Murder, She Wrote

From failure to success
Murder, She Wrote was the brainchild of TV producers Richard Levinson and William Link – who'd already established their smash-hit-crime-drama credentials by inventing Columbo in the early 70s.

However, they were less lucky with their 1975 series Ellery Queen, which was set in the 1940s and focused on a crime author who solves murders in between writing novels (sound familiar?).

The series flopped and was axed after just one series – but Link and Levinson still loved the idea of a detective series with a writer in the main role.

Murder who wrote?
The two men got their second crack at the idea in 1983, when they were approached by a major TV channel to create a series with a female protagonist. They excitedly went back to the Ellery Queen concept, but changed the hunky male hero to a mature, homely lady.

The original person they had in mind to play Jessica Fletcher was Jean Stapleton, who'd made her name with a 70s sitcom called All in the Family. That series had just come to an end, and Stapleton didn't want to commit to another long-term project. So the producers asked none other than Doris Day, the silver screen legend. She turned them down too – and it was only then that they gave Angela Lansbury a call. Honestly, can you imagine anyone else in the role now?

Lansbury lay downs the law
Murder, She Wrote was such a huge success that the production company was understandably terrified when Angela Lansbury said she wanted to quit and move onto other projects in 1988.

The president of the company paid her a personal visit to persuade (ie, beg!) her to stay on. Angela knew she was onto a good thing, and said she would only continue if her workload was reduced. Mr President said yes, which is why series six features so many "bookend" episodes. These ones consist of a crime story being told by Jessica, who only appears at the beginning and end. It gave Angela the breather she needed, and in later series returned to her formerly heavy schedule.

The real Cabot Cove
Murder, She Wrote is set in the fictional town of Cabot Cove in the East Coast state of Maine. However, the location shoots actually took place on the other side of America in Mendocino, California.

This proved very popular with the Mendocino residents – and over 150 were used as extras (and even small speaking parts) in the series. Angela Lansbury and co-star Tom Bosley were familiar faces in the town, often seen ambling about and going shopping like the ordinary locals. And if you ever find yourself in Mendocino, look out for a bed and breakfast called Blair House. This was used for the exterior shots of Jessica Fletcher's home!

The spin-off
Did you know that Murder, She Wrote inspired a spin-off series? Probably not, as it died an unfortunate death in the ratings!

It was called The Law and Harry McGraw, and centred around private detective Harry McGraw, who turned up occasionally in Murder, She Wrote from the first series onwards. He was created as a gritty opposite to the mild-mannered Jessica Fletcher, and the witty banter flowed beautifully between them. But that was actually part of the problem, as the spin-off didn't have Mrs Fletcher for McGraw to spark off against.
It was cancelled early on, but McGraw continued to feature in Murder, She Wrote – and its star, Jerry Orbach, later had much more luck with the series Law & Order.

Spot the faces
Murder, She Wrote provided some plum roles for many aspiring stars who'd later find global fame. A very fresh-faced George Clooney made an appearance in 1987, and the year before that the show had Courtney Cox (which is slightly ironic, as Murder, She Wrote would later go up against Friends in the US TV schedules).

Sex and the City's Cynthia Nixon, Billy Zane and a 10-year-old Joaquin Phoenix also landed parts in the series, along with Hollywood legend Janet Leigh – yep, the lady who came to a sticky end in the notorious Psycho shower scene.