Home > Murder, She Wrote > Season 1 « TV Series Page Murder, She Wrote: Season 1 (1984 - 1985) SEASON: Season 1 Season 1 Season 2 Season 3 Season 4 Season 5 Season 6 Season 7 Season 8 Season 9 Season 10 Season 11 Season 12 Episode List All Critics | Top Critics TOMATOMETER 100% Average Rating: 8.5/10 Season Reviews: 12 Fresh: 12 Rotten: 0 Critics Consensus: Murder, She Wrote strikes the tightrope balance of wholesome murder mysteries, with a marvelous Angela Lansbury proving to be the perfect foil for tasteful investigations into heinous crimes. 100% Average Rating: 7.0/10 Season Reviews: 6 Fresh: 6 Rotten: 0 Critics Consensus: No consensus yet. Critic Consensus: Murder, She Wrote strikes the tightrope balance of wholesome murder mysteries, with a marvelous Angela Lansbury proving to be the perfect foil for tasteful investigations into heinous crimes. AUDIENCE SCORE 66% liked it Average Rating: 3.8/5 User Ratings: 3 ADD YOUR RATING - NOT INTERESTED + WANT TO SEE Share on Facebook Post Want to See Not Interested Add Rating My Rating × Want to See Not Interested Post Share on Facebook Episodes 1 The Murder of Sherlock Holmes Air date: Sep 30, 1984 The two-hour debut episode of Murder, She Wrote finds former substitute teacher Jessica Fletcher (Angela Lansbury) reluctantly thrust into the limelight when her first mystery novel, "The Corpse Danced at Midnight," becomes a best-seller. Invited to a costume ball held by her publisher, Jessica comes face to face with a genuine murder when guest Dexter Baxendale (Dennis Patrick), wearing a Sherlock Holmes costume, turns up dead. Suspicion immediately falls upon Jessica's nephew Grady (Michael Horton), forcing our heroine to turn sleuth herself. Throughout the story, the widowed Jessica must also wrestle with her growing attraction to handsome Preston Giles (Arthur Hill). Watch for future Murder, She Wrote semi-regular Herb Edelman in a role other than Lt. Artie Gelber, and also for a young Andy Garcia in a bit part as a tough guy. More 2 Deadly Lady Air date: Oct 7, 1984 In the first hour-long episode of Murder She Wrote (the debut episode had run two hours), mystery writer Jessica Fletcher (Angela Lansbury) is back in her home town of Cabot Cove, Maine, where she makes the acquaintance of a seedy-looking gentleman named Ralph (Howard Duff), who has shown up in her backyard looking for work. At the same time, the authorities are investigating the reported death of multimillionaire Stephen Earl, who was swept off his yacht during a hurricane--or at least that's the story given by Earl's four rather predatory daughters. This episode marks the first series appearances of Tom Bosley as Cabot Cove's sheriff Amos Tupper, and Claude Akins as Jessica's sometime fishing companion Ethan Cragg. More 3 Birds of a Feather Air date: Oct 14, 1984 Jessica (Angela Lansbury) arrives in San Francisco to attend the wedding of her niece Victoria Brandon (Genie Francis) to a handsome but rather secretive young man named Howard Griffin (Jeff Conaway). Her first meeting with Howard occurs under strange circumstances, as he scrambles over her table at a nightclub, dressed in female drag--after having stumbled across the body of club owner Al Drake (Martin Landau). Naturally, Howard is accused of the murder, obliging Jessica to investigate the situation herself. More 4 Hooray for Homicide Air date: Oct 28, 1984 Jessica (Angela Lansbury) arrives in Hollywood, where her first mystery novel "The Corpse Danced at Midnight" is being made into a movie. Unfortunately, Jessica is displeased by the decision of film producer Jerry Lydecker (John Saxon) to "juice up" her novel with heavy doses of sex and violence, and she makes no secret of her outrage. Thus it is that Jessica ends up on the suspect list when the highly unlikable Lydecker turns up murdered. John Astin, later a series semi-regular in the role of Cabot Cove real estate agent Harry Pierce, is here cast as Ross Hayley. More 5 It's a Dog's Life Air date: Oct 28, 1984 While visiting her cousin Abby (Lynn Redgrave) at lavish Langley Manor in the deep South, Jessica is among those present when patriarch Denton Langley (Dan O'Herlihy) is accidentally killed during a fox hunt. What is puzzling about the situation is that Langley's normally docile horse was startled enough to throw the man to his death. Later on , Langley's daughter is also killed, and all evidence points to a single, and very unusual, suspect: Langley's beloved pet dog (and sole beneficiary) Teddy! Country singer Roger Miller appears as the local sheriff. More 6 Lovers and Other Killers Air date: Nov 18, 1984 This episode was filmed on location in Seattle, where Jessica (Angela Lansbury) has been asked to deliver a university lecture. During her first few days in town, Jessica is impressed by the efficiency and vast intellect of her temporary secretary David Tolliver (Andrew Stevens). When his wealthy girlfriend is murdered, David is fingered as the main suspect, whereupon Jessica endeavors to clear the young man's name--and in the process, she unearths a hotbed of academic intrigue. More 7 Hit, Run and Homicide Air date: Nov 25, 1984 Angela Lansbury's former MGM colleagues Van Johnson and June Allyson are prominently featured in this episode. A double-dealing businessman is killed when he is run over by a remote-controlled station wagon. Suspicion immediately falls upon the victim's disgruntled former partner, an oddball inventor--who happens to be a neighbor of our gal Jessica Fletcher (Angela Lansbury). Can it be that the death car's curious license plate number will turn out to be a clue? (Well, maybe not.) More 8 We're Off to Kill the Wizard Air date: Dec 9, 1984 The duplicitous owner (James Coco) of a popular theme park engages Jessica (Angela Lansbury) to design a "house of horror". Shortly, thereafter, the owner is murdered in his underground office--an "impossible" crime, inasmuch as the office was securely locked from the inside. Inasmuch as the wife of investigating detective Lt. Donovan (James Stephens) is Jessica's niece Carol , it is perhaps a "given" that our heroine will take a hand in solving the murder. Incidentally, the two Donovan children are played by a very young Joaquin Phoenix (here billed as "Leaf") and his sister Summer Phoenix. More 9 Death Takes a Curtain Call Air date: Dec 16, 1984 Angela Lansbury is reunited with her onetime The Picture of Dorian Gray costar Hurd Hatfield in this episode, in which Jessica Fletcher (Lansbury) attends a special performance by a Soviet ballet troupe. Just as two of the dancers decide to defect, the KGB official assigned to the troupe is killed. When one of the defecting dancers also turns up murdered and a terrified ballerina is accused of the crime, Jessica reluctantly joins forces with a gruff government official to solve the crimes. More 10 Death Casts a Spell Air date: Dec 30, 1984 Jose Ferrer guest stars in this episode--but not for long!--as a famed hypnotist known as The Amazing Cagliostro. As a publicity stunt, Cagliostro shepherds a group of six journalists behind locked doors, then hypnotizes them en masse. The act comes to an abrupt conclusion when Cagliostro is stabbed to death in full view of the journalists--who, being hypnotized, can remember nothing about the crime! Jessica (Angela Lansbury) of course figures that at least one person in the room was sufficiently conscious to commit the murder, and she's determined to find out which one. More Show More Episodes Murder, She Wrote: Season 1 Photos View All Photos (12) Tv Season Info Series 1 of Murder, She Wrote follows the amateur sleuth Jessica as she tries to get to the bottom of crimes that include the murder of an American football team owner and the death of a jazz musician. Genre: Mystery & Suspense Network: CBS Premiere Date: Sep 30, 1984 Creators: Richard Levinson, William Link Exec. Producer: Peter S. Fischer Cast Angela Lansbury as Jessica Fletcher Tom Bosley as Sheriff Amos Tupper Claude Akins as Ethan Cragg Bobby Sherman as Jimmy Firth Jason Evers as Marshall MacGill Clu Gulager as Carl Mestin Christine Belford as Erica Baldwin Kristoffer Tabori as Carlson Gabe Kaplan as Freddy York Melissa Sue Anderson as Eve Crystal Andrew Stevens as David Tolliver George De La Pena as Alexander Lawrence Pressman as George Reed Piper Laurie as Peggy Shannon George DiCenzo as Michael Gardner Vivian Blaine as Rita Talbot Barbara Babcock Paul Sand as Horace Lynchfield Noah Beery Jr. as Doc Wallace Michael Horton as Grady Fletcher Lynn Redgrave as Abby Freestone Van Johnson as Daniel O'Brien Murray Hamilton as Bud Michaels Stephen Macht as Dan Keppner Stan Shaw as Eddie Walters Stewart Granger as Sir John Landry Caitlyn Jenner as Zak Farrell Kevin McCarthy as Milton Porter Carol Lawrence as Candace Drake Samantha Eggar as Marta Quintessa Patti D'Arbanville as Leslie Robert Loggia as Joe Kellijian Cesar Romero as Santana Alex Rocco as Ernie Santini John Beck as Web McCord Stephen Elliott as Dr. Sam Garver Jared Martin as Spenser Langley Richard Sanders as Megrim Kerry Armstrong as Irina Gary Sandy as Joe Blinn Peter Graves as Dr. Gerard Gregg Henry as Barry Bristol Clive Revill as Jonathan Hawley John Furey Pat Harrington Jr. as Melvin Comstock Kathleen Beller as Mary Carver J.D as Bill Carmody Ned Beatty as Chief Gunderson Leslie Nielsen as Captain Daniels Michael Constantine as Sam Gibbons Ken Howard as Sergeant Barnes Herb Edelman as Bus Driver James Carroll Jordan as Skip Cameron Mitchell as Aaron Kramer Gerald S. O'Loughlin as Ray Kravitz Nancy Lee Grahn Talia Balsam as Debbie Delancey Dean Jones as Marcus Boswell Lois Nettleton as Amelia Browne James Coco as Horatio Baldwin Brian Kerwin as Andy Townsend Andrew Parks as Russell Tompkins Martin Kove as Dr. Gary Ellison Joseph Bottoms as Mickey Shannon Donald Moffat as Tim Carver Howard Duff as Ralph Dick Gautier as Mike John Astin as Ross Hayley Stuart Whitman as Charles Woodley Vickie Kriegler as Natalia Linda Kelsey as Diana Simms Dick Butkus as Tank Mason Robert Reed as Adrian Winslow Anne Francis as Louise McCallum Marilyn Hassett as Maggie Earl Genie Francis as Victoria Brandon Robert Morse as Marc Faber Ron Moody as Inspector Kyle David Wayne as Cyrus Leffingwell Doran Clark as Nancy Earl Kim Darby as Laurie Cristina Raines as Margo Santana Linda Blair as Jane Pascal Sam Groom as Dr. Wes Kenyon Stella Stevens as Sally Mestin J.D. Cannon as Bill Carmody Tricia O'Neil as Ashley Vickers Jose Perez as Lt. Mike Hernandez Cherie Currie as Echo Cramer Lenore Kasdorf as Trish Mayf Nutter as Zack Bernard Lorna Luft as Patti Bristol Olivia Cole as Callie Robert Goulet as Willard Kauffman Fritz Weaver as Judge Lambert Warren Berlinger as Pat Patillo Diana Muldaur as Alexis Post Richard Erdman as Eggman Jeff Conaway June Allyson as Katie Simmons William Conrad as Karzoff Rosemary Forsyth as Andrea John McMartin Gary Lockwood as Commissioner Harris Talmadge Constance Forslund as Lucinda Lark Bart Braverman as Bill Patterson Andrew Prine as Prof. Todd Lowrey Gene Evans as Leo Hollander Diana Canova as Joan Germaine Nicholas Pryor as Harry Parmel Michael Horton as Grady Fletcher Linda Purl as Terry Shannon Paddi Edwards as Lois Hoey Rosanna Huffman as Eleanor Thompson Cassie Yates as Lisa Earl Shelby Greg Morris as Lt. Cal Andrews Vicki Lawrence as Phoebe Carroll Terence Knox as Steve Pascal Joey Bishop as Buster Richard Hatch as Terry Jones Vicki Kriegler as Natalia Mitchell Ryan as Ray Dixon Patrick O'Neal as Si Parrish Ed Nelson as Carl Turnbull Vincent Baggetta as Frank Lapinski Dennis Patrick as Dexter Baxendale Forrest Tucker Michelle Phillips as Regina Kellijian Herschel Bernardi as Lt. Mendelsohn Steven Keats as Stefan Conrad Kay Lenz as Jennie Martha Raye as Sadie Winthrop Joseph Cali as Vic LaRosa James MacArthur as Allan Gebhart Cathryn Damon as Morgana Grant Goodeve José Ferrer Belinda Montgomery Paul Winfield as Lt. Starkey Jerry Orbach William Windom as Dr. Seth Hazlitt Harry Guardino as Lt. Novak Dan O'Herlihy John Schuck as Captain Edie Adams as Miss Shepherd Milton Berle Eddie Bracken as Barney Ogden Anne Lockhart as Grace Earl Lamont John Saxon as Jerry Lydecker Lory Walsh as Lila Schroeder Edward Albert as Tony Holliday Bradford Dillman as Lt. Kershaw Don Stroud as Carey Drayson Joanne Worley as Carla Raymond Jan Smithers as Kathy Farrell Albert Salmi as Joe Downing Jessica Browne as Kitt Donovan James Carrol Jordan as Skip Fleming Fernando Allende as Miguel Santana Ed Ames Martin Landau as Al Darke Frank Aletter as Wendell Joyner Garrett Morris as Lafayette Duquesne Lynda Day George as Miss Shelley (Purser) Elaine Joyce as Sheri Diamond Bo Hopkins as Lt. Ray Jenkins Dack Rambo as Brian Shelby Elaine Giftos as Lonnie Valeri Capucine as Belle Chaney Cliff Potts as Sheriff Eddie Barth as Bernie Morgan Stevens as Scott Bennett Bruce Gray as Dean Merrill Hurd Hatfield as Leo Peterson James McEachin as Grove Dillon Rue McClanahan as Miriam Radford David Bowman as Chico Miller Roger Miller as Sheriff James Stephens as Lt. Bert Donovan Raymond St. Jacques as Doctor Barbara Rhoades as Barbara Lois Foraker as Eliza Bates Dane Clark as Chief Agent O'Farrell Mark Shera as Stewart Danziner Judy Geeson as Elaine Kauffman Allan Miller as Phil Krueger Susan Oliver as Miss Horton Jack O'Halloran as Lou Ross Arthur Hill as Preston Giles Lyle Waggoner as Martin Strindberg George Kirby as Eubie Sherwin Don Dubbins as Dr. Carmichael Larry Linville as Kent Radford Robert Hogan as Lt. Bertcam Gregory Sierra as Sergeant Kenneth Mars as Hemsley Post Jeff Osterhage as Art Merrick Tom Bower as Jonathan Bailey Barbara Whinnery as Gretchen Pashko Glynn E. Turman as Ben Coleman Pepe Hern as Antonio Ron Masak as Lt. Meyer Mills Watson as Innkeeper Brooke Alderson as Alice Brian Keith as Caleb McCallum Robin Bach as Maitre D' Anne Kerry Ford as Carol Donovan Conrad Janis as Dr. Lambert Byron Webster as Maitre D' John Miranda as Gus Virginia Mayo as Elinor Gregory Walcott as Potts Paul Rudd Colby Chester as Harold DeWitt Floyd Levine as Archie Miles Tim Thomerson as Lt. Clyde Pitts James Gammon as Billy Dee Croxton as Cora McIntyre David Hooks as Chairman Sharee Gregory as Kate Metcalf Bert Convy as Peter Brill Marianne McAndrew as Sunny Finch Adam Gregor as Nagy Michael G. Hawkins as Dr. Ross Alma Beltran as Rosa John Davis Chandler as Gilbert Stoner Edith Diaz as Emma Elvia Allman as Elderly Lady Victoria Carroll as Melanie Mark Costello as CHP Officer Carol Swarbrick as Emma John O'Leary as Minister Sandy Ward as Mr. Barnes Joaquin Phoenix as Billy Donovan David Whitfield as Hec Tattersal R.J. Adams as Erine Byron Cherry as Deputy Will Roxie Douglas Stevenson as Gas Attendant Ritchie Montgomery as Busboy Frederick Ponzlov as Waiter Margery Nelson as Alma Leonard Arnold Turner as Security Guard John C. Becher as Optometrist John Petlock as Nils Andersen Ron Palillo as Norman Lester Summer Phoenix as Cindy Donovan Jessica Nelson as Velma Rodecker Jensen Collier as Clerk Michael Canavan as Dr. Alan Collyer Ed Bakey as Msgr. Kelly Don Matheson as Oklahoma Cowboy Charles Bazaldua as Man Lucille Meredith as Mrs. Brindle Efrain Figueroa as Jesus Anthony De Longis as Serge Berensky Kay Freeman as Nurse Brian Avery as Nightclub MC Roger Price as Local #1 Rance Howard as Fillmore Michael Griswold as Guard Archie Lang as Minister James Hampton as Vet Eric Server as Ned O'Brien Robert Beecher as Elias Cobb Marcianne Warman as Jill Farrell John Brandon as Ernie Paul Tuerpé as 1st Guard Robert Cornthwaite as Coroner Steve Arvin as TV Reporter Alex Rebar as Hypnotist Albert Lord as Baxter Johnny Seven as Man Mark Harrison as Asst DA Fred Daniel Scott as Harlan Gary Pagett as Security Guard Robert Clarke as Actor Tina Lifford as Leora Cargill Edward Morgan as Local #2 Vince Howard as 2nd Guard Jackie Joseph as Actress Greg Norberg as Gary George Marshall Ruge as Ship's Officer Gerald York as 2nd Guard Harry Stephens as Doctor Read Morgan as Sgt. Kevin Hogan Ralph M. Clift as Clerk Ellen Crawford as Muriel Tony Ballen as Waiter Irma Garcia as Veronica William McDonald as Bailiff Henry Sanders as Skycap Mary Lou Kenworthy as Liz Mario Machado as TV Announcer David Byrd as Davis Nick Savage as Leather Guy Lavelle Roby as Nurse Courtney Burr as Dewey Johnson Edson Stroll as Dr. Peter Weber Paul Carafotes as Ramon Denise Cheshire as Candy Striper Danny Wells as Talk Show Host Bob Tzudiker as Clerk Nancy Marlow as Lady Wally K. Berns as Proprietor Joe Nesnow as Doorman Biff Yeager as Cop Lee Duncan as Policeman #1 John Hancock as Daniel Bruce Marchiano as Assistant Director Robert Balderson as Hypnotized Person #1 Lana Schawb as Clerk Jay Fenichel as Cellini Dante D'Andre as Captain Stanley Brock as Marvin Bob Gorman as Jimmy Finley Hartley Silver as Hypnotized Person #2 Hap Lawrence as Deputy Bert Hinchman as Cartin Nash Kat Sawyer-Young as Feminist Interviewer Joy Ellison as Hypnotized Person #5 Howard Mann as New Holvang Cabbie Freddye Chapman as Jane Russell Curry as Black Youth Andy Garcia as 1st Tough Johnny Venocur as 2nd Tough Jimmy Joyce as Tom Ken Olfson as TV Book Critic Paula Victor as Agnes Peabody Billie Hayes as Peter Pan at Party Cathey Paine as Young Woman Beau Starr as Cop on Boat Larry McCormick as TV Reporter Dan Chambers as Cab Driver Sallee Young as Performer Donald Elson as Bookstore Owner Daniel Zippi as Mailman Show More Cast Episodes 1 The Murder of Sherlock Holmes Air date: Sep 30, 1984 The two-hour debut episode of Murder, She Wrote finds former substitute teacher Jessica Fletcher (Angela Lansbury) reluctantly thrust into the limelight when her first mystery novel, "The Corpse Danced at Midnight," becomes a best-seller. Invited to a costume ball held by her publisher, Jessica comes face to face with a genuine murder when guest Dexter Baxendale (Dennis Patrick), wearing a Sherlock Holmes costume, turns up dead. Suspicion immediately falls upon Jessica's nephew Grady (Michael Horton), forcing our heroine to turn sleuth herself. Throughout the story, the widowed Jessica must also wrestle with her growing attraction to handsome Preston Giles (Arthur Hill). Watch for future Murder, She Wrote semi-regular Herb Edelman in a role other than Lt. Artie Gelber, and also for a young Andy Garcia in a bit part as a tough guy. More 2 Deadly Lady Air date: Oct 7, 1984 In the first hour-long episode of Murder She Wrote (the debut episode had run two hours), mystery writer Jessica Fletcher (Angela Lansbury) is back in her home town of Cabot Cove, Maine, where she makes the acquaintance of a seedy-looking gentleman named Ralph (Howard Duff), who has shown up in her backyard looking for work. At the same time, the authorities are investigating the reported death of multimillionaire Stephen Earl, who was swept off his yacht during a hurricane--or at least that's the story given by Earl's four rather predatory daughters. This episode marks the first series appearances of Tom Bosley as Cabot Cove's sheriff Amos Tupper, and Claude Akins as Jessica's sometime fishing companion Ethan Cragg. More 3 Birds of a Feather Air date: Oct 14, 1984 Jessica (Angela Lansbury) arrives in San Francisco to attend the wedding of her niece Victoria Brandon (Genie Francis) to a handsome but rather secretive young man named Howard Griffin (Jeff Conaway). Her first meeting with Howard occurs under strange circumstances, as he scrambles over her table at a nightclub, dressed in female drag--after having stumbled across the body of club owner Al Drake (Martin Landau). Naturally, Howard is accused of the murder, obliging Jessica to investigate the situation herself. More 4 Hooray for Homicide Air date: Oct 28, 1984 Jessica (Angela Lansbury) arrives in Hollywood, where her first mystery novel "The Corpse Danced at Midnight" is being made into a movie. Unfortunately, Jessica is displeased by the decision of film producer Jerry Lydecker (John Saxon) to "juice up" her novel with heavy doses of sex and violence, and she makes no secret of her outrage. Thus it is that Jessica ends up on the suspect list when the highly unlikable Lydecker turns up murdered. John Astin, later a series semi-regular in the role of Cabot Cove real estate agent Harry Pierce, is here cast as Ross Hayley. More 5 It's a Dog's Life Air date: Oct 28, 1984 While visiting her cousin Abby (Lynn Redgrave) at lavish Langley Manor in the deep South, Jessica is among those present when patriarch Denton Langley (Dan O'Herlihy) is accidentally killed during a fox hunt. What is puzzling about the situation is that Langley's normally docile horse was startled enough to throw the man to his death. Later on , Langley's daughter is also killed, and all evidence points to a single, and very unusual, suspect: Langley's beloved pet dog (and sole beneficiary) Teddy! Country singer Roger Miller appears as the local sheriff. More 6 Lovers and Other Killers Air date: Nov 18, 1984 This episode was filmed on location in Seattle, where Jessica (Angela Lansbury) has been asked to deliver a university lecture. During her first few days in town, Jessica is impressed by the efficiency and vast intellect of her temporary secretary David Tolliver (Andrew Stevens). When his wealthy girlfriend is murdered, David is fingered as the main suspect, whereupon Jessica endeavors to clear the young man's name--and in the process, she unearths a hotbed of academic intrigue. More 7 Hit, Run and Homicide Air date: Nov 25, 1984 Angela Lansbury's former MGM colleagues Van Johnson and June Allyson are prominently featured in this episode. A double-dealing businessman is killed when he is run over by a remote-controlled station wagon. Suspicion immediately falls upon the victim's disgruntled former partner, an oddball inventor--who happens to be a neighbor of our gal Jessica Fletcher (Angela Lansbury). Can it be that the death car's curious license plate number will turn out to be a clue? (Well, maybe not.) More 8 We're Off to Kill the Wizard Air date: Dec 9, 1984 The duplicitous owner (James Coco) of a popular theme park engages Jessica (Angela Lansbury) to design a "house of horror". Shortly, thereafter, the owner is murdered in his underground office--an "impossible" crime, inasmuch as the office was securely locked from the inside. Inasmuch as the wife of investigating detective Lt. Donovan (James Stephens) is Jessica's niece Carol , it is perhaps a "given" that our heroine will take a hand in solving the murder. Incidentally, the two Donovan children are played by a very young Joaquin Phoenix (here billed as "Leaf") and his sister Summer Phoenix. More 9 Death Takes a Curtain Call Air date: Dec 16, 1984 Angela Lansbury is reunited with her onetime The Picture of Dorian Gray costar Hurd Hatfield in this episode, in which Jessica Fletcher (Lansbury) attends a special performance by a Soviet ballet troupe. Just as two of the dancers decide to defect, the KGB official assigned to the troupe is killed. When one of the defecting dancers also turns up murdered and a terrified ballerina is accused of the crime, Jessica reluctantly joins forces with a gruff government official to solve the crimes. More 10 Death Casts a Spell Air date: Dec 30, 1984 Jose Ferrer guest stars in this episode--but not for long!--as a famed hypnotist known as The Amazing Cagliostro. As a publicity stunt, Cagliostro shepherds a group of six journalists behind locked doors, then hypnotizes them en masse. The act comes to an abrupt conclusion when Cagliostro is stabbed to death in full view of the journalists--who, being hypnotized, can remember nothing about the crime! Jessica (Angela Lansbury) of course figures that at least one person in the room was sufficiently conscious to commit the murder, and she's determined to find out which one. More Show More Episodes Critic Reviews for Murder, She Wrote Season 1 All Critics (12) | Top Critics (6) | Fresh (12) | Rotten (0) TV will miss the charming and civilizing presence of Lansbury, even though many of the episodes in recent years have been little more than familiar exercises to give a host of guest stars employment. Oct 11, 2018 | Full Review… John Voorhees Seattle Times Top Critic [Lansbury] made this show, which depended on smarts, instinct and the force of J.B.'s personality, not CSI evidence. Oct 11, 2018 | Full Review… Barbara Vancheri Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Jessica's charm, sass, and moral guidance make her the TV grandma we all need in our lives. Oct 11, 2018 | Full Review… Elena Nicolaou Refinery29 The classiest act on TV. Oct 11, 2018 | Full Review… Tom Jicha South Florida Sun-Sentinel It's not young. It's not sexy. It's not glamorous or fast-paced or any of the adjectives executives look for, but in a funny way, that's actually what makes the reruns such a joy to watch. Oct 9, 2018 | Full Review… Mack Rawden CinemaBlend It's the type of slow burn that would never happen on one of today's detective shows... but Murder, She Wrote did shape and inspire the TV shows and films that came after it. Oct 11, 2018 | Full Review… Christopher Moloney CNN.com Top Critic The subject was murder, but "MSW" served up bloodless mysteries and minded its language. Oct 11, 2018 | Full Review… John Carman San Francisco Chronicle Top Critic Secret of the success of Murder, She Wrote, besides its cozy appeal to older generations, is the Lansbury touch. Oct 11, 2018 | Full Review… Tony Scott Variety Top Critic As performed by Lansbury, who manages to suggest refinement, intelligence and concern all at the same time, J.B. is so damn likable. Even her old-fashioned shirtwaists and short-jacketed suits are endearing. Oct 11, 2018 | Full Review… Simi Horwitz Washington Post Top Critic Chock-full of charm. Oct 9, 2018 | Rating: B | Full Review… Melissa Rose Bernardo Entertainment Weekly Top Critic View All Critic Reviews (12) Audience Reviews for Murder, She Wrote: Season 1 There are no featured audience reviews yet. Click the link below to see what others say about Murder, She Wrote: Season 1! View All News & Features 150 Erotic Movies Ranked worst to best! 2019's Most Anticipated 63 movies coming up this year 200 Essential Movies Chosen by RT staff! 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