Murphy Brown
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The gang is T-I-R-E-D these days.
When she steps out from behind the desk, we see Murphs wearing sweats.
She arranges her life to maximize sleep.
Not saying I wouldnt, though.
Franks so exhausted hes yawning on air, but Pat Patel thinks hes close to monetizing his social-media presence.
How much are we talking?
Enough to keep you from stealing those little boxes of cereal from the break room.
This is a good bit between Frank and PP, character-driven instead of a millennial joke.
There are pitch-perfect character bits everywhere.
They just get bogged down.
Miles wants to take everyone to Phils.
Its 9 a.m. is Phils even open??
If she hires, him, he promises Phyllis hell marry the ketchups every night.
What a cute go-getter!
Then again, Phils is absolutely the kind of place where Id expect adulterated condiments.
I guess what Im saying is that well accept almost any indignity in the proper context.
Here comes Avery, Murphys Large Adult Son!
What makes Avery so sure hell get called on?
Tee-hee, Sarah Sanders has a crush on him!
She called me last night to tell me she likes my show.
The phone call is a bad setup with a good payoff.
Miles has been fantasizing about her, because I have a thing for domineering women.
Ive said too much.
Grant Shauds comic timing is so good.
This smug little shit.
Surely Murph, veteran broadcaster with 50 years experience, can get back in.
I can sort of see her point.
Miles frets aloud about the ethics of this caper.
What kind of executive producer am I?
is a rhetorical question, but Corky nails it: A small, sweaty kind who makes everyone nervous.
Here comes a joke sequence straight out of 1988.
Franks envious he really misses going undercover.
I wish I could put on a dress and sneak into that briefing room now, he says.
Corky retorts, You could, Frank.
Youre still shaving your legs, right?
Frank, indignant: Because Iswim.
Somehow, the logical place to go after this is a prison-rape joke.
Im not offended, just bored.
Once inside, Murphy ditches Cosette in a plant and ducks into the briefing in progress.
Time for a question; every hand shoots into the air.
SHS hollers at Avery but says shes saving the best for last.
When Sanders instead calls someone else, our girl makes her move, shoving him out of the way.
I am also embarrassed and uncomfortable, because this istoo long.
Her question, when she gets to it, is simple.
Why do you lie?
Huh, this isnt wish fulfillment at all, just reality TV!
She tries one more time.
If not for her, he would have, since hed secured the press secretarys favor through flirtation.
Its like hes Ricky Ricardo and she has somesplaininto do.
Avery wants to compete but resorts to invokingmaternal instinctbecause he didnt get what he wanted?
It doesnt get better from here.
She noticed that Averys suitcases are downstairs and shes worried hes moving out.God, Avery,pleaseleave!
He just has an early flight.
Patriarchy, 1; Murphy Brown, 0.
& Assorted
I like Pat Patels lil hipster outfits, especially that polka-dot shirt and the on-trend eyeglasses.
The show famously cut in archival footage of Dan Quayle in 1991.
I dont even know if that makes sense.
Does that make sense?Ahh, a psychoanalyst once said to me,The wish to begin again.
She wasnt talking aboutMurphy Brownbut she probably should have been.
