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The Worst Episodes of Murphy Brown

Every episode of Murphy Brown ranked from worst to best. Explore the Worst Episodes of Murphy Brown!

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...
Genre:Comedy
Network:CBS

Worst Episodes Summary

"Office Politics" is the worst rated episode of "Murphy Brown". It scored 6.1/10 based on 51 votes. Directed by Joe Regalbuto and written by N/A, it aired on 10/14/1996. This episode scored 0.1 points lower than the second lowest rated, "The Big Thaw".

  • Office Politics
    6.1/1051 votes
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    #1 - Office Politics

    Season 9 Episode 5 - Aired 10/14/1996

    Murphy begins to redecorate her bedroom into an office with a few extra amenities. Jim insists that she get a permit and have the job done properly, she'd already started. To get a permit, she has to get permission from her neighbor, Old Man Swenson. Eventually an agreement is reached, but will Murphy endure him long enough to keep up her end of the bargain.

    Director: Joe Regalbuto

    Writer: N/A

  • The Big Thaw
    6.2/1051 votes
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    #2 - The Big Thaw

    Season 9 Episode 14 - Aired 1/6/1997

    When Kay and Murphy are the only ones to make it into the office during a snowstorm. Kay seizes the opportunity to get an evaluation of her performance. Instead, she gets Murphy giving her several examples of how she acted in a variety of situations.

    Director: Peter Bonerz

    Writer: Rob Bragin

  • Murphy Redux
    6.4/1058 votes
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    #3 - Murphy Redux

    Season 10 Episode 1 - Aired 10/1/1997

    Murphy says her goodbyes to the gang of FYI. She takes a month off before her new job at the White House starts. On her first day, Murphy enters the gate of the White House and forty minutes later she makes her exit. She goes back to FYI looking for her old job; though Joan Lunden is a prime candidate. When she does return, her first show back features a report by Corky on breast cancer. Appalled by the fact that neither Murphy nor Kay has had a recent mammogram, Corky insists they each get one. Kay's test is negative, but Murphy has to speak to the doctor.

    Director: Peter Bonerz

    Writer: N/A

  • Son of Dottie
    6.5/1052 votes
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    #4 - Son of Dottie

    Season 9 Episode 4 - Aired 10/7/1996

    Dottie invites Avery to her son Harrison's birthday party, despite the fact that Murphy tells her she doesn't like her. Corky finds some interesting information on Dottie's clothing line, Murphy makes a deal and trades stories; then she dishes the dirt on Dottie. Even that doesn't initially keep Dottie away. Finally she hates her; however, Murphy discovers that Avery still wants to go to the party. Murphy sneaks him in, but Dottie still demands an apology.

    Director: Peter Bonerz

    Writer: N/A

  • Hero Today, Gone Tomorrow
    6.5/1050 votes
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    #5 - Hero Today, Gone Tomorrow

    Season 9 Episode 22 - Aired 5/5/1997

    Stuart Best is dubbed a hero at a fire. Murphy's probing questions lead the authorities to think he may have actually set the fire.

    Director: Peter Bonerz

    Writer: N/A

  • A Man and a Woman
    6.5/1063 votes
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    #6 - A Man and a Woman

    Season 10 Episode 19 - Aired 4/27/1998

    To prove her point about gender identification, Kay shows up at Phil's dressed as a man. The disguise fools the staff and Murphy uses Kay in her disguise to stop the advances of an IRS tax accountant that has information Muprhy needs for a big story. Unfortunately, the poly jeopardizes Murphy's chances at the story. The staff tries to help Murphy rescue her story.

    Director: Steve Zuckerman

    Writer: Jhoni Marchinko

  • Phil's Dead - Long Live Phil's
    6.6/1052 votes
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    #7 - Phil's Dead - Long Live Phil's

    Season 9 Episode 6 - Aired 10/21/1996

    Phil passes away. When Phyllis announces her intention to sell, the gang decides to buy the bar. Trouble begins when each has their own idea how to improve the place. Finally they decide that they should keep one tradition.

    Director: Peter Bonerz

    Writer: N/A

  • Seperation Anxiety
    6.6/1049 votes
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    #8 - Seperation Anxiety

    Season 9 Episode 12 - Aired 12/2/1996

    Everyone tries to come up with an excuse to miss Jim and Doris's annual party. This year's festivities are anything but boring when their fight turns into a separation.

    Director: Joe Regalbuto

    Writer: N/A

  • Montezuma's Retreat
    6.6/1053 votes
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    #9 - Montezuma's Retreat

    Season 9 Episode 13 - Aired 12/16/1996

    Murphy suspects that Kay has ulterior motives when Kay says the network is sending the staff to a retreat in Mexico. Instead, while there, she must contend with filling all her free time avoiding a group of employees from a corporation that she exposed for their corrupt practices. Corky faces being without Miles, yet again. Jim discovers a ""short""-age when he packs his own suitcase for the first time. Frank fearing the worst when Kay wants to talk with him gets the courage to confront her.

    Director: Peter Bonerz

    Writer: Joshua Sternin, Jennifer Ventimilia

  • Who Do You Truss?
    6.6/1051 votes
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    #10 - Who Do You Truss?

    Season 9 Episode 15 - Aired 1/13/1997

    Jim is going to the hospital for a hernia operation. Frank and Murphy both fight to do the commentary during his absence. Kay leaves the decision up to them. They decide to ask Jim, despite the fact that Jim is just regaining consciousness from his operation. Corky gets a protégé, who's a lot like she was years ago; it slowly drives her nuts.

    Director: Peter Bonerz

    Writer: N/A

  • How to Marry a Billionaire
    6.6/1049 votes
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    #11 - How to Marry a Billionaire

    Season 9 Episode 21 - Aired 4/28/1997

    A billionaire media mogul proposes marriage to Murphy while she is conducting an on-air interview with him. Murphy doubts the sincerity of the proposal, then the gift of an 8+ carat diamond ring arrives. She declines the invitation, but that doesn't keep Briggs from trying, by using Frank and the other FYI staffers. He even buys her contract from Lansing, then Kay steps in.

    Director: Peter Bonerz

    Writer: N/A

  • Ectomy, Schmectomy
    6.6/1054 votes
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    #12 - Ectomy, Schmectomy

    Season 10 Episode 3 - Aired 10/15/1997

    When Murphy and Frank don't show up for dinner, Kay speculates they have are a having a relationship. Murphy drops the bomb on the rest of the staff. Jim is speechless. Frank tries to help in every way that he can. Murphy faces a tough decision with the myriad of treatment options for her breast cancer.

    Director: Peter Bonerz

    Writer: N/A

  • Petty Woman
    6.6/1057 votes
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    #13 - Petty Woman

    Season 10 Episode 7 - Aired 11/12/1997

    Murphy's archrival, Athena Gillington, invites her to one of her parties. Murphy doesn't want to go because she thinks it is a pity invitation. Murphy relents and attends the party where she discovers two things about Athena, one that she is using Murphy's presence at the party as publicity for her I just turned 50 book and two, that Athena is much older than 50.

    Director: Joe Regalbuto

    Writer: Bill Masters

  • Tempus Fugit
    6.6/1053 votes
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    #14 - Tempus Fugit

    Season 10 Episode 9 - Aired 11/24/1997

    Frank signs his new contract; Murphy is in the midst of negotiating her new deal. After Murphy can't make her appearance on the show, Corky fills in and does a great job conducting the scheduled interview. The network brass wants to give Corky the chance to report from the Middle East. The network only offers Murphy a one year deal instead of the usual three year deal and Murphy won't back down until the network meets her on her terms.

    Director: Steve Zuckerman

    Writer: Bill Masters

  • From the Terrace
    6.6/1054 votes
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    #15 - From the Terrace

    Season 10 Episode 11 - Aired 12/17/1997

    Murphy fires yet another secretary and while searching for a story idea for Corky, Kay suggests the staff go out on the terrace. They get trapped out there, when the door closes and no one has a key. Jim has a dinner date scheduled with Doris, Corky is going to miss the lighting of the White House tree and Frank has a flight to Costa Rica. They have a chance to get back inside when Murphy's recently fired secretary returns to the office, only for the ex-secretary it's revenge time. Kay feels they've been locked out on the terrace for some greater purpose, while Murphy has her doubts. Meanwhile, in a building across the way, a man and a woman fight about the time they're not spending on their relationship, only to be inspired by a group of people on a balcony.

    Director: Peter Bonerz

    Writer: Jhoni Marchinko

  • The Bitch's Back
    6.7/1072 votes
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    #16 - The Bitch's Back

    Season 2 Episode 25 - Aired 5/7/1990

    Miles orders the staff to take a stress reduction class. After reluctantly showing up for it, Murphy slips a disc however that doesn't stop her from working on a hot story.

    Director: Barnet Kellman

    Writer: Steven Peterman, Gary Dontzig

  • Retrospective (2)
    6.7/1052 votes
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    #17 - Retrospective (2)

    Season 7 Episode 26 - Aired 5/22/1995

    The first seven seasons of the show are highlighted by Lesley Stahl of CBS's 60 Minutes including interviews with the cast and Diane English, the series creator.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • A Comedy of Eros
    6.7/1058 votes
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    #18 - A Comedy of Eros

    Season 9 Episode 3 - Aired 9/30/1996

    Frank is getting one of his plays produced. When he gets an out of country assignment, he leaves Murphy in charge of looking after his interests in the production. Busy with her own story, Murphy takes a hands off approach to the production, leaving the director to make his own decisions. The director, decides on a major casting change; Murphy finds out about it, just before the curtain rises.

    Director: Peter Bonerz

    Writer: Joshua Sternin, Jennifer Ventimilia

  • The Last Temptation of Murphy
    6.7/1055 votes
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    #19 - The Last Temptation of Murphy

    Season 10 Episode 12 - Aired 1/7/1998

    Murphy's new secretary makes a great cup of coffee, but doesn't have time for much else. Murphy receives a call from a former Wall Street trader who has just been released from his prison sentence for insider trading and he wants to be interviewed on the show. During the on camera interview, he proposes to use some of his money to hold a benefit run for breast cancer research, which he would like Murphy endorse. Later, off camera, she does and really thinks that he might have changed when everything seems to go right with the event. Until he tells her that he doubled the million dollars they rose. She also discovers that public opinion is split, not on what she did, but who she did it with.

    Director: Steve Zuckerman

    Writer: N/A

  • Seems Like Gold Times
    6.7/1052 votes
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    #20 - Seems Like Gold Times

    Season 10 Episode 17 - Aired 4/13/1998

    Jerry Gold returns from Germany and it seems just like old times for Murphy and Jerry and the gang. Even Kay sees it as she tells the gang how she thinks there perfect for each other. Murphy and Jerry take the day off from work and feel the old sparks again. He inquires on her health Jerry: Did it hurt. Murphy: At first yes, but it doesn't hurt now Jerry: I can't think of anything hurting you Jerry and Murphy end up in bed together and Murphy tells him she does not want a relationship. Jerry says like wise because he's getting married. After Murphy tries to kick Jerry out of her house he tells her he wants her to be his best man because he cares so much about her. Murphy agrees with much begrudging. Murphy pretends she's not hurt, but Kay can see it. She even goes so far as to say Jerry is in town so she will stop the wedding. Murphy: Kay, Jerry Gold is not the man who got away. Kay: Really, because I would have guessed you two ended up in bed yesterday. Do you want to tell me or

    Director: Joe Regalbuto

    Writer: Russ Woody

  • The Usual Suspects
    6.8/1063 votes
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    #21 - The Usual Suspects

    Season 3 Episode 24 - Aired 5/6/1991

    Murphy goes off the deep end when a tabloid prints lies about her, one of which says she is drinking again.

    Director: Peter Bonerz

    Writer: N/A

  • The Feminine Critique
    6.8/1054 votes
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    #22 - The Feminine Critique

    Season 8 Episode 7 - Aired 10/30/1995

    A truck crashes through the studio window, so the team accompanies Murphy back to her alma mater where she is receiving an honorary doctorate. However, the students in the women's studies program she helped establish think she is out of touch with women in the '90s.

    Director: Joe Regalbuto

    Writer: N/A

  • That's the Way the Corky Crumbles
    6.8/1049 votes
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    #23 - That's the Way the Corky Crumbles

    Season 9 Episode 7 - Aired 10/28/1996

    Kay lays down an edict that the staff must stay in Washington, that puts a damper on Corky's trip to rendezvous with Miles in New York City. She also puts a stop to Murphy's expense account. In defiance, Murphy gets Corky on a plane to New York. Fortunately a breaking story in New York City works to Murphy's advantage. However, the next day, Corky ""crumbles"" under the feeling of guilt.

    Director: Joe Regalbuto

    Writer: Joshua Sternin, Jennifer Ventimilia

  • A One Night Stan
    6.8/1053 votes
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    #24 - A One Night Stan

    Season 9 Episode 11 - Aired 11/25/1996

    In an attempt to divert Kay's attention from FYI Murphy suggests that Kay produce a new afternoon talk show that she also convinces Stan that he can host. Frank even gets to play the saxophone in the house band. The premiere show starts out real bad and guest Tom Hanks escapes. Murphy becomes the replacement guest.

    Director: Joe Regalbuto

    Writer: N/A

  • You Don't Know Jackal
    6.8/1050 votes
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    #25 - You Don't Know Jackal

    Season 9 Episode 16 - Aired 1/20/1997

    When Kay isn't sure about the accuracy of Murphy's source, she wants to meet him. To keep her source's anonymity Murphy and Frank decide to hire an impostor. Unfortunately they both hire someone for the part. The guy Frank hires, a video store clerk, seizes the opportunity to be on television when he tells Kay he'll appear to be on the show.

    Director: Joe Regalbuto

    Writer: N/A