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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

“Malle’s Aforethought: The French Director Makes Sure He’s In Charge On ‘damage’: He Snapped Up The Rights, Handpicked The Actors And Raised The Money” by David Gritten, LA Times, April 26, 1992 

“On Location: Movies: Malle’s Aforethought The French Director Makes Sure He’s In Charge On ‘Damage’: He Snapped Up The Rights, Handpicked The Actors And Raised The Money” by David Gritten, LA Times, April 26, 1992

James Danforth Quayle, Iii, “Murphy Brown Speech,” Voices of Democracy via UMD.edu, May 19, 1992 

Commonwealth Club of California Records, Hoover Institution Library & Archives @ Stanford University, May 19, 1992

“After The Riots; Quayle Says Riots Sprang From Lack Of Family Values” by Andrew Rosenthal, NYTimes, May 20, 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 

“The Unwed Mother of All TV Battles: Television: The furor involving Vice President Dan Quayle and “Murphy Brown” illustrates the impact that TV can have as a social force” by Rick Du Brow, LA Times, MAY 21, 1992

“Quale Attack Can’t Hurt Murphy Brown” Associated Press, May 27, 1992 

“Dan Quayle Vs. Murphy Brown The Vice President Takes On A Tv Character Over Family Values” TIME, June 1, 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

“ON THE RUN WITH: Jeremy Irons; Wrapping Himself Inside Enigmas” by Caryn James, NYTimes, Nov. 18, 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

“Having It All: Actress Candice Bergen Leads A Life That Murphy Brown Could Envy” by Richard Corliss, Vanity Fair, December 12, 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, 2016Please note: as an Amazon Associate Karina earns from qualifying purchases. #ad

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.  

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.