What will ‘Murphy Brown’ make of modern times?
Q: When will the new version of “Murphy Brown” be on? – David Robinson, via e-mail
A: CBS plans to air it as part of the 2018-19 lineup, though it wasn’t known at press time whether to would be a starter for next season (like NBC’s “Will & Grace” revival was) or be held for later (like ABC’s continuation of “Roseanne” is about to be). Title star Candice Bergen – who won five Emmy Awards for the role – and creator and executive producer Diane English will return for the new version, which has been ordered for 13 episodes.
Q: I’ve been enjoying the remake of “Dynasty.” How is it doing in the ratings? – Kim Bennett, Columbus, Ohio
A: While it hasn’t been an unquestionable hit, The CW has been satisfied enough with its returns to keep it going, though it will move to Fridays in early March. In all likelihood, the network is waiting to see if the arrival of Nicollette Sheridan as Alexis will jump-start things for the show, much as Joan Collins’ entrance in the role did for the original version. Also, “Dynasty” has been valuable for The CW in adding some diversity to its schedule. That’s not only true in the makeup of its cast, but also in its being a different sort of show that – along with “Jane the Virgin” and “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend” – is different from the superhero-driven and supernatural fare that largely has defined the network.