Stay ConnectedJoin Lauren and Jesi as they re-watch their hero, Murphy Brown, navigate the waters of journalistic integrity and female empowerment, discussing 1990s nostalgia and the glaring relevance this show still has in our culture today. Plus, interviews with the cast and creators!www.MurphyBrownPod.comTheme Song Provided by Pond5 artist Patrick Coen
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It’s time for our most requested episode online! The return of Jerry Gold in his new role as “love interest” to our Murphy Brown. Topics include Redemption of characters previously written as villains, The” heart of gold” male troupe, The Jerry (Jay Thomas) and Murphy romantic dynamic, and the history of the Aretha Franklin song “Think.”
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In part two, we go into depth on Murphy and Corky’s “undercover blues” as ex-workers on a sting as well and chat about the amazing guest stars: Peter Marc Jacobson (The Nanny) and Beth Broderick (Sabrina The Teenage Witch) would go on to be part of two other famous 90s sitcoms! How this departure for the series seemingly seemed to be keying into a late 80’s comedy troupe but may have been saying more with its jokes.
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We had such a great time talking about the important background on this episode; we had to make it another back-to-back two-parter! Part one, the pod, goes into depth on the history of Marvin Gaye’s struggle to get “I Heard It Through The Grapevine” Released! Then, Jesi goes into depth on how sex workers have been viewed over the years to today, and Lauren chats about the images of sex workers in 80s and 90s comedies. And Murphy has fun with a nerf gun at Miles' expense!
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The day has finally arrived! We finally complete the set with Gary Dontzig - Murphy Brown, writer/producer extraordinaire and writer of many of our favorite episodes, including “Come Out, Come Out Wherever You Are”! Gary talks about his experience as a gay comedy writer in the 80s & 90s and the push-and-pull he experienced in his effort to bring gay characters to TV in the years before Ellen and Will & Grace.
Join Us For Part One: Our Interview With Matt Baume
Also, Check Out Our Interviews with Steve Peterman, Gary's Writing Partner!
We are sad to report that the great Gary Dontzig has passed in Feb 2026. Please check out his obit in Deadline and Variety.
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The gals are so happy to welcome YouTuber, journalist & LBGTQ+ TV pop-culture expert Matt Baume to the pod for a wonderful two-part discussion. In Part One, Jesi & Lauren sit down with Matt to chat, not only Murphy Brown but Star Trek, The Nanny, Frasier & more!Check out next week when Gary Dontzig (writer/producer) joins Lauren, Jesi & Matt to talk about Murphy Brown’s first gay episode and his experience as a gay comedy writer in the 80s & 90s.
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It’s back to school time! First, the gals chat about mentors when Murphy's high school journalism teacher starts a school in her name. Then, Jesi takes us on a journey through the brief history of marching bands and walks us through 90’s Anchor Kathleen Sullivan’s misogynist tenure in Broadcast Journalism. And the topic of mentors and mentees is discussed and how an actor’s reputation can work for them in a role. Knives Out Spoiler: 23.57-24.37Check out www.murphybrownpod.com for some extras about the episode! (Link mentioned coming soon)
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The gals take on what makes Frank tick in Murphy Brown’s first Frank Fontana (Joe Regalbuto) dating episode. Lauren goes into depth about the history of the celebrity sandwiches craze in The United States, while Jesi flexes her Star Trek muscle & tells a brief history of Squeaky Fromme. Also, the joy of guest star Eve Gordon!
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The kids in the opening of our last episode, “I Want My FYI,” were in need of civics all the back in 1990. Today, Civics is absent from the national curriculum, now when we need it so much, Lauren sits down with Carrie Ray-Hill, Director of Digital Learning at iCivics, “founded by Justice Sandra Day O’Connor in 2009 to ensure that all Americans have the knowledge and will to participate in our unique experiment in self-government,’ A non-profit civic non-partisan, free to more than “7.6 million students annually, in all 50 states” in Middle School and High School.” Lauren talks with Carrie about ICivics' use of Video Games to help kids (and us!) learn how our country works. And yes, we also talk about Murphy Brown!
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A young Mayim Bialik and Mark-Paul Gosselaar, on the cusp of their Blossom and Saved By The Bell fame (The first season had just aired when he filmed this episode!) guest star as young FYIers in a podcast favorite! The gals go in-depth on what it was like to be teens in the 90s, the educational system then and now, as well as a sidebar on The Memphis Group, an art school that set the look for the 80s and 90s.*We recorded this in late 2020.
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Welcome to the 90s! The podcast is back for the back half of Season 2 as we officially hit the 1990s proper with a pod fav! Jesi highlights pop-culture moments that defined the 90s and goes into the origins of Motown through Smokey Robinson & The Miracles. Lauren talks about the brief history of journalists who were sent to jail for not revealing their sources. The gals chat about an infamous blooper from this episode between Grant Shaud & Candice Bergen, plus background on amazing guest actors like Cristine Rose!Although this was the last episode we recorded before the pandemic, we could not have produced the entire season without the help of our Patreon. Thank You from the bottom of our hearts.
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