Why Hit CBS Sitcom Murphy Brown Introduced A Baby And Why It Had To Be A Son
Everything changed for Murphy Brown when she gave birth to her son - but why did the show's writers throw their feminist hero a curveball like motherhood?
The fourth season of CBS sitcom Murphy Brown in 1991 introduced a groundbreaking storyline: the character's late-in-life pregnancy. This decision, conceived by creator Diane English and star Candice Bergen, mirrored Bergen's real-life experience of giving birth at age 39. English aimed to challenge Murphy, an investigative journalist focused solely on her career, as she had never managed to keep a plant or pet alive.
Director Barnet Kellman noted that this choice also reflected the personal lives of the creators and star, with English being a woman of her generation and Bergen a mother navigating her career in Los Angeles while her husband worked abroad. Writer and consulting producer Korby Siamis contributed her own experiences, feeling that a male child would provide a more significant challenge for Murphy.
The writers ultimately decided on a son, believing it would be the more daunting gender for the character. Both English and Bergen expressed surprise at their decision, with Bergen recalling her initial assumption that Murphy was having a girl, influenced by her feminist views. The addition of a son to Murphy's life undoubtedly impacted every episode, even if not every single one revolved around the baby.
The gender reveal ultimately proved to be a strong legacy, as Bergen reprised her role for the 2018 Murphy Brown revival series, featuring a grown-up Avery played by Jake McDorman.
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