- 4/30/2025
Murphy Brown Season 7 Episode 25+E26 Retrospective
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TVTranscript
00:00...to have this baby.
00:04Are you saying that you're going to attempt to do your job
00:07while week after week you puff up in front of a viewing audience
00:11that includes a certain number of people still reeling
00:15from the concept of women wearing pants?
00:17That's right, Jim.
00:20Oh, dear Lord.
00:23I'm blowing the biggest laugh in the sea.
00:30Good evening.
00:31You know, for many years, this city was my beat.
00:35I'm Usly Stahl with 60 Minutes.
00:37And for the last seven years, it's been the television home
00:40of the most famous journalist who never was, Murphy Brown.
00:44When the show premiered on November 14, 1988,
00:49TV Guide described it as 2020 on Laughing Gas.
00:53Join us now for the best of Murphy Brown.
01:00You're the key to my peace of mind
01:04Because you make me feel
01:07You make me feel
01:11You make me feel
01:15Like a natural
01:17Yes, you do, baby
01:21I hadn't worked for three years.
01:24I'd had my daughter.
01:26I didn't want to work.
01:27Someone gave me this script of a sitcom.
01:30I'd never watched sitcoms
01:31because whenever I zapped by them,
01:33they always had orange carpeting.
01:34You know, that's very cute,
01:35but it's not nice to mimic someone.
01:37It's not nice to mimic someone.
01:39I'm going to have to ask you to stop that.
01:43I'm going to get to ask you to stop that.
01:46Hey, this time I mean it.
01:48Hey, this time I mean it.
01:50Knock it off.
01:51Knock it off.
01:52Hey, you're hurting my friend.
01:54Oh, my God.
01:58Oh, I knew we should have gotten Barbara Walters.
02:00And finally, I read the script
02:16because I said, you know,
02:17you just have to read it now
02:18out of a courtesy
02:19because you've had it for so long.
02:21So I took it on a plane.
02:23I read it grudgingly.
02:24And then after the first or second page,
02:27I went, oh, my God.
02:29What if it's too late?
02:30What if I've lost this and I got up?
02:33And it's the only time
02:33I ever made a phone call from a plane
02:35because it looks so stupid.
02:37I'm an executive producer.
02:39I'll just executive produce this page.
02:42Don't I always take care of everything?
02:45Like the captain of a ship.
02:47The pilot of a plane.
02:48It's like this character was written for me.
03:00I got to sing badly at the end.
03:02It was everything I wanted in life.
03:04And I had to fight to get it
03:06because they wanted Heather Locklear.
03:10I'm not kidding.
03:11Now I'm no longer doubtful
03:16Of what I'm living for
03:19And if I make you happy
03:22I don't need to do more
03:24Cause you make me feel
03:28You make me feel
03:31I'm Elton, the painter.
03:37You scared the hell out of me!
03:40I got to tell you
03:40You were getting much better
03:42At the end.
03:46I was stuck in traffic
03:47On the 101
03:48And from out of the blue
03:51Popped into my head
03:53This idea
03:54About a woman
03:55Who was a recovering alcoholic
03:57She was a broadcaster
03:58She had
03:59A cadre of friends around her
04:02They worked on a news magazine
04:04By the time I got to the office
04:06I had all the characters
04:07I had the plot
04:08For the first episode
04:09Miss Brown
04:10It was just
04:13One of those
04:14Rare
04:15Cosmic
04:16Things
04:17You're Miles Silverberg?
04:19Yes
04:19Yes
04:20Miles Silverberg
04:21Let me just say
04:23What a big fan I am
04:23You know who the Shirelles are
04:25Excuse me?
04:27The Shirelles
04:30The Ronettes
04:32The Delphonics
04:33It's only my second day
04:34How old are you?
04:3925
04:39I'm sorry
04:41Mr. Silverberg
04:42If it appears
04:43I'm being rude to you
04:44It's just that
04:45I can't help thinking
04:46About the fact
04:47That while I was
04:48Getting maced
04:48At the Democratic Convention
04:49In 68
04:50You were wondering
04:51If you'd ever meet
04:52Adam West
04:53While the idea
04:59For the series
05:00May have dropped
05:01From the sky
05:02Coming up with a name
05:03For the character
05:04Took a little bit
05:06More work
05:06I wanted a very simple
05:08Last name
05:09And a very interesting
05:10And memorable
05:11First name
05:12And I was just
05:13Going through the phone book
05:14And I saw
05:15The last name
05:16Murphy
05:16And I decided
05:19That that might be
05:20An interesting
05:21First name for her
05:22And then a very simple
05:24Last name Brown
05:25Murphy
05:26Murphy
05:26The name stuck
05:29And Murphy Brown
05:30Struck a chord
05:31With viewers
05:31Across the country
05:32There was nothing
05:34Like her on television
05:35She was tough
05:37Competitive
05:38And not afraid
05:39To speak her mind
05:40Say
05:41That is one nice tie
05:43Oh
05:44You like it
05:45It's hand painted
05:45But if you could be
05:46A little more careful
05:47Because once you get
05:48Finger oils
05:49On a hand painted
05:49Little slug
05:51I know what you did
05:51To call me
05:52You're lucky
05:53It wasn't me
05:54Because otherwise
05:54You'd be sipping
05:55That wine
05:56Through a slow drip
05:57Right now
05:57Murphy
05:58There used to be
05:58Some miscommunication
06:00Here
06:00Let me explain
06:01Something to you
06:02Corky hasn't filed
06:04A complaint against you
06:05Yet
06:06In the meantime
06:07My knee is poised
06:09Inches from a
06:10Sensitive spot
06:11And if you don't
06:13Swear not to hit on
06:14Corky or anyone else
06:15In this company again
06:16You'll be coughing up
06:18Things you ate
06:19As a child
06:19She's a wonderful
06:23Character to live with
06:25Such a rich
06:27Weird
06:28Funny
06:29Smart
06:30Tough
06:30Take no prisoners
06:31Person
06:32Mike Wallace
06:33In a dress
06:34And I always loved
06:35That description of her
06:36I'm spending time
06:38With my kid
06:38Because I want to
06:39Not because I can't
06:40Cut it anymore
06:41Hey
06:41Call it whatever you want
06:43The point is
06:44You got a little soft
06:45And while that is
06:46A lovely quality
06:47And a mommy
06:48It's not worth
06:49Squatting a journalist
06:50I'm going to do you
06:55A big favor
06:56And forget I just
06:56Heard that
06:57Look
06:58I'm just telling you
06:59The truth
07:00But if you can't
07:01Deal with it
07:01Maybe you should
07:02Pull back a little
07:03Bit farther
07:03In fact
07:04Maybe you should
07:05Go home to your kid
07:06And leave the reporting
07:07To those of us
07:08Who can deal with it
07:09It's often hard
07:15To pinpoint
07:15The exact moment
07:17An actress
07:17Truly becomes
07:19Her character
07:19On this show
07:21That moment
07:22Came very early
07:23In the first season
07:24When Candace Bergen
07:26Became
07:27Murphy Brown
07:28I can't believe it
07:29You must feel awful
07:31Give it a rest
07:31What's going on
07:33What's the matter
07:34Murphy wasn't invited
07:35To the inaugural ball
07:36I mean I could understand
07:38If I hadn't been invited
07:39But you
07:40Oh Murphy
07:42I know why I'm not going
07:44I'm not on the A-list yet
07:46But to have been there
07:48And fallen
07:49There was a particular moment
07:53Toward the end of the show
07:55Where Murphy resolves
07:57To get tickets
07:58To the inaugural ball
07:59And she says something
08:01And she does something
08:03She made the resolve
08:05And she said
08:07I'm back
08:08Yes
08:09Hand back
08:10Ha
08:10Candace never looked back
08:15After that
08:15From that moment on
08:17She went
08:17Full steam ahead
08:19Uh
08:20And I think that
08:22That moment
08:23Gave birth to what
08:24The character
08:25Is today
08:27Okay
08:27Last words
08:28Last words
08:29I need some good
08:30Last words
08:30Help me
08:31Murphy
08:31I'll give you last word
08:33This is Murphy Brown
08:34Talking
08:35If anyone at the FAA
08:36Is listening
08:37I paid for first class
08:39My seat back didn't recline
08:40I never got my ginger
08:42I made him clean
08:43The bathrooms
08:43Once in a while
08:44And another thing
08:45I want my mileage club account
08:47President
08:47For the full length
08:48Of this trip
08:49I don't care if we want
08:50To split it all over
08:51Father John's weak man
08:52Murphy's priorities
08:55Have shifted
08:56She's
08:57She's humanized
08:59In the last couple
09:01Of years
09:01Certainly her
09:03Her child
09:04Has become
09:04A priority
09:05For her
09:06And she's sorted
09:07Through a sort of
09:08Shaky
09:08Beginning
09:09Of motherhood
09:11I think I'm pregnant
09:13Miles
09:27Breathe
09:28Breathe
09:30You're doing very well
09:36And it won't be much longer now
09:39How would you know
09:40Spurn for brave
09:42Time to be all the past
09:44Alive turkey
09:45I'm the manager
09:46For Melbourne
09:47Good lord
09:48Jim
09:49Cut me open
09:50Cut me open
09:51And get this kid out of me
09:52Use a scalpel
09:53Use a pocket life
09:55Use a rotten
09:56Sneaking melon baller
09:57If you have to
09:58Just do it
09:59Here's some ice chips
10:02Smurfy
10:03Can I put some
10:04In your mouth
10:04I see your hands
10:05Are full
10:06Screw the ice chips
10:07Sparky
10:08You're a woman
10:09You gotta help me
10:10Smother me with a pillow
10:11Do it for sisterhood
10:13Do it for Betty
10:14For dad
10:15Kill me now
10:16She's going to blow
10:17Birth 101 all in all
10:26Was a very
10:27An incredibly emotionally
10:30Loaded show for me
10:32Because
10:32It was Diane English's
10:34Last show
10:35It was Murphy
10:36Having the baby
10:37It was a wonderfully
10:37Written show
10:38It was my idea
10:40To have Murphy
10:41Singing to the baby
10:42At the end
10:42And it was
10:43Almost impossible
10:45To get through it
10:46On the first take
10:47It was completely
10:48Unusable
10:49Because I was sobbing
10:51The camera crew
10:52Was sobbing
10:53By I have a special
10:55Soft spot
10:56For birth 101
10:57Now I'm no longer
11:00Doubtful
11:01Of what I'm living for
11:04And if I make you happy
11:08I don't need to do more
11:12Because you make me feel
11:17You make me feel
11:21You make me feel
11:25Like a natural
11:28Welcome back
11:39All of us at 60 Minutes
11:41Are constantly asked
11:43Which are our favorite stories
11:44And each of us
11:46Has a different answer
11:47Of course we always say
11:48It's one of our own
11:50The same holds true
11:51For the cast of Murphy Brown
11:53The reporters at FYI
11:55Well my favorite
11:57Jim Dial episode
11:58Is the one where
11:59He loses it on the air
12:01Breaks into hysterical
12:03Uncontrollable laughter
12:05To me it's
12:06Quintessentially Jim Dial
12:08It's his nightmare
12:09If he had one nightmare
12:10It would be
12:11In performance
12:12To lose his composure
12:13President Bush
12:15Sat on a wasp
12:17And was rushed
12:19To the hospital
12:20The stinger was removed
12:25And the president
12:28Later released
12:30And tonight
12:32Is resting comfortably
12:34God
12:36I'm sorry really
12:38This isn't funny
12:39Stay down dear local
12:45Station
12:47For complete coverage
12:48Miles made reservations
12:54For Sardellas
12:55Tonight
12:55You probably have plans
12:58But if you'd like
12:58To join us
12:59I'd love to
13:00If that's okay
13:03With you Miles
13:03What?
13:09Okay
13:09My personal favorite
13:11Was
13:12The brother
13:14Silverberg
13:15Where my brother
13:15Comes to town
13:16And he hooks up
13:18With Murphy
13:19Romantically
13:20And I spin off
13:22On this
13:23Sibling rivalry
13:25Jealousy
13:26Trip
13:28I feel kind of silly
13:30About this
13:31But
13:31I hate it
13:33That you're dating
13:33My brother
13:34I hate it
13:35I hate it
13:36I hate it
13:37I try to be big
13:38About it
13:39I try to be a sport
13:40But it's just
13:41Not working
13:42I'm a small
13:43Petty
13:44Petty
13:44Petty
13:45Petty
13:45Little person
13:45And I want it
13:48To be over
13:48Because you are
13:49Mine
13:49M-I-N-E
13:51Mine
13:52They started
13:53I think
13:54Taking some real chances
13:55With my character
13:56In year two
13:57Where
13:57You know
13:59I got to play
13:59Something other than
14:00Neurosis
14:01Over my job
14:02Murphy
14:04What are you doing?
14:05You've got
14:06Boxers on
14:07It's not like
14:07I can see any
14:08Whoops
14:09Let's get this meeting
14:12Started
14:13Great
14:14Not great
14:15Just what we do
14:16We have meetings
14:17And here's Jim
14:19To join our meeting
14:20I'm sorry
14:20I'm late Miles
14:21Hope I didn't
14:22Leave you dangling
14:23You told her
14:27Who could you
14:28Tell her
14:29Really
14:30Murph
14:31You told Frank
14:32Yeah he told me
14:34I can tell another guy
14:35Tell the guy what?
14:36I can't tell you
14:37Because it's
14:40Embarrassing to Miles
14:41You said I shouldn't
14:41Be embarrassed
14:42What was I supposed
14:43To say?
14:44Will somebody
14:45Please tell me
14:46What's happened?
14:49Murphy saw Miles
14:50His wiener
14:50The face character
14:56Of Corky
14:56Has grown
14:57If you look
14:58At the early
14:59Shows
14:59Of Faith
15:00Where she really
15:01Looked like
15:02Sort of
15:03The swamp thing
15:04That we called her
15:05Make any
15:07Sudden moves
15:09Turkeys
15:10Are very
15:12Very
15:13Stupid animals
15:15They confuse
15:16Easily
15:17Oh great
15:23Now we know
15:24What they teach
15:25In the Louisiana
15:26School system
15:27Instead of Spanish
15:28And you look at her
15:32And you look at her now
15:33Where she's this sort of
15:34Sleek seal
15:36With
15:36You know
15:37And it's
15:38It's been great
15:39To see the development
15:40Of Faith
15:41As Corky
15:42Corky
15:43If it'll make you feel
15:44Any better
15:45I tasted success
15:47At a pretty young age
15:48And I
15:48Had some of the same
15:50Fears you do
15:51But then
15:52Look at all I've
15:53Experienced
15:54Since then
15:54You became
15:57An alcoholic
15:57You had to dry out
16:00At Betty Ford
16:00You had
16:02An illegitimate
16:02Child
16:03I'm looking
16:05At my future
16:06Go for it
16:07Go for it
16:08A real favorite
16:12Was
16:13Murphy and I
16:14Go down
16:16In a plane crash
16:17Or imagine
16:18That we're going
16:18Down
16:19And we
16:20We
16:20Go to our
16:22Own funeral
16:23That jacket
16:24Doesn't go
16:24With that skirt
16:25And the shoes
16:28Are all wrong
16:28Who dressed me
16:30It was so
16:31Difficult
16:32Going through
16:33Murphy's closet
16:34Trying to decide
16:35What she should wear
16:36For her very
16:36Last public appearance
16:38I never really
16:40Liked her sense
16:41Of color
16:41And she didn't
16:43Seem to know
16:43How to hide
16:44Her flaws
16:44I think the
16:47Peplum jacket
16:48And the dickie
16:48Work
16:49What?
16:50I hate that
16:51Dickie
16:51I wouldn't be
16:52Caught dead in one
16:53And now
16:54Look
16:54Dead
16:55In a dickie
16:57The reception
16:59Was less than
17:00Warm hearted
17:01It was a lot of fun
17:02One guy actually
17:04Sort of
17:05Handivacked up
17:06My ashes
17:07We were different
17:08We were special
17:10Oh my god
17:21What are we doing?
17:26What are we doing?
17:28This is like some kind of
17:31Roll climbing carpet
17:33Demonstration
17:34For me the show
17:42For me the show is especially rich
17:43When it ranges between reality and comedy
17:48Sometimes on those Friday nights
17:51I would get home and just sort of sit outside in the patio
17:54Because it's a lot to put on in five days
17:57But you felt really so proud of the show
18:01For covering such a range of emotions
18:04For having a kind of resonance and substance that the show's had
18:10The supporting cast helped to add that resonance and substance
18:15Robert Pastorelli plays Eldon the house painter
18:18The Jiminy Cricket in Murphy's life
18:21You know there are a lot more choices than I remember
18:25Plain ribbed, scented, colored, contoured
18:29I said to myself
18:34Just keep walking
18:35How to hold this
18:38You know
18:38I've been off the market too long
18:40It was comfortable
18:41It was simpler
18:42I'm a mother
18:44For god's sakes
18:44I've got stretch marks
18:45Too much information
18:47Too much information
18:48Hold on
18:51I want you to tell me the truth
18:53When you look at this area here
18:55I don't look at that area
18:57I'm begging you
18:59Get a girlfriend
19:00All right
19:02All right
19:04You want my advice?
19:07Fluff your hair up a little bit
19:09Lose some of them buttons
19:11The one with the Aztec warrior on it
19:16It allowed us to have a sort of human moment at the end of the show with Murphy
19:25Because that's what Eldon and Murphy had
19:29There was always a connection there
19:30Where Murphy would sort of redeem herself by being a human being at the end of the show
19:36You know
19:3730 million people watched me on television tonight
19:42Yeah?
19:44I want 10 bucks at Lotto
19:46You're mellow
19:51How would you describe my on-camera style?
19:56Oh, that's easy, Jim
19:57You're strong, penable, real pro
20:00Pat Corley plays Phil the bartender
20:03Father confessor to the FYI gang
20:06What are you saying?
20:07That I have no personality?
20:09I didn't say that
20:10I just meant that you're from the old school
20:13Like, uh, Chet Huntley
20:15Douglas Edwards
20:17Frank Ribble
20:18They're all dead, Phil
20:19I'll tell you what, Jim
20:23Here's an advocate
20:24Write down what you want to hear
20:26And I'll act like a $20 hooker
20:29And try to say it like I mean
20:30Some of Hollywood's top stars
20:35Have played the role of the man in Murphy's life
20:38Most recently, Scott Bakula
20:41Who plays FYI correspondent Peter Hunt
20:44Oh, God
20:45Carpool
20:46I'm sorry, Slugger
20:50But if you dawdle around in bed all morning
20:52You're going to have to pay the price
20:53You've abused the carpooling privilege
20:55I have
20:57And I am going to spend my entire drive into work
21:00Thinking about mending my selfish ways
21:02Well, so long
21:05Murphy
21:06I don't know about you, but I'm stark
21:09I guess there's no point in my saying
21:21Your cable's fixed, ma'am
21:22We've brought in people who have really enhanced the show
21:31We've brought in Scott Bakula
21:32For the last two years
21:34Who has been wonderful
21:35Chris Rich as Miller Redfield
21:37Who is a wonderful character
21:39And a terrific actor
21:41We were just shaking hands
21:51Your lips were touching Miller Redfield's lips
21:55Why could you do a thing like that?
21:58I don't know
22:00Excuse me
22:02But this is between Corky and I
22:05Corky and me
22:07I
22:08Me
22:09We're in my office
22:11That makes it about me
22:13I, me
22:14That second kiss said it all
22:17Tell me you didn't feel it, too
22:18I don't know how I feel
22:21My hand is spinning
22:23It's probably so repulsed
22:25As trying to twist itself off your body
22:27Corky, we have to talk
22:35What's to talk about?
22:37She's married and you're an idiot
22:39Okay, but things can change
22:44What if she weren't married?
22:48Gary Marshall came in as the head of the network last year
22:52Who was hysterical
22:53And what are you saying?
22:54That we're not doing art here?
22:56What does this lose to mean?
22:58We got a single mother with three kids at 8 o'clock
23:02I got a single father with three kids at 8.30
23:05I got a black single mother with two kids at 9 o'clock
23:09I got a stand-up comic that nobody ever heard of
23:12With no kids at 9.30
23:14And over here, we got the crap slot
23:17Nothing works here
23:20But we're fighting for our lives to beat the other guy's crap slot
23:24But the news division is a totally different story
23:32It's our prized asset
23:34And it'll do everything that I can do to protect it
23:38And I applaud them
23:40What the hell are you doing, Fontana?
23:46Get away from that stage and look what you did
23:48That's not bad
23:49Good evening
24:00I'm Leslie Stahl from 60 Minutes
24:02For many years, this city was my beat
24:06And for the past seven years
24:07It's also been the television home
24:09For the most famous journalist who never was
24:13Murphy Brown
24:14Join us as we continue our look back at the best
24:18Of Murphy Brown
24:19Let me remind you about something, Murphy
24:23This is a job, not make-believe
24:26We're not doing the Mary Tyler Moore show here
24:29There's no audience laughing at every cute little thing you say
24:33This is the real world
24:36So when I tell you you're doing a story
24:39You don't just say, oh, Mr. Grant, I don't want to
24:42You do it
24:43I wanted our audience to believe that Murphy and her show were real
24:52And that these people were real
24:54And because we set the show in a very realistic place
25:00We started to do things
25:02We made a lot of reference to all the political figures in Washington
25:08For three administrations, everything in the White House has been fair game
25:13Even the Clintons' cat sucks
25:16What's going on?
25:19Something secret I should
25:21God, my allergies are going crazy
25:32What have you got in here, a cat?
25:38Oh, my God
25:43It sucks
25:45You've got socks
25:46I finally get you invited to Hillary's luncheon
25:49And this is how you repay me?
25:51You're evil
25:51Would you calm down, Miles?
25:54What's the matter, Murphy?
25:55Was Hillary watching your purse too closely?
25:59The Murphy Brown guest list reads like a who's who of Washington insiders
26:04Dozens of national figures have appeared as themselves in Murphy's make-believe world
26:11I'm proud of my life and what I've accomplished
26:14I have nothing to be ashamed of
26:16What kind of journalist is Murphy Brown?
26:20Well, she's thorough, resourceful, articulate
26:23And when it comes to a one-on-one interview, she is almost as good as I am
26:29Almost
26:30In this dream sequence, senators and journalists, including some of my own colleagues, come back to haunt Murphy
26:37I can barely hear the name Murphy Brown without thinking about the 1980 Republican convention
26:44But I really don't think it's appropriate to go into that
26:48My wife and I shared a table with her at a White House dinner in the early 80s
26:52When Elizabeth and I got up to dance, she ate both our sherbets
26:57Of course she denied it, which was pretty shameless considering how orange her tongue was
27:03I will not talk about her, you don't know what she's like
27:06She's vindictive, she'll do things
27:09You can try a restraining order, you can try moving
27:12But she always finds you
27:14I can't put my family through that again, again, again, again, again, again, again
27:19Excuse me, is this the Murphy Brown market that had been?
27:24Oh my God!
27:27It's one of those annoying Katie Couric look-alikes
27:30The joke worked
27:34And the revolving door of guest journalists continued
27:37Surprise!
27:40And the more we did that, the more people bought into it
27:44It was really fun
27:45The nominees are
27:47Frank me, not Corky, who else?
27:50There is no joy left in this job
27:51I'd never have to die in Sawyer or Leslie Stahl
27:54Leslie Stahl was nominated instead of me?
27:57Why? Because she broke some scandal on black market babies in Romania?
28:04How is that more interesting than my profile on Marvin Hamlisch?
28:09I hope she chokes on her Cornish game hand at the banquet
28:12You know, that Romanian baby story was my very first one for 60 minutes
28:19But most of us got the jokes
28:21And most of us realized that Murphy was indeed a fictional character
28:25But on the night of May 19, 1992, for at least one person
28:30Murphy Brown was very real
28:32And that's the moment the show vaulted from the entertainment page to the front page
28:38It doesn't help matters when primetime TV has Murphy Brown
28:42He is talking about you
28:45He minimizes today's intelligent, highly paid professional woman
28:49Mocking the importance of fathers
28:52By bearing a child alone
28:55And calling it just another lifestyle choice
28:59I remember going into the driveway the morning that the story broke
29:03And picking up my New York Times and opening it up
29:06And seeing a photograph of me and the baby
29:10Murphy and the baby
29:11Flanked by Bush and Quayle on one side
29:14And it was like, jeez
29:16And then there were the tabloid covers
29:19Murphy has kid, Quayle has cow
29:21Quayle calls Murphy slut
29:23I mean, it was just unbelievable
29:25Mr. Quayle later expanded his remarks
29:28To say that he believed examples like Murphy Brown glamorized single motherhood
29:33Glamorized single motherhood?
29:36What planet is he on?
29:37The European community
29:38Look at me, Frank, am I glamorous?
29:46We're talking about us on world news tonight
29:49And CNN
29:50You know, there was nothing we could do
29:53In a response
29:55That was going to satisfy everyone
29:57It was too liberal
29:58It was too
29:59It wasn't liberal
30:00It was too
30:00You know, there was
30:02It was a tricky position for us to be in
30:05Murph, it's Dan Quayle
30:08Forget about it
30:10I think it put the show
30:13In the history books
30:15It put the show on the map
30:17On the cultural map
30:19It made Murphy a real icon
30:22I think
30:22I'll get right to the point
30:24It seems your big story
30:26Has raised quite a few hackles
30:27On Capitol Hill
30:28Congratulations, Murphy
30:29You've been subpoenaed by the Senate
30:31If an issue was hot
30:33It was on Murphy Brown
30:35To satirize the Clarence Thomas
30:38Anita Hill Senate hearings
30:39Of course, Murphy Brown
30:41Found herself summoned to Capitol Hill
30:44Uh, Ms. Brown
30:45Why would you take a classified report
30:50And read it on the television?
30:53Senator, journalists release information
30:56To the public for one reason only
30:58The public's right to know
30:59But the public didn't vote for you, Ms. Brown
31:03They voted for us
31:04And we want to keep a secret
31:07You shouldn't be running around
31:09Like a junkyard dog
31:11Flapping your jaw
31:13Like a loose shut-in hurricane
31:15Senator, may I respectfully remind you
31:21Of the importance of the press
31:23In a democratic society?
31:25Without the press
31:26Watergate
31:27The savings and loan debacle
31:29And Iran-Contra
31:30May never have come to light
31:31So?
31:33The Senate episode
31:37Is one of my favorite
31:38Murphy Brown
31:39Because it's when the show
31:41Does what it does best
31:42Wonderful political satire
31:45My name is Corky Sherwood Forrest
31:48And I have been a professional journalist
31:50Since 1988
31:52And, uh, if I may, uh, add
31:56A, uh, personal observation
31:58I have, uh, seen you on FYI
32:04And, uh, I commend you
32:06For your incredible body
32:08Of work
32:09Your, uh, your ability to
32:15Stimulate me, uh, as a member
32:18Of the viewing public, uh
32:19With your sensitive probing style
32:24Right back
32:30As the Murphy Brown special continues
32:33To be politically correct
32:37They call them executive assistants
32:39Administrative assistants
32:41Or personal assistants
32:42But to Murphy Brown
32:44They're simply secretaries
32:46One through 75
32:48Some have been fired
32:50Some quit
32:51But all of them
32:52Have been her worst nightmare
32:54Hi
32:56I'm Murphy Brown
32:58Welcome to my desk
32:59Hello, I'm Murphy Brown
33:04And you must be my new
33:05Ms. Brown, I'm Chip Clark
33:09I just want to say
33:10That I'm an extremely qualified secretary
33:13With excellent skills
33:15I'm sure this will work out fine
33:17Oh, so am I
33:19I already like you
33:21And when I spoke to Satan
33:22This morning before breakfast
33:24He pretty much guaranteed
33:26This would be a great experience
33:28And you are?
33:35Lori
33:36Robert L. Watkins, ma'am
33:40Pleasure to be serving unto you, ma'am
33:42Were you recently in the military?
33:45Yes, ma'am
33:45Gay, ma'am
33:47They ask, I told, ma'am
33:49I'm Rocky Road
33:51And it's great to be here at FYI
33:54That's right, I'm Bambi
33:58Your special telephone friend
34:01What's your name?
34:05Oh, girl
34:06We were at Warner Bros. at the time
34:09And, uh
34:10There's a secretarial pool there
34:12And, uh
34:13The first person I was assigned
34:15Was actually certifiably insane
34:17She talked to herself
34:18And, uh
34:19And, uh
34:21It got worse from there
34:22So we thought
34:23That might be a good running gag
34:25Ms. Brown
34:26I'm Alice Kimmons
34:28Your new secretary
34:28And I'm really excited
34:30To be working for you
34:31I just know
34:32It's going to be great
34:33Oh, stop lying
34:34You weak, pathetic worm
34:35The only reason you're here
34:36Is to be for that useless therapy
34:38It's not useless
34:39It's working
34:40Don't listen to her, Ms. Brown
34:42That's Rachel
34:43A 37-year-old divorcee
34:45Who lives inside me
34:46Oh, fine
34:47Tell her all our secrets
34:48That's it, we quit
34:49I'm so sorry, Ms. Brown
34:51But I have no choice
34:53She's the one who types
34:54I don't care if he's on his hands and knees
35:01The car is mine
35:02The house is mine
35:04Judy
35:04The skinny metal rod
35:06That turns on the sprinklers
35:07And doesn't even have a name
35:09Is mine
35:10Judy
35:11And furthermore
35:12If he tries to get custody of the dog
35:15I'll drag his butt across the coals
35:18Make sure you use exactly those words
35:21Drag his butt
35:23Judy
35:23Head up the phone
35:24Gotta go by
35:26When I finally give myself to a woman
35:31It's going to be for love
35:37But I do love you, Jerry
35:47And I'm not wearing any underwear
35:55The writers, just when you think
35:59They're not going to come up with anything else
36:02You know, what other secretary can you have?
36:04They come up with somebody crazy
36:05Or someone more outrageous
36:07It's like getting blood from a stone
36:08You don't see how it's possible
36:10To squeeze another drop out of the secretary
36:13And then they come up with a hysterical secretary
36:16In this season alone, in the seventh season
36:19We've had hysterical secretaries
36:21I want you to type up this letter for me
36:23To the chief of police
36:24Get me the mayor's office on the phone
36:26And fax a copy of this police report
36:28To my homeowner's association
36:30Absolutely, Miss Brown
36:31I'll go send that fax right now
36:32No, maybe I should type the letter first
36:35And then fax
36:36Wait, the phone call
36:38Okay
36:38Call, then fax, then type
36:42Fax, then type, then call?
36:45Excuse me, have you worked as a secretary before?
36:47Oh, sure
36:48Clinton administration
36:49Communications office
36:50See if you can reschedule my lunch
37:12With Cokie Roberts for next Tuesday
37:14You got that?
37:14Absolutely
37:15Let me get a pencil so I can write that down
37:17Just have one
37:21That's okay, I'll get it
37:24Look, unless I mistake my guess
37:28This seems to be a personal call
37:30When you say Rusty's in a better place
37:31You mean like that nicer dog house
37:33We talked about, right?
37:36What?
37:37Oh, jeez
37:38It's not old Rusty
37:39No
37:41Well, at least he went peacefully
37:43What?
37:47Look, maybe this isn't a good time
37:49Why don't I come back later?
37:50Well, why was Grandma
37:51Walking in near the hay baler?
37:54I'll definitely come back later
37:57Well, let me talk to Grandma
37:59What?
38:00Meet your new secretary, Murphy
38:05My nephew, stand like a person
38:08Andrew J. Lansing III
38:12Say hello to the nice lady, Andrew
38:14Hello
38:15This is your office
38:19I'm temping for you
38:21Screw it
38:23I'm taking early retirement
38:28Oh, no
38:33Forget it
38:35I'm sorry
38:36I told personnel
38:37No smokers
38:39I'm putting this one out, see?
38:44This is my last cigarette
38:46Somebody in personnel hates me
38:52In addition to journalists and politicians
38:55Distinguished guest stars from the world of television
38:58Motion pictures and music
39:00Have helped create some of Murphy's most memorable moments
39:03You make me see
39:07You make me
39:12Now listen
39:15Let's get one thing straight
39:17I'm not Martha
39:19And you ain't no Vandella
39:21You're right
39:24I'm a solo act
39:25But without a doubt
39:28The cast's fondest memories
39:30Are reserved for the late Colleen Dewhurst
39:33Who played Murphy Brown's mother, Avery
39:36I was forced to disarm a rude security guard in the lobby
39:40Somebody return this to the proper authorities
39:43I remember kidding with her saying
39:46You know, we're all acting our very best in front of you
39:50We want to be
39:50And she said, are you kidding?
39:52You know, I told my family I was coming to do Murphy Brown
39:55And they said, you better not be the one to ruin that show
39:58She had great humor about it
40:00But it's wonderful when you have someone who's such a pro like that
40:05Give you a compliment
40:06Because you feel like, oh, oh, that's so nice
40:09And I remember what really stuck out about her first show
40:13Was when she came down the stairs with the white flower in her hair
40:18And it was like, this is Murphy's mother, you know
40:21And she was brilliant from the get-go
40:24She was terrified
40:43And then, of course, at the 12th hour
40:46Just, you know, came through like a general
40:50We were so intimidated by her
40:54But she was great
40:55And she brought so much to the part of Avery Brown
40:59To Murphy's mother
41:00I've never said I love you
41:02Because I'm afraid no one will say it back
41:05Why don't you try it?
41:12I love you
41:13I love you
41:17You're watching Murphy Brown
41:29Tonight we've shown you many of Murphy Brown's funniest moments
41:33But there are others that have never been broadcast
41:36Hear now the funniest moments from Murphy Brown that you never saw
41:41Action
41:42Oh, God
41:48That looks like the part of my brain that does lock the vision
41:51I haven't seen an audience that cold
42:00Since Noriega stepped out on the platform
42:02And asked, how am I doing?
42:03It's balcony
42:04With 50 pages per script
42:12And 25 shows per season
42:15The actors are constantly memorizing new dialogue
42:18But sometimes they just can't
42:21I'll spend the rest of my days working through this guilt
42:24Oh, God
42:26Okay, so there's a few years between us
42:37So what?
42:40Is that my line now?
42:41What line would it be, actually?
42:50There are times when it's not a matter of remembering a line
42:54All it takes is a look in Candace's eye
42:58Just want to look at you and get ready for it
43:01Okay
43:01Corky
43:04We have to talk
43:06What's to talk about?
43:08She's married and you're an idiot
43:10Okay
43:13But things can change
43:15I hate it when you look at me like that
43:23Miles, you know what your problem is?
43:27You're just not a fun guy
43:29You have no sense of whimsy
43:30I'm sorry
43:33Miles, you know what your problem is?
43:35You're just not a fun guy
43:36Whenever I look into Candace's eyes
43:43I'd lose it
43:45There's some weird chemistry between Grant and I
43:48Where we always make each other laugh
43:50You have no sense of fun
43:51You have no sense of whimsy
43:53You're just not a fun guy
43:54Hey!
43:59I am fun
44:00And I have whimsy, too
44:02Are you forgetting the flying toaster screets?
44:05Screets, Abraham, I can't
44:06No
44:07In fact, they actually stopped putting us together in scenes
44:14That's why you don't see us in the same scene anymore
44:17What would Edward R. Murrow say?
44:20I'll tell you what
44:20In this serious scene
44:22Candace is on the verge of losing it
44:25If she looks Grant in the eye
44:27She'll break out laughing
44:28But look closely
44:30It's already hopeless
44:32No less
44:35Than freedom of the press
44:37Is at stake
44:39This is like Jersey Shakespeare
44:52Some of the funniest outtakes
44:57Come when a seemingly innocent line
45:00Doesn't quite come out the way it should
45:03Work!
45:04I hate that dickie
45:05I wouldn't be caught dead in one
45:07And now, look
45:08Dead!
45:09In a dickie!
45:11At least you've got a dickie
45:13Romantic scenes in front of a live audience
45:32Can be the toughest to play
45:33The line Candace is about to deliver
45:36Refers to the envelope on the bed
45:39What's that?
45:42Don't tell me you've forgotten already
45:44I don't know if she hides behind my head
45:57Gee, no one will notice anything
46:01If she's laughing behind my head
46:02I'm still rolling
46:04Oh, good
46:05Gee, it's all business with you, isn't it?
46:12Okay, let's go
46:18I think in the outtakes
46:21You see the heart and soul
46:23Of the cast and the show
46:25Miles, that's great
46:27Isn't that great, guys?
46:28That'll give us even more time
46:30For my welfare story
46:31When were you able to do that?
46:33On my cellular
46:33When were you able to do that?
46:38On my cellular
46:38I love this line
46:44Cellular
46:45Try saying that fast
46:47Cellular
46:48Three times
46:49Cellular, cellular, cellular
46:50Cellular
46:50Cellular, cellular
46:55All right, don't pressure
46:59Cellular, cellular, cellular
47:01Action
47:02When were you able to do that?
47:04On my
47:04On my phone
47:08On my car phone
47:12Yeah
47:13When were you able to do that?
47:21On my car phone
47:22Well, at a stop
47:22Not only has Murphy Brown
47:29Made an impact
47:30On America's television landscape
47:32It's also caused families
47:34To think
47:35To talk
47:36And most importantly
47:38To laugh
47:39Not bad for a woman
47:41Who never existed
47:42From the nation's capital
47:44I'm Leslie Stahl
47:45Good night, everyone
47:47Thank you for watching
48:12I'm Leslie Stahl
48:18At the very first time
48:19I don't believe
48:20At the end
48:21You haven't believed
48:21Like prevailing
48:22Odd
48:23We haven't believed
48:23Conway
48:25But anyway
48:26John
48:26I don't believe
48:27N mice
48:28On siis
48:29Our
48:29How
48:29The War
48:30The War
48:31Thman
48:31I don't believe
48:32We haven't believed
48:33So
48:34You haven't been
48:35There so
48:35I don't believe
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