Who Killed J. B. Fletcher? (10 Feb. 1991)

A fan, posing as Jessica, is arrested and later murdered.

Director:

Walter Grauman

Writers:

Peter S. Fischer (creator), Richard Levinson (creator),

Stars:

Angela Lansbury, Max Baer Jr., Janet Blair

Cast

Episode cast overview, first billed only:
Angela Lansbury	...	Jessica Fletcher
Max Baer Jr.	...	St. Trooper Boone Willoughby (as Max Baer)
Janet Blair	...	Bertie
Betty Garrett	...	Kit Parkins
Earl Holliman	...	Sheriff J.T. Tanner
Terry Moore	...	Florence
Margaret O'Brien	...	Jane
Jamie Rose	...	Lisa McCauley
Tom Schanley	...	Rick
Lyman Ward	...	Mitchell Lawrence
Marie Windsor	...	Caroline
Jane Withers	...	Marge Allen
David Cowgill	...	Deputy
Jon Menick	...	Kennel Clerk
Mario Machado	...	Anchor

Storyline

Marge Allen gets arrested using her fake JB Fletcher identity card from a literary fan club to intrude the McCauley kennel. She makes bail but is found dead in her crashed car. Since the press reports both incidents, Jessica convinces sheriff J.T. Tanner he arrested an impersonator, then accepts the club's help to investigate after kennel owner and dog trainer, Simon McCauley, is reported killed with his hunting rifle 'by his dog'. The sheriff initially dismisses either theories or help, but is won over. The widow Lisa McCauley is also killed, but Jessica solves all three murders at once from assorted clues.

---

Plot Keywords:

dog | love | jail | prison | kissing

---

Genres:

Comedy | Crime | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

---

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

10 February 1991 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Stage 29, Universal Studios - 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal TV

Technical Specs

Runtime:

60 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Janet Blair's last TV role.

User Reviews

Literary Society Prevents Conviction of Animals

This episode marks the swan song appearances of Janet Blair and Marie Windsor, as well as the most recent role for Max Baer Jr. as of this writing.

When it comes to sleuthing, the Sunville, Texas, J.B. Fletcher Literary Society goes all the way, complete with members' own J.B. Indentification cards. This weekly gathering consists of Marge Allen (Jane Withers), Kit Parkins (Betty Garrett) and their close friends Caroline (Marie Windsor), Bertie (Janet Blair), Florence (Terry Moore) and Jane (Margaret O'Brien).

But when one member sneaks into McCauley Kennel, in Bremerton, Texas, to investigate the perennial winner of a dog show, she is arrested and incarcerated by Sheriff J.T. Tanner (Earl Holliman) and Deputy (David Cowgill).

The genuine Jessica Fletcher (Angela Lansbury) has been touring around the Dallas area, when she learns of the arrest of an impersonator, thus booking a ride into Bremerton.

As Jessica attempts to uncover events of her "arrest," she is welcomed by a meeting of the ladies at Kit's residence, in Sunville, and is amazed at their propensity for snooping in her name. Caroline's family owns a printing shoppe, which accounts for their fake ID's. Bertie's nephew works at an insurance firm, which gives her an "in" on its computer system. Florence's husband, Herman, works for the county coroner, which gives her a means of snooping at that office. Jane volunteers for the local blood bank, which assists her to help to advance the plot, as well. Kit is pleased that her husband, Duane, is out of town on business, so that he wouldn't feel as embarrassed by all of this activity as she is.

And so the team with Jessica at the helm investigates Bremerton residents, including Kennel widow Lisa McCauley (Jamie Rose), her groomer, Rick (Tom Schanley), State Trooper Boone Willoughby (Max Baer Jr.), a hunter who's been at odds with the McCauley's, insurance agent Mitchell Lawrence (Lyman Ward), and anyone else they may spot along the way.

Then after three bodies turn up, in three different places, the J.B. Fletcher Literary Society gears into action to clear the name of an innocent canine, and to determine "Who Killed J.B. Fletcher."