Muder, She Wrote was a cherished TV drama (Image: Getty)
The beloved series Murder, She Wrote was nearly at risk of taking a very different turn due to concerns about her workload.
The much-loved crime drama captivated audiences for an impressive 12 seasons, airing from 1984 to 1996 on CBS.
The show featured the cherished character Jessica Fletcher, played by the late actress Angela Lansbury, who solved crimes while weaving through the complexities of small-town life.
In 1989, at the age of 64, Lansbury began to seriously contemplate the end of Murder, She Wrote. Overwhelmed by the demanding filming schedule, she started to feel the strain of maintaining her role as the iconic Jessica Fletcher.
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Angela Lansbury was beloved actress from the hit show (Image: Getty)
However, in subsequent seasons, the focus of several episodes shifted to other characters in Cabot Cove to address Angela’s concerns about her demanding workload. This allowed her to step back, reducing her screen time and easing her filming schedule.
In the final season of Murder, She Wrote, a major scheduling change contributed to its decline. CBS shifted the show from its long-held Sunday night slot to Thursdays, where it competed directly with NBC’s hit show Friends.
Despite protests from the late TV star, the cast, crew, and fans, CBS didn’t reverse the decision. As predicted, the show’s ratings plummeted, dropping from Nielsen’s Top 20 to 67th place in its final season.
Angela on Murder, She Wrote (Image: Getty)
Lansbury previously told The Washington Post: “There’s perhaps no one in this country who doesn’t know it was a grave error, really. They said our demographics were unsatisfactory in terms of advertising dollars, but that just wasn’t the case.”
Surprisingly, Angela wasn’t the first choice for the role of Jessica Fletcher. Producers initially offered the part to All in the Family star Jean Stapleton. However, when she turned it down, they reluctantly turned to Lansbury.
Angela was an acclaimed American actress who had a career spanning over 80 years in film, stage, and television – but she tragically passed away in October 2022 at the age of 96.
In addition to her iconic role in Murder, She Wrote, the late actress is also celebrated for her voice work as Mrs. Potts in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast (1991), her chilling portrayal of Mrs. Eleanor Iselin in The Manchurian Candidate (1962), and her Tony Award-winning performances as Mrs. Lovett in Sweeney Todd (1979) and Mame Dennis in Mame (1966).