Production Information[]
| Production Number: | |
| Aired: March 17th, 1991 | |
| Written By: Peter S. Fischer | |
| Directed By: John Llewellyn Moxey | |
| INSERT EPISODE SCREENSHOT HERE | |
| Created By: Peter S. Fischer and Richard Levinson & William Link | |
| Executive Producers: Peter S. Fischer | |
| Producers: Anthony Magro
Robert F. O'Neill Robert E. Swanson Robert Van Scoyk |
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Summary[]
Dennis relates to Jessica his latest case, which involves nerdy ventriloquist Elwood Perkins, whose dummy, Billy Boy, has gone missing. Although Dennis locates the dummy, it is found near the body of Kate Kelley, co-owner of the comedy club where Perkins works, and, since he was seen leaving before the murder, becomes the prime suspect in her death. Determined to help him, Dennis investigates to smoke out the real culprit.
Trivia[]
Fourteenth of 15 "bookend" episodes in which Jessica only appears at the beginning to introduce them; the others are Murder in a Minor Key (Episode), The Grand Old Lady, Jack & Bill, Class Act, Goodbye Charlie, Murder - According to Maggie, O'Malley's Luck, Always a Thief, The Sicilian Encounter, See You in Court, Baby, The Great Twain Robbery, Murder in F Sharp & Suspicion of Murder. Also, the seventh of these episodes to feature a recurring character instead of a new one and the sixth with Dennis Stanton; the others are Always a Thief, The Sicilian Encounter (with Michael Haggerty), See You in Court, Baby, The Great Twain Robbery, Murder in F Sharp, & Suspicion of Murder.
Birds of a Feather, from season 1, also involved the murder of a tyrannical nightclub owner.
Guest star Marty Ingels is well known as a nightclub comedian; he is also married to Shirley Jones, who guest starred previously.
Victim: Kate Kelley
Killer: Joe Gelardi
Cause of death: Bludgeoned with a hammer.
Motive: Was threatening to ban Woody from the club after learning he sabotaged his Vegas gig, and he didn't want to see that happen, as it did to his ex, Sally Templeton
Starring[]
Regular Cast[]
Angela Lansbury as Jessica Fletcher
Recurring Cast[]
Keith Michell as Dennis Stanton
James Sloyan as Robert Butler
Ken Swofford as Lt. Perry Catalano
Hallie Todd as Rhoda Markowitz
Guest Stars[]
Georgia Brown as Kate Kelley
Teri Copley as Brenda McCoy
Leslie Easterbrook as Sally Templeton
Marty Ingels as Joe Gelardi
Jim Metzler as Tom Benzinger
Grant Shaud as Elwood "Woody" Perkins
Lyle Waggoner as Vic DeMarco
Co-Stars[]
Mike Jolly as Elmo
David Stenstrom as Budding Comic
Jeffrey Jena as Comic #2
Jana Grant as Insurance #2 Co-worker
Kevin McCoy as Insurance #1 Co-worker
Susan Welby as Insurance #4 Co-worker
Matt McCarter as Insurance #3 Co-worker