Original subtitles

This is the hardest decision I've ever had to make.

But I'm exercising my choice to have this baby.

Are you saying that you're going to attempt to do your job while week after

you puff up in front of a viewing audience that includes a certain number

people still reeling from the concept of women wearing pants?

That's right, Jim.

Oh, dear Lord!

I... blowing the biggest laugh in the scene.

Good evening. You know, for many years, this city was my beat. I'm Leslie Stahl

with 60 Minutes. And for the last seven years, it's been the television home of

the most famous journalist who never was, Murphy Brown.

When the show premiered on November 14, 1988, TV Guide described it as 2020 on

laughing gas.

Join us now for the best of Murphy Brown.

I hadn't worked for three years. I'd had my daughter. I didn't want to work.

Someone gave me the script of a sitcom. I'd never watched sitcoms because

whenever I zapped by them, they always had orange carpeting. You know, that's

very cute, but it's not nice to mimic someone.

I'm going to have to ask you to stop that. I'm going to have to ask you to

that.

Hey, this time I mean it. Hey, this time I mean it.

should have gotten barbara walters and

finally

i read the script because i said you know you just have to read it now out of

courtesy because you've had it for so long so i took it on a plane i read it

grudgingly and then after the the first or second page i went oh my God, what if

it's too late? What if I've lost this and I got up and it's the only time I

made a phone call from a plane because it looks so stupid.

I'm an executive producer.

I'll just executive produce this baby.

Don't I always take care of everything?

Like the captain of a ship, the pilot of a plane.

It's like this character was written for me. I got to sing badly at the end. It

was everything I wanted in life. And I had to fight to get it because they

wanted Heather Locklear.

I'm not kidding.

Now I'm no longer doubtful of what I'm living for.

And if I make you happy, I don't need to do more.

You were getting much better at the end.

I was stuck in traffic on the 101, and from out of the blue, popped into my

this idea about a woman who was a recovering alcoholic. She was a

She had a cadre of friends around her. They worked on a news magazine. By the

time I got to the office, I had all the characters. I had the plot for the first

episode.

It was just one of those...

Rare cosmic things.

You're Miles Silverberg? Yes. Yes.

Miles Silverberg.

Let me just say what a big fan I am. You know who the Shirelles are.

Excuse me?

The Shirelles?

The Ronettes? The Delphonics?

It's only my second day.

How old are you?

25.

I'm sorry, Mr.

Silverberg, if it appears I'm being rude to you. It's just that I can't help

thinking about the fact that while I was getting maced at the Democratic

Convention in 68, you were wondering if you'd ever meet Adam West.

While the idea for the series may have dropped from the sky, coming up with a

name for the character took a little bit more work.

I wanted a very simple last name and a very interesting and memorable first

name. And I was just going through the phone book, and I saw the last name

Murphy.

And I decided that that might be an interesting first name for her. And then

very simple last name, Brown.

The name stuck, and Murphy Brown struck a chord with viewers across the country.

There was nothing like her on television.

She was tough, competitive, and not afraid to speak her mind.

Say, that is one nice tie.

Oh, you like it? It's hand -painted. But if you could be a little more careful,

because once you get finger oils on a hand -painted... Little slug, I know

you did to Corky.

You're lucky it wasn't me, because otherwise you'd be sipping that wine

a slow drip right now.

There's some miscommunication here. Let me explain something to you.

Corky hasn't filed a complaint against you yet. In the meantime, my knee is

poised inches from a sensitive spot.

And if you don't swear not to hit on Corky or anyone else in this company

you'll be coughing up things you ate as a child.

She's a wonderful character to live with. Such a rich, weird, funny, smart,

tough, take -no -prisoners person. Mike Wallace in a dress, and I always loved

that description of her.

I'm spending time with my kid because I want to, not because I can't cut it

anymore. Hey, call it whatever you want.

Point is... You got a little soft.

And while that is a lovely quality in a mommy, it's not worth squatting a

journal.

I'm going to do you a big favor and forget I just heard that.

Look, I'm just telling you the truth.

But if you can't deal with it, maybe you should pull back a little bit farther.

In fact, maybe you should go home to your kid and leave the reporting to

of us who can deal with it.

It's often hard to pinpoint the exact moment an actress truly becomes her

character. On this show, that moment came very early in the first season when

Candace Bergen became Murphy Brown.

I can't believe it. You must feel awful. Give it a rest, Lyle. What's going on?

What's the matter? Murphy wasn't invited to the inaugural ball.

I mean, I could understand if I hadn't been invited, but you?

Oh, Murphy.

I know why I'm not going. I'm not on the A -list yet.

but to have been there and fallen.

There was a particular moment toward the end of the show where Murphy resolves

to get tickets to the inaugural ball.

And she says something, and she does something.

She made the resolve, and she said, I'm back. Yes! I'm back. Ha!

Candace never looked back after that. From that moment on, she went full steam

ahead.

And I think that that moment gave birth to what the character is today.

Okay, last words, last words. I need some good last words. Help me, Murph.

give you last words. This is Murphy Brown talking. If anyone at the FAA is

listening, I paid for first class. My seat back didn't recline. I never got my

ginger ale. I make it to the bathroom once in a while. And another thing, I

my mileage public account credited for the full length of this trip. I don't

care if we wind up splattered all over Father John's week.

Murphy's priorities have shifted.

She's humanized in the last couple of years.

Certainly her child has become a priority for her, and she's sorted

sort of shaky beginning of motherhood. I think I'm pregnant.

and get this kid out of me. Use a scalpel. Use a pocket knife. Use a

stinking melon baller if you have to. Just do it.

Here's some ice chips, Murphy.

Can I put some in your mouth? I see your hands are full.

You're a woman. You've got to help me.

Smother me with the pillow.

Birth 101 all in all was a very, an incredibly emotionally loaded show for

because it was Diane English's last show, it was Murphy having the baby, it

a wonderfully written show. It was my idea to have Murphy singing to the baby

the end and it was almost impossible to get through it on the first take. It was

completely unusable because I was sobbing, the camera crew was sobbing.

I have a special soft spot for Birth 101.

Now I'm no longer doubtful of what I'm living for.

And if I make you happy, I don't need to do more.

Welcome back.

All of us at 60 Minutes are constantly asked which are our favorite stories,

each of us has a different answer. Of course, we always say it's one of our

The same holds true for the cast of Murphy Brown, the reporters at FYI.

Well, my favorite Jim Dial episode is the one where he loses it on the air,

breaks into hysterical, uncontrollable laughter.

To me, it's quintessentially Jim Dial. It's his nightmare. If he had one

nightmare, it would be in performance to lose his composure. President Bush sat

on a wasp and was rushed to the hospital.

The stinger was removed.

And the president later released.

Tonight, he's resting comfortably.

God, I'm sorry, really.

This isn't funny.

Stay tuned to your local station for complete coverage.

Miles made reservations for Sardellas tonight.

You probably have plans, but if you'd like to join us... I'd love to.

If that's okay with you, Miles.

What?

Okay. My personal favorite.

was the brother Silverberg, where my brother comes to town and he hooks up

Murphy romantically.

And I spin off on this sibling rivalry, jealousy trip.

You'll feel kind of silly about this, but I hate it that you're dating my

brother.

I hate it, I hate it, I hate it.

I try to be big about it. I try to be a sport, but it's just not working.

I'm a small, petty, petty, petty... little person i want it to be over

you are mine m -i -n -e mine they started i think i'm taking some real

with my character in year two where you know i got to play something other than

neurosis over my job what are you doing you've got boxers on it's not like i can

see any whoops let's get this meeting started great not

great just what we do we have meetings

And here's Jim to join our meeting. I'm sorry I'm late, Miles.

Hope I didn't leave you dangling.

You told her!

Did you tell her?

Really? Murph? You told Frank?

Yeah, he told me. I can tell another guy.

Tell a guy what? I can't tell you.

Because it's embarrassing to Miles. You said I shouldn't be embarrassed! What

was I supposed to say?

Would somebody please tell me what's happened?

Murphy saw Miles' wiener.

The face character of Corphy has grown. If you look at the early shows of Faith,

where she really looked like sort of the swamp thing that we called her.

Make any sudden moves.

Turkeys are very, very stupid animals. They confuse easily.

Instead of Spanish.

And you look at her now where she's this sort of weak seal with, you know. And

it's been great to see the development of Faith as Corky.

Corky, if it'll make you feel any better, I tasted success at a pretty

and I had some of the same fears you do.

But then look at all I've experienced since then.

You became an alcoholic.

You had to dry out at Betty Ford.

You had an illegitimate child.

I'm looking at my future.

Go away, go away.

A real favorite was Murphy and I go down in a plane crash or imagine that we're

going down and we go to our own funeral.

That jacket doesn't go with that skirt.

And the shoes are all wrong. Who dressed me?

It was so difficult going through Murphy's closet trying to decide what

should wear for her very last public appearance.

I never really liked her sense of color.

And she didn't seem to know how to hide her flaws.

I think the peplum jacket and the dickie work.

What? I hate that dickie. I wouldn't be caught dead in one.

The reception was less than warm -hearted. It was a lot of fun.

One guy actually sort of handy -vacked up my asses. We were different. We were

special.

especially rich when it ranges between reality and comedy sometimes on those

Friday nights I would get home and just sort of sit outside in the patio because

it's a lot to to put on in five days but but you felt really so proud of the

show for for covering such a range of emotions for having a kind of resonance

and substance that the shows had

The supporting cast helped to add that resonance and substance.

Robert Pastorelli plays Eldon the house painter, the Jiminy Cricket in Murphy's

Light.

You know, there are a lot more choices than I remember.

Plain ribbed, scented, colored, contoured.

I said to myself, just keep walking.

I'm too old for this. You know, I've been off the market too long. It was

comfortable. It was simpler.

I'm a mother. For God's sakes, I've got stretch marks. Too much information!

Too much information!

I want you to tell me the truth. When you look at this area here... I don't

at that area!

I'm begging you, get a girlfriend!

All right.

All right, you want my advice?

Fluff your hair up a little bit.

Lose some of them buttons.

The one with the Aztec warrior.

It allowed us to have a sort of human moment at the end of the show with

because that's what Eldon and Murphy had. There was always a connection there

where Murphy would sort of redeem herself by being a human being at the

the show.

You know, 30 million people watched me on television tonight.

Yeah?

I won 10 bucks at Lotto.

How would you describe my...

On camera style.

Oh, that's easy, Jim. You're strong, dependable, real pro.

Pat Corley plays Phil the bartender, father confessor to the FYI gang.

What are you saying, that I have no personality?

I didn't say that.

I just meant that you're from the old school, like Chet Huntley, Douglas

Edwards, Frank Rivels. They're all dead, Phil.

I'll tell you what, Jim.

Here's a napkin.

Write down what you want to hear, and I'll act like a $20 hooker and try to

it like I mean it.

Some of Hollywood's top stars have played the role of the man in Murphy's

Most recently, Scott Bakula, who plays FYI correspondent Peter Hunt.

Oh, God!

Carpool!

I'm sorry, Slugger, but if you dawdle around in bed all morning, you're going

have to pay the price. You've abused the carpooling privilege.

I have.

And I am going to spend my entire drive into work thinking about mending my

selfish ways.

Well, so long.

Murphy, I don't know about you, but I'm starved.

I guess there's no

point in my saying your table's fixed, ma 'am.

We've brought in people who have really enhanced the show. We've brought in

Scott Bakula for the last two years, who has been wonderful. Chris Rich as

Miller Redfield, who is a wonderful character and a terrific actor.

We were just shaking hands.

But this is between Corky and I.

Corky and me.

I. Me.

You're in my office. That makes it about me. I. Me.

That second kiss said it all. Tell me you didn't feel it, too.

I don't know how I feel.

My head is spinning.

It's probably so repulsed it's trying to twist itself off your body.

Corky, we have to talk.

but things can change.

What if she weren't married?

Gary Marshall came in as the head of the network last year who was hysterical.

What are you saying? That we're not doing odd here? What does this lose to

We got a single mother with three kids at 8 o 'clock. I got a single father

three kids at 8 .30.

I got a black single mother with two kids at 9 o 'clock. I got a stand -up

that nobody ever heard of with no kids at 9 .30.

The other guy's crap slut.

But the news division is a totally different story.

It's our prized asset.

And I'll do everything that I can do to protect it. And I applaud that.

What the hell are you doing, Fontana?

Good evening. I'm Leslie Stahl from 60 Minutes. For many years, this city was

beat. And for the past seven years, it's also been the television home for the

most famous journalist who never was, Murphy Brown.

Join us as we continue our look back at the best of Murphy Brown.

Let me remind you about something, Murphy. This is a job, not make

We're not doing the Mary Tyler Moore show here.

There's no on... laughing at every cute little thing you say.

This is the real world.

So when I tell you you're doing a story, you don't just say, oh, Mr. Grinch, I

don't want to. You do it.

I wanted our audience to believe that Murphy and her show were real and that

these people were real.

And because we set the show in a very realistic place.

We started to do things. We made a lot of reference to all the political

in Washington.

For three administrations, everything in the White House has been fair game.

Even the Clintons' cat socks.

What's going on?

Something secret I should...

God,

my allergies are going crazy.

What have you got in here, a cat?

Oh, my God.

It sucks.

You've got socks.

I finally get to invite you to Hillary's luncheon, and this is how you repay me?

You're evil. Will you calm down, Miles?

What's the matter, Murphy? Was Hillary watching her purse too closely?

The Murphy Brown guest list reads like a who -who of Washington insiders.

Dozens of national figures have appeared as themselves in Murphy's make -believe

world. I'm proud of my life and what I've accomplished.

I have nothing to be ashamed of.

What kind of journalist is Murphy Brown?

Well, she's thorough, resourceful, articulate.

And when it comes to a one -on -one interview, she is almost as good as I

Almost. In this dream sequence, senators and journalists, including some of my

own colleagues, come back to haunt Murphy.

I can barely hear the name Murphy Brown without thinking about the 1980

Republican Convention.

But I really don't think it's appropriate to go into that.

My wife and I shared a table with her at a White House dinner in the early 80s.

When Elizabeth and I got up to dance, she ate both our sherbets.

Of course she denied it, which is pretty shameless considering how orange her

tongue was.

I will not talk about her. You don't know what she's like. She's vindictive.

She'll do things.

You can try a restraining order. You can try moving.

But she always finds you.

I can't put my family through that again, again, again, again, again,

Excuse me, is this the Murphy Brown?

Oh, my God!

It's one of those annoying Katie Couric lookalikes.

The joke worked.

And the revolving door of guest journalists continued.

Surprise!

And the more we did that, the more people bought into it. It was really

The nominees are... Frank, me, not Corky. Who else?

There is no joy left in this job.

Ned Bradley, Diane Sawyer, Leslie Stahl.

Leslie Stahl was nominated instead of me?

Why? Because she broke some scandal on black market babies in Romania?

How is that more interesting than my...

You know, that Romanian baby story was my very first one for 60 Minutes.

But most of us got the joke. And most of us realized that Murphy was indeed a

fictional character.

But on the night of May 19, 1992, for at least one person, Murphy Brown was very

real. And that's the moment the show vaulted from the entertainment page to

front page.

It doesn't help matters when primetime TV has Murphy Brown.

You're talking about you.

Today's intelligent, highly paid professional woman.

Mocking the importance of fathers by bearing a child alone and calling it

another lifestyle choice.

I remember going into the driveway the morning that the story broke and picking

up my New York Times and opening it up and seeing a photograph of me and the

baby, Murphy and the baby, flanked by Bush and Quayle on one side. And it was

like, yeez!

And then there were the tabloid covers.

Murphy has kid, Quayle has cow.

Quayle calls Murphy slut. I mean, it was just unbelievable.

Mr. Quayle later expanded his remarks to say that he believed examples like

Murphy Brown glamorized single mothers.

What planet is he on?

Look at me, Frank. Am I glamorous?

They were talking about us on world news tonight and CNN. There was nothing we

could do in a response.

that was going to satisfy everyone. It was too liberal. It wasn't liberal. It

was too conservative. You know, it was a tricky position for us to be in.

Murph, it's Dan Quill!

Forget about it!

I think it put the show...

In the history books, it put the show on the map, on the cultural map. It made

Murphy a real icon, I think.

I'll get right to the point. It seems your big story has raised quite a few

hackles on Capitol Hill. Congratulations, Murphy.

You've been subpoenaed by the Senate.

If an issue was hot, it was on Murphy Brown.

To satirize the Clarence Thomas and Nita Hill Senate hearings, of course, Murphy

Brown found herself summoned to Capitol Hill.

Miss Brown.

Why would you take a classified report and read it on the television?

Senator, journalists release information to the public for one reason only, the

public's right to know.

But the public didn't vote for you, Miss Brown. They voted for us.

And if we want to keep a secret, you shouldn't be running around like a

dog flapping your jaw like a loose -shutting hurricane.

Senator, may I respectfully remind you of the importance of the press in a

democratic society?

Without the press, Watergate, the savings and loan debacle, and Iran

never have come to light.

So?

The Senate episode is one of my favorites, Murphy Brown, because it's

show does what it does best.

Wonderful political satire.

My name is Corky Sherwood Forrest, and I have been a professional journalist

since 1988.

And if I may add a personal observation, I

have seen you on FYI, and I commend you for your incredible

body of work.

Your ability to stimulate me as a member of the viewing public.

With your sensitive, probing style.

Right back as the Murphy Brown special continues.

To be politically correct, they call them executive assistants,

assistants, or personal assistants.

But to Murphy Brown, they're simply secretaries, one through 75.

Some have been fired, some quit.

but all of them have been her worst nightmare.

Hi, I'm Murphy Brown. Welcome to my desk.

Hello, I'm Murphy Brown, and you must be my new... Ms. Brown, I'm Chip Clark.

I just want to say that I'm an extremely qualified secretary with excellent

skills. I'm sure this will work out fine.

Oh, so am I.

I already like you. And when I spoke to Satan this morning before breakfast, I

pretty much guaranteed this would be a great experience.

And you are?

Lori.

Robert L. Watkins, ma 'am.

Pleasure to be serving under you, ma 'am. Were you recently in the military?

Yes, ma 'am. Gay, ma 'am.

and it's great to be here at FYI.

That's right, I'm Bambi, your special telephone friend.

What's your name?

We were at Warner Brothers at the time and there's a secretarial pool there and

the first person I was assigned was actually certifiably insane. She talked

herself.

And it got worse from there, so we thought that might be a good running

Ms. Brown, I'm Alice Kimmons, your new secretary, and I'm really excited to be

working for you. I just know it's going to be great. Oh, stop lying, you weak,

pathetic worm. The only reason you're here is to pay for that useless therapy.

It's not useless. It's working.

Don't listen to her, Ms. Brown. That's Rachel, a 37 -year -old divorcee who

lives inside me. Oh, fine. Tell her all our secrets. That's it. We quit.

So I'm Ms. Brown, but I have no choice. She's the one who types.

I don't care if he's on his hands and knees. The car is mine.

The house is mine.

Judy. The skinny metal rod that turns on the sprinklers and doesn't even have a

name is mine.

Judy. And furthermore, if he tries to get custody of the dog, I'll drag his

across the coals. Make sure you use exactly those words. Drag his butt.

Finally give myself to a woman.

It's going to be for love.

But I do love you, Jerry.

And I'm not wearing any underwear.

The writers, just when you think they're not going to come up with anything

else. You know, what other secretary can you have? They come up with somebody

crazy or someone more outrageous. It's like getting blood from a stone. You

don't see how it's possible to squeeze another drop out of a secretary. And

they come up with...

In this season alone, in the seventh season, we've had hysterical

want you to type up this letter for me to the chief of police. Get me the

mayor's office on the phone and fax a copy of this police report to my

homeowner's association.

Absolutely, Ms. Brown. I'll go send that fax right now.

No, maybe I should type the letter first and then fax.

Wait, the phone call.

Okay.

Call, then fax, then type.

Fax, then type, then call?

Excuse me, have you worked as a secretary before?

Oh, sure. Clinton Administration, Communications Office.

Is there any calls for me?

Yeah, of course.

Oh, great.

See if you can reschedule my lunch with Cokie Roberts for next Tuesday. You got

that? Absolutely. Let me get a pencil so I can write that down.

That's okay. I'll get it.

Look, unless I'm to take my guess, it seems to be a personal call. When you

Rusty's in a better place, you mean like that nicer dog house we talked about,

right?

What? Oh, jeez. Not old Rusty.

No.

Well, at least you went peacefully.

What?

Look, maybe this isn't a good time. Why don't I come back later? Well, why was

Grandma walking in near the hay baler?

I'll definitely come back later. Let me talk to Grandma.

George!

Meet your new secretary, Murphy.

My nephew.

Stand like a person.

Andrew J. Lansing III.

Say hello to the nice lady, Andrew. Hello.

This is your office? I'm temping for you?

Screw it.

I'm taking early retirement.

Forget it. I'm sorry.

I told personnel, no smokers. I'm putting this one out, see?

This is my last cigarette.

Somebody in personnel hates me.

In addition to journalists and politicians, distinguished guest stars

world of television, motion pictures, and music have helped create some of

Murphy's most memorable moments.

get one thing straight.

I'm not Martha, and you ain't no Vandella.

Yeah, right. I'm a solo act.

But without a doubt, the cast's fondest memories are reserved for the late

Colleen Dewhurst, who played Murphy Brown's mother, Avery.

I was forced to disarm a rude security guard in the lobby.

Somebody return this to the proper authorities.

I remember kidding with her, saying, you know, we're all...

our very best in front of you. And she said, are you kidding? I told my family

was coming to do Murphy Brown and they said, you better not be the one to ruin

that show.

She had great humor about it.

It's wonderful when you have someone who's such a pro like that give you a

compliment because you feel like, oh, that's so nice.

And I remember what really stuck out about her first show was when she came

the stairs with the white flower in her hair and it was like, This is Murphy's

mother, you know, and she was brilliant from the get -go.

It must be love.

Say what you choose.

I've got a right to sing the blues.

Who was terrified. And then, of course, at the 12th hour,

just, you know, came through like a general.

We were so intimidated by her, but she was great, and she brought so much to

part of Avery Brown, to Murphy's mother.

I've never said I love you because I'm afraid no one will say it back.

Why don't you try it?

I love you.

I love you.

You're watching Murphy Brown.

Tonight, we've shown you many of Murphy Brown's funniest moments. But there are

others that have never been broadcast.

Here now, the funniest moments from Murphy Brown that you never saw.

Action.

Oh, God.

That looks like the part of my brain that does long division.

I haven't seen an audience that cold since Moriaga stepped out on the

and asked, how am I doing? It's balcony.

With 50 pages per script and 25 shows per season, the actors are constantly

memorizing new dialogue.

But sometimes they just can't. I'll spend the rest of my days working

this guilt.

Oh, God.

Okay, so there's a few years between us. So what?

Is that my line now?

What line would it be, actually?

There are times when it's not a matter of remembering a line.

All it takes is a look in Candace's eye.

Just want to look at you and get ready for it. Okay.

Corky, we have to talk.

Okay, but things can change.

I hate it when you look at me like that.

Miles, you know what your problem is? You're just not a fun guy. You have no

sense of whimsy.

I'm sorry.

Miles, you know what your problem is? You're just not a fun guy.

Whenever I look into Candace's eyes, I lose it. There's some weird chemistry

between Grant and I where we always make each other laugh.

You have no sense of fun. You have no sense of whimsy. You're just not a fun

guy.

Hey!

I am fun, and I have whimsy, too.

Are you forgetting the flying toaster screen table on my computer?

In fact, they actually stopped putting us together in the scene because... Why

you don't see us in the same scene anymore?

What would Edward R. Murrow say?

In this serious scene, Candace is on the verge of losing it. If she looks Grant

in the eye, she'll break out laughing.

But look closely.

It's already hopeless.

No less than freedom of the press is at stake.

This is like Jersey Shakespeare.

Some of the funniest outtakes come when a seemingly innocent line doesn't quite

come out the way it should.

Work? I hate that dickie. I wouldn't be caught dead in one.

And now look, dead in a dickie.

At least you've got a dickie.

Romantic scenes in front of a live audience can be the toughest to play.

The line Candace is about to deliver refers to the envelope on the bed.

What's that?

Don't tell me you've forgotten already.

Oh, it's the eyes behind my head.

us anything. She's laughing behind my head.

You're so wrong.

Oh, good.

Gee, it's all business with you, isn't it?

Okay, let's go.

I think in the outtakes you see the heart and soul of the cast and the show.

Miles, that's great. Isn't that great, guys? That'll give us even more time for

my welfare story.

When were you able to do that? On my cellular.

When were you able to do that?

On my cellular.

I love this line.

Cellular. Cellular.

Try saying that fast.

Cellular. Three times. Cellular. Cellular. Cellular.

Cellular. Cellular. Cellular. All right, no pressure.

Cellular. Cellular. Cellular.

Not only has Murphy Brown made an impact on America's television landscape, it's

also caused families to think, to talk, and most importantly to laugh.

Not bad for a woman who never existed.

From the nation's capital, I'm Leslie Stahl. Good night, everyone.