Link: https://old.reddit.com/r/television/comments/1thqg0n/the_final_episode_of_murder_she_wrote_aired_30/

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The original was posted on /r/television by /u/Morgan-Moonscar on 2026-05-19 15:30:42+00:00.

The episode was "Death by Demographics", a not so subtle reference to the fact that CBS was basically cancelling the series after a failed attempt at more ratings.

It had previously been CBS' highest rated show. But then the genius execs decided to move the series over to THURSDAY nights at the same timeslot (8pm) in an attempt to compete with NBC's powerhouse "Must See TV" block.

It was a disaster.

Murder She Wrote was killed in the ratings trying to compete with FRIENDS. Meanwhile two sitcoms (one with Cybill Shepard and the other with Nancy Travis) filled their previous Sunday timeslot and both flopped.

At its original Sunday time the previous season, Murder She Wrote was 8th (and ironically competeing with Friends for that). After moving to Thursday, it fell to 58th place in the ratings. Resulting in CBS deciding to cancel the show instead of renewing it for a 13th season.

There was even a lackluster episode that final season with a thinnly veiled attack at Friends, with Jessica investigating a murder on the set of "Buddies".