Christopher Bundy - Died on Sunday

From the outset I should say that the title character has no relation whatsoever to America's lovable loser of the 90s Al Bundy. In fact Bundy is the anglicized version of an Italian crime family. Bert Convy among his many enterprises has a skin flick magazine. He also has a sister Carol Lawrence who gives nothing away to the older version of Connie Corleone.

Jessica Fletcher has submitted a short story to a highbrow literary publication that Robert Stack owns and who her nephew Grady works for as an accountant. But it's been taken over by Convy.

Angela Lansbury and Michael Horton are at Convy's Hugh Hefner like mansion to get out of the deal. So's Robert Stack protesting the hostile takeover.

The only reason Jessica Fletcher isn't suspected of Convy's murder when he's shot in the back is she was with the security guard as he was watching television monitors all over the house. Everyone else is suspect, especially Stack for Detective Robert Costanzo.

A guy like Convy makes many enemies. I have to say I had the wrong suspect pegged. So might you if you watch this.

Have always been quite fond of 'Murder She Wrote'. It is a fun and relaxing watch that makes you think as you try to unwind in the evening. If one wants more complex, twisty mysteries with lots of tension and suspense 'Murder She Wrote' may not be for you, but if you want something light-hearted and entertaining but still provide good mysteries 'Murder She Wrote' fits the bill just fine.

There are better episodes of Season 2 and of the show than "Christopher Bundy-Died on Sunday" admittedly, but it is hardly a misfire. Actually like it more than initially thought, it's more involving and things make sense more. It is hard not to mention an episode with Grady Fletcher without mentioning how much of a bland and annoying, as well as often useless, dead-weight character Grady is or of Michael Horton's acting being just as much.

"Christopher Bundy-Died On Sunday" doesn't have an awful lot wrong otherwise. Some of the pacing is a bit dull in the earlier scenes and the final solution is a bit of a complicated one that takes time to get your head round (once it just about clicks, which it does eventually, it's also a pretty clever one).

Production values are high in quality as to be expected, with slick photography and isn't the villa location cool or what. The music has energy and has presence but also not making the mistake of over-scoring, while it is hard to forget or resist the theme tune.

The writing is tight, thought-provoking and typically amiable and the characters and chemistry are good fun. The story is mostly engaging and keeps one guessing, the identity of the killer was a surprise.

Angela Lansbury doesn't disappoint as Jessica, and, other than Horton, the guest supporting turns from typically reliable actors is very well done.

In conclusion, decent episode if not one of my favourites. 7/10 Bethany Cox

"Christopher Bundy--Died on Sunday" is an episode obviously based in part on the life of Hugh Hefner. Like Hefner, Bundy has created an empire on nude women in his magazines...and also wants an aura of respectability by also including various literary articles in the magazines (such as Gore Vidal and Norman Mailer in "Playboy").

The show begins with Jessica arriving at Bundy's mansion. She's upset that he bought the rights to one of her short stories and is going to put it in his girly magazine. Instead of arguing, Bundy (Bert Convey) pours on the charm. Well, another guy (Robert Stack) soon arrives and he, too, has been 'bought' by Bundy and doesn't want to be associated with the magazine. Soon after, Bundy dies...and the angry author (Stack) is first among the suspects.

I liked this one. The solution to the problem is clever and the story enjoyable. The only minus, and it's s SMALL one, is Jessica's nephew Grady, who is a bit annoying and a bit pathetic at times.

Jessica is worried that her good name is about to be trashed, her first short story is set to appear in an adult magazine, after the publication 'Literary Lines,' has changed hands. Jessica, accompanied by Grady sets off to the villa of owner Christopher Bundy, to have it out with him. Bundy charms Jessica, and encourages her to stay. As the family and guests sit down to dinner, ousted owner of Literary Lines Chester Harrison bursts in, berating Bundy for his business methods. Unsurprisingly Bundy is murdered.

I am struck my just how much of a stud Grady is, not only can he walk into top notch jobs when he likes, but he's obviously irresistible to the ladies too, I'll say his choice in car here is perfect, that MG is glorious.

I like this episode, hard to imagine the works of JB Fletcher put in a trashy magazine, but this is television. The plot is cleverly devises, and the solution is a clever one. There's little to find fault with, Robert Stack is very good as Chester, and the production values are brilliant, I'm struck by how classy the decor is throughout.

Perhaps not a standout episode, but very good nonetheless. 7/10

This episode marks one of the final appearances by Bert Convy, star of stage, screen (since 1958) and television, and frequent game show host. Classic film and television star Robert Stack has also since passed.

Friday evening at his NYC office, ruthless investor Christopher Bundy (Bert Convy) gives publisher Chester Harrison (Robert Stack) an ultimatum via the telephone. Chester has 48 hours to repay the loan which Bundy has secured from his financial lender, or else Bundy would foreclose upon Chester's company.

Bert Yardley (Alex Rocco), Bundy's roguish Executive Assistant is on hand to share a knowing grin, as all fully realize that most financial institutions are closed between Friday afternoon and Monday morning anyway. Yardley does remind Bundy that "That Fletcher Woman" also left six telephone messages and awaits a response.

Bundy has purchased "Literary Line Magazine," which had contracted Jessica Fletcher (Angela Lansbury) to publish a mystery story. Jessica had agreed because her nephew Grady Fletcher (Michael Horton) currently works for the publication as a bookkeeper. But Christopher Bundy has since turned the periodical into a "girly" magazine, with his trademark array of scantily-clad female models, "to boost sales," much to Jessica's objections.

Saturday morning finds Grady's chauffeuring his Aunt Jessica to visit with relatives in Poughkeepsie, New York, approximately 45 miles north of NYC. The Bundy estate lies along a route between the cities, and so Jessica and Grady pay the publisher a visit and meet the Bundy household.

Rachel D'Argento (Carol Lawrence), the sister of Christopher Bundy, has been married twice. Her brother drove off the first husband and played a role in driving her second husband to suicide. Her two young adult children also abide on the family estate, Antonio D'Argento (Bobby Di Cicco) and Vanessa D'Argento (Michelle Nicastro).

Everett Charles Jensen (Robert Hooks) serves as the Bundy family servant; Pete Morgan (Eric Server) handles the estate's security system, complete with a panel of monitors to view the images taken from in-house surveillance cameras; Millicent Moore (Katherine Moffat) models for Bundy's magazines and lounges around the patio with Antonio, who expresses jealousy over Millicent and Grady's attention toward each other.

With Bert Yardley also near at hand, Christopher meets with Jessica in his library room, as Chester Harrison storms onto the premises. The smooth-talking Christopher promises them each overnight hospitality so that they may meet with his lawyers, who are anticipated to arrive the next morning.

Sunday morning at the Bundy estate, Christopher, Bert, Rachel, Antonio, Vanessa, Everett, and Grady are on the premises, when Chester speeds from its driveway, as Pete shows Jessica the downstairs surveillance system, when two gunshots are heard, fired from two floors above. When Jessica and Pete scurry up one staircase, they discover someone's tumbling down the next, and landing directly before them.

Panic and accusations sweep the household, as Dectective Lieutenant Greco (Robert Costanzo) and Uniformed Officer (Charles Sweigart) are summoned to investigate whether or not "Christopher Bundy Died On Sunday."