Murphy's Law (American TV series)

Murphy's Law is an American crime drama that starred George Segal and Maggie Han, loosely based on the Trace and Digger novels by Warren Murphy. The opening theme song, which replaced an instrumental by Mike Post, was an edited version of "Murphy's Law," a song featured on the album "High Crime" by Al Jarreau. The series premiered November 2, 1988 on ABC. On March 9, 1989, ABC announced that it had canceled the series and that the final episode would air on March 18, 1989.[1] The actual final, unaired episode, entitled "All's Wrong That Ends Wrong," resolved a key storyline in the series (recovering alcoholic Murphy was awarded custody of his daughter from his estranged ex-wife) and also served an unsold pilot for a spin-off starring Joan Severance.

Murphy's Law
GenreComedy drama
Created byLee David Zlotoff, based on characters from the "Trace" and "Digger" novels by Warren Murphy
Written byLee David Zlotoff
Michael Gleason
Lee Goldberg
William Rabkin
Ernie Wallengren
StarringGeorge Segal
Maggie Han
Josh Mostel
Theme music composerSteve Kipner
Paul Bliss
Al Jarreau
Opening theme"Murphy's Law" performed by Al Jarreau
ComposerJeanette Acosta
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes13 (1 unaired)
Production
Executive producersZev Braun
Leonard Stern
Michael Gleason
ProducersErnie Wallengren
Gareth Davies
Running time60 minutes
Production companiesZev Braun Productions
Michael Gleason Productions
New World Television
Release
Original networkABC
Original releaseNovember 2, 1988 (1988-11-02) –
March 18, 1989 (1989-03-18)

Synopsis

Daedelus Patrick Murphy (Segal) was a recovering alcoholic who worked as an insurance-fraud investigator for First Fidelity Insurance. His unusual methods sometimes led him to clash with office executive Victor Beaudine, though supervisor Wesley Harden often ran interference for Murphy since his methods got results. He lived with girlfriend and fashion model Kimiko Fannuchi (Han), while attempting to reconnect with his estranged daughter. In the actual final, unaired episode, entitled "All's Wrong That Ends Wrong," Murphy was awarded custody of his daughter from his estranged ex-wife. The episode also served as an unsold pilot for a proposed spin-off starring Joan Severance as an insurance investigator.

Cast

Main

Guest Stars

Episodes

Twelve episodes are registered with the United States Copyright Office.

No.TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air dateU.S. viewers
(millions)
1"The Room Above the Indian Grocery"UnknownLee David ZlotoffNovember 2, 1988 (1988-11-02)13.4[2]
2"Where are My Socks and Other Mysteries of Love"Bill BixbyMichael GleasonDecember 3, 1988 (1988-12-03)11.4[3]
3"If You Can't Win, Shoot for a Tie"UnknownLee Goldberg & William RabkinDecember 10, 1988 (1988-12-10)10.4[4]
4"Do Someone a Favor and It Becomes Your Job"Bill BixbyE.F. WallengrenDecember 17, 1988 (1988-12-17)9.9[5]
5"Never Play Leapfrog with a Unicorn"Bruce Seth GreenLee Goldberg & William RabkinJanuary 14, 1989 (1989-01-14)8.7[6]
6"Never Try to Teach a Pig to Sing"UnknownUnknownJanuary 21, 1989 (1989-01-21)11.4[7]
7"Two Wrongs Are Only the Beginning"Don WeisLee Goldberg & William RabkinJanuary 28, 1989 (1989-01-28)10.3[8]
8"Never Wear Earmuffs in a Bed of Rattlesnakes"UnknownUnknownFebruary 4, 1989 (1989-02-04)9.1[9]
9"Where There's a Will, There's a Won't"UnknownLee Goldberg & William RabkinFebruary 11, 1989 (1989-02-11)8.3[10]
10"When You're Over the Hill, You Pick Up Speed"UnknownUnknownFebruary 18, 1989 (1989-02-18)9.7[11]
11"Experience Is Something You Don't Get Until Just After You Need It"UnknownUnknownMarch 11, 1989 (1989-03-11)7.5[12]
12"Doing It the Hard Way Is Always Easier"UnknownLee Goldberg & William RabkinMarch 18, 1989 (1989-03-18)8.3[13]
13"All's Wrong That Ends Wrong"TBDMichael Gleason & E.F. WallengrenUnairedN/A
Unsold pilot for a spin-off starring Joan Severance

References
  1. "'Murphy's Law' Series Is Canceled by ABC". The New York Times. March 10, 1989. Retrieved 2009-07-03.
  2. "Nielsen ratings". USA Today. November 9, 1988. p. 3D. ProQuest 306136856.
  3. "Nielsen ratings". USA Today. December 7, 1988. p. 3D. ProQuest 306146398.
  4. "Nielsen ratings". USA Today. December 14, 1988. p. 3D. ProQuest 306143538.
  5. "Nielsen ratings". USA Today. December 21, 1988. p. 3D. ProQuest 306159082.
  6. "Nielsen ratings". USA Today. January 18, 1989. p. 3D. ProQuest 306171627.
  7. "Nielsen ratings". USA Today. January 25, 1989. p. 3D. ProQuest 306147740.
  8. "Nielsen ratings". USA Today. February 1, 1989. p. 3D. ProQuest 306144802.
  9. "Nielsen ratings". USA Today. February 8, 1989. p. 3D. ProQuest 306179902.
  10. "Nielsen ratings". USA Today. February 15, 1989. p. 3D. ProQuest 306163263.
  11. "Nielsen ratings". USA Today. February 22, 1989. p. 3D. ProQuest 306175741.
  12. "Nielsen ratings". USA Today. March 15, 1989. p. 3D. ProQuest 306172200.
  13. "Nielsen ratings". USA Today. March 22, 1989. p. 3D. ProQuest 306198820.
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