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  • ABC
  • Nov 2, 1988
  • ABC
  • Nov 2, 1988
Murphy's Law (1988)

Summary Daedalus Patrick Murphy (George Segal) is a big city insurance investigator with a history of alcoholism, bankruptcy and unstable relationships. And he's the good guy in this series. His roommate is Kimiko Fannuchi (Maggie Han), a gorgeous Eurasian model -- or pinup girl, depending on who's talking to. Kimi would like to be a top model...

Created By: Lee David Zlotoff

  • ABC
  • Nov 2, 1988
  • ABC
  • Nov 2, 1988
Murphy's Law (1988)
Season 1
Season Premiere: Nov 2, 1988
Metascore Generally Unfavorable Based on 8 Critic Reviews
28
User Score Available after 4 ratings
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Summary Daedalus Patrick Murphy (George Segal) is a big city insurance investigator with a history of alcoholism, bankruptcy and unstable relationships. And he's the good guy in this series. His roommate is Kimiko Fannuchi (Maggie Han), a gorgeous Eurasian model -- or pinup girl, depending on who's talking to. Kimi would like to be a top model...

Created By: Lee David Zlotoff

Season Episodes

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Episode 1 • Nov 2, 1988
The Room Above the Indian Grocery
D. P. Murphy is an insurance investigator and recovering alcoholic. His ex-wife won't let him see his daughter, his girlfriend won't take him back, and he must determine if a woman who died of an apparent heart attack was really murdered.
Episode 2 • Dec 3, 1988
Where Are My Socks and Other Mysteries of Love
A fashion company executive is killed and Murphy must investigate. New company Vice-President Harriett Tapplinger gets on the case of both Murphy and his supervisor Wesley Harden.
Episode 3 • Dec 10, 1988
If You Can't Win, Shoot for a Tie
Victor Beaudine takes on an insurance case involving Murphy's ex-wife, Marissa. Murphy has to find a missing rottweiler and locate a sea captain the company owes a check. If he gets a chance he hopes to see his daughter.
Episode 4 • Dec 17, 1988
Do Someone a Favor and It Becomes Your Job
A brother and sister murder their rich uncle but are seen by a vacuum cleaner salesman. Murphy must prove murder before the killers can eliminate the witness.
Episode 5 • Jan 14, 1989
Never Play Leapfrog with a Unicorn
Murphy's complaints about a disco club get him involved in an FBI investigation. Meanwhile, his attorney (played by Norman Fell) persuades Murphy to serve subpoenas.
Episode 6 • Jan 21, 1989
Never Try to Teach a Pig to Sing
Murphy and Kimi investigate arson involving an international relief organization. It may or may not have been an inside job. Kimi goes undercover to find out. Meanwhile, Murphy gets a promotion.
Episode 7 • Jan 28, 1989
Two Wrongs Are Only the Beginning
Murphy delivers $1 million to the owner of a stolen motorcycle. With a social worker checking on him ahead of potential visitation rights, Murphy thinks an apartment fire gives him cover so he can pretend it wasn't always a mess.
Episode 8 • Feb 4, 1989
Never Wear Earmuffs in a Bed of Rattlesnakes
As Kimi visits Wes at work to ask him to keep Murphy company while she is away on a photo shoot, a disgruntled customer takes everyone in the office hostage. Meanwhile, Murphy has an odd visit from a fellow A.A. member.
Episode 9 • Feb 11, 1989
Where There's a Will, There's a Won't
Mean boss Victor Beaudine has Wes Harden fired, but as Murphy tries to get Wes's job back, the office is taken over by even meaner Morgana DeSade who creates a truly hostile workplace.
Episode 10 • Feb 18, 1989
When You're Over the Hill, You Pick Up Speed
Murphy plays unwilling host to his aunt, a mystery writer; an imperious co-worker dispossessed of everything; and Wes, who's a suspect in a murder.
Episode 11 • Mar 11, 1989
Experience Is Something You Don't Get Until Just After You Need It
Kimi goes undercover to pose as the latest bride of a polygamist, called the Fox, whom Murphy has been after for insurance fraud. Meanwhile, Murphy anxiously awaits a visit from his daughter.
Episode 12 • Mar 18, 1989
Doing It the Hard Way Is Always Easier
Murphy gets a visit from his daughter, Kathleen. Kimi finds out Murphy assumes she will help him. Wes wants Murphy to talk to a witness, but his sense of obligation to his daughter keeps getting in the way.
Episode 13 • Mar 25, 1989
All's Wrong That Ends Wrong
While Marissa is being suspiciously kind to Murphy, a jeweled egg is stolen at a charity gala and Murphy thinks the thief is the daughter of Alex Kovac, a well-known jewel thief.

Top Cast

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Critic Reviews

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Metascore
Generally Unfavorable Based on 8 Critic Reviews
28
13% Positive
1 Review
13% Mixed
1 Review
75% Negative
6 Reviews

  • All Reviews
  • Positive Reviews
  • Mixed Reviews
  • Negative Reviews

Critic Reviews

 View All
Metascore
Generally Unfavorable Based on 8 Critic Reviews
28
13% Positive
1 Review
13% Mixed
1 Review
75% Negative
6 Reviews

  • All Reviews
  • Positive Reviews
  • Mixed Reviews
  • Negative Reviews
91
Aug 12, 2014
Philip Marlowe meets Moonlighting—with a passing nod to The Odd Couple—In this delightfully inventive new detective show.
FULL REVIEW
40
Aug 7, 2014
It's a harmless, standard-issue - cheesy - detective (actually, insurance investigator) series in the vein of Rockford Files-like unwilling heroes. [2 Nov 1988]
By Matt Roush FULL REVIEW
30
Aug 7, 2014
Segal has a certain bombastic charm as he quaffs and quips his way through the part of Daedelus, the phoniest Irishman to hit the small screen since the last Irish Spring commercial. Han, who made her TV debut in the miniseries Space, is a good foil for Segal. She can act a little, which is all that's called for. [2 Nov 1988]
By Greg Dawson FULL REVIEW
25
Aug 7, 2014
Segal's nasal, hard-bitten delivery is dreadful here, and his relationship with the beautiful Maggie Han is preposterous. [2 Nov 1988]
By Ed Siegel FULL REVIEW
20
Aug 7, 2014
A strong candidate for worst new series of the season. [2 Nov 1988]
FULL REVIEW
20
Aug 7, 2014
The opening story... is thin and uncompelling. ... This is one of those series in which plot is relatively unimportant, however. What is important is the Murphy/Fannuchi relationship, which is only partially platonic, but fully unbelievable. If the relationship doesn't work, the series doesn't work. The relationship doesn't work.
By Howard Rosenberg FULL REVIEW
0
Aug 7, 2014
A series so monumentally meaningless, so pathetically puerile, so irredeemably ridiculous that, within my limited professional context, it prompts the Biggest Question of them all: Why is there television? [2 Nov 1988]
FULL REVIEW

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