Murder, She Wrote - TV-PG

Simple crime drama is tame by today's standards.

TV Rating: TV-PG Network: A&E, Biography Channel, Hallmark Channel, Syndicated Cast: Angela Lansbury, Tom Bosley, William Windom Genre: Drama
Available on: DVD

Common Sense Note

Parents need to know that although the violence in this fan-favorite crime drama is extremely tame compared to many of today's graphic series (almost to the point of being a bit cheesy), each episode does revolve around a murder investigation. The deadly confrontation is often shown on screen, as well as several scenes of the corpse and the crime scene (often blood-stained). The heroine is a successful, self-confident woman whose determined inquiries and attention to detail often outshine the work of professional detectives.

Families can talk about how this show is similar to and different from more recent crime dramas. Why do you think newer shows have upped the blood-and-guts level? Are there any shows on the air today that are like this one, or are they all a lot more serious and graphic? Families can also discuss the investigation process. Which clues help detectives find a starting point for their investigations? How do they narrow their searches for clues and suspects? In what ways do the roles of detectives and private investigators differ? Families can also discuss how the justice system works. What rights do all citizens have in the court process? How do those rights protect innocent people? How do they protect criminals?

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Common Sense Review

Reviewed By: Emily Ashby

In its 12-year run on CBS (from 1984 to 1996), MURDER, SHE WROTE had fans scratching their heads over the same two questions that continue to boggle viewers today: How does a novelist always manage to outsmart professional detectives? And doesn't it ever bother Jessica Fletcher that murder seems to follow her everywhere she goes?

Murder, She Wrote follows the many adventures and investigations of the indomitable mystery writer (Angela Lansbury), a retired school teacher with an insatiable thirst for knowledge who lives in the quaint town of Cabot Cove, Maine. When she's not tapping away at her typewriter, Jessica is often out about town or traveling to visit the inexhaustible bevy of friends and family she has throughout the world. Amazingly, almost every time, she stumbles onto the scene of yet another murder in need of a determined gumshoe. And with each mystery she helps solve, she gets inspiration for her next best-selling novel.

Jessica's curiosity often leads her to poke her nose in police affairs. While the Cabot Cove sheriff's department is accustomed to her friendly meddling, other law officers who don't know her (and are often looking for a quick-and-easy solution to the crime) find her inquiries irritating. In the end, though, Jessica's sugary charm and knack for asking just the right questions outs the real bad guys and saves the day, and she makes new fans with every case she cracks.

More than two decades after its debut, Murder, She Wrote continues to engage audiences with its endearing heroine and an ever-changing cast of guest stars that, through the years, included soon-to-be-familiar faces like George Clooney, Courteney Cox, and Marcia Cross.

But crime drama buffs take note: This is no Law & Order or CSI. The action is slow, and characters rely more on chance eavesdropping or friendly conversation than on actual interrogation to gather information. Foot chases are rare, and hardened criminals even rarer. Overall it's a fantasy world for detective work, where the bad guys stand out, tense situations are often tempered by wry humor, and loose ends are tied up in a nice, neat package by show's end.

The only real caution for parents of older tweens and up is the potential for some violent images, but the relatively low-key nature of this crime show makes it a decent choice for families -- although the simplistic, dialogue-based plot may leave kids rolling their eyes.

Fans may also enjoy Magnum, P.I., Diagnosis Murder, and Monk.

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Content		CS	adults	kids
Content
Sexual Content Characters occasionally talk around the subject of sex with loaded comments like "I don't know what you're doing or who you're doing it with." Extramarital affairs often pop up in investigations. Female characters sometimes dress in skimpy clothing. There's occasional kissing and some light fondling (rubbing thighs or backs, for instance).
Violence Each episode revolves around a death, and often the act of murder is shown as well as a few shots of the dead body (though it's all very tame compared to modern forensic crime dramas). There are lots of verbal threats ("I'll kill you") and some fist fights and scuffles here and there, which lead to bruises and bloody lips.
Language "Damn" and "hell" are used infrequently.
Message
	Social Behavior The main character is a strong, intelligent woman who's never afraid to ask tough questions and always speaks her mind. While there's plenty of lying, stealing, and allusions to sleeping around among suspects, the bad guys always get their due in the end.
	Commercialism
	Drug/Alcohol/Tobacco Adults often drink wine or beer in social settings.