The taping of an infomercial by Jessica and two fellow novelists is plagued by problems including the mysterious death of an audience member.The taping of an infomercial by Jessica and two fellow novelists is plagued by problems including the mysterious death of an audience member.The taping of an infomercial by Jessica and two fellow novelists is plagued by problems including the mysterious death of an audience member.
Photos
George DiCenzo
- Lt. Harry Fogel
- (as George Di Cenzo)
David Elliott
- Stewart Murphy
- (as David E. Elliott)
Philip Petrie
- Dave
- (uncredited)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThe title refers to "The Book of the Month Club" that was started by Harry Scherman and Max Sackheim in 1920 offering specially selected books monthly. The service grew so rapidly that titles were even advertised as Book of the Month Club selections. The club is now owned by the Bookspan Company.
- GoofsMat Matthews removes a napkin off his neck and drops it on the floor and Jessica asks the waiter to pick it up. When Arnold Wynn enters the restaurants, the napkin has jumped back onto Mat's neck and in the next scene is off again.
- Quotes
[first lines]
Stewart Murphy: Well, wish me luck, ol' buddy.
Arnold Wynn: Hey, Stewart, the law's on your side.
Stewart Murphy: Man, I hope you're right. It'd be a nice time to see the good guys win for a change.
- SoundtracksMurder She Wrote Theme
Written by John Addison
Featured review
Book club murder
Have always been quite fond of 'Murder She Wrote'. It is a fun and relaxing watch that makes you think as you try to unwind in the evening. If one wants more complex, twisty mysteries with lots of tension and suspense 'Murder She Wrote' may not be for you, but if you want something light-hearted and entertaining but still provide good mysteries 'Murder She Wrote' fits the bill just fine.
After one of its best episodes in "Murder By Twos", Season 11 continues with an episode on the opposite end of the spectrum. "Murder of the Month Club" is one of the season's weakest, a lesser episode of the latter seasons and in the weaker half of all the 'Murder She Wrote' episodes in general. Not unwatchable but mediocre at best and not an easy watch.
There are plus points. Angela Lansbury is terrific and Leonard Lightfoot is a charming presence. Liked that the episode gave a reason for Artie Gelber's absence for continuity's sake. Ian Ogilvy is excellent, by far the best performance of the guest supporting cast by quite some way.
Production values are slick and stylish as ever with 'Murder She Wrote'. The music has energy and has presence but also not making the mistake of over-scoring, while it is hard to forget or resist the theme tune.
Of the guest supporting cast, only Ogilvy gives a good performance or one close to being of professional level. The rest of the cast consists of actors who seemed to had forgotten their acting lessons or couldn't seem to be able to act full stop. Generally "Murder of the Month Club" is one of the worst acted episodes.
Not even a good mystery can save things, where the only thing going for it is an interesting and somewhat different and cleverly done murder method for the second murder. The mystery itself is forgettable and dull, with the identity of the killer to me being obvious too early (picked up on what gave them away before Jessica did) and a motive that is pretty uninspired and prematurely foreseeable. Showing the murderer and providing the motive for the first murder straight away was a mistake, taking away from the fun and mystery of being able to solve the crimes and the ability for us to spot the connection between deaths that seem unrelated.
Writing-wise, "Murder of the Month Club" is pretty dreary and there's little thoughtful or light-hearted about it, tonally this is one of the sticking-out-like-a-sore-thumb episodes. What could have been one of the show's most original concepts ended up being wasted by the episode having nothing interesting or new to say.
In short, mediocre at best. 4/10 Bethany Cox
After one of its best episodes in "Murder By Twos", Season 11 continues with an episode on the opposite end of the spectrum. "Murder of the Month Club" is one of the season's weakest, a lesser episode of the latter seasons and in the weaker half of all the 'Murder She Wrote' episodes in general. Not unwatchable but mediocre at best and not an easy watch.
There are plus points. Angela Lansbury is terrific and Leonard Lightfoot is a charming presence. Liked that the episode gave a reason for Artie Gelber's absence for continuity's sake. Ian Ogilvy is excellent, by far the best performance of the guest supporting cast by quite some way.
Production values are slick and stylish as ever with 'Murder She Wrote'. The music has energy and has presence but also not making the mistake of over-scoring, while it is hard to forget or resist the theme tune.
Of the guest supporting cast, only Ogilvy gives a good performance or one close to being of professional level. The rest of the cast consists of actors who seemed to had forgotten their acting lessons or couldn't seem to be able to act full stop. Generally "Murder of the Month Club" is one of the worst acted episodes.
Not even a good mystery can save things, where the only thing going for it is an interesting and somewhat different and cleverly done murder method for the second murder. The mystery itself is forgettable and dull, with the identity of the killer to me being obvious too early (picked up on what gave them away before Jessica did) and a motive that is pretty uninspired and prematurely foreseeable. Showing the murderer and providing the motive for the first murder straight away was a mistake, taking away from the fun and mystery of being able to solve the crimes and the ability for us to spot the connection between deaths that seem unrelated.
Writing-wise, "Murder of the Month Club" is pretty dreary and there's little thoughtful or light-hearted about it, tonally this is one of the sticking-out-like-a-sore-thumb episodes. What could have been one of the show's most original concepts ended up being wasted by the episode having nothing interesting or new to say.
In short, mediocre at best. 4/10 Bethany Cox
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- TheLittleSongbird
- Nov 30, 2017
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