CBS continues to solidify its midseason lineup.

A day after doubling down on unscripted fare come January, the network is firming up its comedy slate for 2019, with its Murphy Brown reboot and Damon Wayans Jr. vehicle Happy Together both ending their respective runs after their initial 13-episode orders. Both series will clear room on the schedule for rookie comedy Fam and the third season of Matt LeBlanc vehicle Man With a Plan. A return date for the fourth season of Life in Pieces will be announced at a later date.

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/amp/live-feed/murphy-brown-happy-together-end-initial-orders-cbs-1164428

According to a tweet by Diane English, the show is not canceled.

https://twitter.com/realmurphybrown/status/1067852887211024385

According to a tweet by Diane English, the show is not canceled.

https://twitter.com/realmurphybrown/status/1067852887211024385

In denial much?

According to a tweet by Diane English, the show is not canceled.

It's a technicality--it just wasn't picked up after its initial 13 episode order.

She can call it what she likes, but it won't be back.

Too bad about D. Wayans, though. That's one I forgot to try, but I should have.

It's a technicality--it just wasn't picked up after its initial 13 episode order.

She can call it what she likes, but it won't be back.

Too bad about D. Wayans, though. That's one I forgot to try, but I should have.

I find it funny that SHE says it was her decision to only have it at 13 episodes while CBS has released an official statement as reported by official news sources that it was the network's decision. So I guess she is just an arrogant and conceited jerk. Murphy Brown won't be back and the prints of the revival should be destroyed so no one has to see that atrocity.

It's a technicality--it just wasn't picked up after its initial 13 episode order.

She can call it what she likes, but it won't be back.

Too bad about D. Wayans, though. That's one I forgot to try, but I should have.

Staff on the show were hired for only 13 episodes. The 13th episode films on this Friday (November 30). New contracts would have to be negotiated for the series to continue.

I had a good feeling that the show wouldn't be back when first hearing the news.

Is anyone surprised??

Simply insulting conservatives and President Trump is NOT a show! Candice Bergen even admitted they didn't even have a storyline or plot to this show to begin with!

It never should've been done!

You know what else? The creators of WKRP in Cincinnati were "looking forward" to a Season 5, the Soap creators were "looking forward" to Season 5...The Benson creators with Season 8, Gilligan's Island with Season 4, the list goes on...someone needs to tell Diane English she doesn't always get what she wants.

You know what else? The creators of WKRP in Cincinnati were "looking forward" to a Season 5, the Soap creators were "looking forward" to Season 5...The Benson creators with Season 8, Gilligan's Island with Season 4, the list goes on...someone needs to tell Diane English she doesn't always get what she wants.

It's the biggest travesty in the HISTORY of television that Gilligan's Island didn't get a 4th season! And F Troop should've gotten a 3rd season.

Is anyone surprised??

Simply insulting conservatives and President Trump is NOT a show! Candice Bergen even admitted they didn't even have a storyline or plot to this show to begin with!

It never should've been done!

It was arguably a mistake right from the start to have Murphy host a morning show with Frank and Corky as her sidekicks. The Murphy Brown character was always at her best doing hard-hitting stories and confrontational interviews. You really can't do that on a morning show because not much "breaking news" occurs in that time of the day. Also, morning shows like Murphy in the Morning traditionally do not break big stories that early--such scoops are often diverted to the evening news anchor, since that is where the networks place their "star" (earning their big salary). Placing Frank on Murphy's morning show doesn't help his cause that much either considering that he's a well known investigative reporter. In other words, Frank is in the right environment for his specialties.

Is anyone surprised??

Simply insulting conservatives and President Trump is NOT a show! Candice Bergen even admitted they didn't even have a storyline or plot to this show to begin with!

It never should've been done!

One alternative idea that I've heard is that they could've made Murphy's son a White House intern much to her chagrin. That would open up endless jabs at Trump if they are set on that route. But have him be an idealistic and intelligent, independent thinking conservative (I suppose, kind of like a new age Alex P. Keaton) which Murphy would have to come to accept and secretly admire and respect. Here, he's basically the token liberal stooge on this show's version of Fox News.

One alternative idea that I've heard is that they could've made Murphy's son a White House intern much to her chagrin. That would open up endless jabs at Trump if they are set on that route. But have him be an idealistic and intelligent, independent thinking conservative (I suppose, kind of like a new age Alex P. Keaton) which Murphy would have to come to accept and secretly admire and respect. Here, he's basically the token liberal stooge on this show's version of Fox News.

IMO, the problem with the reboot is there isn't a conservative on the cast to play off of Murphy. On Last Man Standing, Tim Allen makes sure for every liberal-bashing remark there's a conservative-bashing remark to counter it. Murphy was just bash Trump constantly with no push-back.

Murphy Brown creator is "optimistic" about a second revival season (https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/murphy-brown-finale-explained-will-be-season-1171002)

The CBS comedy revival tied its season low (https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/murphy-brown-timeless-tv-ratings-thursday-dec-20-2018-1171370) in the demo with last night's season finale. About 5.21 million total viewers watched, its second-lowest viewership of the season. Still, Diane English expects to be back next year. "We're in a tough time slot, opposite football, and at 9:30," she says. "It's kind of tough for comedy, but we're doing better than what was there before. We win our time slot in entertainment programming almost weekly. And so I think it bodes well. I'm optimistic. I haven't been told anything yet, but I'll learn more very soon." English adds that she had to reassure her actors after several misleading headlines (https://people.com/tv/murphy-brown-revival-future-uncertain/) last month claiming Murphy Brown had been canceled. If Murphy Brown does return for a second season, English says the show will become more bipartisan. Asked what she learned this season, English responded: "That the country is just as divided talking about Murphy Brown as it is about anything else. One of the things I wanted to do with our finale was to create that space in Phil's Bar with some memories where there was a time when people reached across the aisle and were able to get things done...I think going forward into a second season that I would like to try to use the show to try to bring people together a little bit more."

It's not going into repeats, it's being replaced after 13 episodes. And she thinks it's coming back? Stranger things have happened, I guess, such as the campaign to save Cagney and Lacey years ago. I doubt there'd be a groundswell to save this show.

Times have changed but Murphy hasn't.

Diane English needs to get over herself. With extremely low ratings, Murphy won't be coming back. It's dead. Even Antenna's essentially dumping the original after having it on for a year. Give it up.

I have an old post someplace that was about the original Murphy, and probably offends fans--it's never done well in syndication, especially the more it ages--it's too dated. Antenna gave it a great opportunity, though.

But, yeah, Diane needs to quit kidding herself, and leading the cast on. CBS ought to tell her to move on to new ideas.

‘Murphy Brown’ Finale Calls Ted Cruz a 'Boil on the A** of Humanity' (https://www.newsbusters.org/blogs/culture/karen-townsend/2018/12/21/murphy-brown-calls-ted-cruz-boil-a-humanity)

By Karen Townsend | December 21, 2018 12:06 AM EST
The season finale of Murphy Brown aired on CBS December 20 and the script included snarky remarks about Senator Ted Cruz and Vice President Mike Pence. Corky Sherwood wants to interview Pence and she maneuvers a way to ask him some questions in an unusual way, while Cruz gets a terrible insult randomly thrown his way.

In the episode titled “Happy New Year,” (http://forums.previously.tv/topic/88864-s11e13-happy-new-year/?do=getLastComment) Phil’s Bar is celebrating its 100th anniversary at its annual New Year’s Eve party. Two real-life journalists make cameos during the party, NBC/MSNBC’s Andrea Mitchell and Lawrence O’Donnell. O’Donnell thanks Frank for his donation to a charity while complaining it was only 10 dollars. Then Mitchell speaks with Murphy and tells her how much Phil’s Bar means to her. Murphy responds, “I know -- you came here the night you broke the news that Dan Quayle was going to be Bush's running mate." And Mitchell says, “I broke the news. You broke the man.” Ugh. That is a reference to the unrelenting dragging Murphy Brown did to Quayle on his stance on unwed mothers back in the day.

Retired news anchor Jim Dial (Charles Kimbrough) notes how nice it is that people from both sides of the aisle are socializing and getting along at the party. Murphy says maybe there is hope for the country after all. Then Jim slides in the snark.

And I missed it...darn! And there won't even be a rerun, oh, well...

So I guess she is just an arrogant and conceited jerk. Murphy Brown won't be back and the prints of the revival should be destroyed so no one has to see that atrocity.


And so ends the shriveled up old ****.

I guess she's too stupid to realize that all of the media bashes Republicans so she serves no purpose on this planet.

And I missed it...darn! And there won't even be a rerun, oh, well...

Unfortunately you can still watch it on demand for a while but probably by the next TV season it will be dead and gone for good thankfully!

I watched a couple of episodes online and it wasn’t good at all. For one thing, the characters are old, and they haven’t changed at all over the twenty five years. The show was a product of its time, the 1990’s. I think for whatever reason, we don’t think of the 1990’s as that long ago, but it was a quarter century ago and things have changed and these characters are relics. With again, the characters who haven’t changed at all. Corky is 55 and still acts 25. The producer guy (Miles) is still a dweeb. Frank is still a loveless loser. What’s the point?

I think rebooting shows might be a bad idea after all. It is hard to get the magic back. The gay show on NBC does well, but who else?

CBS Entertainment president addresses the network's culture problem, defends Murphy Brown's ratings (https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/cbs-boss-culture-woes-murphy-browns-future-post-big-bang-comedy-plans-1181402)

Kelly Kahl spoke to The Hollywood Reporter a day after it was revealed another NCIS: New Orleans executive producer had been fired (https://www.vulture.com/2019/01/adam-targum-fired-ncis-new-orleans.html). "Our CEO has been saying that culture is very important and getting it right and the corporation is committed to that," Kahl said. "They have been doing a lot of listening, a lot of interaction — more so than in the past. The actors talked today that every show has a seminar with HR professionals talking about what is and what is not acceptable behavior. We are 100 percent committed to a safe and collaborative workplace. I absolutely believe strides have been made in that area, and it's been communicated that we will not tolerate anything less than that." As for Murphy Brown, Kahl said the revival actually improved the timeslot's ratings over last year. "It was a very fun show to be involved with and it certainly remains in contention for next year," he says.

And so ends the shriveled up old ****.

I guess she's too stupid to realize that all of the media bashes Republicans so she serves no purpose on this planet.

Much like yourself then. Serves no purpose on this planet.

CBS Entertainment president addresses the network's culture problem, defends Murphy Brown's ratings (https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/cbs-boss-culture-woes-murphy-browns-future-post-big-bang-comedy-plans-1181402)

Kelly Kahl spoke to The Hollywood Reporter a day after it was revealed another NCIS: New Orleans executive producer had been fired (https://www.vulture.com/2019/01/adam-targum-fired-ncis-new-orleans.html). "Our CEO has been saying that culture is very important and getting it right and the corporation is committed to that," Kahl said. "They have been doing a lot of listening, a lot of interaction — more so than in the past. The actors talked today that every show has a seminar with HR professionals talking about what is and what is not acceptable behavior. We are 100 percent committed to a safe and collaborative workplace. I absolutely believe strides have been made in that area, and it's been communicated that we will not tolerate anything less than that." As for Murphy Brown, Kahl said the revival actually improved the timeslot's ratings over last year. "It was a very fun show to be involved with and it certainly remains in contention for next year," he says.

In contention being the key words. It's a pathetic show and it's ratings have been horrible. I hope it never comes back. I mean the original show lasted 10 seasons -- wasn't that good enough?

I wish that the revival never even existed in the first place.

I wish that the revival never even existed in the first place.

Just like Democrats! :lol:

Just like Democrats! :lol:

I think you mean the modern day republicans that have ruined the country.

I think you mean the modern day democrats that have ruined the country.

Fixed it for you.:)

Fixed it for you.:)
Please don't do that. You wouldn't like it done to you.

CBS cancels Murphy Brown, Life in Pieces, Happy Together and Fam (https://www.thewrap.com/cbs-cancels-murphy-brown-life-in-pieces-happy-together-and-fam/)

Freshmen comedies Happy Together, inspired by Harry Styles, and the Nina Dobrev-starring Fam join four-season comedy Life in Pieces and the Murphy Brown revival (https://www.reddit.com/r/television/comments/bn4y88/murphy_brown_revival_cancelled_at_cbs_after_one/) as the four comedies CBS canceled on Friday.

CBS cancels Murphy Brown, Life in Pieces, Happy Together and Fam (https://www.thewrap.com/cbs-cancels-murphy-brown-life-in-pieces-happy-together-and-fam/)

Freshmen comedies Happy Together, inspired by Harry Styles, and the Nina Dobrev-starring Fam join four-season comedy Life in Pieces and the Murphy Brown revival (https://www.reddit.com/r/television/comments/bn4y88/murphy_brown_revival_cancelled_at_cbs_after_one/) as the four comedies CBS canceled on Friday.

YES!!! :D :D :D

CBS cancels Murphy Brown, Life in Pieces, Happy Together and Fam (https://www.thewrap.com/cbs-cancels-murphy-brown-life-in-pieces-happy-together-and-fam/)

Freshmen comedies Happy Together, inspired by Harry Styles, and the Nina Dobrev-starring Fam join four-season comedy Life in Pieces and the Murphy Brown revival (https://www.reddit.com/r/television/comments/bn4y88/murphy_brown_revival_cancelled_at_cbs_after_one/) as the four comedies CBS canceled on Friday.

I just knew that it would get canceled.

I'm not surprise. I'm also glad. YAYYY!!!!

GOOD!

I'm not surprise. I'm also glad. YAYYY!!!!

I too am not that surprised that the revival is being cancelled after only one season. When Murphy Brown was in its original run, it managed to carve a nice little niche for itself for being the main source of political comedy on television. During its time, Murphy Brown was considered sharp, witty, and in a different age, timely.

But now with shows like The Daily Show and Veep just to name a few, there isn't a shortage of comedic shows that often delved into politics. So right from the jump, Murphy Brown pretty much looked old hat and hackneyed.

Either way, were the large majority of people really asking for Murphy Brown to come back in the first place? I mean, it was one of those shows (Mad About You is another) that were huge hits during their original runs back in the '90s but for whatever the reasons, have never really made a lasting cultural impact.

My point is that the interest in the revival wasn't there since Murphy Brown in part, has never had its reruns be healthily played (either in syndication, DVD, or streaming). Because it was a show that more or less, lived and died on topical humor, it was bound to become dated really fast. Shows now perhaps tend to be a little more broad (and not so heavy handed) when doing politics. What probably didn't help was the notion that the show during its original run arguably overstayed its welcome.

Trump hating sitcoms don't succeed because that's already on the MSM news 24 hours a day!

Murphy Brown just was not funny. I tried watching and was bored. That is what did this sitcom in.

CBS cancels Murphy Brown, Life in Pieces, Happy Together and Fam (https://www.thewrap.com/cbs-cancels-murphy-brown-life-in-pieces-happy-together-and-fam/)

Freshmen comedies Happy Together, inspired by Harry Styles, and the Nina Dobrev-starring Fam join four-season comedy Life in Pieces and the Murphy Brown revival (https://www.reddit.com/r/television/comments/bn4y88/murphy_brown_revival_cancelled_at_cbs_after_one/) as the four comedies CBS canceled on Friday.

I cant believe the suits at CBS could possibly think any of these shows would be a hit. It just shows you how clueless this network is.

Seriously. Which show was more ridiculous? Candice Bergen as a 75-year-old morning show host? Or the one starring that comedy genius, Nina Dobrev from that vampire show?

I cant believe the suits at CBS could possibly think any of these shows would be a hit. It just shows you how clueless this network is.

LOL..Life in Pieces sounds like a show about a serial killer or something! :lol:

Trump hating sitcoms don't succeed because that's already on the MSM news 24 hours a day!

Ultimately, I think that the update or reboot if you want to call it failed because they focused it too much on Trump. The original show took on politicians but even with Dan Quayle they didn't focus on just one person. The specific political quips were incidental to the show not the main focus.

Not surprising at all. I never liked the original show either.

Not surprising at all. I never liked the original show either.

I read elsewhere the opinion that one of the main reasons why the original show worked was because cable news was a relatively new concept at the time. And with that, audiences wanted to get a glimpse into the behind the scenes shenanigans. We've gotten so jaded in the 30+ years since the show debuted, so the same slant wouldn't make as big of an impression these days.

Trump hating sitcoms don't succeed because that's already on the MSM news 24 hours a day!

Others have said (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FX8tRcNQCfE&lc=UgzF_JdJl9-HjI1GQcJ4AaABAg) that, the show during its original run, actually felt important because real politicians such as Dan Quayle, targeted it. But the real Trump didn't when it pertained to the revival. In effect, it tried to manufacture controversy where the original had controversy naturally thrust upon it.

Also, the whole premise (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FX8tRcNQCfE&lc=UgwxCubmCHgkTqqoJ2J4AaABAg) about Murphy wanting to get back on TV because the media wasn't holding the then current administration accountable didn't seem to make sense. Without deviling too much into real world politics, anyone who read or watched any news at the time, should've understood that everything Trump did was being scrutinized and pulled apart.

Some Brief Thoughts on the MURPHY BROWN Revival (https://jacksonupperco.com/2022/06/01/some-brief-thoughts-on-the-murphy-brown-revival/)

As noted, the central problem with this series is that it was initially built (in 1988) to be an ensemble workplace comedy in the MTM vein, but it sadly devolved — around Seasons Four and Five — into an unpleasantly political show, where stories and comedy were predicated on metatheatrical interactions with then-contemporary politicians (most notably, Vice President Dan Quayle). This took the emphasis away from the characters, and made the sitcommery far less satisfying, for the pre-established elements of the “situation” — again, the characters — were not the main source of value: the messages, in response to topical stimuli, were. The original series then spent the latter half of its run trying to move itself back towards a more ensemble, or character-based place, but it was never again able to do so as capably, in large part because the leads weren’t ever strong enough to sustain such figurative neglect. Thus, when I first heard that the 2018 revival’s entire raison d’être was spawned by the 2016 presidential election of Donald Trump, I knew that the new Murphy Brown was off on the wrong foot, leaning into the aspect of its identity that, essentially, accelerated its creative decline.