This episode marks the final television performance by Harry Guardino, acting in film and on television since 1951.
Radio station KGAB 102.3 FM, in Easton, in an unspecified Midwestern U.S. state, plans major changes on the eve of the unveiling of its new 20,000 Watt transmitter, which would afford it the power to reach a state-wide audience, to influence voters in a U.S. Senatorial campaign.
With their marriage crumbling, KGAB co-owners, Louise Anderson-Crowe (Lindsay Crouse) with the elegant French braid and Colin Crowe (Lyman Ward) hold conflicting views of candidates, with Louise's supporting David Osterman (Victor Brandt) and his stand for labor and agriculture, and Colin's opposing him and his campaign manager, Alex (James Harlow).
As part of their forthcoming divorce settlement, Louise plans to hand her family's radio station reigns to Colin, who has built up the audience by hiring the controversial, opinionated, brassy "shock jock" announcer Marcus Rule (Jeff Yagher), who insults guests and callers alike, and upholds Colin's vendetta against candidate David Osterman.
Station employee Ronna Samuels (Georgia Emelin) transports the old KGAB's final guest to Easton Arms Hotel to welcome the celebrity, who visits the community on her Midwest book tour, one Jessica Fletcher (Angela Lansbury).
Before Ronna exits the lobby, sharing plans with Jessica for the next day's schedule, Jonathan Baker (Stephen Caffrey), with whom Jessica shares familiarity, arrives to welcome her to the community. When Ronna, who has been romantically involved with Jonathan, but ditched him for Colin Crowe, asks Jessica how she knows Jonathan, Jessica informs her that he's the son of her publisher's attorney, and she has known him since Jonathan was a child.
On the day of the interview, Jessica meets KGAB Broadcasting Engineer Danny Cochran (Harry Guardino), who expresses gratitude that hints from her books have generated winnings for his betting upon horse racing. He and Louise also find pleasure in Jessica's standing up to the insulting Marcus Rule during their live on-air interview, but to the dismay of Colin, who holds Marcus to his contract so that he may not accept a position in Chicago.
Jessica has two more days to spend in Easton, before her flight to Los Angeles departs, and so she accepts an invitation to the next day's reception for the unveiling of the new transmitting tower, which Jonathan has helped to design. (Angela's voice seems to crackle of a sign of a cold throughout this episode).
David Osterman is evicted from the ceremony after an altercation with Marcus, but Louise smooths events long enough to open the proceedings with the unveiling of the tower. As the banner is lowered, a body appears on the ledge, causing uneasiness from the audience below.
Sheriff Leland Waterman (William Lucking) leads the murder investigation with assistance from Deputy Stallings (Tim Schnabel), who handles fingerprinting reports from evidence on the rifle, which has been discovered near the scene, and identified as the murder weapon. Sheriff Waterman graciously includes Jessica to assist in the investigation, an honor she accepts to prove her friend Jonathan innocent even though he owns the rifle and matches one set of its fingerprints.
When the fingerprinting laboratory matches the second set of prints on the rifle with Ronna, she is also brought into the police station for questioning, but Jessica explains that Jonathan has been teaching her how to practice rifle maneuvers.
While Jessica and Ronna await the arrival of Jonathan's estranged attorney father's attorney (as in a lawyer's lawyer), to defend the suspects, Jessica also finds another opportunity to patch up young love, as she stumbles across a new clue, which may tie together loose ends outside the station of "Killer Radio."
The cast is rounded out by Dallas Cole as Woman, Cynthia Harrison as Desk Clerk, and Annie O'Donnell as Doctor Annie Farnum.
This episode also represents the first acting credit for James Harlow, the most recent acting appearances by Dallas Cole and Tim Schnabel, the second of two "MSW" performances each for Stephen Caffrey, Dallas Cole and Annie O'Donnell, the second of three for Lyman Ward, the third of three for Jeff Yagher, the fourth of four for Harry Guardino, and the fifth of five "MSW" guest roles for William Lucking.
Three, Six, Nine: Jeff Yagher certainly proves his versatility on this series if you are able to believe that it is he who portrays the corrupt, athletic Deputy Wayne Beeler in "The Cemetery Vote (#3.20)," the quiet, preppy Scott Fielding in "The Big Show of 1965 (#6.16)," and the showy, brash, loud-mouth jerk Marcus Rule in "Killer Radio (#9.14)."
Radio station KGAB 102.3 FM, in Easton, in an unspecified Midwestern U.S. state, plans major changes on the eve of the unveiling of its new 20,000 Watt transmitter, which would afford it the power to reach a state-wide audience, to influence voters in a U.S. Senatorial campaign.
With their marriage crumbling, KGAB co-owners, Louise Anderson-Crowe (Lindsay Crouse) with the elegant French braid and Colin Crowe (Lyman Ward) hold conflicting views of candidates, with Louise's supporting David Osterman (Victor Brandt) and his stand for labor and agriculture, and Colin's opposing him and his campaign manager, Alex (James Harlow).
As part of their forthcoming divorce settlement, Louise plans to hand her family's radio station reigns to Colin, who has built up the audience by hiring the controversial, opinionated, brassy "shock jock" announcer Marcus Rule (Jeff Yagher), who insults guests and callers alike, and upholds Colin's vendetta against candidate David Osterman.
Station employee Ronna Samuels (Georgia Emelin) transports the old KGAB's final guest to Easton Arms Hotel to welcome the celebrity, who visits the community on her Midwest book tour, one Jessica Fletcher (Angela Lansbury).
Before Ronna exits the lobby, sharing plans with Jessica for the next day's schedule, Jonathan Baker (Stephen Caffrey), with whom Jessica shares familiarity, arrives to welcome her to the community. When Ronna, who has been romantically involved with Jonathan, but ditched him for Colin Crowe, asks Jessica how she knows Jonathan, Jessica informs her that he's the son of her publisher's attorney, and she has known him since Jonathan was a child.
On the day of the interview, Jessica meets KGAB Broadcasting Engineer Danny Cochran (Harry Guardino), who expresses gratitude that hints from her books have generated winnings for his betting upon horse racing. He and Louise also find pleasure in Jessica's standing up to the insulting Marcus Rule during their live on-air interview, but to the dismay of Colin, who holds Marcus to his contract so that he may not accept a position in Chicago.
Jessica has two more days to spend in Easton, before her flight to Los Angeles departs, and so she accepts an invitation to the next day's reception for the unveiling of the new transmitting tower, which Jonathan has helped to design. (Angela's voice seems to crackle of a sign of a cold throughout this episode).
David Osterman is evicted from the ceremony after an altercation with Marcus, but Louise smooths events long enough to open the proceedings with the unveiling of the tower. As the banner is lowered, a body appears on the ledge, causing uneasiness from the audience below.
Sheriff Leland Waterman (William Lucking) leads the murder investigation with assistance from Deputy Stallings (Tim Schnabel), who handles fingerprinting reports from evidence on the rifle, which has been discovered near the scene, and identified as the murder weapon. Sheriff Waterman graciously includes Jessica to assist in the investigation, an honor she accepts to prove her friend Jonathan innocent even though he owns the rifle and matches one set of its fingerprints.
When the fingerprinting laboratory matches the second set of prints on the rifle with Ronna, she is also brought into the police station for questioning, but Jessica explains that Jonathan has been teaching her how to practice rifle maneuvers.
While Jessica and Ronna await the arrival of Jonathan's estranged attorney father's attorney (as in a lawyer's lawyer), to defend the suspects, Jessica also finds another opportunity to patch up young love, as she stumbles across a new clue, which may tie together loose ends outside the station of "Killer Radio."
The cast is rounded out by Dallas Cole as Woman, Cynthia Harrison as Desk Clerk, and Annie O'Donnell as Doctor Annie Farnum.
This episode also represents the first acting credit for James Harlow, the most recent acting appearances by Dallas Cole and Tim Schnabel, the second of two "MSW" performances each for Stephen Caffrey, Dallas Cole and Annie O'Donnell, the second of three for Lyman Ward, the third of three for Jeff Yagher, the fourth of four for Harry Guardino, and the fifth of five "MSW" guest roles for William Lucking.
Three, Six, Nine: Jeff Yagher certainly proves his versatility on this series if you are able to believe that it is he who portrays the corrupt, athletic Deputy Wayne Beeler in "The Cemetery Vote (#3.20)," the quiet, preppy Scott Fielding in "The Big Show of 1965 (#6.16)," and the showy, brash, loud-mouth jerk Marcus Rule in "Killer Radio (#9.14)."