Just Another Fish Story

Philip Gerson serves on the "Murder, She Wrote" production team as Story Editor for 30 episodes and Script Editor for two (from Seasons Three through Five) as well as Screenwriter for nine episodes (among Seasons Two through Six) including his penning this episode, "Just Another Fish Story." Philip often adds a refreshing touch of Comedy into his Mystery screenplays, as is evident here....

According to Cabbie (Richard Molinare), the New York City restaurant business is quite volatile, as eateries often don't last very long in one location. As Cabbie transports his fare to Alice Farms Restaurant, he mentions that a Serbo-Croatian restaurant has stood in this location within the past two years.

And now, Cabbie's passenger emerges from his taxicab to face the establishment into which she has recently invested, as a young man in cowpoke attire scrutinizes her from its sidewalk, who turns out to be Grady Fletcher (Michael Horton), welcoming his Aunt Jessica Fletcher (Angela Lansbury), to introduce her to his fiancée, Donna Mayberry (Debbie Zipp), who serves as Accountant at Alice's Farm Restaurant.

Alice Brooke (Valerie Landsburg) serves as chef at the restaurant named after her, and co-operated by her brother, Doug Brooke (James Carroll Jordan). In addition to Donna Mayberry, Alice and Doug also employ Chaz Crewe (Richard Gautier) as Host, Harry Finlay (Jack Carter) as Bartender, and a Waiter (Duane Edwards).

Chaz Crewe seems to have lost Jessica and Grady's advance reservation for a table, but somehow manages to seat incoming guests who slip him a tip, to the objection of Doug, and certainly Jessica, who, again, has made her reservation weeks in advance.

Mimi Harcourt (Brenda Vaccaro), a free-spirited "City Magazine" columnist, who pens the must-read "Who's Into What?" happens by to request to interview "Jennifer Fletcher" as Mimi restaurant-hops from Alice's Farm to Reggioce's, this operated by Valentino Reggioce (Sonny Bono), so as not to display partiality, and, thereby, to avoid alienating restaurateurs and chic diners who follow her column.

Harry Finlay entertains Jessica and Grady with a Hemingway-signed cork, as they await their table and Donna, who appears before Waiter informs Jessica that they are out of the caviar which she requests to commemorate this special occasion of Donna and Grady's engagement.

(Back up to the bartender who served Ernest Hemingway at this location. Harry must remain a fixture at this restaurant, which changes management from year-to-year. Either that, or else he carries the cork and the penknife to open drawers wherever he goes.)

When Donna invites Jessica and Grady to dinner with her parents, in Fishkill, New York, Doug informs Donna that he expects her to finish an accounting report that evening, and so the Mayberrys must reschedule their engagement dinner for the next evening.

But the next morning, when a body is discovered in Alice Farm's freezer, the victim of a bludgeoning by a frozen yellow-tailed fish, plans to attend the Mayberrys' celebration in Fishkill must be again postponed.

Lieutenant Rupp (Norman Fell) and Medical Examiner (Elkanah Burns) investigate the body in the freezer, as Jessica happens by to request a speedy dismissal of Donna's services in order for them to leave New York City for Fishkill, but Jessica stumbles across evidence along the way and joins in the investigation in order to expedite matters of the heart for the benefit of young love.

Jessica's investigation takes her back to Reggioce's Restaurant, where she discovers additional clues, as well as a page indicating a list of silent partners for Alice's Farm among Donna's papers.

Aunt Jessica also discovers that Donna and Grady are keeping secrets from each other, that Donna would prefer the domestic life to an Accounting career, and that Grady has previously met Mr. Mayberry, when he fired Grady from an assignment five years prior, at Mayberry-Watimer Corporation.

And so, Yuppie with Grady (Jack Tate) provides the final clue, which triggers Jessica's sudden realization of logic as she tracks a route of merchandise fencing, of murder by the fish which she was served for lunch that day, and, thereby, figure a way to champion young love amid "Just Another Fish Story."

This episode represents the first acting credit by Elkanah Burns, and also the first of two "MSW" appearances for Dallas Cole, the second of two each for Jack Carter, Norman Fell and Richard Gautier, the first of three for Brenda Vaccaro, the second of three for Zale Kessler, the third of four for James Carroll Jordan, the second of five for Debbie Zipp (and her first of four as Donna Mayberry), and the eighth of twelve for Michael Horton (each in his role as Grady Fletcher).

Norman Fell, acting in films and on television since 1954, and Actor/singer Sonny Bono, performing in films and on television since 1965, have unfortunately since passed.

(Extra points for the presence of Brenda Vaccaro, Sonny Bono, Jack Carter, Norman Fell and Richard Gautier, as well as Richard Molinare, Duane Edwards and Jack Tate with their comic relief from a somewhat tedious episode which suffers from a horrible title and much corniness, and the establishing of a turning point the direction of Grady from the program's focus. Brenda Vaccaro: the best thing about this otherwise weak entry.)

At her nephew's suggestion, Jessica invests in Alice's Farm, a trendy New York restaurant. When one of the owners is found dead in a freezer, Jessica uncovers a crime network behind the operation. An ok addition to MSW, however, when compared to the other episodes in the same season, it doesn't stick out like a sore thumb. Having said, the ending came as a surprise, but overall this one is a Grady and Donna show.

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.

Season 4 generally is one of the more consistent and one of the best 'Murder She Wrote' seasons, when it comes to season with the highest number of very good to classic episodes Season 4 is up there. There is however at least one episode every season to not be particularly good. Season 4 has two, "It Runs in the Family" and this. Not easy to tell which is better or worse between the two, "Just Another Fish Story" at least feels like 'Murder She Wrote' (unlike "It Runs in the Family") but one of its biggest problems is that it has not one but two of my least favourite recurring characters featuring in it.

As much as it is annoying for me to mention once more my dislike for Grady, it is hard not to. The good news is that he is not featured quite as prominently as in some of his other episodes and he isn't as dead-weight bland or grating and his situation thankfully is different. The not so good news is that he is not a compelling or interesting character still at all. "Just Another Fish Story" introduces Donna, and she comes over as the female Grady with the blandness and annoying factor multiplied, we are reminded constantly in all her appearances that she is a lovely character but with such a-not-easy-to-get-behind character and Debbie Zipp's inability to act with any humour, charm or subtlety the viewer has a very hard time seeing it.

The two have very little chemistry together, ironically considering that Zipp and Michael Horton are married. And just like with most of Grady's problems, despite Jessica's involvement and determination to help them, one just doesn't care about their problem and situation here. The mystery itself also underwhelms, notable only really for its very unique (for 'Murder She Wrote') murder method. It's so uninteresting, the investigation is not focused on enough (taking a back-seat to Jessica, Grady and Donna) and it's totally forgettable, that one remembers Grady and Donna more than the mystery is not a good sign. The denouement is similarly one of the show's least satisfying, the perpetrator was a mild surprise but the motive is not a difficult one to figure out and the outcome makes one shout what at the screen.

Do agree too that the title is terrible (one of the show's worst) and that a lot of the dialogue and episode is corny.

For all those faults, "Just Another Fish Story" has its merits. Production values are slick and stylish as ever with 'Murder She Wrote'. The music has energy and has presence but also not making the mistake of over-scoring, while it is hard to forget or resist the theme tune.

Some of the writing is thought-provoking and amiable but this is too far and between.

As one would expect, Angela Lansbury is terrific and it is not hard to see why Jessica Fletcher is one of her best-remembered roles. The rest of the supporting cast do very well with what they have, Brenda Vacarro indeed being the standout and the best asset of the episode.

In conclusion, has its moments but unsatisfying on the whole. 5/10 Bethany Cox

This is an excellent episode, especially considered as a mystery, The solution of this one is worthy of a good mystery novel, and that is something that is very rare in a TV show. That alone would merit the high rating I give this episode.

But also, this is a very fun and enjoyable episode, with the usual energy and wit that are the hallmarks of the series. Jessica is very warm and nurturing to Grady, as well as to his young lady, and she is a pure delight. The young lady is shy and quite lovable! Norman Fell as the police detective is perfect in his role; he was such a fine actor.

As for Grady: some viewers don't care for him, but you have to think about the role he fulfills in this series. He is naive, youthful, enthusiastic, and very prone to get into troubles that are more than he can handle! Of course his Aunt Jessica cheerfully comes to his rescue. Now, if Grady were a smooth, self-confident, take-charge kind of guy, then he wouldn't need Jessica nearly as much, would he? And there wouldn't be such a strong contrast between clever and capable Jessica, and well-meaning but bumbling Grady. If Dr. Watson had been a brilliant intellect, then Sherlock Holmes wouldn't have been nearly as impressive, because there would have been much less contrast. In the same way, the character of Grady is as we see him, because that sets up a vivid contrast with Jessica Fletcher. After you watch this episode, give the ending some thought. It's a very interesting and unusual ending for an episode, and I really liked it. Offhand, i can't recall another episode that ends this way; but then, I'm watching the series in order, so I haven't seen seasons 5-12 yet. Highly recommended for a pleasant hour of entertainment.

Jessica is delighted when Grady and Donna are set to tie the knot, but a few things must be straightened out first.

This is one of the most ok stories of the show's history, it's not hard to like, but I cannot imagine anyone loving it.

Credit to casting here, for managing to discover a female companion for Grady, Donna was perfect, she is essentially the same character, well meaning, but a bit dim.

I wonder if there was an influence of Tales of the Unexpected episode 'Lamb to the Slaughter,' one key plot device is used.

The mystery itself is actually pretty engaging, the conclusion however is pretty silly, no worries at all about the murder, the real stress comes from the trivialities in life, the outcome of the killer didn't feel right.

Good to see Brenda Vaccaro, always good, I have to say that Zipp is quite charming as Donna.

6/10.