Murder, She Wrote Season 3, Episode 18
“No Laughing Murder”
Original Airdate: March 15, 1987
Writer: Tom B. Sawyer
Director: Walter Grauman
Cast: Angela Lansbury, George Clooney, Pat Crowley, George Furth, Buddy Hackett, Arte Johnson, David Knell, Steve Lawrence, Sheree North, Beth Windsor, Pat Delaney, Alice Nunn, Richardson Morse, Paul Ganus
Last week we celebrated Foster Brooks, a staple of the Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts. I have to wonder if the lovable lush batted any eyebrows at this week’s caper, which takes direct inspiration from the real-life feud between Martin and his former comedic partner Jerry Lewis. It might be the most blatant ripped-from-the-headlines plot presented by the series until the infamous Friends takedown in the final season. Our “Martin” is late show host Mack Howard, played by crooner Steve Lawrence (who I’d argue has more of a Frank Sinatra air about him). The “Jerry” is Murray Gruen, a functionally retired—functionally alcoholic—comedian played by Buddy Hackett.