Murphy Brown
The 390th Broadcast
TV Flash files “The 390th Broadcast” as a desk essential hour — Murphy Brown (1988–1998) on CBS, season 3, episode 1, aired 1990-09-17, 30 min.
From the desk
How this hour is filed
This leaf is S03E01: listed hour 50 of 260 in the Murphy Brown guide, first listed hour of season 3. It aired 1990-09-17 (30 min). The listed hour before it is “Going to the Chapel (2)” (S02E27). Next is “Brown and Blue” (S03E02).
Essential hour: “The 390th Broadcast”. The 390th Broadcast numbers the ritual: revolving-door secretary gag as workplace weather, the sitcom treating TV news as a job.
Viewer FAQ
Where does The 390th Broadcast sit in the Murphy Brown guide?
S03E01 is listed hour 50 of 260 — first listed hour of season 3, season 3 episode 1.
When did Murphy Brown S03E01 air?
The 390th Broadcast aired 1990-09-17 and is listed at 30 minutes.
What was the Quayle fight actually about?
Vice President Dan Quayle publicly criticized the storyline of Murphy having a child as a single mother. A sitcom plot became a 1992 campaign talking point — culture-war television in primary sources.
In the series
Why this series still plays
Bergen's Emmy-harvesting lead turn and culture-war television in primary sources. FYI's hard-charging journalist, a revolving-door secretary gag, and the Dan Quayle single-motherhood flap that turned a sitcom into a 1992 campaign subplot. Sharp workplace comedy with real newsroom texture. Umbrage never looked so tailored.
FYI, America: a newsmagazine diva with cigarettes, catchphrases, and zero interest in being likable on anyone else's terms. CBS's *Murphy Brown* (1988–1998, later revived) put Candice Bergen in a bullpen with Faith Ford, Joe Regalbuto, Grant Shaud, Charles Kimbrough, and a revolving-door secretary gag. Diane English mixed workplace comedy with topical fights. Then Vice President Dan Quayle attacked Murphy's single motherhood and a sitcom became a 1992 campaign subplot. **Comedy drove national political…
Filed against
- Candice Bergen as Murphy Brown
Candice Bergen's Murphy Brown made FYI a hard-charging newsroom sitcom and a 1992 campaign subplot — revolving-door secretary gag, single-motherhood flap, workplace comedy with real headlines stuck to the wall. Culture-war television in…
- Faith Ford as Corky Sherwood
Faith Ford played Corky Sherwood on Murphy Brown — FYI's newsroom farce, a revolving-door secretary gag around Candice Bergen's hard-charging journalist, and 1980s workplace comedy that wandered into a 1992 campaign subplot. TV Flash…
- Joe Regalbuto as Frank Fontana
Joe Regalbuto’s Frank Fontana sat in Murphy Brown’s FYI bullpen — hard-charging journalism, a revolving-door secretary gag, and the Dan Quayle single-motherhood flap that turned a sitcom into a 1992 campaign subplot. Bergen’s…
- Charles Kimbrough as Jim Dial
Charles Kimbrough played Jim Dial on Murphy Brown — FYI's granite anchor opposite Bergen's hard-charging journalist, a revolving-door secretary gag, workplace comedy with real newsroom weather. Culture-war television in primary sources,…
- Grant Shaud as Miles Silverberg
Grant Shaud's Miles Silverberg ran FYI on Murphy Brown — 1980s/90s workplace sitcom with a hard-charging journalist, revolving-door secretary gag, and a culture-war aftertaste that wandered into a campaign. Nervous producer as comic…