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The Best Episodes of Murphy Brown Season 1

Every episode of Murphy Brown Season 1 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of Murphy Brown Season 1!

The Best Episodes of Murphy Brown Season 1

Murphy Brown (Candice Bergen) is a recovering alcoholic who returns to the fictional newsmagazine FYI for the first time following a stay at the Betty...

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  1. 7.8/10(123 votes)

    #1 - Devil With a Blue Dress On

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    S1:E2

    Miles assigns Corky to work with Murphy on a big story about a corporate big shot. Corky inadvertently uncovers the fact that he is a drug smuggler, this isn't immediately apparent to her. Murphy almost feels guilty about taking credit for the story, but she doesn't get the chance, Corky ""grabs the brass ring.""

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  2. 7.7/10(152 votes)

    #2 - Respect

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    S1:E1

    Murphy returns to FYI after ""drying out"" at the Betty Ford clinic. The show has undergone some changes while she was gone, including the addition of a beauty queen to the anchor desk and a new young executive producer. In her first week back she isn't sure whether she still has her edge.

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  3. 7.6/10(87 votes)

    #3 - The Summer of '77

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    S1:E20

    Eldin meets Corky for the first time and becomes infatuated with her. Phil reflects on the first time he met Murphy, when she first came to Washington to audition against Linda Ellerbee & Frank Fontana for FYI.

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  4. 7.5/10(114 votes)

    #4 - Nowhere to Run

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    S1:E3

    Murphy investigates a federal prosecutor who's linked to mob-run prostitution, Miles fears for his life when he receives his first death threat.

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    Writer:Russ Woody
  5. 7.5/10(91 votes)

    #5 - The Unshrinkable Murphy Brown

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    S1:E19

    While Murphy is grilling him on the show, a judge dies of a heart attack. This causes Murphy to lose her edge, so she attends a group therapy session.

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  6. 7.5/10(87 votes)

    #6 - The Morning Show

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    S1:E22

    During an off week at FYI, Murphy & Corky co-anchor the network's morning show, and Murphy finds it's a job she just isn't made for. Murphy's new secretary has a passing resemblance to a ""dead"" celebrity.

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  8. 7.4/10(94 votes)

    #7 - I Would Have Danced All Night

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    S1:E9

    Murphy is perplexed and angry when everyone on the staff is invited to the inaugural ball of President-elect Bush. Was it something she reported? Miles debates about asking a taller woman to the ball.

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  9. 7.4/10(92 votes)

    #8 - Mama Said

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    S1:E15

    Murphy's overbearing mother comes to visit for an unspecified length of time.

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  10. 7.4/10(84 votes)

    #9 - Funnies Girl

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    S1:E18

    An on-camera slip of the tongue, makes Murphy the butt of a cartoonist's joke in ""The Adventures of Mouthy Brown,"" then the rest of the staff falls victim.

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  11. 7.3/10(103 votes)

    #10 - Signed, Sealed, Delivered

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    S1:E4

    Miles schedules Murphy to interview her radical ex-husband. Murphy & Jake's feelings for one another begin to ruin the chance of a professional interview.

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  12. 7.3/10(95 votes)

    #11 - And So He Goes

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    S1:E8

    Murphy's long time nemesis asks for her to deliver the eulogy at his funeral, and Murphy sees it as her chance to have the last laugh or so she thinks.

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  13. 7.3/10(86 votes)

    #12 - Why Do Fools Fall in Love?

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    S1:E12

    Cupid strikes the staff when Murphy reluctantly fixes Frank up on the condition he finds someone for her. Murphy's latest secretary has a crush on Jim.

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  14. 7.2/10(96 votes)

    #13 - Kyle

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    S1:E10

    Murphy's story wins freedom for an innocent man; when the rest of the team realizes he has a problem adjusting with the outside world, Miles offers him a job as Murphy's secretary.

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    Writer:Russ Woody
  15. 7.2/10(86 votes)

    #14 - My Dinner with Einstein

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    S1:E17

    Murphy dates a physicist to prove looks aren't everything, but he proves to be a party guy.

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  16. 7.2/10(80 votes)

    #15 - The Bickners

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    S1:E21

    A minor traffic accident, with a sweet elderly couple, results in a 1.5 million dollar lawsuit for Murphy.

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    Writer:Russ Woody
  17. 7.1/10(102 votes)

    #16 - Murphy's Pony

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    S1:E5

    During the Christmas holidays, a mother abandons her children to the care of Murphy Brown. Murphy goes all out to help them out.

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  18. 7.1/10(96 votes)

    #17 - Set Me Free

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    S1:E7

    Murphy's having a rotten day, complicated by a gunman who interrupts the show and demands they read his statement on the air and it gets capped off by the painter she hired to do her kitchen sticking around to finish ""extending myself.""

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  19. 7.1/10(88 votes)

    #18 - It's How You Play the Game

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    S1:E14

    To get the public to see Frank's piece on the homeless, the FYI team competes with Jerry Gold's show on its level, with surprising results.

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    Writer:Russ Woody
  20. 7.1/10(81 votes)

    #19 - Moscow on the Potomac

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    S1:E16

    Murphy prepares for a joint broadcast with the Soviet news equivalent of Murphy Brown.

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  21. 7.0/10(87 votes)

    #20 - Off the Job Experience

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    S1:E11

    Miles suspends Murphy for her handling of an interview. So she leaves the office for two weeks and becomes miserable.

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  22. 6.9/10(95 votes)

    #21 - Baby Love

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    S1:E6

    Murphy feels maternal pangs after visiting with a pregnant friend. She considers in vitro fertilization and talks Frank into being the donor. When that option doesn't pan out, they consider a physical union.

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  23. 6.9/10(85 votes)

    #22 - Soul Man

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    S1:E13

    Murphy tries to gain entry into Washington's last exclusive club, trouble is, it's for men only. Murphy tries to get Jim to sponsor her, when she discovers a loophole in the by-laws.

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Season 1 Ratings Summary

"Devil With a Blue Dress On" is the best rated episode of "Murphy Brown" season 1. It scored 7.8/10 based on 123 votes. Directed by Barnet Kellman and written by Korby Siamis, it aired on 11/21/1988. This episode is rated 0.1 points higher than the second-best, "Respect".