"Murder, She Wrote" (1984) TV series 1984-1996

User Rating:

7.1/10   

Creators:

Peter S. Fischer
Richard Levinson
William Link
(more)

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12

Release Date:

30 September 1984 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Crime | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

Plot:

Mystery writer finds herself investigating murders that occur around her.

Plot Keywords:

Murder | Mystery Writer | Writing | Woman Detective | Amateur Detective

Awards:

Won 6 Golden Globes. Another 25 wins & 54 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Mon. July 20	12:48 AM	HALMRK	Sugar & Spice, Malice & Vice	#9.7
Mon. July 20	1:54 AM	HALMRK	The Classic Murder	#9.8
Sun. July 26	2:00 AM	HALMRK	A Christmas Secret	#9.9

Cast

Angela Lansbury

...

Jessica Fletcher / ... (264 episodes, 1984-1996)

(more)

Series Directed by
Anthony Pullen Shaw		(68 episodes, 1987-1996)
Walter Grauman		(53 episodes, 1984-1996)
Vincent McEveety		(28 episodes, 1988-1996)
Seymour Robbie		(21 episodes, 1984-1989)
Jerry Jameson		(19 episodes, 1990-1995)
John Llewellyn Moxey		(18 episodes, 1984-1991)
Peter Crane		(9 episodes, 1985-1987)
Arthur Allan Seidelman		(5 episodes, 1985-1986)
Allen Reisner		(4 episodes, 1984-1989)
Kevin G. Cremin		(4 episodes, 1987-1990)
Nick Havinga		(4 episodes, 1987)
Peter Salim		(3 episodes, 1992-1993)
Corey Allen		(2 episodes, 1984)
Michael J. Lynch		(2 episodes, 1987-1990)
Chuck Bowman		(2 episodes, 1989-1991)
David Moessinger		(2 episodes, 1991-1992)
Don Mischer		(2 episodes, 1993-1994)
Robert M. Williams Jr.		(2 episodes, 1993-1994)
Kevin Corcoran		(2 episodes, 1996)

Series Writing credits
Peter S. Fischer		(264 episodes, 1984-1996)
William Link		(264 episodes, 1984-1996)
Richard Levinson		(263 episodes, 1984-1996)
Robert Van Scoyk		(25 episodes, 1984-1996)
Robert Swanson		(25 episodes, 1984-1992)
Tom Sawyer		(24 episodes, 1985-1996)
Donald Ross		(16 episodes, 1987-1996)
Bruce Lansbury		(15 episodes, 1991-1996)
Gerald K. Siegel		(10 episodes, 1984-1990)
Laurence Heath		(10 episodes, 1992-1996)
Philip Gerson		(9 episodes, 1986-1989)
Chris Manheim		(8 episodes, 1987-1993)
Mark A. Burley		(8 episodes, 1992-1996)
Paul Savage		(7 episodes, 1985-1989)
J. Michael Straczynski		(7 episodes, 1991-1993)
Jerrold L. Ludwig		(7 episodes, 1994-1996)
Mary Ann Kasica		(6 episodes, 1985-1994)
Michael Scheff		(6 episodes, 1985-1994)
Lynne Kelsey		(4 episodes, 1989-1991)
J. Miyoko Hensley		(3 episodes, 1984-1986)
Steven Hensley		(3 episodes, 1984-1986)
Dick Nelson		(3 episodes, 1985-1988)
Paul Schiffer		(3 episodes, 1989-1995)
Paul W. Cooper		(2 episodes, 1984-1985)
Mark Giles		(2 episodes, 1984-1985)
Linda Shank		(2 episodes, 1984-1985)
Jackson Gillis		(2 episodes, 1985-1986)
Wendy Graf		(2 episodes, 1987-1988)
R. Barker Price		(2 episodes, 1987-1988)
Lisa Stotsky		(2 episodes, 1987-1988)
Arthur Weingarten		(2 episodes, 1987-1988)
Steven Long Mitchell		(2 episodes, 1987)
Craig W. Van Sickle		(2 episodes, 1987)
William Bigelow		(2 episodes, 1990)
David Moessinger		(2 episodes, 1991-1992)
Robert Hamner		(2 episodes, 1992-1993)
James L. Novack		(2 episodes, 1993-1996)
Rick Mittleman		(2 episodes, 1993-1994)
Carlton Hollander		(2 episodes, 1993)
Philip John Taylor		(2 episodes, 1995-1996)

Series Produced by
Peter S. Fischer	....	executive producer (154 episodes, 1984-1991)
Robert F. O'Neill	....	producer / supervising producer (153 episodes, 1984-1991)
Mark A. Burley	....	supervising producer (110 episodes, 1991-1996)
Al Kraus	....	coordinating producer (108 episodes, 1991-1996)
Anthony Magro	....	associate producer (94 episodes, 1987-1991)
Robert Swanson	....	producer / supervising producer (89 episodes, 1988-1992)
Angela Lansbury	....	executive producer (88 episodes, 1992-1996)
Bruce Lansbury	....	supervising producer (88 episodes, 1992-1996)
Todd London	....	co-producer / producer / ... (85 episodes, 1992-1996)
Tom Sawyer	....	producer (79 episodes, 1993-1996)
Laurence Heath	....	co-producer (66 episodes, 1993-1996)
Mike Stevens	....	associate producer / co-producer (60 episodes, 1984-1989)
Robert Van Scoyk	....	producer (58 episodes, 1988-1991)
J. Michael Straczynski	....	co-producer / producer (30 episodes, 1991-1993)
David Shaw	....	co-executive producer (24 episodes, 1995-1996)
Jerrold L. Ludwig	....	co-producer (23 episodes, 1995-1996)
Walton Dornisch	....	co-producer (22 episodes, 1991-1992)
David Moessinger	....	executive producer (22 episodes, 1991-1992)
Stephen Swofford	....	associate producer (2 episodes, 1996)
Kevin Corcoran	....	assistant producer (unknown episodes)
Peter Shaw	....	producer (unknown episodes)

Series Original Music by
David Bell		(82 episodes, 1984-1991)
Richard Markowitz		(69 episodes, 1984-1991)
Jeff Sturges		(44 episodes, 1984-1996)
Bruce Babcock		(32 episodes, 1992-1996)
Steve Dorff		(23 episodes, 1992-1996)
Jonathan Tunick		(4 episodes, 1992)

Series Cinematography by
Ron Vargas		(68 episodes, 1992-1996)
John Elsenbach		(62 episodes, 1988-1991)
Robert C. Moreno		(44 episodes, 1986-1988)
Peter Salim		(40 episodes, 1991-1993)
Dennis Dalzell		(34 episodes, 1984-1986)
Mario DiLeo		(7 episodes, 1984)
Emil Oster		(3 episodes, 1986)
Howard Block		(2 episodes, 1986-1987)

Series Film Editing by
Michael J. Lynch		(58 episodes, 1984-1993)
Donald Douglas		(53 episodes, 1984-1991)
Ellen Ring Jacobson		(38 episodes, 1991-1996)
Bill Turro		(24 episodes, 1993-1996)
Ed Guidotti		(17 episodes, 1984-1986)
Buford F. Hayes		(13 episodes, 1991-1993)
Bill Luciano		(13 episodes, 1993-1995)
Jack Horger		(11 episodes, 1986-1988)
Joe Morrisey		(11 episodes, 1988-1991)
John C. Horger		(11 episodes, 1989-1991)
Ray Daniels		(6 episodes, 1991-1992)
Thomas Petersen		(6 episodes, 1995-1996)
Michael Renaud		(3 episodes, 1987)

Series Casting by
Ron Stephenson		(165 episodes, 1984-1996)

Series Production Design by
Hub Braden		(172 episodes, 1988-1996)
Leslie Parsons		(39 episodes, 1986-1988)

Series Art Direction by
Mary Dodson		(99 episodes, 1991-1996)
Peter Samish		(44 episodes, 1985-1988)
Leslie Parsons		(41 episodes, 1984-1988)
James H. Ellingwood		(8 episodes, 1991-1992)
Russell J. Smith		(2 episodes, 1984-1985)
William H. Tuntke		(2 episodes, 1984)
Hub Braden		(2 episodes, 1985)
Francis J. Pezza		(2 episodes, 1985)
Michael Friedman		(unknown episodes)

Series Set Decoration by
Robert Wingo		(133 episodes, 1984-1991)
Bill Gregory		(88 episodes, 1992-1996)
Lee Poll		(88 episodes, 1992-1996)
Fred S. Winston		(30 episodes, 1985-1992)
Frank Lombardo		(6 episodes, 1984-1985)
Donald J. Remacle		(3 episodes, 1988-1989)
Wally White		(2 episodes, 1985-1986)
Richard C. Goddard		(2 episodes, 1985)
Bill Webb		(2 episodes, 1986-1987)
Hal Gausman		(2 episodes, 1987)

Series Costume Design by
Al Lehman		(67 episodes, 1985-1989)
J. Allen Highfill		(14 episodes, 1984-1985)
Sharon Day		(9 episodes, 1985-1986)

Series Makeup Department
Dorothie J. Long	....	hair stylist (1 episode, 1984)
James R. Scribner	....	makeup artist (1 episode, 1984)
Teresa M. Austin	....	key makeup artist (unknown episodes)
Rita Bellissimo	....	hair stylist (unknown episodes)
Lori Benson	....	makeup artist (unknown episodes)
Dino Ganziano	....	hair stylist (unknown episodes)
Ronald W. Smith	....	hair stylist (unknown episodes)
Gerald Solomon	....	hair stylist (unknown episodes)
Robert L. Stevenson	....	hair department head (unknown episodes)
Ann Wadlington	....	hair stylist (unknown episodes)
Vera Yurtchuk	....	key makeup artist (unknown episodes)

Series Production Management
Al Kraus	....	unit production manager / production manager (124 episodes, 1990-1996)
Ronald Martinez	....	unit production manager (51 episodes, 1987-1989)
John C. Chulay	....	unit production manager (34 episodes, 1984-1986)
Mack Bing	....	unit production manager (10 episodes, 1984-1985)
S. Michael Formica	....	unit production manager (9 episodes, 1989-1990)
G. Warren Smith	....	unit production manager (8 episodes, 1990)
Tony Bishop	....	unit production manager (7 episodes, 1986-1987)
Larry Y. Albucher	....	unit production manager (7 episodes, 1986)
Kevin G. Cremin	....	unit production manager (7 episodes, 1989-1990)
David Shaw	....	executive in charge of production (6 episodes, 1994-1995)
Christopher N. Seiter	....	unit production manager (5 episodes, 1990-1994)
Gary Law	....	unit production manager (3 episodes, 1994)
Dodie Foster	....	unit production manager (2 episodes, 1985-1986)
Stephen Swofford	....	post-production supervisor (unknown episodes)

Series Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Robert M. Williams Jr.	....	first assistant director / second assistant director / ... (114 episodes, 1987-1996)
Allen DiGioia	....	second assistant director / first assistant director / ... (85 episodes, 1984-1989)
Kelly Cantley	....	second assistant director / assistant director (74 episodes, 1993-1996)
Joseph A. Ingraffia	....	first assistant director (59 episodes, 1986-1996)
Kevin Corcoran	....	first assistant director (48 episodes, 1991-1996)
Gail Seely	....	second assistant director (30 episodes, 1989-1991)
Kevin G. Cremin	....	first assistant director (20 episodes, 1985-1987)
Mark Lyon	....	second assistant director (20 episodes, 1991-1992)
Suzanne Geiger	....	dga trainee (12 episodes, 1992-1993)
Alice West	....	first assistant director (11 episodes, 1985-1986)
Michael Risner	....	dga trainee (11 episodes, 1995)
Janet Davidson	....	first assistant director (10 episodes, 1984-1985)
Rowe Wallerstein	....	first assistant director (10 episodes, 1984-1985)
Brad Michaelson	....	second assistant director (10 episodes, 1991-1992)
Richard J. Levin	....	second assistant director (7 episodes, 1989-1990)
Tom Blank	....	first assistant director (4 episodes, 1986-1987)
Richard Graves	....	first assistant director (4 episodes, 1988-1993)
Ryan Gordon	....	first assistant director / second assistant director (2 episodes, 1984-1996)
Louis G. Friedman	....	assistant director (unknown episodes)
Elena Santaballa	....	dga trainee (unknown episodes)
Michael-McCloud Thompson	....	dga trainee (unknown episodes)

Series Art Department
Bryan Rodgers	....	visual consultant (58 episodes, 1993-1996)
Victor M. Shannon	....	plasterer (22 episodes, 1994)
Joseph Musso	....	production illustrator (2 episodes, 1995)
Tom Margozewitz	....	assistant property master (unknown episodes)
Sebastian Milito	....	construction coordinator (unknown episodes)
Ted Wilson	....	carpenter (unknown episodes)

Series Sound Department
Don Sharpless	....	sound mixer / sound / ... (173 episodes, 1984-1996)
Dale Johnston	....	supervising sound editor (89 episodes, 1987-1992)
Tim Cooney	....	sound / sound mixer / ... (88 episodes, 1984-1988)
Anthony Magro	....	sound editor (56 episodes, 1984-1987)
Paul B. Clay	....	supervising sound editor / sound editor (56 episodes, 1992-1995)
Cindy Rabideau	....	supervising sound editor (31 episodes, 1993-1996)
Charles R. Beith Jr.	....	sound editor / supervising sound editor (22 episodes, 1991-1992)
Jerry Jacobson	....	dialogue editor (21 episodes, 1994-1995)
Walt Jenevein	....	sound editor (9 episodes, 1987)
Phil Beeson	....	sound / sound mixer (2 episodes, 1987-1988)
Susan Kurtz	....	sound effects editor (unknown episodes, 1992-1994)
James L. Aicholtz	....	sound mixer (unknown episodes)
Gregg Barbanell	....	foley artist (unknown episodes)
Beau Biggart	....	adr mixer (unknown episodes)
Barney Cabral	....	adr editor (unknown episodes)
Joe Campana	....	assistant sound editor (unknown episodes)
Richard Coleman	....	sound recordist (unknown episodes)
Mark Kamps	....	assistant sound editor (unknown episodes)
Richard LeGrand Jr.	....	sound editor (unknown episodes)
Anthony Milch	....	sound editor (unknown episodes)
Linda Moss	....	sound editor (unknown episodes)
Peter Reale	....	sound re-recording mixer (unknown episodes)
Dean St. John	....	adr mixer (unknown episodes)
Clancy T. Troutman	....	sound editor (unknown episodes)

Series Special Effects by
Wayne Rose	....	special effects coordinator (21 episodes, 1984-1985)
George Zamora	....	special effects coordinator (unknown episodes)

Series Visual Effects by
Jim Michaels	....	visual effects producer (88 episodes, 1984-1988)

Series Stunts
Mary Albee	....	stunt coordinator (106 episodes, 1991-1996)
Eddie Braun	....	stunts (9 episodes, 1994-1996)
Kurt D. Lott	....	stunts (5 episodes, 1989-1995)
J. Mark Donaldson	....	stunts (4 episodes, 1986-1995)
Gregory J. Barnett	....	stunts (4 episodes, 1988-1994)
Steve Upton	....	stunts (2 episodes, 1993-1994)
Steven Burnett	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Debbie Evans	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Larry Holt	....	stunt performer (unknown episodes)
Terry James	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Steve Kelso	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Gene LeBell	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Khristian Lupo	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Buck McDancer	....	stunt coordinator (unknown episodes)
Sherry Peterson	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Jimmy N. Roberts	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Michael M. Vendrell	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Greg Walker	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Dick Warlock	....	stunts (unknown episodes)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Lon Massey III	....	chief lighting technician (122 episodes, 1991-1996)
Earl C. Williman	....	gaffer (64 episodes, 1984-1987)
Jeffrey Norvet	....	first assistant camera (38 episodes, 1984-1986)
William Jay Gahret	....	camera operator (37 episodes, 1984-1986)
Susan C. Ingram	....	second assistant camera (37 episodes, 1984-1986)
Jim Saldutti	....	grip (21 episodes, 1984-1985)
Eugene Earle	....	additional first assistant camera (14 episodes, 1985-1986)
Paul Maibaum	....	first assistant camera (7 episodes, 1984)
Richard N. Hannah	....	additional camera operator (5 episodes, 1985)
Ron Newburn	....	lighting technician (3 episodes, 1990)
Richard Kamins	....	gaffer (2 episodes, 1988-1989)
Owen Marsh	....	camera operator (unknown episodes, 1987)
Ben Beaird	....	key grip (unknown episodes)
Stan McClain	....	aerial camera operator (unknown episodes)
Keith H. Moore	....	assistant camera (unknown episodes)
Serge Poupis	....	first assistant camera (unknown episodes)
Matt Ramirez	....	first assistant camera / photographer: second unit (unknown episodes)

Series Casting Department
Ron Stephenson	....	casting (101 episodes, 1984-1995)

Series Costume and Wardrobe Department
Radford Polinsky	....	set costumer (152 episodes, 1984-1991)
Lambert Marks	....	costume supervisor (98 episodes, 1984-1989)
Eilish Zebrasky	....	costume designer: Ms. Lansbury / costume supervisor / ... (87 episodes, 1992-1996)
Debi Orrico	....	costume supervisor / costumer (85 episodes, 1988-1992)
Robert Eli Bodford Jr.	....	costume supervisor (63 episodes, 1988-1991)
Nick Mezzanotti	....	costume supervisor (55 episodes, 1988-1991)
Buffy Snyder	....	costume supervisor (47 episodes, 1992-1994)
Don Vargas	....	costume supervisor: men / costumer: men (43 episodes, 1993-1996)
Shannon Litten	....	costume supervisor: women / costumer: women / ... (39 episodes, 1994-1996)
Deanna Doran	....	costume supervisor (31 episodes, 1985-1992)
Bettylee Balsam	....	costume supervisor (24 episodes, 1987-1988)
Dorothy Baca	....	costume supervisor (23 episodes, 1986-1987)
Don Pike	....	costume supervisor: men (23 episodes, 1993-1994)
Karen Bellamy	....	key costumer / costume supervisor (22 episodes, 1991-1992)
Dallas D. Dornan	....	costume supervisor / costumer (21 episodes, 1991-1992)
Jay Kaplan	....	costume supervisor (14 episodes, 1992-1993)
Julie Weiss	....	costume consultant (12 episodes, 1984-1985)
Victoria Snow	....	costume supervisor (9 episodes, 1984-1985)
Jim O'Daniel	....	costume supervisor (8 episodes, 1993)
Arlene Zamiara	....	costume supervisor (4 episodes, 1984)
Sandra Henderson	....	head stylist (unknown episodes)

Series Editorial Department
Steve Johnson	....	colorist (22 episodes, 1984-1985)
Ralph A. Riccoboni	....	assistant editor (unknown episodes, 1994-1996)
Ken Latka	....	film transfer colorist (unknown episodes)

Series Music Department
John Addison	....	composer: theme music / composer: theme / ... (261 episodes, 1984-1996)
Laurie Higgins Tobias	....	music editor / supervising music editor / ... (261 episodes, 1984-1996)
George A. Martin	....	music editor (2 episodes, 1992)
Tim Boyle	....	score mixer (unknown episodes)
Joshua Winget	....	music editor (unknown episodes)

Series Transportation Department
Chris Haynes	....	driver (1 episode, 1990)

Series Other crew
Robert Van Scoyk	....	executive story editor (94 episodes, 1984-1989)
Robert Swanson	....	story editor / executive story editor / ... (74 episodes, 1984-1989)
Philip Gerson	....	story editor / script editor (32 episodes, 1987-1988)
Donald Ross	....	story editor (22 episodes, 1989-1990)
John Chester	....	assistant to producer / production assistant (22 episodes, 1994)
Chris Manheim	....	story editor (5 episodes, 1988-1989)
Bryan Rodgers	....	visual consultant (4 episodes, 1994-1996)
Russell Clark	....	choreographer (2 episodes, 1994-1996)
Art Scholl	....	pilot (unknown episodes, 1985)
Bundy Chanock	....	set medic (unknown episodes, 1994)
Mary Kara	....	technical consultant (unknown episodes, 1995-1996)
Fred Fein	....	stand-in (unknown episodes)
Betty Green	....	title designer (unknown episodes)
Carolyn Hayes	....	production auditor (unknown episodes)
Beth Humphreys	....	legal supervisor (unknown episodes)
Keith McNulty	....	cue cards (unknown episodes)
Rod Ripley	....	assistant to producers (unknown episodes)
Susan Vercelli	....	production coordinator (unknown episodes)
Robert 'Bobby Z' Zajonc	....	aerial coordinator (unknown episodes)

Production Companies

• Corymore Productions (1992-1996)
• Universal TV

Distributors

• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1984-1996) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) (????) (UK) (TV)
• Independent Television (ITV)
• LaLa TV (????) (Japan) (TV)
• RTL Entertainment (2007) (Netherlands) (TV) (RTL8)
• RTL (1990-1998) (Germany) (TV)
• Radiotelevisione Italiana (RAI) (2004) (Italy) (TV)
• SBS6 (????) (Netherlands) (TV)
• Studios USA Television
• TV3 (2008) (Estonia) (TV) (re-release)
• Universal Home Entertainment (2005-) (USA) (DVD)
• Universal Pictures Benelux (2005) (Netherlands) (DVD) (season 1)
• Universal Pictures Benelux (2006) (Netherlands) (DVD) (seasons 2 and 3)
• Universal Pictures Benelux (2007) (Netherlands) (DVD) (seasons 4 and 5)
• Universal Pictures Benelux (2008) (Netherlands) (DVD) (seasons 6 and 7)
• Universal Studios Home Entertainment (2009) (USA) (DVD) (season 10)
• Universal Studios Home Entertainment (2009) (USA) (DVD) (season 9)
• Viasat3 (2005-2006) (Hungary) (TV) (re-release)

Other Companies

• Howard Anderson Company, The  titles and opticals
• Movie Movers  production trailers
• Pacific Title  titles and opticals
• Panavision  Panaflex camera and lenses by
• ShowBiz Enterprises  draperies
• Universal Title  titles and opticals

Runtime:

60 min (264 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Singapore:PG | Singapore:NC-16 (season 7) | New Zealand:M (seasons 3 - 8) | New Zealand:PG (seasons 1-2) | Australia:M (some episodes) | Australia:PG | Argentina:13

Filming Locations:

Beverly Hills, California, USA

Company:

Corymore Productions

Trivia:

Before she met and married her late husband, Frank, Jessica was studying to become a journalist.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Saturday Night Live: Jon Hamm/Coldplay (#34.6)" (2008)

Predictable,and yet highly entertaining.....

Murder, She Wrote ranks #1 in the drama series category, and around #4 in the greatest shows of all time, right behind M*A*S*H*, All in the Family and Maude. I liked Jessica Fletcher, but also the antics of her crusty doctor friend, Seth Hazlitt, and the Sheriff. The sheer greatness of this show explains its long TV life of 12 seasons.

Angela Lansbury and William Windom both play the part to a T. I still enjoy watching seemingly endless reruns daily of the show on A&E.