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 "Alls 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 "Alls 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. Title Directed by Written by Original air date
1"The Room Above the Indian Grocery"TBALee David ZlotoffNovember 2, 1988 (1988-11-02)
2"Where are My Socks and Other Mysteries of Love"Bill BixbyMichael GleasonDecember 3, 1988 (1988-12-03)
3"If You Can't Win, Shoot for a Tie"TBALee Goldberg & William RabkinDecember 10, 1988 (1988-12-10)
4"Do Someone a Favor and It Becomes Your Job"Bill BixbyE.F. WallengrenDecember 17, 1988 (1988-12-17)
5"Never Play Leapfrog with a Unicorn"Bruce Seth GreenLee Goldberg & William RabkinJanuary 14, 1989 (1989-01-14)
6"Never Try to Teach a Pig to Sing"TBATBAJanuary 21, 1989 (1989-01-21)
7"Two Wrongs Are Only the Beginning"Don WeisLee Goldberg & William RabkinJanuary 28, 1989 (1989-01-28)
8"Never Wear Earmuffs in a Bed of Rattlesnakes"TBATBAFebruary 4, 1989 (1989-02-04)
9"Where There's a Will, There's a Won't"TBALee Goldberg & William RabkinFebruary 11, 1989 (1989-02-11)
10"When You're Over the Hill, You Pick Up Speed"TBATBAFebruary 18, 1989 (1989-02-18)
11"Experience Is Something You Don't Get Until Just After You Need It"TBATBAMarch 11, 1989 (1989-03-11)
12"Doing It the Hard Way Is Always Easier"TBALee Goldberg & William RabkinMarch 18, 1989 (1989-03-18)
13"All's Wrong That Ends Wrong"TBAMichael Gleason & E.F. WallengrenUNAIRED
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.


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