First of all, how beautiful is Angela Lansbury? She’s 88 years old!!! She looks amazing. Great bone structure holds everything up, doesn’t it? But don’t be fooled – Angela Lansbury can still throw down. She can still shade like nobody’s business. In fact, old lady shade is the purest kind of shade. Angela Lansbury has no more f—ks to give.
So, what’s this all about? Last month, NBC announced that they were “rebooting” Angela’s old TV series, Murder, She Wrote. I used to watch that when I was a little girl, and I really enjoyed it. It’s sort of like an modernized, American version of Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple – Angela Lansbury’s Jessica Fletcher was a mystery writer who went around solving crimes, mostly in her small New England town. NBC’s reboot of the show is set to star Oscar winner Octavia Spencer, which… I don’t know, I kind of think is a cool idea. But Angela Lansbury does NOT think it’s a cool idea. At all.
Angela Lansbury says “it’s a mistake” for NBC to call a new show Murder, She Wrote. The 88-year-old actress said she’s a fan of Octavia Spencer, who is set to star in a rebooted version of the hit TV show, saying, “I wish her well, but I wish it wasn’t in Murder, She Wrote.”
Speaking to the Associated Press about the honorary Academy Award she’ll accept in Los Angeles later this week, Lansbury said Sunday Murder, She Wrote was “the greatest doorway to the world” because of the international popularity of lead character Jessica Fletcher.
Lansbury was already a Tony-winning actress and three-time Oscar nominee when she joined the show, which aired from 1984 to 1996 and brought her worldwide acclaim.
“I suddenly became a worldwide-known character as Jessica Fletcher and really built an enormous audience, which I have to this day,” the 88-year-old said in a weekend telephone interview from her New York home. “That was the thing that really made me a star in the minds of everybody.”
Lansbury had three Oscar nominations and four Tony Awards when she joined the CBS drama, which aired from 1984 to 1996, earning her 12 consecutive Emmy nominations and international acclaim. She’s sensitive about the show’s reinvention.
“I think it’s a mistake to call it ‘Murder, She Wrote,’” Lansbury said, “because ‘Murder, She Wrote’ will always be about a Cabot Cove and this wonderful little group of people who told those lovely stories and enjoyed a piece of that place, and also enjoyed Jessica Fletcher, who is a rare and very individual kind of person …
“So I’m sorry that they have to use the title ‘Murder, She Wrote,’ even though they have access to it and it’s their right.”
Lansbury said she admires Spencer’s work.
“I saw her in ‘The Help’ and thought she was absolutely wonderful, a lovely actress,” Lansbury said. “So I wish her well, but I wish it wasn’t in ‘Murder, She Wrote.’”
Representatives for Spencer had no immediate comment.
Old-lady shade? Or just one actress defending the show that made her a household name? I don’t know. I like that she said nice things about Octavia Spencer, who is crazy talented and she really should have her own show. Incidentally, I kind of think Octavia might get nominated for another Oscar this year for Best Supporting Actress again – she was absolutely wonderful in Fruitvale Station. So… I’m kind of on both Angela and Octavia’s side. Angela has every right to shade NBC (mostly for unoriginality) and Octavia has every right to get her own star vehicle.
Photos courtesy of WENN.
Angela Lansbury has spoken.
End of story.
true, why not find a new show for Olivia
I don’t watch any of the shows that have been rebooted.
Love Angela. Will not watch a ridiculous reboot.
+1. I remember that show from my childhood, and I still watch it on Netflix. Octavia Spencer is a very talented actress, and I think she deserves better than a roboot of a show that so many still remember fondly. At least show some creativity and give her something original and worthy of her talent. But this is NBC, so I’m not surprised that they are trampling over old territory.
There will never be another Jessica Fletcher, and Angela Lansbury is indelibly entwined with Murder, She Wrote. They should leave it alone.
Part of what made “Murder, She Wrote” interesting was the use of old school Hollywood stars. Faces from old Hollywood movies and shows. I adore Octavia Spencer, but please give the show another name. Not that we need yet another murder/procedural on TV. I’d much rather see her in something a bit more original. She deserves it.
I really wish the Academy gave the Honorary Oscars during the actual show. People would rather see someone like Angela get her due, instead of some cheesy dance number.
Can’t they come up with something original for Octavia? Why do they have to remake everything.
Well, you know what will happen NBC if you do not listen to Mother. Bad things. Her role in that film still gives me the creeps.
I agree with her. There are thousands of original ideas out there. That’s how treasures like Arrested Development and Breaking Bad and The Wire came about.
Has television (particularly network television) devolved so much that we are left to remakes of old shows? I hear about it so often now. I’m all for nostalgia but these reboots hardly work. They rarely ever match the original. The comparisons will be drawn. Octavia Spencer is wonderful but she deserves better.
Totally agree.
Or remaking foreign shows? Are there any foreign shows being shown in America? And remaking British shows is just ridiculous.
It feels like there are lots of reboots being planned right now, I mean, I heard the other day that they’re planning one for Charmed as well. I just think it’s a little unnecessary.
Yikes, wasn’t Charmed bad enough the first time?
Charmed hasn’t been off the air long enough to remake it. Good grief, the networks must be truly desperate.
Murder she wrote was basically a cozy mystery series. I’m not sure that will work in this day but I wish Octavia luck.
Basically, Castle is Murder, She Wrote, but at least they had the good sense not to call it Murder, He Wrote. I have no problem with them taking the same basic idea for a show. Just call it something original.
My son calls Castle “Murder, He Wrote”, lol!
I agree, Danielle. It seems that so many of these mystery shows these days tend to focus on the graphic aspects of the crime and getting into the science of how the murder was committed. That’s not what Murder, She Wrote was about. I remember scenes where Jessica would experiment with shooting a gun or tying a rope to help her research for a book, and I can’t imagine something like that happening in a reboot. I can’t picture Jessica having a mini lab in her kitchen so she can analyze fingerprints.
That being said, I’d classify “Monk” as a (somewhat recent, I know it ended a few years ago) cozy mystery series. There was a murder of the week, sure, but it wasn’t overtly graphic.
Are there no original ideas in Hollywood anymore?
No.
There were talks about a Sunset Boulevard remake a few months ago. Guess who was mentioned for the part of Norma Desmond? MADONNA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What ?! Noooooo. I love Sunset Boulevard as it stands.
no – only what makes the most money
I used to Watch that too! Enjoyed it a lot, and I Think Angela Lansbury is right. They should give it a different name, because she IS “Murder, She Wrote”.
I’m not watching the reboot. There’s no way they can remake it without shitting all over it. What’s next a Matlock reboot? Watch me throw down then LOL.
I loved to watch “Murder, She Wrote” when I was little. Such a great show! Angela Lansbury looks great.
On the other hand, I’m curious with what they can do with a remake staring Octavia Spencer…Usually I have a strong feeling against remakes of anything that worked perfectly before, but here I can see it happening. A modern take of Jessica Fletcher. Yes, I might watch that. They could even star Angela Lansbury also…oh yes, that would be so awesome!
Is it me or there have been lots of reboots lately?
What’s next? Father Dowling? Dr. Quinn? Little House? Quantum Leap? (Actually, I think I’d watch a Quantum Leap reboot-that show was awesome). Enough with the crappy remakes already!
My whole family is obsessed with Angela Lansbury. We crefer to her as “The Woman Who’s Older Than Dirt” because she’s been in the biz forever and seems to have stopped aging 40yrs ago. 🙂
I think maybe Quincy, MD is next in the queue.
I get it. Murder She Wrote is her legacy, it’s her show. Now it’s someone else’s, and that upsets her. Not because she’s rooting against it, but because it’s not hers anymore and the other characters and actors that made the original. They could have called it anything else, but they are just using the name to attract an audience, and the show will probably be nothing at all like the original.
Exactly!! They could call it something else!
I agree. I think if they had called it anything else and changed up the premise a bit, I think everyone would be cool with the concept.
That being said, I will probably still watch the reboot. I love Octavia Spencer and I love Murder, She Wrote enough that I’m intrigued with how they will update the show.
Angela looks wonderful & I agree with her. This is a mistake. Why can’t they launch a free-standing mystery show under a new title. It would be fresh, respectful & at least it would give Octavia a chance to succeed.
If Octavia deserves her own show then she should deserve something new and original. A reboot of the iconic ‘murder, she wrote’ is a bad mistake. Plus Angela is Angela, everyone identifies her in that role..why put another completely different person in to the same role?? I don’t get it. Lazy people in Hollywood with no ideas. Shame.
Don’t f**k with Angela!
The entertainment industry is a creative desert these days; EVERYTHING is a reboot, or a movie based on a comic book figure. Did you hear they’re already planning a remake of “Jurassic Park?” Do we really need a remake of “Jurassic Park?” Hey Hollywood, how about coming up with some original ideas for a change?
I’m on your side Angela!
I just heard that they plan on remaking The Princess Bride, too. Maybe it’s all the electronic toys the new generation has grown up with and they have no imagination. I remember playing with blocks, Lincoln Logs, Lego’s, tinker toys, making paper dolls, and playing all kinds of games using our creativity and imagination, because the toys themselves didn’t DO anything – we couldn’t just turn them on.
F*CK. NO. They better not mess with my Princess Bride!! The Princess Bride, Casablanca & To Kill a Mockingbird are NEVER to be remade. EVER.
OH, HELL, NO! Princess Bride is a classic, can’t they just leave these movies alone!
I think she is right. I don’t know why they think they can reboot everything these days! Don’t!
Just like the song, “Ain’t Nothing Like the Real Thing,” there is nothing like an original. Heck, they’ve remade “Carrie” by Stephen King 3 times! Most originals are so good that they do not need to be remade. Just watch the original!
The only remake that I’ve liked is when they made the original Charlie’s Angels tv show into a modern day movie with Drew Barrymore, Cameron Diaz, and Lucy Liu. That was entertaining and I love the whole “girl power” thing.
I only watched one episode of Murder She Wrote when it originally aired ( I was also a little girl then) but I watch it on DVD now and whenever I go home to visit my family. I am a big fan of the series and that is why I got super excited when I heard that they would be remaking it with Octavia Spencer.
I read a few months ago that Angela Lansbury had publicly stated that she was interested in starring in the show if they were to bring it back and that’s why I think she is pissed…not because they are re-making it, but because they are going to move forward without her. I love Angela and I am sorry that she is upset but I also love Octavia and I would be super stoked to be able to see her on my tv on a weekly basis.
I’ve seen it suggested that they should have Angela on the new show, sort of passing the torch to Octavia’s character, or as someone she can go to for help now and then, so it’s less a reboot and more a continuation.
NBC needs to quit with the remakes. I think they must have the rights to a lot of old shows and are just recycling over and over, which is sad because there’s some great, creative, original stuff out there they’re probably passing on. I love Octavia and am happy she’s getting her own show and want to support her, but this just seems lazy on the network’s part.
Murder She Wrote does not need to be remade, it’s a classic. Even so, I will try to watch it because Octavia Spencer is amazing and deserves to star in a show, instead of always being cast as someone’s mother, sidekick or best friend.
I loved this show as a kid, and over this past summer when I went through a serious phase of insomnia I watched every single season and every single episode on Netflix. Hardcore!! It helped me so much because it’s entertaining and I could eventually fall asleep. This show is very lulling for some reason. Not boring. Just really relaxing.
And it should not be re-made. Stupid. Just another example of Hollywood hijacking other people’s work because there’s no good talent around to make original stuff.
There are so many good detective books out there, featuring strong women that would be perfect for a series and where Octavia would shine like the star that she is. Why not pick one of those?
I agree with her…it is a big mistake to take much beloved show and reboot it. Sorry would you re-do Jerry Seinfeld with new actors? I don’t think so. NBC needs to hire some talent who can come up with fresh new ideas and then give those shows time to catch on with the public. It takes a while for most shows to find their audience and networks these days are too quick to pull the plug.
Angela Lansbury is a boss!
I think they should listen to Angela Lansbury. I mean, she is Angela Lansbury!
My grandma used to watch this show all the time.
If Angela had her way, the show would never have been cancelled and she would still be on it (and honestly, I would still be watching it), so I think she has a beef about that anyway. But yes, she does have a point. It’s a weird reboot to start with, and doesn’t sound like it will have that much to do with the original. They could have called it something else, but look at all the attention it is getting this way.
Just let Angela make lots and lots of appearances on the show, and I think I’ll watch it.
I love Murder, She Wrote. I watch it every night. I totally agree with Ms. Lansbury about the lack of originality in Hollywood. That said, though, it wasn’t that groundbreaking. It’s a crime procedural. If Octavia can make it her own, then more power to her.
Ha! Yeah b/c Murder She Wrote is as untouchable. Uh no. You know how people negatively freak out over new Star Wars movies, MSW is far, far, far from being on that level.
I love Murder she Wrote and I still watch the reruns. I wish they would leave it alone….it belongs to Angela…and it will always be associated with her. She looks great by the way. On the other hand, I agree that Octavia is crazy talented…..but she should have her own original vehicle. Nice to see current photos of Angela…she has really aged well!
HAS THERE BEEN A MUHHDUHH?
Hollywood needs to stop with the reboots, period. And this one is a big fat no. I don’t care how good an actress Spencer is, this show is about a quaint older lady with old world manners from a quaint Maine town who has quaint Maine friends. As it was, the original show jumped the shark when Jessica went international. A reboot?? No.
I agree and Angela Lansbury can’t do wrong in my book as I have a soft spot for the classy lady. I used to watch Murder She Wrote with our lovely elderly neighbor who was something like a grandma to me when I was a little girl. Every time I see Angie on TV I smile because it reminds me of lovely Miss Klischardt who was the nicest lady with a lot of love for a little immigrant child. 🙂
Angela Lansbury throws some elegant shade. I agree with her though, I don’t want to see a reboot of Murder, She Wrote. I love that show (still watch it today on Netflix) but there is no way in hell they’ll make a reboot true to the old show. They’ll make it flashy and CSI and it will have no soul and I’ll be sad.
I’ll stick to my reruns.
reboots in general are usually a bad idea.
rebooting an iconic show or movie is even worse.
Where have all the creative people gone?
Too many reboots!
I’m still sore about the evil reboot that dared to blow up Vulcan AND have a Vulcan make out in front of someone else!! Even though i can respect the casting choices!
there are some things you just don’t do!
hell, how many people got mad when George Lucas screwed with the ending scene in Return of the Jedi? And that wasn’t even a full reboot!
Just stop the reboots!
Does anyone know exactly what the show will be about. Maybe if Octavia was a writer and solved a murder or two and the idea is that she was becoming a real life Jessica Fletcher then it might work. After all Castle is based on the same Murder She Wrote premise.
I started this comment by saying what a rather creatively bankrupt idea this is and no shade on Spencer though, because she’s a darn fine actress and deserves better than a reboot. BUT, then I thought some more and feel like I CAN actually see her playing a writer character and dealing with some kind of mystery. So …it might end up being really enjoyable and she might be able to catch hold of a TV zeitgeist change from the SVU-CSI-type goriness and harshness to a more humane or light approach in tv murder-mystery land. I kind of hope so anyway, because I’m just tired of those Criminal Minds/CSI/SVU/etc. shows. I like them, used to watch a lot, liked a lot of the actors, but ug…. Too much of it is too close to reality and too sad to contemplate. After a while, I was like, I just want to watch videos of kittens playing for the rest of my life.