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 Ford Clinic residential treatment center. Over 40 and single, she is sharp tongued and hard as nails. In her profession, she is considered one of the boys, having shattered many glass ceilings encountered during her career. Dominating the FYI news magazine, she is portrayed as one of America's hardest-hitting (though not the warmest or more sympathetic) media personalities.
Lowest Rated Episodes Summary
The worst episode of "Murphy Brown" is "Office Politics", rated 6.1/10 from 51 user votes. It was directed by Joe Regalbuto and written by N/A. "Office Politics" aired on 10/14/1996 and is rated 0.2 point(s) lower than the second lowest rated, "The Big Thaw".
6.1/10 51 votes#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
- 6.3/10 50 votes
#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
- 6.4/10 58 votes
#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
- 6.5/10 52 votes
#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
- 6.5/10 63 votes
#5 - 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
- 6.6/10 52 votes
#6 - 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
- 6.6/10 49 votes
#7 - 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
- 6.6/10 53 votes
#8 - 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
- 6.6/10 54 votes
#9 - 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
- 6.6/10 57 votes
#10 - 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
- 6.6/10 53 votes
#11 - 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
- 6.7/10 72 votes
#12 - 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
- 6.7/10 52 votes
#13 - 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
- 6.7/10 58 votes
#14 - 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
- 6.7/10 49 votes
#15 - 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
- 6.7/10 52 votes
#16 - 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
- 6.7/10 55 votes
#17 - 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
- 6.7/10 58 votes
#18 - Wee Small Hours
Season 10 Episode 14 - Aired 1/21/1998
Murphy battles insomnia and the gang helps her to get through the night. Frank, while he is on a stakeout with a SWAT team. Jim, while he is working on getting back together with Doris. Corky, while she is going through her storage locker of memories. Kay, who was up anyway, helps Murphy make and bake cookies from scratch, over the phone.
Director: Steve Zuckerman
Writer: Jhoni Marchinko
- 6.7/10 52 votes
#19 - 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
- 6.8/10 62 votes
#20 - 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
- 6.8/10 54 votes
#21 - 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
- 6.8/10 49 votes
#22 - 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
- 6.8/10 50 votes
#23 - 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
- 6.8/10 50 votes
#24 - 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
- 6.8/10 48 votes
#25 - 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