MURPHY BROWN: PETTY WOMAN (TV)
Summary
One in this comedy series about Murphy Brown, a high-profile, successful broadcast newswoman, and her colleagues at the news magazine "FYI."
In this episode, the staffers fall into a debate about whether to attend a book party thrown by conservative socialite Athena Killington, with whom Murphy has had a long-standing feud. Murphy assures her friends that she will not be offended if they attend the "grand dame's" party. Guessing that her own invitation is a "pity invite" because of her cancer diagnosis, Murphy opts not to go herself, though Jim tries to suggest that Athena is extending an "olive branch." At the party, Kay encourages a nervous Corky to enjoy her newly divorced status, and Frank finds that he is significantly underdressed. Murphy changes her mind and arrives at the party, where she and Athena trade witty barbs about their personal differences before agreeing to "start fresh."
An oblivious Corky begins telling a large group of eager men about her intentions to "get back on the horse" and date again, later, a newly tuxedoed Frank is turned away at the door. Athena tells Murphy that she regrets her extremely ill-timed comments in which she compared Murphy to a "tumor," and Murphy quickly guesses that the bad press is harming sales of her new book, "Who's Afraid of the Big 5-0?" She refuses to give a flattering speech about her "close friend" in front of everyone, and Athena tries to save face by condescendingly praising Murphy's "real battle." Jim and Kay urge Murphy to destroy her rival once and for all, but Murphy opts to ignore their feud and leave the party. But she then overhears a phone message from Athena's mother, revealing that she is soon to turn 57, not 50. Athena frantically begs Murphy not to expose her vain lie, and a smug Murphy decides to embrace the "new her" and take the high road. However, Murphy decides on one final bit of revenge as she and her friends depart the event. Commercials deleted.
Details
- NETWORK: CBS
- DATE: November 12, 1997 8:30 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:23:03
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: B:83722
- GENRE: Comedy
- SUBJECT HEADING: Comedy
- SERIES RUN: CBS - TV series, 1988-1998; 2018-2019
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Marc Flanagan … Executive Producer
- Candice Bergen … Executive Producer
- Janis Hirsch … Co-Executive Producer
- Norm Gunzenhauser … Co-Executive Producer
- Tom Seeley … Co-Executive Producer
- Deborah Smith … Supervising Producer
- Bill Masters … Supervising Producer, Writer
- Bob Jeffords … Producer
- Jhoni Marchinko … Co-Producer
- Todd Stites … Associate Producer
- Korby Siamis … Consulting Producer
- Diane English … Created by
- Joe Regalbuto … Director
- Steve Dorff … Music by
- Candice Bergen … Cast, Murphy Brown
- Faith Ford … Cast, Corky Sherwood
- Charles Kimbrough … Cast, Jim Dial
- Joe Regalbuto … Cast, Frank Fontana
- Lily Tomlin … Cast, Kay Carter-Shepley
- Joanna Gleason … Cast, Athena Killington
- Bob Clendenin … Cast, Security Guard
- Bonnie Hellman … Cast, Coat Check Woman