Murphy Brown’s home gets modern makeover
With the hit TV show Murphy Brown back on the air and rebooted for modern times, production designer Jane Musky made sure to give the set of the titular character’s home a facelift, too.
In the new series, airing Thursdays on CBS and City, investigative journalist Murphy (Candice Bergen) shares her townhouse in the Washington, D.C., neighbourhood of Georgetown with her nowgrown son — and fellow journalist — Avery (Jake McDorman).
“When I first came on board I met with Diane English, the showrunner, and Candice, who did not want to change what Murphy’s townhouse was back then,” Musky tells Architectural Digest.
“Her son Avery returned and was living in the house, so I created a new history by adding mementos such as his art as a child, and left a lot of sports equipment around the house.”
She also drew on the work of the original show’s production designer, Roy Christopher.
“The house is an eclectic mix of classy Georgetown interiors. I kept the green wall colour as it was telltale of who she was, but basically redesigned the shape of the living room,” Musky says.
“We re-proportioned the set and made it airier, and changed the furniture styles.”
There’s also a replica of Andy Warhol’s Flowers and a picture of Murphy’s mom (played by Montreal-born Colleen Dewhurst) that came from the original set.
Bergen also had some input: The actress added a needlepoint pillow that reads “Tired-Ass Honky Ho” — she also owns a sweater emblazoned with the phrase in real life.