Murphy Brown

Jake Lowenstein

Murphy Brown was a highly respected Emmy-winning journalist who was known best for her job as a host and hot seat interviewer on the news magazine show FYI.

## Early Life

As a child (Although arguably equally possible as an adult since a time frame was not given,) Murphy's father told her never to do anything that didn't feel right. When Murphy attended her junior prom, she invited then-35 year old Joel Shaw.

## Adult Life

Murphy was at one point a heavy drinker and chain smoker, and was admitted to the Betty Ford Clinic for the period of one month in August of 1988, where she detoxed and subsequently returned to work. Before her detox, she reportedly had a daily habit of walking into work late at 10 AM, insulting at least three people in the office, grabbing a cup of black coffee, smoking a cigarette, and locking herself in her personal office until she found a suitable idea for next Wednesday’s FYI broadcast. After her return from Betty Ford, she started a habit of chewing No. 2 soft pencils as a replacement for smoking. Almost immediately after her return to FYI, Miles secured Murphy an interview with controversial figure Bobby Powell, under the stipulation that she was not allowed to ask him whether or not he had an affair with vice presidential candidate of indeterminate party, Gwen Lansing. Despite this proviso, Murphy asked the question right out of the gate.

Murphy Brown's personality would be best described as ‘Mike Wallace in a dress’ because of her hard-hitting questions she asks Politicians. She is also known for herself absorbed attitude and take no prisoners vibe.

## Trivia

* Gave Ed Meese the Heimlich maneuver at Phil's
* Referred to Jane Pauley as "The Big J"
* Was a self-proclaimed sufferer of severe PMS
* Once had her head photoshopped onto Pia Zadora's body by the National Enquirer
* Had a child out of “Wed Lock” with her ex-husband Jake.
* Big fan of **Motown** and Soul music especially the classic girl groups like The Supremes, Martha Reeves and the Vandellas, Aretha Franklin and Smokey Robinson.

## References

1. ↑ "**See, I have this reputation, which I’m very proud of! I’ve never done an interview with my hands tied, and I’m not about to start!" (Murphy, Respect 4:42)**
2. ↑ "**OKAY! Which one of you turkeys got their greasy fingerprints all over my Emmy?" (Murphy, Respect 2:9)**
3. ↑ "**That’s why I picked you; everybody knows you’re the best." (Bobby Powell, Respect 6:26)**
4. ↑ "**My dad once told me never to do anything that didn’t feel right. This doesn’t feel right." (Murphy, Respect 5:28)**
5. ↑ "**I’ve been in over my head since the day I invited Joel Shaw to my junior prom. He was 35 at the time!" (Murphy, Respect 8:57)**
6. ↑ "**Frank, I haven’t had a drink in over a month. I haven’t had a cigarette in 3 weeks, 4 hours and 22 minutes." (Murphy, Respect 2:19-20)**
7. ↑ "**Jim~, we are talking a month at the Betty Ford Center!" (Jim, Respect 1:16)**
8. ↑ "**Thanks for sending me the Chippendales calendar! Mr. March got me through August." (Murphy, Respect 2:16-17)**
9. ↑ "**At 10 o’clock, Murphy Brown is going to get off that elevator, late as usual. She will insult at least 3 people, grab a cup of black coffee and bum a cigarette. Then, she will lock herself in her office until she comes up with the perfect piece for next week’s show, as usual." (Jim, Respect 1:25-27)**
10. ↑ "**I left every vice I have at that place. Except for chewing pencils. I can’t live without the taste of a No. 2 soft, Frank. I’ve GOT to have it! I wouldn’t let them break me!" (Murphy, Respect 2:24-27)**
11. ↑ "**Okay. How ‘bout this? I have landed you maybe the biggest interview of the year." "Unless you’re talking about Bobby Powell, I’m not impressed." "Bingo!" (Miles and Murphy, Respect 4:21-23)**
12. ↑ "**No big deal! I had to promise Bobby Powell that you wouldn’t ask him 'The Question.'"**"**You promised Bobby Powell I wouldn’t ask him if he had an affair with a married woman who happens to be running for VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES?!" (Miles and Murphy, Respect 4:37-38)**
13. ↑ "**Thanks, Jim. Let’s start with the question everyone’s asking. Did you sleep with Gwen Lansing or not?" (Respect 8:43-44)**
14. ↑ "**At the top of our show this evening, a special interview- Murphy Brown talks with a very talked-about man, Bobby Powell." (Jim, Respect 8:40)**
15. ↑ "**Bobby Powell isn’t here yet, but I saved you your favorite table where you gave Ed Meese the Heimlich maneuver!" (Phil, Respect 6:5)**
16. ↑ "**I just spoke with Bobby Powell. He’d really like you to do the interview, but if not, he’s gonna give it to Jane Pauley."**"**The Big J?"** (Miles and Murphy, Respect 5:22-23)
17. ↑ "**And also, I have very bad PMS…" (Murphy, Respect 8:46)**
18. ↑ "**Mr. Powell, you haven’t experienced pain until the National Enquirer puts your head on Pia Zadora’s body!" (Murphy, Respect 6:32)**