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The new season starring Candice Bergen as a
pioneering newswoman is scheduled to premiere on Sept. 27.
Creator Diane English told reporters the fourth episode will be
titled #MurphyToo. The episode was written months ago, English
said, but her remarks came as CBS Corp itself is investigating
sexual harassment allegations.
#MeToo sprouted on social media last year when women began
sharing stories of sexual harassment and abuse amid widespread
accusations against entertainers, businessmen and politicians.
A July 27 New Yorker article detailed claims by six women who
accused CBS Chief Executive Leslie Moonves of sexually harassing
them in incidents between 1985 and 2006.
Moonves has said he "may have made some women uncomfortable by
making advances" decades ago, which he called mistakes that he
regretted immensely, but that he understood "'no' means 'no''
and had never used his position to harm anyone's career.
CBS hired two law firms to investigate the allegations and the
network's broader culture.
The "Murphy Brown" cast and producers support the investigation
fully, English said at a Television Critics Association meeting,
adding that "none of us have had any negative experience in that
regard at CBS."
She said #MeToo was "a powerful movement" and that they wanted
to do it justice on the show.
During the original 10-year run that began in 1988, "Murphy
Brown" frequently tackled topical issues. English said the new
episodes uphold that tradition.
"It's always been a political show with something to say," she
said. "I'm focusing the show really through the prism of the
press. The First Amendment and the free press is under attack
like I've never seen before."
The season begins with Murphy coming out of retirement to
reunite with journalists Corky and Frank and producer Miles on a
cable TV morning show.
Back in 1992, Vice President Dan Quayle famously attacked
"Murphy Brown" when the character gave birth to a baby outside
of marriage. Murphy's son, Avery, now works as a liberal voice
on a rival conservative channel called the Wolf network, cast
members said.
"Murphy is a fierce mom, and she is a competitive mom," Bergen
said. "Avery has his work cut out for him."
(Reporting by Lisa Richwine; Editing by Daniel Wallis)
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