TONIGHT ON MURDER, SHE WROTE, we return to the magical backstage world of network television and all of the terrible people who make it!

JB Fletcher (Angela Lansbury) is famous enough to get ripped off; she learns from an intrepid novice telewriter, Gayle (Kim Miyori), that her latest novel will be used nearly plot point for plot point in an upcoming medical soap. Instead of seeking a lawyer, or even flinching at the notion of plagiarism, she offers to help Gayle write a new plotline instead, and when that isn't good enough for the head writer of the show (Bradford Dillman), only then does she decide to make it to the set to argue her position. When appealing to the network exec (Gail Strickland), she learns the true villain behind the schemes is Sid Sharkey (Ken Swofford), who everyone seems to detest.

Unsurprisingly, the worst person we've met meets an untimely end: an indelicate bomb blast via a package in "feminine pink" wrapping paper. Jessica and Gayle are high on the list of suspects, but so is the head writer, the exec, and the equally douchey show director (Vincent Baggetta), and even some of the cast (an exhausting Doug McClure and a delightful Lenore Kasdorf) might be in on it. When she finds an enthusiastic ally in Sharkey's resilient secretary Freida (the fantastic Fionnula Flanagan), and a reluctant one via the police department (Yaphet Kotto!), she may finally be able to press into the true matter that led to the big boss' death.

STEAL ME A STORY is a somewhat overfilled dance card of plot lines in a live-in world, so stick with Petra and Viktor as they keep up with all of these similarly profiled white men and glamorous ladies for an amusingly meta yet cynical view on the era of the late 80s primetime murder mystery drama series.

TONIGHT ON MURDER, SHE WROTE, Viktor and Petra celebrate getting to the beloved episode IF IT'S THURSDAY, IT MUST BE BEVERLY!

Sex lives of the small-town Maine women over 50 are exposed when a shocking murder startles the beauty salon. It all comes down to the swingin' log of Deputy Jonathan Martin (Jonathan Lenz), who has been laying pipe all over town:

The realtor, Eve Simpson (Julie Adams), the travel agent Phyllis Grant (Gloria DeHaven), the divorcee housewife Ideal Malloy (Kathryn Grayson), the doctor's secretary Beverly (Dody Goodman), and... well, possibly more. They're all in for a shock at Loretta's (Ruth Roman) parlor when the gossip hits the fan.

Jessica Fletcher (Angela Lansbury), Sheriff Tupper (Tom Bosley), and Dr. Seth Hazlitt (William Windom) are shocked to unravel the clues to the murder of a Cabot Cove citizen, with wit, humor, drama, and some of the best supporting performances of the show thus far.

TONIGHT ON MURDER, SHE WROTE, Viktor and Petra are enjoying our jolly holiday this week in England for the first (only?) episode of the series where Jessica Fletcher doesn't appear.

Perhaps you'll be able to satiate yourself with a serving of cousin Emma MacGill (Angela Lansbury) as she explores the family dynamics of her former flame, now a lord (Richard Johnson). Everyone sucks: his sister (Rosemary Murphy) and brother (John Standing), his sister-in-law (Carolyn Seymour), and the nephews (John David Bland; Mark Lindsay Chapman). They all look down on Emma, who's here to confirm Geoffrey's suspicions that someone wants him dead.

When Geoffrey appears to be quite correct, Emma looks to the inspector (Anthony Newley) and friendly solicitor (Christopher Hewett-- Mr. Belvedere!), but must settle the score herself, as she's the suspect du jour.

Plus, Jane Leeves (FRASIER; HOT IN CLEVELAND) is nearby to give us all considerable (if common) charm.

Dirty parlor songs, curious picnic fare, and the worst place to keep your recently fired shotgun and muddy boots provide IT RUNS IN THE FAMILY a series of quaint events that, while they somewhat feel like an entirely different series, provide the cozy mystery trope to the hilt.