rex Smith (Daredevil in that Hulk TV movie) & Murphy Brown'S Joe Regalbuto. It had the music of Tangerine Dream and it was Awesome! pic.twitter.com/ZgSYRIobot

— Dan Slott (@DanSlott) December 10, 2021

Marvel writer Dan Slott is right. Street Hawk was awesome. And sadly, criminally ignored within the pantheon of TV action shows.

1984 was a golden year for the creation of genuine pop culture phenomena. While Ghostbusters, Gremlins and The Karate Kid debuted in cinemas, on television, Knight Rider and The A-Team were at the height of popularity. Following a successful launch for the helicopter-themed Airwolf early that year, networks jostled for the next big thing, and had everything had gone to plan, Street Hawk would have broadcast in the fall of ’84. Featuring an ethereal electronica theme tune,...

Karen Robinson (Schitt’s Creek), Joe Regalbuto (Murphy Brown), Kathleen Chalfant (The Affair), Maxwell Whittington-Cooper (Human Capital) and Abubakr Ali (Power Book II: Ghost) are set as series regulars opposite Caitlin Kinnunen and Bella Ortiz in the CW’s untitled drama pilot executive produced by Jennie Snyder Urman.

Written by Claire Rothrock and Ryann Weir and directed by Tessa Blake, the Untitled Urman/Rothrock/Weir Project centers on two millennial nuns – a devout true believer (Kinnunen), and a new arrival (Ortiz) who has yet to take her final vows – who start as strangers and become sisters on a funny, spiritual journey to understand their own faith and place in the Catholic church.

Robinson will play Sister Mary Annette Shiloh (“Smash”), the loving, defacto head-nun-in-charge, slyly trying to slingshot the Church into the 21st Century by mentoring the next generation.

Regalbuto is Father Quinn, the power of the Church personified. A charming,...

Karen Robinson, Joe Regalbuto, Kathleen Chalfant, Maxwell Whittington-Cooper and Abubakr Ali have been confirmed as cast members of The CW’s untitled millennial nun dramedy pilot, directed by Tessa Blake and written by Claire Rothrock and Ryann Weir.

Described by Blake as a “subversive comedy,” the untitled pilot stars Caitlin Kinnunen (“The Prom”) and Bella Ortiz (“American Carnage”). Per the logline, it centers on two nuns: Sister Maggie (Kinnunen) and Sister Frances (Ortiz), one a true believer and the other a new arrival who hasn’t taken her final vows. Sister Maggie is described as “the daredevil on your shoulder,” a radical nun hell-bent on shaking up the structures of the Catholic Church, while Sister Frances is described as the “complacent angel on your shoulder,” an impressional and people-pleasing nun who never breaks the rules— that is, until she meets Sister Maggie. The strangers become sisters on a spiritual – and...

Charlie Hauck, a writer-producer who penned scripts for some of TV’s most iconic sitcoms – Maude, Frasier, Home Improvement, One Day At A Time and, under a pseudonym as a favor to Larry Gelbert, one episode of M*A*S*H – died at his Los Angeles home on Saturday, Nov. 14, of complications from pancreatic cancer. He was 79.

His death was confirmed by his daughter Flannery Cogan Hauck.

“Nobody made me laugh harder, or more often, than Charlie Hauck,” said Maude creator Norman Lear. “He defined ‘funny’ and was a glorious man and friend.”

Hauck, whose career spanned more than 35 years, created the 1986 Valerie Harper comedy Valerie and co-created The Associates, the 1979 ABC sitcom that introduced a young Canadian actor named Martin Short to U.S. audiences.

Hauck’s knack for recognizing young comic talent also contributed heavily to another longstanding Hollywood career: Remembering a friend from his pre-Los Angeles days at Pittsburgh’s Wqed-tv,...

Charlie Hauck, the “deep and deeply funny” Emmy-nominated writer and producer who went from studying for the priesthood to working on such popular sitcoms as Maude, Frasier and Home Improvement, has died. He was 79.

Hauck died Saturday of complications from pancreatic cancer at his home in the Westchester neighborhood of Los Angeles, his daughter, Flannery Cogan Hauck, said.

During his 35-plus years in Hollywood, the Cleveland native also created or co-created other comedies including Valerie, starring Valerie Harper, and The Associates, featuring Wilfrid Hyde-White, Martin Short and Joe Regalbuto, and gave Michael Keaton a break that altered the course of his career.

While ...

Charlie Hauck, the “deep and deeply funny” Emmy-nominated writer and producer who went from studying for the priesthood to working on such popular sitcoms as Maude, Frasier and Home Improvement, has died. He was 79.

Hauck died Saturday of complications from pancreatic cancer at his home in the Westchester neighborhood of Los Angeles, his daughter, Flannery Cogan Hauck, said.

During his 35-plus years in Hollywood, the Cleveland native also created or co-created other comedies including Valerie, starring Valerie Harper, and The Associates, featuring Wilfrid Hyde-White, Martin Short and Joe Regalbuto, and gave Michael Keaton a break that altered the course of his career.

While ...

Exclusive: Amazon Studios has put in development The Star Chamber, a thriller drama inspired by the 1983 Michael Douglas film of the same name, from Sheldon Turner and Jennifer Klein’s Vendetta Productions and Fox 21 Television Studios. The project stems from Vendetta’s deal at 20th Century Fox TV and Fox 21 TV Studios, divisions of Disney TV Studios.

Written by Turner (Up In the Air), The Star Chamber series gives the movie a gender twist. It follows a revered female federal appellate court judge in San Francisco. She leads a shadowy group of judges that decide to right the wrongs of the broken legal system as she struggles to balance her obligations to law, to religion and to her family.

More from DeadlineAmazon Studios Names Christian Davin Global Head Of Movies MarketingCoronavirus: Amazon Studios, Lionsgate Issue Work From Home Recommendation -Update'Master': Zoe Renee, Amber Gray Join Regina Hall In Amazon...

Vulture Watch

Is Murphy back to stay? Has the Murphy Brown TV show been cancelled or renewed for a 12th season on CBS? The television vulture is watching all the latest TV cancellation and renewal news, so this page is the place to track the status of Murphy Brown, season 12. Bookmark it, or subscribe for the latest updates. Remember, the television vulture is watching your shows. Are you?  

What's This TV Show About?

A CBS TV series revival, Murphy Brown stars original cast members Candice Bergen, Grant Shaud, Faith Ford, and Joe Regalbuto, alongside Nik Dodani, Jake McDorman, Adan Rocha, and Tyne Daly. Amidst daily attacks on the press, Murphy Brown (Bergen) decides to forsake retirement for a new Cnc morning show, Murphy in the Morning. She reunites the old Fyi gang, Corky Sherwood (Ford), Frank Fontana (Regalbuto),...

CBS is still open to rebooting classic shows despite the cancellation of Murphy Brown after one season.

The Candice Bergen-fronted series made headlines as the second wave of revival fever hit new heights last year, with the Emmy winning show returning to CBS in September almost 20 years after the original run of the Diane English-created series ended.

However, the show, which was initially conceived as a limited series, was unable to cut through.

Thom Sherman, Senior Executive Vice President, Programming, CBS Entertainment, told Deadline that the cancellation will not impact its interest in bringing back other classic formats.

“We loved working on the show and it did a great job. We just felt this season we had stuff that was better to put in. In terms of reboots, we’re open, we’re not closing the door, if there’s something that’s the right fit, we’re fully open to that.

It's a sad day to be a fan of the more marginally rated comedies on CBS. 

The network has canceled four series ahead of upfronts. 

Murphy Brown was revived back on the heels of the eye-popping ratings Roseanne pulled in for ABC. 

But CBS failed to realize that Murphy Brown was never as popular as the ABC classic, and viewers did not show up in their droves. 

Related: The Rookie, Bless This Mess, and Three More Renewed at ABC

The Candice Bergen-fronted revival launched to a paltry 1.1 demo rating last fall. Over 13 episodes, it averaged just 6.1 million total viewers and a 0.8 rating in the demo. 

Not even bringing back original stars Joe Regalbuto (Frank Fontana), Faith Ford (Corky Sherwood) and Grant Shaud (Miles Silverberg) could save the show. 

When CBS opted to not order more episodes for the first season, it became apparent that the network was done with the show.

Network: CBS.

Episodes: 260 (half-hour).

Seasons: 11.

TV show dates:

November 14, 1988 -- May 18, 1998;

September 27. 2018 -- December 20, 2018.

Series status: Cancelled; Revived; Cancelled.

Performers include: Candice Bergen, Grant Shaud, Faith Ford, Joe Regalbuto, Charles Kimbrough, Robert Pastorelli, Pat Corley, Ritch Brinkley, Lily Tomlin, John Hostetter, Garry Marshall, Nik Dodani, Jake McDorman, Adan Rocha. and Tyne Daly.

TV show description:

In the original series, 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...

Everything old is new again. Revivals are still trending, and CBS does not want to be left behind, so it has brought back its Murphy Brown TV show for an 11th season. In this era of charges of "fake news" and the viral spread of "alternative facts," the nation arguably needs Murphy, but will a big enough audience tune in to justify future installments? Will Murphy Brown be cancelled or renewed for season 12? Stay tuned. **Status update below.

A CBS sitcom revival, season 11 of Murphy Brown stars original cast members Candice Bergen, Grant Shaud, Faith Ford, and Joe Regalbuto, alongside Nik Dodani, Jake McDorman, Adan Rocha, and Tyne Daly. Amidst daily attacks on the press, Murphy Brown (Bergen) decides to forsake retirement for a new Cnc morning show, Murphy in the Morning. She reunites the old Fyi gang, Corky Sherwood (Ford),...

How's Murphy's comeback during the 11th season of the Murphy Brown TV show on CBS? As we all know, the Nielsen ratings typically play a big role in determining whether a TV show like Murphy Brown is cancelled or renewed for season 12. Unfortunately, most of us do not live in Nielsen households. Because many viewers feel frustration when their viewing habits and opinions aren't considered, we'd like to offer you the chance to rate all of the Murphy Brown season 11 episodes here.  **Status update below.

A CBS sitcom revival, Murphy Brown stars original cast members Candice Bergen, Grant Shaud, Faith Ford, and Joe Regalbuto, alongside Nik Dodani, Jake McDorman, Adan Rocha. and Tyne Daly. Amidst daily attacks on the press, Murphy Brown (Bergen) decides to forsake retirement for a new Cnc morning show, Murphy...

It's farewell to Murphy Brown, for a second time. The revival of the long-running CBS sitcom from the 1990's has been been cancelled. There won't be a 12th season -- unless there's another revival some day in the future.

Murphy Brown stars original cast members Candice Bergen, Grant Shaud, Faith Ford, and Joe Regalbuto, alongside Nik Dodani, Jake McDorman, Adan Rocha, and Tyne Daly. Amidst daily attacks on the press, Murphy Brown (Bergen) decides to forsake retirement for a new Cnc morning show, Murphy in the Morning. She reunites the old Fyi gang, Corky Sherwood (Ford), Frank Fontana (Regalbuto), and Miles Silverberg (Shaud) for her new endeavor, as well as social media director Pat Patel (Dodani). She's determined to prioritize solid reporting over sensationalism. The team members still decompress at Phil's bar, which is now run by his sister, Phyllis (Daly), with help from college student, Miguel (Rocha),...

CBS has canceled a quartet of shows.

Three of those, “Fam,” “Happy Together,” and “Murphy Brown,” will come to and end after only one season, while “Life In Pieces” will end after its fourth season, which is currently airing.

The “Life In Pieces” news comes only five episodes into season 4. So far, it is averaging a 0.84 rating in the key 18-49 demographic and 5.75 million viewers per episode, which represents a dip on last season which averaged a 1.11 rating and just under 6.5 million total viewers.

Created by Justin Adler and starring Dianne Wiest and James Brolin, the comedy revolved around one big, happy family and their milestone moments.

Freshman comedy “Fam” starred Nina Dobrev as Clem, a woman whose idea of a perfect life with her fiance (Tone Bell) is thrown off course when her out-of-control 16-year-old half-sister (Odessa Adlon) unexpectedly comes to live with her.

Corinne Kingsbury created “Fam” and...

The return of Murphy Brown will not be returning to CBS. The network officially canceled the Candice Bergen-led series Friday after weeks of speculation on a possible eleventh-hour comeback.

In the second wave of revival fever fueling networks in recent years, the Emmy winning show returned to CBS last September almost 20 years after the original run of the Diane English-created series ended. However, tackling the fake news and politics of the Donald Trump era onscreen and the NFL on Fox on the schedule, the revival of the acerbic sitcom proved a pricey ratings disappointment.

Initially conceived as a one-time 13-episode run, the 11th season of sorts dived by 39% in viewers and the 18-49 demographic from its premiere to its December 20, 2018 finale, which had a 1.1 rating and an audience of 7.01 million.

Averaging a 1.4 rating and 9.1 million viewers overall, the Warner Bros TV-produced high-profile Murphy came with greater than usual sitcom...

Breaking news, and it’s not good: CBS has cancelled the revival of Murphy Brown after one season, TVLine has learned.

Candice Bergen returned to the title role that won her five Emmys during the show’s original 1988-98 CBS run, with series creator Diane English back as showrunner. The revival also brought back original cast members Joe Regalbuto (Frank Fontana), Faith Ford (Corky Sherwood) and Grant Shaud (Miles Silverberg), and added Jake McDorman as Murphy’s son Avery — now a reporter for the rival Wolf network — Tyne Daly as bar owner Phyllis and Nik Dodani as social media whiz Pat.

Like most of his peers in horror’s hallowed halls, Wes Craven contributed his share to the small screen; Summer of Fear (1978), Chiller (1985), and several episodes of The Twilight Zone revival (’85–’86) are indications of an artist who liked to keep busy and sometimes pay some bills. Invitation to Hell (’84) would seem to be a case for the latter, but it has an irresistibly goofy charm that’s impossible to resist.

Originally an ABC broadcast from Thursday, May 24th, Invitation stood no hope in you know where of winning the night; CBS had Magnum, P.I. and Simon & Simon, while the Peacock strutted around with their comedy lineup of Gimme A Break!/Family Ties/Cheers/Night Court. Those were impossible odds, even for the devil himself. Oh well. Throw on your tracksuit, grab your water bottle, because you’ve just received your Invitation to Hell.

Let’s open up our brimstone...

While the easiest route to success post Halloween was to copy that particular formula, not everyone followed the slasher template; elements to be sure, but some films chose to borrow from their Italian brethren and dive into the giallo pool. Case in point: Schizoid (1980), an effective thriller that leans much more towards whodunit and shadowed menace.

Given a limited release by Cannon Films stateside in the fall, Schizoid was soon relegated to home video for Klaus Kinski Kinky Kompletists only and no one else, it seems. I saw it as an adolescent and took it as just an okay notch on the burgeoning horror belt; a revisit has shone a stronger light on its surprisingly potent themes of manipulation and toxic masculinity. That, and Klaus, of course.

After a quick opening scene of our heroine and reporter Julie (Marianna Hill – The Baby) working on an article in her home at night,...

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.

Read More…...

Murphy Brown recently wrapped its 11th season, but will there be a 12th? Recently, creator Diane English spoke with The Hollywood Reporter about the future of the CBS TV show.

A 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.

Read More…...

[This story contains spoilers from Thursday's "Beat the Press" episode of CBS' Murphy Brown.]

Murphy Brown's revived 11th season has directly addressed Donald Trump's attitude toward the press — the titular character (Candice Bergen) got into a Twitter fight with the president in the season premiere — but the CBS show's Nov. 29 episode, "Beat the Press," took on the violence that has resulted from that attitude when Frank (Joe Regalbuto) was attacked while covering a right-wing political rally.

"We brought into the writers room back in May about 40 ideas ...

Spoiler Alert: Do not read if you have not yet watched “Beat the Press,” the 10th episode of “Murphy Brown.”

Diane English, creator and showrunner of “Murphy Brown,” set out to tell the revival season of the classic 1980s and 1990s sitcom through the “prism of the press.” So it was really only a matter of time before the characters came face-to-face with angry citizens who have come to believe members of the media are the enemy.

In the 10th episode of “Murphy Brown’s” revival season, “Beat the Press,” Frank Fontana (Joe Regalbuto) attends one of Donald Trump’s rallies, and when Trump (voiced by Bob Dibuono) spots him in the audience, he calls him “fibbing Frank” and tells his supporters to “let him know what you think of him.” This incites a small mob of “red hats” to surround Frank and beat him up, ultimately landing him in the hospital.

[This story contains spoilers from Thursday's "A Lifetime of Achievement" episode of CBS' Murphy Brown.]

Murphy Brown’s “A Lifetime of Achievement” saw the Murphy in the Morning gang getting in touch with both their competitive and romantic sides as they sparred with Bette Midler and Katie Couric and found life with John Larroquette and Analeigh Tipton (and, technically, recurring guest-star Charles Kimbrough, who reprised his role as Jim Dial).

The episode featured the entire crew — Murphy (Candice Bergen), Corky (Faith Ford), Frank (Joe Regalbuto), Miles (Grant Shaud), Pat (Nik Dodani), and even Phyllis (Tyne Daly), plus Murphy’...

Some big stars are coming to CBS. This week, the network announced Bette Midler, Brook Shields, and more will guest star on Murphy Brown.

The sitcom revival centers on the return of Murphy Brown (Candice Bergen), who decides to forsake retirement for a new Cnc morning show, Murphy in the Morning. The cast also includes Grant Shaud, Faith Ford, Joe Regalbuto, Nik Dodani, Jake McDorman, Adan Rocha, and Tyne Daly.

Read More…...

“Murphy Brown” just added several guest stars to appear on the CBS revival, including Katie Couric and Bette Midler, who appeared on the sitcom’s original run. Brooke Shields, John Larroquette and Peter Gallagher are also set to appear.

Midler will reprise her role as Caprice Morton, previously known as Caprice Feldman, Murphy’s former secretary. Now, though, Caprice has a surprising new connection to Murphy, making her, if possible, even more entitled and unbearable. Midler will appear in the Thursday, Nov. 8, episode.

Couric previously appeared on the series in 1992, attending Murphy’s baby shower. She will appear in the Thursday, Nov. 8, episode as herself, hosting a Lifetime Achievement event and running into her old friends, Murphy and Corky.

Also Read: Murphy Brown Crashes Sarah Huckabee Sanders Press Conference to Ask 'Why Do You Lie?' (Video)

Also appearing on Nov. 8 will be Larroquette, playing Judge Nate Campbell, a kindred spirit to Murphy.

Exclusive: Some hefty star power is coming to Murphy Brown. Emmy, Grammy and Tony Award winner Bette Midler, Golden Globe nominee Brooke Shields, Emmy and Tony winner John Larroquette Emmy-winning news anchor Katie Couric and SAG winner Peter Gallagher are all set to guest star in upcoming Season 1 episodes of the CBS/Wbtv comedy starring Candice Bergen.

The revival is continuing the tradition of the original series, which frequently featured celebrity guest stars, both playing themselves, as well as various roles.

Midler and Couric both appeared in the original series, Midler as Caprice, and Couric playing herself. Larroquette, Shields and Gallagher are Murphy Brown newcomers.

In the revival, Midler reprises her role 20 years later as Caprice Morton,...

Candice Bergen herself is now vivaciously buzzing over the power of apps.

“On Instagram I just get constant thank yous, and people saying things like, ‘I feel so much better. It has given me hope. It has given me joy,’” Bergen said on Saturday at the “Murphy Brown” panel at PaleyFest.

The 70-year-old star of the bold political comedy joked that she thought she might never work again after years in the industry. Today, she is happy about the attraction to the blast-from-the-past character. “I think people need comfort,” Bergen said. “I think the last couple of years have been upsetting to people and disorienting to people. I think it might in some way be about finding something that, ‘Well, I know that. That was when things were okay,’ and if I watch that show again, it will make me feel like things are okay again.”

Series creator Diane English...

[Editor’s note: The following contains spoilers for the “Murphy Brown” episode airing Thursday, Oct. 11, entitled “#MurphyToo.”]

Near the beginning of “#MurphyToo,” the fourth episode of the CBS revival “Murphy Brown,” eternally perky Corky (Faith Ford) is reflecting back on times in her life when she had to deal with inappropriate men. “I don’t know any woman who hasn’t had an experience,” she says, turning to Murphy (Candice Bergen), expecting her to agree with her.

Murphy instead jokes, “What guy would be stupid enough to try something with me,” but the formidable journalist is holding back. As she later reveals to her son Avery (Jake McDorman), she does have her own story.

It’s a touchy time for a CBS sitcom to take on #MeToo so directly, given that former CEO Les Moonves, recently exited following a number of sexual misconduct allegations. While creator Diane English teased “#MurphyToo” this summer at the Television Critics Association press tour,...

After more than 20 years off the air, “Murphy Brown” has had to justify its rebooted existence in 2018. Murphy (Candice Bergen) has to grapple with the wild world of 24-hour cable news, while her son (Jake McDorman) tries to break through his conservative Fox News facsimile network with the power of reason. And as creator and showrunner Diane English has said, the reboot’s goal is to remain as timely as the original run was, hewing as close to real world events as it possibly can.

So it was only a matter of time before the new “Murphy Brown” confronted the chaotic new reality borne of the #MeToo movement, which has proved one of the most lasting, consequential cultural flashpoints of this generation. “Murphy Brown” was always known for tackling issues head-on, especially from the perspective of a staunchly feminist career woman. It should be a perfect fit for this particular topic.

Murphy Brown has taken on President Donald Trump and Sarah Huckabee Sanders in its first two episodes, and in its third outing the CBS sitcom revival focused on the #MeToo movement.

It was sexual harassment seminar day at Murphy in the Morning, and while Murphy (Candice Bergen) and her co-workers Corky (Faith Ford) and especially Frank (Joe Regalbuto) weren't too pleased to sit through the talk, Miles (Grant Shaud) was adamant that every employee be educated about gender dynamics in the workplace.

"Even a seemingly innocent comment about a co-worker's attire can constitute harassment," warned the instructor, to ...

Exclusive: Murphy Brown (Candice Bergen) and her news team cohorts are getting a tough new boss. Greenleaf star Merle Dandridge is set for a key recurring role on CBS’ Murphy Brown revival.

She’ll play Diana Macomber, the team’s arrogant Crc network boss, a no-nonsense, tough-as-nails career woman who is proud to have worked her way up to where she is today. Her character will be introduced in the October 18 episode.

“I am excited to have Merle Dandridge join us,” said showrunner/executive producer Diane English. “She plays Diana brilliantly, and her comic timing is fantastic.”

In the revival, Bergen reprises her role as the famous investigative journalist and TV anchor, as Murphy Brown returns to a world of cable news, social media, fake news and a very different political and cultural climate. Amid a divided nation, chaotic national discourse and rampant attacks on the press, Murphy decides to...

The second episode of CBS' Murphy Brown revival, much like its first, put politics front and center. The half-hour featured Murphy (Candice Bergen), being banned from the White House press briefing room, then sneaking in and confronting Sarah Huckabee Sanders about immigration policy — and being promptly kicked back out.

The episode started with the Murphy Morning gang — Murphy, Frank Fontana (Joe Regalbuto), Corky Sherwood (Faith Ford) and producer Miles Silverberg (Grant Shaud) — discussing the rigorous hours of a morning show (Murphy wears pajama bottoms and slippers under her desk so she can sleep that much longer)....

Hillary Clinton made a surprise cameo appearance on the premiere of the “Murphy Brown” revival Thursday night, making several jokes at her own expense.

At the beginning of the episode, Candice Bergen’s Murphy Brown interviews a new candidate for a “secretarial position.” Enter Hillary, who says she spells her name with just one “L,” and insists she just looks like the ex-Secretary of State.

“Hilary” references one of Hillary Clinton’s 2016 campaign blurbs, saying “I’m qualified, and I’m ready on day one,” and quips that she has “some experience with emails.” The she adds that her experience includes four years as a secretary in “a very large organization.” And of course, “Hilary” also references one of Clinton’s books, saying that in a TV news production, “everyone works together. It takes a village.” Wokka wokka wokka.

Also Read: Kristen Bell Wants to 'Brace Fans' for How Much...

Spoiler Alert: This review contains details of the revival of Murphy Brown, debuting tomorrow on CBS. This review originally ran on September 26

Shined up with tweets about dating Donald Trump, fourth-wall-cracking quips and Roseanne implosion asides, the revival of Murphy Brown is very meta. Yet despite those lofty lunges, the CBS sitcom still led by Candice Bergen just can’t grasp the big-picture reality of 2018.

To put it another way, Fyi, if you really don’t want to “tarnish” your legacy, to quote Bergen’s now-unretired TV journalist Brown in the first episode of this de facto 11th season, then hit the reset button on this revival Asap before irrelevance comes knocking.

Even with a sideswipe of Charlie Rose that would have never shown up on a network show just a year ago, the revival of the Diane English-created series (returning more than two decades after its last season...

After 20 years, Candice Bergen’s irascible news journalist Murphy Brown will return to CBS for its “11th season” on Thursday.

The revival of “Murphy Brown” reunites Bergen, also an executive producer, with series creator and executive producer Diane English and original series co-stars Faith Ford, Joe Regalbuto and Grant Shaud.

It picks up as Murphy, following a brief retirement, is back hosting a cable news morning show, “Murphy in the Morning.” She is joined by her “Fyi” team, including lifestyle reporter Corky Sherwood (Ford), investigative journalist Frank Fontana (Regalbuto), and her former news producer Miles Silverberg (Shaud). Shaud left “Murphy Brown” after eight seasons and his character left town for a new job.

Also Read: 'Murphy Brown': Candice Bergen's TV Son Works at the Wolf Network, Which Is Definitely Fox News

Helping the “Fyi” gang learn how to use social media is social media director Nik Dodani (Pat Patel). Murhpy’s now-adult son,...

As with so many recent revivals and remakes, some things are best left in the past. However, if any show is suited for these times, it’s “Murphy Brown.” It was always an idiosyncratic, politically engaged sitcom and, given the state of current events, it is thus a genuine delight to have Candice Bergen back as the uncompromising yet flawed reporter, angry as hell and ready for a fight.

Creator Diane English brings the show about the making of a television news show into 2018 by having Murphy, accompanied by longtime colleagues Frank Fontana (Joe Regalbuto) and Corky Sherwood (Faith Ford), anchor a cable news morning show — one that happens to be in direct competition with a show hosted by Murphy’s adult son Avery (Jake McDorman) on the “Wolf” Network.

It may be a sitcom shot weeks in advance, Murphy and her team very much live in our world. Episode 2 of the revival,...

It's difficult to look back at 1988 and not recognize how important it was in terms of television sitcom history, as writers had begun tackling issues that previously had not been as fully explored before. Roseanne put its focus on a blue collar family struggling to survive economically; The Wonder Years offered up a look back at the 1960s — and everything that decade represented — that was humorous yet so realistic that virtually anyone growing up at that time could fully identify with it; and Murphy Brown took on politics, the media, and the idea of an older woman in the workplace. Significantly, two of the three shows have been revived, with Murphy about to hit the air. In terms of the latter, Candice Bergen plays the title character, a recovering alcoholic who returns to the fictional TV newsmagazine Fyi following a stint in rehab. Notes Wikipedia, "Over 40 and single, she is sharp-tongued and hard as nails.

This doesn’t qualify as breaking news, but the current glut of TV revivals we’re experiencing isn’t exactly fueled by creative necessity. As fun as it is to see some of these old casts yukking it up together again, let’s be real: Most of these revivals are solely designed to provide a short-term ratings fix for desperate broadcast networks — and quality is beside the point. CBS’ revival of Murphy Brown, which debuts this Thursday (9:30/8:30c), at least has a compelling hook to hang itself on: the election of President Trump and the war on the press he’s currently waging.

Moments before the start of Murphy Brown’s return to the world of TV news — which comes late in Murphy Brown‘s return to the world of TV sitcoms (it premieres September 27th on CBS) — Candice Bergen’s eponymous heroine has a rare moment of self-doubt.

“What if nobody watches?” she asks. “What if it tarnishes our legacy?”

Murphy’s first concern proves unnecessary, as show-within-a-show Murphy in the Morning — which reunites Murphy with most of the old Fyi team from the Nineties(*), including cocky Frank Fontana (Joe Regalbuto), peppy...

Murphy Brown is back… and boy, news and politics have changed just a bit in the last twenty years, haven’t they?

The Emmy-winning sitcom returns to CBS next Thursday (9:30/8:30c) for the first time since leaving the air in 1998, with Candice Bergen reprising her role as the titular TV journalist. In the 13-episode revival, Murphy comes out of retirement to host a new cable news show, Murphy in the Morning, with old pals Frank Fontana (Joe Regalbuto), Corky Sherwood (Faith Ford) and Miles Silverberg (Grant Shaud) in tow. Plus, her son Avery — who we saw Murphy give birth to,...

In today’s TV news roundup, Netflix released a new trailer for its upcoming horror film “The Haunting of Hill House” and ABC has cast Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as a guest star in the Season 5 premiere of “Fresh off the Boat.”

Dates

TBS‘ “The Guest Book” is returning on Oct. 23 at 10 p.m. Et/Pt with back-to-back new episodes. The second season will feature a new town, new series regulars, and new guest stars in the small ocean-side community of Mabel Beach, starring series regulars Jimmy Tatro (“American Vandal”), Kimiko Glenn (“Orange Is the New Black”), and Dan Beirne (“Fargo”). In future episodes, several guest stars will also make an appearance, including Pete Davidson (“SNL”), Will Arnett (“Arrested Development”), Michael Kenneth Williams (“The Wire”) and Matt Walsh (“Veep”) among others. Following the premiere, episodes will air on Tuesdays at 10:30 p.m. Et/Pt on TBS.

First Look

Netflix has released...

CBS is giving Murphy Brown an extra five minutes for the revived series’ Sept. 27 premiere, the network announced today.

The “extended” episode begins at 9:30 pm Et/Pt, and runs until 10:05..

CBS describes the debut episode as the return of the Murphy character to the news business following a brief retirement.

“Amid a divided nation,” says the network, “chaotic national discourse and rampant attacks on the press, Murphy decides to return to the airwaves with her biting take on current events on the Cnc cable network’s morning news program, ‘Murphy in the Morning,’ for which she recruits her ‘Fyi’ team: lifestyle reporter Corky Sherwood, investigative journalist Frank Fontana and her former wunderkind news producer Miles Silverberg. Joining them is social media director Pat Patel,...

Murphy Brown has some new company. Deadline reports Adan Rocha has joined the upcoming CBS series reboot.

A revival of the popular sitcom, the new season will se the return of Candice Bergen as the titular Murphy Brown, a recovering alcoholic and investigative journalist who returns to host the fictional TV news program, Fyi. The cast also includes Faith Ford, Joe Regalbuto, Grant Shaud, Charles Kimbrough, Tyne Daly, Jake McDorman, and Nik Dodani.

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Murphy Brown is paying its r-e-s-p-e-c-ts to a music legend: Next week’s premiere of the CBS comedy revival will include a tribute to the late Aretha Franklin.

“We did do something in the first episode” to acknowledge Franklin’s passing, creator Diane English confirms for TVLine. The chart-topping “Queen of Soul” died last month at the age of 76.

Franklin’s music was a huge part of the original Murphy Brown, with her iconic song “Respect” being featured in the pilot episode and Candice Bergen’s title character (a big fan of Franklin’s) singing “(You Make Me Feel Like...