Birds of a Feather

Jessica arrives in San Francisco for the imminent wedding of her niece Vicky to Howard. Vicky shares that she is worried Howard is having an affair, matchboxes naming a club take Vicky and Jessica there one night, a surprise awaits, and a murder.

This is very much a lighter tones episode to the two that went before. Some funny moments, including Jessica asking Vicky if there was something strange about the club.

As with all the early episodes it does feel fresh and original, and the production values are particularly strong. The acting is generally good, Gabe Kaplan steals the show as performer Freddy York, he's particularly entertaining. Jeff Conaway is perhaps less convincing as Howard, perhaps a little too goofy and wet.

Jessica is always at her best when she's allowed to meddle, and Detective Novak allows her to interfere hugely.

It's not my favourite episode, but it has a certain charm. 7/10

Jessica Fletcher goes tom San Francisco to visit her niece Victoria Brandon. She is planning to marry struggling actor Howard Griffin (Jeff Conaway) but has suspicions about him. He is spending a lot of time in an exotic nightclub.

They visit the club that is operated by ruthless Al Drake (Martin Landau.) One of his acts wants to break the long term contract that he signed with him so he can do a comedy show in Las Vegas.

Jessica and Victoria find out that Howard is performing as a drag artist. Although at the time he is standing over Al's dead body.

Now Jessica has to investigate the murder of Al to clear Howard's name.

A case where the culprit was rather obvious. The evidence at the end was circumstantial so the only way out was to get them to confess.

Martin Landau was good for his brief time in the episode as the nasty club owner that everyone disliked.

Great cast of 60's and 70's favorites here. And interesting connections. We have Dick Gautier from Get Smart, and Martin Landau from Mission Impossible. And we've got Jeff Conaway from Grease (and of course later Taxi) and Mr Kotter himself Gabe Kaplan who plays the most annoying character of a bad comic. The interesting connection there is that Conaway and Kaplan both worked with John Travolta. There's also Barbara Rhoades who I absolutely love in anything and everything. I remember how excited I was of the guest stars watching this early episode. As I was with so many episodes the guest stars were so interesting. I never realized that George Clooney was in this one. Why am I going on about the guest actors in this episode because they are the best part of this as it didn't take many views of this to remember who did it. But if you've never seen it, it's pretty good but not the absolute best.

Have always been quite fond of 'Murder She Wrote'. It is a fun and relaxing watch that makes you think as you try to unwind in the evening. If one wants more complex, twisty mysteries with lots of tension and suspense 'Murder She Wrote' may not be for you, but if you want something light-hearted and entertaining but still provide good mysteries 'Murder She Wrote' fits the bill just fine.

After a great pilot episode in "The Murder of Sherlock Holmes" and an interesting, decent if slightly bland at times "Deadly Lady", "Birds of a Feather" still shows the first season going strong, though there was still even more room to grow. Like "Deadly Lady" before it, "Birds of a Feather" certainly does its job in providing some light-hearted fun with a story with enough to keep one engrossed.

There are a couple of things that wasn't quite so good about "Birds of a Feather". Jeff Conaway is rather dull as Howard, with the character somewhat of an idiot at times too, and a couple of elements were a bit too predictable, especially who the victim would be (which was obvious in as early as the first scene) and how precisely the murder was committed.

Before one forgets, the very final scene was a little too corny for my tastes.

However, "Birds of a Feather" looks good. Very nicely shot with attractive locations and fashions, with the night club being both glitzy and seedy. The music has presence but also not making the mistake of over-scoring, while it is hard to forget or resist the theme tune.

The writing is charmingly light-hearted, gently amiable and down to earth but provokes thought too. Barbara's "Lucrezia Borgia in furs" insult directed towards Candice was a hoot. Again some lovely character moments, like the conflicts of the performers and especially with Jessica, whether it's the scenes with Novack or how much she cares for Victoria and giving her dotty but sincere advice. Still admire that Jessica is more than your standard female detective.

The story, while formulaic and a little predictable in places, had a real cosy charm and has an engrossing mystery that is tied up neatly with everything explained, while the way it was committed was not a surprise the solution itself was clever and just about made sense.

Angela Lansbury is terrific in one of her best remembered roles (one of the roles that is most closely associated with me at any rate), while Genie James is charming, Harry Guardino conveys Novack's exasperation and annoyance very well and Martin Landau (though perhaps a little hammy but it may have been to do with the character) and Carol Lawrence clearly look as if they're enjoying themselves.

In summary, good episode. 8/10 Bethany Cox

Harry Guardino of the SFPD became the first of many law enforcement officials to receive the benefit Jessica Fletcher's wisdom and natural talent for investigation when she visits Genie Francis the first of a countless number of relatives who is getting married in this case to Jeff Conaway an aspiring actor. No doubt Conaway was in New York before driving a cab.

Conaway is appearing at a San Francisco night club in drag in an act with female impersonator Dick Gautier. The club is owned by Martin Landau a most unpleasant fellow who even his wife Carol Lawrence doesn't like. She's seeing Gautier on the side.

But it's Conaway who Guardino zeroes in on of course and its Angela Lansbury proving him innocent.

Let me say the perpetrator gave himself a real tight alibi which Lansbury breaks. The first of many in that department.

Many precedents set in this episode.