The BEST episodes of Murphy Brown season 1

Every episode of Murphy Brown season 1, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of Murphy Brown season 1!

Murphy Brown is the star reporter of "FYI," a newsmagazine series. Murphy is sarcastic, ambitious, often self-involved and bossy - but she is also dedicated and ethical. She and her co-workers - including Jim, Frank and Corky - are often at one another's throats, even though they care about one another. This comedy series tackles some serious topics, including Murphy being a single mother and being treated for breast cancer.

Last Updated: 9/27/2024Network: CBSStatus: Ended
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The Summer of '77
star
7.80
89 votes

#1 - The Summer of '77

Season 1 - Episode 20 - Aired 5/8/1989

Eldin meets Corky for the first time and becomes infatuated with her. Phil reflects on the first time he met Murphy, when she first came to Washington to audition against Linda Ellerbee & Frank Fontana for FYI.

Directors: Barnet Kellman
Watch Now:Amazon
Funnies Girl
star
7.67
63 votes

#2 - Funnies Girl

Season 1 - Episode 18 - Aired 4/10/1989

An on-camera slip of the tongue, makes Murphy the butt of a cartoonist's joke in "The Adventures of Mouthy Brown," then the rest of the staff falls victim.

Directors: Barnet Kellman
Watch Now:Amazon
Moscow on the Potomac
star
7.61
64 votes

#3 - Moscow on the Potomac

Season 1 - Episode 16 - Aired 3/13/1989

Murphy prepares for a joint broadcast with the Soviet news equivalent of Murphy Brown.

Directors: Barnet Kellman
Watch Now:Amazon
Respect
star
7.59
133 votes

#4 - Respect

Season 1 - Episode 1 - Aired 11/14/1988

Murphy returns to FYI after "drying out" at the Betty Ford clinic. The show has undergone some changes while she was gone, including the addition of a beauty queen to the anchor desk and a new young executive producer. In her first week back she isn't sure whether she still has her edge.

Directors: Barnet Kellman
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Unshrinkable Murphy Brown
star
7.57
92 votes

#5 - The Unshrinkable Murphy Brown

Season 1 - Episode 19 - Aired 5/1/1989

While Murphy is grilling him on the show, a judge dies of a heart attack. This causes Murphy to lose her edge, so she attends a group therapy session.

Directors: Barnet Kellman
Watch Now:Amazon
My Dinner with Einstein
star
7.56
62 votes

#6 - My Dinner with Einstein

Season 1 - Episode 17 - Aired 3/20/1989

Murphy dates a physicist to prove looks aren't everything, but he proves to be a party guy.

Directors: Barnet Kellman
Watch Now:Amazon
The Morning Show
star
7.50
94 votes

#7 - The Morning Show

Season 1 - Episode 22 - Aired 5/22/1989

During an off week at FYI, Murphy & Corky co-anchor the network's morning show, and Murphy finds it's a job she just isn't made for. Murphy's new secretary has a passing resemblance to a "dead" celebrity.

Directors: Barnet Kellman
Watch Now:Amazon
The Bickners
star
7.48
89 votes

#8 - The Bickners

Season 1 - Episode 21 - Aired 5/15/1989

A minor traffic accident, with a sweet elderly couple, results in a 1.5 million dollar lawsuit for Murphy.

Directors: Barnet Kellman
Writer: Russ Woody
Watch Now:Amazon
Devil With a Blue Dress On
star
7.32
127 votes

#9 - Devil With a Blue Dress On

Season 1 - Episode 2 - Aired 11/21/1988

Miles assigns Corky to work with Murphy on a big story about a corporate big shot. Corky inadvertently uncovers the fact that he is a drug smuggler, this isn't immediately apparent to her. Murphy almost feels guilty about taking credit for the story, but she doesn't get the chance, Corky "grabs the brass ring."

Directors: Barnet Kellman
Writer: Korby Siamis
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Nowhere to Run
star
7.27
114 votes

#10 - Nowhere to Run

Season 1 - Episode 3 - Aired 11/28/1988

Murphy investigates a federal prosecutor who's linked to mob-run prostitution, Miles fears for his life when he receives his first death threat.

Directors: Barnet Kellman
Writer: Russ Woody
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Signed, Sealed, Delivered
star
7.27
109 votes

#11 - Signed, Sealed, Delivered

Season 1 - Episode 4 - Aired 12/5/1988

Miles schedules Murphy to interview her radical ex-husband. Murphy & Jake's feelings for one another begin to ruin the chance of a professional interview.

Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Set Me Free
star
7.23
105 votes

#12 - Set Me Free

Season 1 - Episode 7 - Aired 12/19/1988

Murphy's having a rotten day, complicated by a gunman who interrupts the show and demands they read his statement on the air and it gets capped off by the painter she hired to do her kitchen sticking around to finish "extending myself."

Directors: Barnet Kellman
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Why Do Fools Fall in Love?
star
7.19
101 votes

#13 - Why Do Fools Fall in Love?

Season 1 - Episode 12 - Aired 2/13/1989

Cupid strikes the staff when Murphy reluctantly fixes Frank up on the condition he finds someone for her. Murphy's latest secretary has a crush on Jim.

Directors: Barnet Kellman
Writer: Korby Siamis
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Kyle
star
7.18
108 votes

#14 - Kyle

Season 1 - Episode 10 - Aired 1/16/1989

Murphy's story wins freedom for an innocent man; when the rest of the team realizes he has a problem adjusting with the outside world, Miles offers him a job as Murphy's secretary.

Directors: Barnet Kellman
Writer: Russ Woody
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Soul Man
star
7.17
98 votes

#15 - Soul Man

Season 1 - Episode 13 - Aired 2/20/1989

Murphy tries to gain entry into Washington's last exclusive club, trouble is, it's for men only. Murphy tries to get Jim to sponsor her, when she discovers a loophole in the by-laws.

Directors: Barnet Kellman
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
I Would Have Danced All Night
star
7.15
105 votes

#16 - I Would Have Danced All Night

Season 1 - Episode 9 - Aired 1/9/1989

Murphy is perplexed and angry when everyone on the staff is invited to the inaugural ball of President-elect Bush. Was it something she reported? Miles debates about asking a taller woman to the ball.

Directors: Barnet Kellman
Watch Now:Apple TV
Off the Job Experience
star
7.15
103 votes

#17 - Off the Job Experience

Season 1 - Episode 11 - Aired 1/23/1989

Miles suspends Murphy for her handling of an interview. So she leaves the office for two weeks and becomes miserable.

Directors: Barnet Kellman
Watch Now:Apple TV
Mama Said
star
7.14
95 votes

#18 - Mama Said

Season 1 - Episode 15 - Aired 3/6/1989

Murphy's overbearing mother comes to visit for an unspecified length of time.

Directors: Barnet Kellman
star
7.13
108 votes

#19 - And So He Goes

Season 1 - Episode 8 - Aired 1/2/1989

Murphy's long time nemesis asks for her to deliver the eulogy at his funeral, and Murphy sees it as her chance to have the last laugh or so she thinks.

Directors: Barnet Kellman
Watch Now:Apple TV
It's How You Play the Game
star
7.12
97 votes

#20 - It's How You Play the Game

Season 1 - Episode 14 - Aired 2/27/1989

To get the public to see Frank's piece on the homeless, the FYI team competes with Jerry Gold's show on its level, with surprising results.

Directors: Barnet Kellman
Writer: Russ Woody
Murphy's Pony
star
7.10
103 votes

#21 - Murphy's Pony

Season 1 - Episode 5 - Aired 12/11/1988

During the Christmas holidays, a mother abandons her children to the care of Murphy Brown. Murphy goes all out to help them out.

Directors: Barnet Kellman
Watch Now:Apple TV
Baby Love
star
7.03
107 votes

#22 - Baby Love

Season 1 - Episode 6 - Aired 12/12/1988

Murphy feels maternal pangs after visiting with a pregnant friend. She considers in vitro fertilization and talks Frank into being the donor. When that option doesn't pan out, they consider a physical union.

Directors: Barnet Kellman
Writer: Korby Siamis
Watch Now:Apple TV