Footnote to Murder

When Jessica attends an award ceremony for writers she becomes caught up in a real-life whodunnit after the abrasive host of the gala is found dead. Jessica's friend and striving poet is arrested initially, which prompts her to investigate, and there's a wide of interesting characters to prod in her polite but firm manner. This is a good mystery centred around the complex world of writers, but what I liked most about this one was the Assistant District Attorney, who, in my opinion is hilarious. He's useless in his job, and it was fun seeing Jessica point out at his oversights.

This episode is more notable for its cast than its storyline.

Paul Sand is adorably funny as a dipsomaniac fellow author who finds himself in one inane situation after another. Kenneth Mars, who usually played comedically odd or amusing characters, plays a heavy and unsympathetic character. Diana Muldaur is her usual astringent self in a rare non-NBC role. Ron Masak makes one of a few of his guest appearances before he landed the role of Sheriff Mort Metzger following Tom Bosley and John Astin's sheriffs left the show (for vastly different reasons). Robert Reed is, shall we say, graphically flamboyant although the artistic milieu in which the story is grounded more than accommodates the characterization. The rest of the cast was not particularly memorable, for me anyway.

Writers and poets are a creative bunch of people, so it comes as no surprise that when a group of them meet under one roof tempers flare up, and one of them dies.

It's a very solid, easy going episode, it's light in tone, and fun. It makes me laugh how the Police invite her into the Crime scene, and how she instantly starts interfering. The only issue here, is if you're even the tiniest bit observant you'll work it out in seconds.

Growing up in the eighties I have such an affection for this time frame, the decor and fashions, such an elegant era, apart from those glasses!

Good fun. 8/10

Striving author Horace Lynchfield (Paul Sand) awaits his appointment at Lexington Avenue Diner on a rainy evening in New York City, to accompany Jessica Fletcher (Angela Lansbury) to attend a book awards reception.

Adrian Winslow (Robert Reed), a past award recipient, arrives, but cannot be bothered by novice short-story writer Debbie Delancey (Talia Balsam), who presents a copy of her project to the receptive Jessica.

Last year's winner, Lucinda Lark (Constance Forslund), author of the best-seller "Woman Unleashed," is also on hand to greet Horace and the others, as well as Hemsley Post (Kenneth Mars), who shrouds his new manuscript in secrecy, a definitive novel about the Vietnam War, as presented from a combat soldier's perspective.

Tiffany Harrow (Morgan Brittany), the awards' event Coordinator, attempts to convince Hemsley Post to allow her a preview of his manuscript, by planning a visit to his apartment after the evening's program.

Alexis Post (Diana Muldaur), Hemsley's ex-wife, owner of a fashion design company, visits Hemsley to demand $264,000 from his advance salary from his publisher.

Frank Lapinski (Vincent Baggetta), an impoverished unpublished writer, claims authorship the of the manuscript, as based upon his experience in the armed services in Vietnam.

After the less-than-amiable reception, at which, because of flying tempers, umbrellas are mixed up, and Jessica attempts to return one the next morning to its rightful owner.

But, upon her arrival at the residence of the umbrella owner, Jessica is greeted by a team of law enforcement officers, headed by Assistant District Attorney (A.D.A.) Mel Comstock (Pat Harrington Jr.) and Lieutenant Meyer (Ron Masak, in his first of many "MSW" appearances), who hover over a body stabbed by the sword within an umbrella handle.

When the police arrest an innocent suspect, Jessica attempts to prove them wrong, by picking up on a trail of clues, including lipstick on the linens, eyeglasses on the blanket, a hotel room key #2441, and a missing manuscript. A.D.A. Mel Comstock, believing the eyeglasses to belong to Jessica, slips them into her purse without her knowledge.

And when A.D.A. Mel Comstock hands the prisoner to Lieutenant Meyer, who escorts the suspect through the courthouse, he hands custody to Bailiff (Bill MacDonald), who is interrupted by another Assistant D.A. (Mark Harrison), who tells the Baliff that there are more pressing concerns than the prisoners, and allows the suspect to walk freely.

While Jessica attempts to advise the released suspect of correct protocol, she discovers the eyeglasses and consults an Optometrist (John C. Becher) to go along with her plans.

The cast is rounded out by Ernie (John Brandon), Clerk (Lana Schwab), Lady (Nancy Marlow), Cop (Biff Yeager) and Reporter (Michael Kearns), who reveals a "Footnote to Murder."

Hemsley Post (Kenneth Mars) is a combative writer who has suffered from writer's block for some years. Now he has a new manuscript about the Vietnam war. His estranged wife Alexis Post (Diana Muldaur) a fashion designer visits Hemsley to demand $264,000 from his advance. For all the years she bankrolled him.

Jessica Fletcher arrives at a New York awards ceremony with poet Horace Lynchfield (Paul Sand) who likes to drink a lot. He is just few of the writers that Hemsley gets into an argument with that evening. The other is the celebrated writer Adrian Winslow (Robert Reed) who Hemsley basically described for being camp.

When Hemsley is found dead, the New York ADA Mel Comstock smells television cameras and a fast track to the mayor's office. When Horace is arrested for murder, Jessica needs to find the real murderer.

She horns in on Frank Lapinski (Vincent Baggetta) a warehouse worker who sent threatening letters to Helmsley. Jessica thinks that this ex soldier was the actual writer of the Vietnam war manuscript.

A bit too much comedy here, especially as there was a dark reason that led to murder. As Lapinski tells Jessica when describing her books, light but enjoyable.

Hemsley Post would be loosely based on Norman Mailer while Adrian Winslow on Gore Vidal. In real life both writers had an abrasive relationship. When Vidal was punched by Mailer at a party. Vidal responded 'Norman, once again words have failed you.'