Murder, She Wrote The Body Politic (1984–1996) Online

On a WITM Television program "Face the Issues," Newscaster Edmund Hall (George Grizzard) interviews candidates competing for their party's nomination in the Primary for a a U.S. Senate seat during a mid-term election cycle, in an unidentified Midwestern state.

A former Mayor, Kathleen Lane (Shirley Jones), challenges Arthur Drelinger (Robert Fuller) for the open seat, each campaign equipped with qualified staff member, who rely upon constantly-updated popular polling figures to chart a course of action.

The interview proceeds amicably between the candidates although Edmund Hall poses as its showcase star, surrounding his questions from a cynical angle to generate his type of sensationalism in newscasting.

While the Drelinger Campaign is itself managed by sensationalist C.W. Butterfield (James Sloyan), the Lane Campaign takes the high road, by employing staff exhibiting professionalism: Campaign Manager Bud Johnson (Peter Fox), Assistant Nan Wynn (Daphne Maxwell Reid) and Staffer Cass (Marie Chambers).

Kathleen's husband, Jackson Lane (Eddie Albert), meanwhile, has seen his professional past exposed, such as his firm's once owing a great deal of money to the government in back taxes, and other sordid details. Allogations also surface regarding marital infidelity on the parts of Kathleen and Jackson, but to no substantiation.

But now Harold, the Lane Campaign's speech writer, has resigned, so Kathleen solicits her dear old friend Jessica Fletcher (Angela Lansbury), whom she has known for seventeen years, to manage the position, or at least on a temporary basis.

Jessica arrives at Hotel Excalibur in time to be settled in, before a scandal breaks after an unidentified informant presents questionable photographs (taken at a retreat at Lake Saint Catherine, in innocent but seemingly compromising positions) with Kathleen and her young, also married, Campaign Manager, Bud Johnson, to the attention of Edmund Hall, in a Bus station terminal locker, for him to broadcast on WITM during his 11:00 PM newscast, which he, of course, eagerly does.

Jessica and Nan Wynn, each noticing the newscast, meet in concern in a Hotel Excalibur corridor to search for the missing Kathleen (away from her Penthouse suite 1811), and so Jessica and Nan search its exteriors, where they stumble across a body upon its sidewalk.

Kathleen arrives to face the crowd outside the Excalibur, after being sent on a wild goose chase because someone has fabricated a mission for her to meet with her state party chairman, who was away from his residence, thereby leaving her no alibi for the time of the murder, which was arranged to frame Kathleen, who overcomes her initial shock to anticipate additional press pillory.

Lieutenat Gowans (Harrison Page) handles the homicide investigation, originally suspected as a suicide by jumping, an initially closes his mind to any other possibility of a perpetrator other than Kathleen Lane, whose poll numbers immediately begin to plummet. Jessica convinces the good Law Enforcer to consider other possibilities, such as who stands to gain by a smear against Kathleen's reputation.

The resulting investigation leads to a trail of loyalty and disloyalty alike, on the road of "The Body Politic."

Robin Bach appears here as Preston the Desk Clerk, in his fourth of five "MSW" roles, once each in this series' first four seasons (possibly the only actor to accomplish this feat playing different roles although others have appeared in Seasons One through Three), and once in Season Six, before passing at a young age. Eddie Albert and George Grizzard have also since passed.

The episode cast is rounded out by Anthony S. Johnson as Reporter 'A,' Ann Walker as Female Reporter Mrs. Brown, Neal Kaz as Policeman #1, David Okarski as Policeman #2, Robert Lewis Cameron as Fingerprint Man, Scott Segall as Drelinger Campaign Staffer, and William Winckler as Campaign Aide.

This episode of Murder She Wrote finds Jessica Fletcher on the campaign trail donating her writing talents for friend Shirley Jones who is a Geraldine Ferraro type running for the US Senate. Jones's John Zaccaro like husband is Eddie Albert and her unscrupulous opponent is Robert Fuller.

A rumor gets started that Jones is having an affair with her campaign manager. Said manager takes a plunge off a hotel balcony and it's Shirley's room.

This is one of the episodes of the series where there's no direct accusation of murder for someone. Yet murder has been done here and done for a specific reason that seems good to the doer.

Nice casting in this episode.

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.

"The Body Politic" isn't quite the cracker going-out-on-a-bang season finale to Season 4, generally one of 'Murder She Wrote's' best and most consistent seasons (apart from two episodes "It Runs in the Family" and "Just Another Fish Story"), and a bit of a let-down after the outstanding previous episode "Deadpan". It is nonetheless a good episode.

It is a bit limited however in how it explores its political elements and motivations. While it still engages, the mystery is one of the season's most obvious, especially after the ingenuity of the mystery and denouement of "Deadpan". Was not surprised by the identity of the killer at all and suspected them straight away in a case with few suspects. The motive was a decent one though and not as obvious as it seemed at first.

However, Angela Lansbury shows again how she hasn't put a foot wrong in one of her best-remembered roles. In support, Eddie Albert and George Grizzard are excellent and Shirley Jones is pure class.

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.

The writing is thought-provoking and amiable and the episode does intrigue and interesting for being one of few where Jessica's accusations are not as direct.

In summary, interesting and good episode if a slightly disappointing one. 7/10 Bethany Cox