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In the early 90s, one of the biggest scripted shows on TV was Murphy Brown, starring 40-something Candice Bergen as a product of the 60s whose high-powered career precluded marriage and family. When the character became a single mother, and was criticized for it by vice president Dan Quayle, a massive conversation about “family values” began that would change the culture – and, arguably, American politics. Off-screen, Bergen was married to French filmmaker Louis Malle. While his wife was in the middle of the “family values” maelstrom, Malle was making Damage, one of the most sexually intense films of the 90s, and one which used sexuality to explicitly critique the hypocrisy of politicians.
SHOW NOTES:
Sources:
A Fine Romance and Knock Wood by Candice Bergen
Malle on Malle, edited by Philip French, by Louis Malle
Louis Malle: Interviews edited by Christopher Beach
Candice Bergen: Happy To Settle Down by Judy Klemesrud, NYTimes, April 13, 1984
“Candice Bergen” by Bill Ziehm, US Magazine, October 30, 1989
“Candice” by Carol Kramer, McCalls, October 1989
Cover story by Linda Ellerbee, Ladies Home Journal, June 1990
“Louis Malle by Bergen” Interview Magazine, June 1990
“Candice Bergen: Beyond Beautiful” by Maureen Dowd, McCalls, October 1991
“Murphy’s Laws” by Jim Jerome, PEOPLE, December 2, 1991
“Editorial: Sexually Explicit Lives” by Robin Morgan. MS, March/April 1992
James Danforth Quayle, Iii, “Murphy Brown Speech,” Voices of Democracy via UMD.edu, May 19, 1992
“Quayle To Murphy Brown: You Tramp!”, Daily News, May 20, 1992
“Quayle: 'Hollywood Doesn't Get It” by John E. Yang and Ann Devroy, Washington Post, May 21, 1992
“Quale Attack Can’t Hurt Murphy Brown” Associated Press, May 27, 1992
“The Pleasure Principle” and “Sex in Entertainment: How Far Can it Go?” by Dan Zevin, US Magazine Sex in Entertainment Issue, August 1992
“Murphy In A Landslide: ‘Brown’ Victory Spells Trouble For Quayle, Prez” by Elizabeth Jensen, NY Daily News, August 31, 1992
“When Baby Makes Two” by Joe Rhodes, TV Guide, September 19,1992
“Hollywood and Politics” TIME, September 21, 1992
“Having it All” by Richard Corliss, TIME, September 21, 1992
“Sitcom Politics” by Richard Zoglin, TIME, September 21, 1992
“Reviewing the NC-17 Film Rating: Clear Guide or an X by a New Name?” by William Grimes, NYTimes, November 30, 1992
“NC-17 Damage Control” Variety, November 30, 1992
“Malle Tries to Limit Damage” The Hollywood Reporter, November 23, 1992
“Candy Can” by Roger Rosenblatt, Vanity Fair, December 1992
“Damage Control” LA Times, December 8, 1992
“Malle: MPAA’s Ratings Show ‘Aesthetic Myopia” The Hollywood Reporter, December 16, 1992
“Uncut Damage Premiere Sets Off Battle of Sexes” by Bridget Byrne, LA Times, December 17, 1992
“Louis Malle Cuts a Film and Grows Indignant” NYTimes, December 22, 1992
“Sexual Obsession, Edited for an R” by Janet Maslin December 23, 1992
“Damage” by Amy Taubin, Village Voice December 29, 1992
“Damage” Boxoffice, January 1993
“Stiff Upper Libido” by Richard Corliss, TIME, January 11, 1993
“Movies” by Bruce Williamson, Playboy, January 1993
“Film: Louis Malle’s Tale of Obsessive Love” Julie Salamon, Wall Street Journal, January 7, 1993
“Last Word” Hollywood Reporter May 11, 1993
“Sitcomfirmation: When 'Designing Women' Took On Clarence Thomas In Prime Time
Back In Late 1991, 'The Strange Case Of Clarence And Anita' Tackled The Most Infamous Confirmation Hearing In American History” by Inkoo Kang, MTV.com, April 13, 2016
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Music:
The music used in this episode, with the exception of the intro, was sourced from royalty-free music libraries and licensed music collections. The intro includes a clip from the film Casablanca.
Excerpts from the following songs were used throughout the episode:
Kamilah - Sunflower
Base Camp - K2
Metropolis Calling - Kittyhawk
Copley Beat - Skittle
Dowdy - Muffuletta
Guild Rat - El Baul
Four Cluster - Fornax
Rumoi Night - Kokura Station
Chai Belltini - Vermouth
Vik Fenceta - The Fence
JoDon - Orange Cat
Heather - Migration
Helion Ruins - Makropulos
Credits:
This episode was written, narrated, and produced by Karina Longworth.
Our editor this season is Evan Viola.
Research and production assistant: Lindsey D. Schoenholtz.
Social media assistant: Brendan Whalen.
Logo design: Teddy Blanks.