User Reviews

Cabot Cove, Maine, has its constants and variable. Among the former, we find resident Mystery author and former schoolteacher Jessica Fletcher (Angela Lansbury), Doctor Seth Hazlitt (William Windom) throughout most episodes of Seasons Two through Twelve, Sheriff Amos Tupper (Tom Bosley) for this series first four seasons (with his successor lasting its remaining eight). We see the recurring Loretta's Beauty Shoppe, two hotels, plus a handful of other landmarks.

Among its variables, we find shifting populations of townsfolk plus ever-changing newspaper offices, churches and restaurants. In fact, throughout the course of approximately sixty "MSW" episodes set in Cabot Cove, we rarely, if ever, spot the same diner or its staff more than once.

"Keep the Home Fries Burning" features two Cabot Cove restaurants, operated by feuding restaurateurs: Dixon's Diner, owned by Bo Dixon (William Lucking), and the Joshua Peobody Inn, operated by Floyd Nelson (Alan Young).

(The legend of Joshua Peobody presents a different type of variable throughout this series. While the debate ensues over the history or myth of the town's Colonial founder, Peobody descendants appear later in the series as neighbors of those who debunk the claim of his historic authenticity.) But back to the story....

One fine morning, or at least one which begins on a pleasant note, Jessica Fletcher and Doctor Seth Hazlitt arrive in the parking lot of Joshua Peobody Inn, located off the Interstate outside of Cabot Cove, they encountering Sheriff Amos Tupper, who claims that he sets the local dining tradition, for folks to follow him from Dixon Diner to this new eatery. These three then enter together for breakfast.

Waitress Cornelia (Donna Pescow) , adorned in Colonial garb, explains her transfer from the one diner to this one, to follow her customers and their tips. This, of course, doesn't sit well with Bo Dixon, who sneaks into the Joshua Peobody Inn to spy upon his competition.

Pseudo French chef Alan Dupree (Henry Polic II) expresses disdain over Floyd's expectations to live up to his "credentials," by sabotaging meals in an effort to be released from his contract. He doesn't wish to cook at this location.

Feuding local politicians Mercer Hawthorne (Norman Alden) and Ebeneezer McEnery (Orson Bean) also enter, as they naturally argue from parking lot to table, at which they order breakfast together at any rate.

Out of town guests, Betty Fiddler (Marcia Rodd) and Wilhelmina Fraser (Sharon Acker) stop for breakfast, chuckling over the corny menu entries, each unaware that Wilhelmina's husband, Harrison Fraser III (John McCook) has followed them in his limousine, to spy upon them from a distance.

Other customers enter Joshua Peobody Inn this morning, such as tourists Ted Stully (Gary Crosby) and Helen Stully (Rosanna Huffman), as well as Mr. O'Connor (Leonard O. Turner) and his son, Jimmy O'Connor (Dion Williams), who complains of a severe internal ailment upon exiting.

Suddenly, an epidemic of pain and suffering begins to sweep the parking lot, as diners keel over helplessly. Seth orders the diner closed and victims to be transported to the local hospital, where he may examine them thoroughly.

Enter health inspector Margo Perry (Anne Francis), to scrutinize the Joshua Peobody Inn and its contents, as well as medical reports of those infected by this mysterious ailment, which Jessica diagnoses as Atropine poisoning. Margo Perry dismisses Jessica as a "crisis hound," and orders Floyd Nelson against any notion to "Keep the Home Fries Burning."

Peabody's Diner is proving a hit in Cabot Cove, top customer Amos Tupper takes Jessica and Seth to enjoy a mighty breakfast. As they finish the diner's start clutching their stomachs in agony. Someone from the state arrives to investigate, early thoughts are of botulism, but Jessica has other ideas.

This really is a super episode, one that relies on misdirection. I suppose you could argue that the murderer is a little telegraphed, in truth you do see it coming a mile off. However, it is brilliantly played out, really interesting, particularly well acted.

The moral bit of the story comes with the small independent diner surviving and the obviously corrupt multinational closing. It's super stylish too, the height of eighties glamour.

9/10

This is one of my favorite MSR episodes. Except for one scene. When Wilhelmina gives the nurse a tip. That bugs me to no end. Nurses do not take tips. Nurses are professionals who worked hard to get their license. We were not allowed to take tips of money anywhere I worked. We did receive an occasional gift or food for the floor but no money. Nurses are not waitresses who have to depend on tips. Nurses are paid well, although not enough for all they do, but people don't give doctors tips and they shouldn't tip nurses either.

I like that we see a lot of William Windom this time. Such a fine actor! All the guest cast are good, as usual. Pluses for this episode: nice exteriors and interiors of the restaurant; a fun performance by Anne Francis; and, one of the big strengths of this series, a plot worthy of a written mystery story. The variety and number of suspects make it really interesting. And, of course, Angela is so talented! She gives the show a wonderful, strong backbone with her poised and graceful acting.

I love how the clues were leaked out bit by bit in this episode, with just enough transparency that I got to figure it out without feeling totally spoon-fed.

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.

"Keep the Home Fries Burning" is a standout of Season 2 (along with "Trial By Error", "Jessica Behind Bars", "Sticks and Stones" and "Murder in the Afternoon" when it comes to previous episodes, "Joshua Peabody Died Here...Possibly" and "Dead Heat" are the only ones up to this point in the season to not do much for me of the season while not terrible episodes) and of the early seasons.

What could have been a silly premise if executed badly turns out to be a lot of fun. With a mystery that's suitably twisty with lots of suspects and a clever ending that is not what you think it will be (if not as ingenious as the ones in "Trial By Error" and especially "Sticks and Stones").

Production values are high in quality as to be expected, with slick photography and attractive scenery. 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 great fun, especially Anne Francis's.

Angela Lansbury is typically terrific, while Tom Bosley and William Windom are solid support. Of the guest stars, it's Francis in particular who is on fire and positively dynamite form.

In conclusion, wonderful episode and a favourite. 10/10 Bethany Cox

William Lucking's greasy spoon diner is losing business bad to Alan Young's new eatery at the Joshua Peabody Inn. But when Angela Lansbury, William Windom and Tom Bosley sit down for breakfast there, an epidemic of food poisoning breaks out. It's quite a scene when Doc Hazlitt is summoned to patient after patient. One of them loses her life.

All three of our Cabot Cove citizens have to put up with the nosy and officious Anne Francis who I'm not sure is with the Maine Health Department or the Center For Disease Control. Wherever she is from, Francis guards her turf zealously and airily dismisses Jessica Fletcher as a 'crisis' hound.

Someone put something nasty in the home made strawberry preserves the restaurant serves. As you can imagine the task is to find who it was intended for. Not a job for Francis, but for JB Fletcher.

She does her job well.

The new Joshua Peabody Inn restaurant has just opened and the owner soon has a serious problem on his hands....various customers have been poisoned...either by accidental food poisoning or not. So, Jessica decides to investigate and determines that a jar of strawberry preserves are missing from the restaurant. Oddly, the very haughty health inspector (Anne Francis) completely dismisses this even though none of the items found in the restaurant were contaminated. What REALLY is happening here and why?

The story is very well written...with no noticeable plot holes or inconsistencies. Instead, it's solid, exciting and has a nice twist. Well worth seeing and one of the better episodes of "Murder, She Wrote".

A newly themed diner - Joshua Peabody Inn - opened just off the interstate in Cabot Cove, drawing the praise of the town's residents and the ire of a competing diner owner. When Sheriff Tupper takes her and Dr. Hazlitt to the Joshua Peabody Inn, Jessica finds herself in the middle of another hot pot of intrigue. Several people take sick from some kind of bad food, with one afflicted lady dying on the spot. An inspector thinks it's an open-and-shut case of food poisoning, but Jessica smells a murder cooking.

Fun episode with a new diner luring the residents to it, to its detriment. The mystery is fairly good, and it never lets up keeping things under wraps till the end. Poor Sheriff Amos always get teased by Jessica and Hazlitt.

I love this episode!! The only thing that annoys me is the one woman ( Betty?) laughing at everything when they are in the restauarant. I found it so odd. Other than that, I love it. Love that Seth has big role in this epidode.