the fact that the vice president criticized the series
showed the degree to which it was a bellwether of the
period in which it ran.
In its hour-long finale, George Clooney, then the
star ofER,appeared as a silent member of the medi-
cal team helping Murphy face her breast cancer or-
deal. After the take, Clooney asked Bergen if she was
okay. Bergen opened her mouth to speak, then
turned away to cry. This final episode also included
cameos from Julia Roberts (as herself ) and Bette
Midler (as “No. 93” in the long line of Murphy’s
temp secretaries). Robert Pastorelli reprised his role
as Eldin after an earlier departure from the series,
and Murphy even nabbed the ultimate interview,
with God (comedian Alan King in a dream se-
quence).
Impact Murphy Brown, with its career woman star,
built on the success of the earlier television comedy
hits such asThat GirlandThe Mar y Tyler Moore Show,
but with more of an edge. Story lines explored life
situations that these earlier series (products of the
1960’s and 1970’s, respectively) could only mention,
if even that. Most notable was Murphy’s breast can-
cer and pregnancy and her decision to raise the
child as a single mother.Further Reading
Alley, Robert S., and Irby B. Brown.Murphy Brown:
Anatomy of a Sitcom. New York: Delta, 1990.
Dow, Bonnie J.Prime-Time Feminism: Television, Media
Culture, and the Women’s Movement Since 1970. Phil-
adelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 1996.594 Murphy Brown The Nineties in America
The F.Y.I. news team from the television seriesMurphy Brown(from left): Corky Sherwood (Faith Ford), Jim Dial (Charles Kimbrough),
Murphy Brown (Candice Bergen), Frank Fontana (Joe Regalbuto), and Miles Silverberg (Grant Shaud).(CBS/Landov)