Murphy Brown to tackle sexual misconduct

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. — Emmy-winning comedy will return to CBS television for the first time in 20 years with an episode that addresses the #MeToo movement of women breaking their silence about sexual harassment, the series’ creator said on Sunday. 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 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 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. —

ACTRESS Candice Bergen of the television show Murphy Brown speaks during the CBS segment of the Summer 2018 Summer Television Critics Association Press Tour at Beverly Hilton Hotel on Aug. 5 in Beverly Hills, California.