During the run of "Murder, She Wrote", the series aired a few so-called 'bookend' episodes. In these, Angela Lansbury introduces the show and in some cases narrates, but she does NOT star in the show. Instead some other amateur detective does the sleuthing. Most of these are, at best, okay. However, while they only did one such episode in the prior five seasons, in season six, "Good-Bye Charlie" is the fourth bookend THAT season....and considering this is only episode 12 I wonder how many more will occur this season. Was Angela Lansbury ill or have some other commitment this year? All I know is that they aren't generally welcome shows.
Frank Albertson (Bill Maher) is a down and out private detective who is one step away from bankruptcy. However, he sees a possible way out when he learns that his old Uncle Charlie has a fortune. But there's a hitch...no one knows where Charlie is. So Frank concocts a plan...to have Charlie declared dead. But when he learns that they need to wait seven years until such a declaration can be made, he comes up with a plan....to claim the body of ANYONE who might conceivably be Charlie. So he and his wife (Faith Ford) do some research....trying to find a town where a horribly disfigured man was discovered dead. Then, they'll claim the body...and Charlie's fortune. Once they find the perfect body, there's a hitch...two other folks have also claimed the body is their loved one! What's next?
This comedy episode is very different in style than other "Murder, She Wrote" installments...too different for my taste. It wasn't so much bad as...different. And, unlike other bookend episodes, I cannot imagine this one being made in to a regular series. Overall, a bit below average but enjoyable.