The TV Column

Murphy Brown, Last Man back; Cool Kids begins

Candice Bergen returns to Murphy Brown when the groundbreaking 1988-1998 series is revived at 8:30 p.m. today on CBS.
Candice Bergen returns to Murphy Brown when the groundbreaking 1988-1998 series is revived at 8:30 p.m. today on CBS.

Today and Friday mark the returns of several veteran shows, the revival of an old favorite, the premiere of a new sitcom with old stars and the return of a series killed off by one network but resurrected by another.

Let's begin with the highly anticipated revival of a TV classic.

Murphy Brown, 8:30 p.m. today on CBS. Candice Bergen is 72 these days and it has been 20 years since her iconic comedy was on the air.

And now, CBS and series creator Diane English are getting the band back together. Well, most of it. The trick will be to see if in this age of revivals, reboots and remakes, Murphy Brown's political comedy still has what it takes to make us laugh.

Bergen won five Emmys in her 10 seasons playing the title character with a biting take on current events. But 2018 is not 1998. Today we have contentious 24-hour cable outfits, instant social media communication, so-called "fake news" and a highly acrimonious political climate.

As CBS says, "Amid a divided nation, chaotic national discourse and rampant attacks on the press, Murphy decides to return to the airwaves and recruits her old FYI team." This time, the show is Murphy in the Morning.

Back for more fun are Faith Ford as lifestyle reporter Corky Sherwood, Joe Regalbuto as investigative reporter Frank Fontana and Grant Shaud as news producer Miles Silverberg.

Look for 82-year-old Charles Kimbrough, who played anchor Jim Dial, to put in a guest appearance. Robert Pastorelli, who played house painter/handyman Eldin Bernecky, died of a drug overdose in 2004, and Pat Corley, who played bar owner Phil, died of congestive heart failure in 2006.

Phil's Bar is now run by his sister, Phyllis, played by TV veteran Tyne Daly (Cagney & Lacey).

Also joining the cast will be Nik Dodani as social media director Pat Patel and Jake McDorman as Murphy's adult son, Avery, who is the co-host on a conservative news network.

Bergen, an outspoken, lifelong liberal, told TV critics in Los Angeles in July that she expects Murphy Brown's left-leaning levity to take plenty of political flak.

"I'm trying to brace myself," she said. "What we have in the White House [today], is made for comedy if it weren't so terrifying and so, so sad and so humbling."

One wonders if former Vice President Dan Quayle, a famous (or infamous) critic of the original series, will give President Donald Trump anti-Murphy Twitter suggestions after the series debuts.

Last Man Standing, 7 p.m. Friday on Fox. Speaking of politics, there are those who are convinced that ABC axed the series in 2017 due to star Tim Allen's well-known conservative views. In reality, ABC didn't own the series -- 20th Century Fox Television does. So, ABC decided to follow the money and bailed out after six seasons.

Allen said he was "stunned and blindsided" by ABC. But Fox came to the rescue for Season 7 and Mike Baxter (Allen) and his "traditional" American values soldier on.

As in real life, a year and a half will have passed on the show and newlyweds Mandy (now played by Molly McCook) and Kyle (Christoph Sanders), will be struggling to start a family.

The Cool Kids, 7:30 p.m. Friday on Fox. Four venerable comedy veterans star in this series about the feisty denizens of a retirement home.

David Alan Grier (In Living Color), 62, plays Hank, the gruff leader of the pack, and Martin Mull (Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman), 75, is Charlie, who is easily distracted and frequently wanders off topic.

Also starring are Leslie Jordan (Hearts Afire), 63, as Sid, a gay, fun-loving hedonist, and Vicki Lawrence (The Carol Burnett Show), 69, as Margaret, the self-assertive newcomer who elbows her way into the group.

Fox tells us that for this group "growing old with dignity is for chumps." Hilarity ensues.

RETURNING SERIES

Today:

7 p.m., Grey's Anatomy, ABC (two-hour premiere). Still going strong into Season 15.

7 p.m., The Good Place, NBC (one-hour premiere). Season 3.

7 p.m., The Big Bang Theory, CBS (regular time premiere).

7:30 p.m., Young Sheldon, CBS (regular time premiere).

8 p.m., Law & Order: SVU, NBC (two-hour premiere). It's (gasp!) Season 20, which will tie the series with Law & Order and Gunsmoke for the longest-running scripted drama in U.S. television history.

8 p.m., Mom, CBS. Season 6.

9 p.m., How to Get Away With Murder, ABC. Season 5.

9 p.m., S.W.A.T., CBS. Season 2.

Friday:

7 p.m., MacGyver, CBS. Season 3.

8 p.m., Hawaii 5-0, CBS. Season 9.

8 p.m., Hell's Kitchen, Fox. Season 18 and Gordon Ramsay is still screaming.

9 p.m., Blue Bloods, CBS. Season 9.

9 p.m., Dateline, NBC. Season 28.

The TV Column appears Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday. Email:

mstorey@arkansasonline.com

Weekend on 09/27/2018

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