F.Y.I. Candice Bergen's Hit Sitcom Murphy Brown Joins Nick at Nite Beginning January 24

UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif., Jan. 14 -- Acclaimed Emmy and Golden Globe Award-winning actress Candice Bergen brings the world of broadcast journalism to Nick at Nite this January when the network launches the witty, hit comedy Murphy Brown. The show stars Bergen as a reporter for F.Y.I., a successful prime time news magazine show, whose friends and co-workers help her to find balance in her hectic life. The show kicks off with a marathon of some of the most memorable episodes from the series - including the very first episode, the famous Dan Quayle episode and the birth of her son, Avery - from Monday, January 24 - Thursday, January 27 from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. (all times ET/PT). Additionally, political commentator Mo Rocca is featured in vignettes throughout the marathon interviewing cast members from the series. The show will air in its regular timeslot of 11:30 p.m. Sunday - Thursday and 12:30 a.m. on Friday and Saturday beginning Friday, January 28.

"Candice Bergen as Murphy Brown played one of the most original, distinctive female characters on television," explains Larry W. Jones, President, TV Land and Nick at Nite. "The show also had one of the funniest, most-memorable teams of talent, and we are thrilled that it is joining the network."

Created by Diane English, the comedy centers around life at F.Y.I., a weekly CBS news magazine show, and, more specifically, around Murphy Brown (Candice Bergen), a driven and sarcastic reporter who also happens to be a recovering alcoholic. Murphy's demanding ways also play a part in a running gag on the series, as she was never able to hold on to any of her secretaries. Jim Dial (Charles Kimbrough) is the uptight senior anchor, and Frank Fontana (Joe Regalbuto) is her best friend and investigative reporter for F.Y.I. Always getting on Murphy's nerves is Corky Sherwood (Faith Ford), a former Miss America whose primary assets are her looks and her energy, and rounding out the news team is the neurotic, young show producer, Miles Silverberg (Grant Shaud), who is not always effective in getting respect from his staff. Phil (Pat Corley) owns the neighborhood bar and is a father figure to them all, and Eldin, (Robert Pastorelli) Murphy's eccentric house painter, is always around and somehow never seems able to finish his work. Murphy Brown ran for 10 seasons and was plagued by controversy in 1992 when Murphy became pregnant and decided to raise the child alone. Vice President Dan Quayle blasted the decision, stating that it deteriorated family values, making the program a top news story. There were a number of real-life news personalities who appeared as themselves, including Connie Chung, Larry King, Linda Ellerbee, Walter Cronkite and many more.

Currently seen in more than 88 million U.S. homes, Nick at Nite is coming off its highest-rated and most-watched year in the history of the network. Founded in 1985, Nick at Nite is the home to hit sitcoms such as The Cosby Show, The Fresh Prince of Bel Air, Who's The Boss?, Full House, Murphy Brown and Roseanne. While these modern sitcoms will always be the lifeline of the network, Nick at Nite Originals was created in 2003 to develop original programming that meets what the network refers to as the "Four F's" criteria: programming that is Family-Friendly, Funny and Familiar. Nick at Nite and all related logos and titles are trademarks of Viacom International, Inc.

MTV Networks, a division of Viacom International Inc. (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), owns and operates the following television programming services -- MTV: MUSIC TELEVISION, MTV2, mtvU, VHI, NICKELODEON, NICK at NITE, COMEDY CENTRAL, TV LAND, SPIKE TV, CMT, NOGGIN, MTV INTERNATIONAL and THE DIGITAL SUITE FROM MTV NETWORKS, a package of 12 digital services, all of which are trademarks of MTV Networks. MTV Networks also has licensing agreements, joint ventures, and syndication deals whereby all of its programming services can be seen worldwide.

SOURCE TV Land
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