The Best Episodes of Murphy Brown Season 1

Episode Rankings

1. #1 Fan Favorite
   

   7.9/10(156 votes)

   #1 - Respect

   S1:E111/14/1988

   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.

   Director:Barnet Kellman

   Writer:Diane English

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   Director:Barnet Kellman

   Writer:Diane English
2. 

   7.9/10(126 votes)

   #2 - Devil With a Blue Dress On

   S1:E211/21/1988

   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.""

   Director:Barnet Kellman

   Writer:Korby Siamis

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   Director:Barnet Kellman

   Writer:Korby Siamis
3. 

   7.6/10(118 votes)

   #3 - Nowhere to Run

   S1:E311/28/1988

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

   Director:Barnet Kellman

   Writer:Russ Woody

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   Director:Barnet Kellman

   Writer:Russ Woody
4. 

   7.4/10(105 votes)

   #4 - Signed, Sealed, Delivered

   S1:E412/5/1988

   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.

   Director:Barnet Kellman

   Writer:Diane English

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   Director:Barnet Kellman

   Writer:Diane English
5. 

   7.1/10(105 votes)

   #5 - Murphy's Pony

   S1:E512/11/1988

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

   Director:Barnet Kellman

   Writer:Diane English

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   Director:Barnet Kellman

   Writer:Diane English
6. 

   7.0/10(97 votes)

   #6 - Baby Love

   S1:E612/12/1988

   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.

   Director:Barnet Kellman

   Writer:Korby Siamis

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   Director:Barnet Kellman

   Writer:Korby Siamis
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7. 

   7.2/10(98 votes)

   #7 - Set Me Free

   S1:E712/19/1988

   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.""

   Director:Barnet Kellman

   Writer:Diane English

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   Director:Barnet Kellman

   Writer:Diane English
8. 

   7.3/10(97 votes)

   #8 - And So He Goes

   S1:E81/2/1989

   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.

   Director:Barnet Kellman

   Writers:Denise Moss, Sy Dukane

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   Director:Barnet Kellman

   Writers:Denise Moss, Sy Dukane
9. 

   7.5/10(97 votes)

   #9 - I Would Have Danced All Night

   S1:E91/9/1989

   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.

   Director:Barnet Kellman

   Writers:Steven Peterman, Gary Dontzig

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   Director:Barnet Kellman

   Writers:Steven Peterman, Gary Dontzig
10. 

    7.2/10(99 votes)

    #10 - Kyle

    S1:E101/16/1989

    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.

    Director:Barnet Kellman

    Writer:Russ Woody

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    Director:Barnet Kellman

    Writer:Russ Woody
11. 

    7.1/10(90 votes)

    #11 - Off the Job Experience

    S1:E111/23/1989

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

    Director:Barnet Kellman

    Writers:Tom Seeley, Norm Gunzenhauser

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    Director:Barnet Kellman

    Writers:Tom Seeley, Norm Gunzenhauser
12. 

    7.3/10(91 votes)

    #12 - Why Do Fools Fall in Love?

    S1:E122/13/1989

    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.

    Director:Barnet Kellman

    Writer:Korby Siamis

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    Director:Barnet Kellman

    Writer:Korby Siamis
13. 

    6.9/10(88 votes)

    #13 - Soul Man

    S1:E132/20/1989

    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.

    Director:Barnet Kellman

    Writers:Tom Seeley, Norm Gunzenhauser

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    Director:Barnet Kellman

    Writers:Tom Seeley, Norm Gunzenhauser
14. 

    7.1/10(92 votes)

    #14 - It's How You Play the Game

    S1:E142/27/1989

    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.

    Director:Barnet Kellman

    Writer:Russ Woody

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    Director:Barnet Kellman

    Writer:Russ Woody
15. 

    7.5/10(97 votes)

    #15 - Mama Said

    S1:E153/6/1989

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

    Director:Barnet Kellman

    Writer:Diane English

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    Director:Barnet Kellman

    Writer:Diane English
16. 

    7.3/10(85 votes)

    #16 - Moscow on the Potomac

    S1:E163/13/1989

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

    Director:Barnet Kellman

    Writers:Denise Moss, Sy Dukane

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    Director:Barnet Kellman

    Writers:Denise Moss, Sy Dukane
17. 

    7.3/10(90 votes)

    #17 - My Dinner with Einstein

    S1:E173/20/1989

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

    Director:Barnet Kellman

    Writers:Steven Peterman, Gary Dontzig

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    Director:Barnet Kellman

    Writers:Steven Peterman, Gary Dontzig
18. 

    7.5/10(88 votes)

    #18 - Funnies Girl

    S1:E184/10/1989

    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.

    Director:Barnet Kellman

    Writers:Tom Seeley, Norm Gunzenhauser

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    Director:Barnet Kellman

    Writers:Tom Seeley, Norm Gunzenhauser
19. 

    7.5/10(95 votes)

    #19 - The Unshrinkable Murphy Brown

    S1:E195/1/1989

    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.

    Director:Barnet Kellman

    Writers:Denise Moss, Sy Dukane

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    Director:Barnet Kellman

    Writers:Denise Moss, Sy Dukane
20. 

    7.7/10(91 votes)

    #20 - The Summer of '77

    S1:E205/8/1989

    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.

    Director:Barnet Kellman

    Writer:Diane English

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    Director:Barnet Kellman

    Writer:Diane English
21. 

    7.2/10(84 votes)

    #21 - The Bickners

    S1:E215/15/1989

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

    Director:Barnet Kellman

    Writer:Russ Woody

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    Director:Barnet Kellman

    Writer:Russ Woody
22. 

    7.6/10(90 votes)

    #22 - The Morning Show

    S1:E225/22/1989

    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.

    Director:Barnet Kellman

    Writer:Kathryn Baker

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    Director:Barnet Kellman

    Writer:Kathryn Baker