Show Type: Detective Drama
First Telecast: September 30, 1984
Last Telecast: August 4, 1996
Cast
Jessica Beatrice Fletcher..... Angela Lansbury
Sheriff Amos Tupper (1984-1988)..... Tom Bosley
Grady Fletcher (1985-1990)..... Michael Horton
Dr. Seth Hazlitt (1985-1996)..... William Windom
Mayor Sam Booth (1986-1991)..... Richard Paul
Sheriff Mort Metzger (1989-1996)..... Ron Masak
Dennis Stanton (1990-1991)..... Keith Michell
Robert Butler (1990-1991)..... James Sloyan
Lieutenant Perry Catalano (1990-1991)..... Ken Swofford
Rhoda (1990-1991)..... Hallie Todd
Deputy Andy Broom (1991-1996)..... Louis Herthum
SYNOPSIS
Jessica Fletcher was a middle-aged widow living in Cabot Cove on the coast of Maine. A former substitute teacher and P.T.A. volunteer, she had attained almost celebrity status late in life through the success of her mystery novels. Not only could she write great stories, she was a talented amateur detective as well!
Active and adventuresome, she took advantage of the opportunities and money that her books had provided and traveled all over the world. Along the way she often got involved in real-life murder mysteries, which she pursued by piecing together clues to apprehend the suspect.
As in The Adventures Of Ellery Queen, viewers had to pay close attention to these clues if they were going to figure out who the murderer was. The plots were complicated and the pace was brisk and long-time stage actress Angela Lansbury seemed to be having the time of her life in this, her first TV series!
Other occasional cast members included: Amos Tupper, her good friend and Cabot Cove's sheriff (he was replaced by Sheriff Metzger when actor Tom Bosley left the series to star in The Father Dowling Mysteries); the town's Mayor, Sam Booth; Grady, her tax accountant nephew and Dr. Seth Hazlitt, with whom she was often seen playing a rather spirited game of chess!
During the 1990-1991 season, a number of episodes featured reformed jewel thief Dennis Stanton, a friend of Jessica's, who was working as an insurance investigator in San Francisco. Also seen in these episodes were: Robert Butler, his boss; Rhoda, his secretary and Lt. Catalano of the San Francisco Police Department.
In the fall of 1991, Jessica, who had begun teaching a criminology course at Manhattan University, moved into a Manhattan apartment. For a while, she lived there during the week and returned home to Cabot Cove on the weekends.
