Murdoch Mysteries
{{Short description|Canadian television series}}
{{Pp|small=yes}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2021}}
{{Infobox television
| image = Murdoch Mysteries.jpg
| caption =
| genre = {{Plainlist|
}}
| creator =
| based_on = {{Based on|Detective Murdoch series|Maureen Jennings}}
| developer = {{Plainlist|
- R. B. Carney
- Cal Coons
- Alexandra Zarowny
}}
| writer =
| director =
| creative_director =
| starring = {{plainlist|
- Yannick Bisson
- Hélène Joy (seasons 1-17)
- Thomas Craig
- Jonny Harris
- Georgina Reilly (seasons 6–9)
- Paul Sun-Hyung Lee (season 18–)
}}
| company = {{plainlist|
- Shaftesbury Films
- Rogers Media (seasons 1–5)
- UKTV
}}
| theme_music_composer =
| opentheme =
| endtheme =
| composer = Robert Carli
| country = Canada
| num_seasons = 18
| num_episodes =
| list_episodes = List of Murdoch Mysteries episodes
| executive_producer = {{plainlist|{{cite web|title=Murdoch Mysteries |url=https://www.cbc.ca/mediacentre/program/murdoch-mysteries|accessdate=12 January 2024}}
- Yannick Bisson
- Scott Garvie
- Noel Hedges
- Peter Mitchell
- Christina Jennings
- Hélène Joy
}}
| producer = {{plainlist|
- Jan Peter Meyboom
- Julie Lacey
- Laura Harbin
- Shane Kinnear
}}
| editor =
| location = {{Plainlist|
- Toronto
- Oshawa
- Belleville
- Hamilton
- St. John's
- Ottawa
- Cambridge
- Drumheller
- Guelph
- Pitt Meadows
- Dawson City
- Bristol, England
- Stratford
- Kingston
- Caledon
}}
| cinematography =
| camera =
| network = {{Plainlist|
}}
| runtime = 43–46 minutes
| first_aired = {{Start date|2008|1|20}}
| last_aired = present
| related = {{Plainlist|
}}
}}
Murdoch Mysteries is a Canadian television drama series that premiered on Citytv on January 20, 2008, and currently airs on CBC. The series is based on characters from the Detective Murdoch novels by Maureen Jennings and stars Yannick Bisson as William Murdoch, a police detective working in Toronto, Ontario in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.{{cite encyclopedia |url=https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/murdoch-mysteries |title=Murdoch Mysteries |encyclopedia=The Canadian Encyclopedia}} The series was titled The Artful Detective on the Ovation cable TV network in the United States, until season twelve.
Synopsis
{{See also|List of Murdoch Mysteries characters}}
The series takes place in Toronto starting in 1895 and follows Detective William Murdoch (Yannick Bisson) of the Toronto Constabulary, who solves many of his cases using methods of detection that were unusual at the time. These methods include fingerprinting (referred to as "finger marks" in the series), blood testing, surveillance, and trace evidence.{{cite web|title=Murdoch Mysteries|url=http://www.citytv.com/micro/murdochmysteries/index.asp|work=CityTV.com|access-date=August 25, 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080914101734/http://www.citytv.com/micro/murdochmysteries/index.asp|archive-date=September 14, 2008}}
Some episodes feature anachronistic technology whereby Murdoch sometimes uses the existing technology of his time to improvise a crude prototype of a technology that would be more readily recognizable to the show's 21st century audience. In one episode, for instance, he creates a primitive version of sonar to locate a sunken ship in Lake Ontario. In another, a foreign police officer has a photograph that Murdoch needs as evidence, so Murdoch has him send an early example of a fax via telegraph. This aspect of the show has been described as introducing elements of the steampunk genre of science fiction,[https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/television/murdoch-mysteries-takes-the-stuffing-out-of-period-drama/article6776080/ "Murdoch Mysteries takes the stuffing out of period drama"]. The Globe and Mail, December 30, 2012. although it is not a standard theme of all episodes.
Detective Murdoch is assisted by the three other main characters: Inspector Brackenreid (Thomas Craig), Doctor Julia Ogden (Hélène Joy), and the inexperienced but eager Constable George Crabtree (Jonny Harris), who aspires to be a mystery novel writer. Brackenreid, Murdoch's immediate superior, is a blunt and sceptical Yorkshireman with a fondness for whisky who prefers conventional methods of detection over Murdoch's eccentric methods, though he is typically pleased and proud when Murdoch is successful despite the odds. Crabtree is often unable to grasp the more advanced methods, but his enthusiasm and loyalty make him a good assistant. Like Crabtree, Dr. Ogden is a great supporter of Murdoch's methods. Her skill in pathology usually helps by revealing a great deal of useful evidence to aid Murdoch in solving cases. Throughout the series, Murdoch's growing infatuation with her, and his inability to express his feelings, provide a light subplot. In the fifth season, after Dr. Ogden is married to Dr. Darcy Garland (a colleague she met in Buffalo), a new doctor is introduced, Doctor Emily Grace (Georgina Reilly). She and George Crabtree show some romantic interest in each other.
In season 18 (2024-25) Brackenreid is promoted to Chief Constable of Toronto. Albert Choi (Paul Sun-Hyung Lee formerly Appa in Kim's Convenience) replaces him as Inspector at Station House No 4, thereby becoming Murdoch's boss.{{cite news |last=Bernie |first=Fletcher |date=Aug 22, 2024 |title=Reel Beach: A lake-side chat with Thomas Craig of Murdoch Mysteries |url=https://beachmetro.com/2024/08/22/reel-beach-a-lake-side-chat-with-thomas-craig-of-murdoch-mysteries/|location=Toronto |publisher=Beach Metro Community News |access-date=Jan 19, 2025}}{{cite news
|author =
|date = July 23, 2024
|title = 'Kim's Convenience' star Paul Sun-Hyung Lee joins 'Murdoch Mysteries' cast
|url = https://ottawa.citynews.ca/2024/07/23/kims-convenience-star-paul-sun-hyung-lee-joins-murdoch-mysteries-cast/
|publisher = Ottawa CityNews
|access-date = Jan 19, 2025
}}
Real history is an important element in most episodes, and the plots, though fictitious, sometimes involve real people, such as Buffalo Bill Cody, Annie Oakley, H. G. Wells, Nikola Tesla, Wilfrid Laurier, Jack London, Arthur Conan Doyle, Queen Victoria, Theodore Roosevelt, Oliver Mowat, Orville and Wilbur Wright, Henry Ford, Sir Winston Churchill, Bat Masterson, Alexander Graham Bell, Emma Goldman, H. P. Lovecraft, Harry Houdini, Thomas Edison, Lucy Maud Montgomery and Helen Keller. In Season 12 Frank Lloyd Wright appears as the architect that Murdoch and Ogden hire to design their customized home, dubbed the Murdoch Mystery Mansion which incorporates many of the stylistic touches such as an Open Concept layout without doors or walls separating rooms, a low flat roof and stained glass windows with geometric designs evoking nature that Wright was known for.{{cite web |author= |date=Mar 8, 2019 |title=Murdoch Mysteries Mansion: How Faithful is it to Frank Lloyd Wright's Designs? |url=https://www.ovationtv.com/murdoch-mysteries-mansion-how-faithful-is-it-to-frank-lloyd-wrights-designs/ |website=ovationtv.com |location= |publisher=Hubbard Broadcasting Inc |access-date=Feb 1, 2025}}
Future events are often foreshadowed. For example, it is implied that secret British American government co-operation has produced a highly advanced aircraft similar to an airship, and Crabtree and Murdoch allude to the building of a secret government facility in Nevada and New Mexico "at Concession 51" (an allusion to Area 51). Characters also refer to actual inventions of the 19th century and extrapolate from them to future inventions such as microwave ovens, night-vision goggles, computers, the games "Cluedo" (marketed as "Clue" in the U.S.) and "Hangman", the toy Silly Putty, and a silencer for small arms.
Another underlying theme of the series involves the fact that Murdoch is a Catholic in what was at the time a predominantly Protestant city and the prejudices that he occasionally encounters as a result. Other subplots that overarch multiple episodes include women's suffrage movement in Canada, a movement that was taking place during the time the series is set in,and the discrimination towards racial minorities in Toronto and same-sex relationships during that time period.
History
{{See also|List of awards and nominations received by Murdoch Mysteries}}
The series has its origins in 2004 as a series of three made-for-TV movies, starring Peter Outerbridge in the lead role.Strachan, Alex. "Unusual setting doesn't spoil Murdoch." Regina Leader-Post, January 24, 2008, p. C9. Its original title at that time was Murder 19C: The Detective Murdoch Mysteries.Chow, Jason. "Murder 19C is a Kin to Law and Order." National Post, May 12, 2004, p. AL 3. In 2006, a 13-episode series based on the novels was picked up, but there were questions about Outerbridge's continuing availability, since he was already starring in another series, ReGenesis."Three News Series for CHUM." Toronto Star, March 17, 2006, p. D5. By 2007, Yannick Bisson became the lead in what was now called Murdoch Mysteries."The Case of the Uncast Lead is Solved." Canada NewsWire, May 8, 2007, p. 1.
The series debuted on Citytv on January 20, 2008.Myles, Ruth. "Murdoch Mysteries; Fighting Crime, Old-School Style." Calgary Herald, January 18, 2008, p. SW 18. The program was well received, both by the audience and by the critics: in the summer of 2008, it was nominated for 14 Gemini Awards by the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television."The 23rd Annual Gemini Awards Nominees Announced." Canada NewsWire, August 26, 2008, n.p. Critics were surprised, however, that Bisson was not among the nominees.Mudhar, Raju. "Murdoch is on Trail of Something Major." Toronto Star, August 27, 2008, p. E1. The critics were also surprised in November when Murdoch Mysteries won only two Geminis.Strachan, Alex. "The Englishman's Boy, Durham County top winners at Geminis." Ottawa Citizen, November 29, 2008, p. F4.
Meanwhile, Murdoch Mysteries was renewed for four more seasons between 2009 and 2012. In 2010 the program, which had previously been filmed only in Canada, went to Bristol, England, to film an episode.Ahearn, Victoria. "Brits love Canada's Murdoch Mysteries". Moncton Times-Transcript, March 19, 2010, p. ESPN F1. One big fan of the show was Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, who agreed to play a small role in one of that season's episodes."Harper has Modest Role in TV Drama." Edmonton (Alberta) Journal, October 16, 2010, p. A2. The episode in which he appeared, playing a "clueless cop who fails to recognize then prime minister Wilfrid Laurier", aired in late July 2011."PM Shows Acting Chops in Murdoch Mysteries." Kamloops Daily News, July 14, 2011, p. B4.
After Rogers Media decided not to continue the series beyond its fifth season, CBC Television picked up the show for its sixth season, which premiered in January 2013. The network has subsequently renewed the series repeatedly on a season-to-season basis.{{cite web|url=https://www.tv-eh.com/2021/06/02/cbc-sets-fall-schedule-and-unveils-2021-22-programming-slate-including-over-35-original-series-from-canadian-creators/|title=CBC SETS FALL SCHEDULE AND UNVEILS 2021-22 PROGRAMMING SLATE, INCLUDING OVER 35 ORIGINAL SERIES FROM CANADIAN CREATORS|work=tv-eh.com|date=June 2, 2021 |access-date=June 10, 2021}} It has been one of the CBC's most highly rated programs, regularly watched by more than 1.4 million viewers as of January 2014.Stinson, Scott. "Sleuth Move; How Murdoch Mysteries Went from Case Closed to One of CBC's Biggest Hits." (Ontario) National Post, January 14, 2014, p. B5. In the U.S. season 12 aired on Ovation starting in April 2019, back under its original title of Murdoch Mysteries.{{cite web|url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news/2019/01/07/ovation-sets-premiere-dates-for-murdoch-mysteries-and-frankie-drake-mysteries-608412/20190107ovation01/|title=Ovation Sets Premiere Dates for 'Murdoch Mysteries' and "Frankie Drake Mysteries"|work=The Futon Critic|access-date=January 7, 2019}} Season 13 started in the U.S. in December 2019, on Acorn TV.{{cite web|url=https://www.broadcastingcable.com/post-type-the-wire/acorn-tv-december-2019|title=Acorn TV Announces December 2019 Slate - MIDSOMER MURDERS, SLINGS & ARROWS, MURDOCH MYSTERIES, THE HEART GUY|work=Broadcasting & Cable|date=November 13, 2019|access-date=November 24, 2019}}
Episodes
{{main|List of Murdoch Mysteries episodes}}
{{:List of Murdoch Mysteries episodes}}
Guest stars
Murdoch Mysteries has, at times, been known for using stunt casting of famous actors or non-actor personalities in guest roles."Taking the stuffing out of period drama: More steampunk than Avonlea, Murdoch Mysteries aims for big ratings as it moves to the CBC". The Globe and Mail, December 31, 2012. Noted examples have included Stephen Harper, at the time the Prime Minister of Canada, in a small role as a police desk clerk; William Shatner portraying writer Mark Twain;[http://www.cbc.ca/news/arts/william-shatner-treks-back-in-time-to-play-mark-twain-on-murdoch-mysteries-1.3090732 "William Shatner treks back in time to play Mark Twain on Murdoch Mysteries"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160711142126/http://www.cbc.ca/news/arts/william-shatner-treks-back-in-time-to-play-mark-twain-on-murdoch-mysteries-1.3090732 |date=July 11, 2016 }}. CBC News, May 28, 2015. a special Christmas episode which included appearances by Ed Asner, Brendan Coyle, Kelly Rowan and television news anchor Peter Mansbridge;[http://www.cbc.ca/news/arts/murdoch-holiday-show-1.3292956 "Murdoch Mysteries holiday special to feature Ed Asner, Peter Mansbridge"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222124513/http://www.cbc.ca/news/arts/murdoch-holiday-show-1.3292956 |date=December 22, 2015 }}. CBC News, October 29, 2015. an episode which featured David Onley, the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario at the time of production, appearing as his own forerunner Oliver Mowat;[http://www.paherald.sk.ca/News/Canada%20-%20World/Arts/2012-07-13/article-3031121/Ontario-LtGov-David-Onley-films-cameo-for-CBC-drama-Murdoch-Mysteries/1 "Ontario Lt.-Gov. David Onley films cameo for CBC drama 'Murdoch Mysteries'"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160921160620/http://www.paherald.sk.ca/News/Canada%20-%20World/Arts/2012-07-13/article-3031121/Ontario-LtGov-David-Onley-films-cameo-for-CBC-drama-Murdoch-Mysteries/1 |date=September 21, 2016 }}. Prince Albert Daily Herald, July 13, 2012. and two different episodes in which former Dragons' Den investors Arlene Dickinson and David Chilton guest-starred. Dickinson portrayed a business magnate named Miss Dickinson{{cite news |url=https://calgaryherald.com/entertainment/television/calgary-raised-entrepreneur-arlene-dickinson-to-leave-dragons-den-after-eight-seasons |title=Departing Dragon: Calgary's Arlene Dickinson talks about her eight seasons on Dragons' Den, her favourite investment and the 'beauty of an idea' |newspaper=Calgaryherald |access-date=January 26, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160920141003/http://calgaryherald.com/entertainment/television/calgary-raised-entrepreneur-arlene-dickinson-to-leave-dragons-den-after-eight-seasons |archive-date=September 20, 2016 |date=February 13, 2015 }}. Calgary Herald, February 13, 2015. and Chilton a character named Mr. Chilton (aka the "Wealthy Barber"). In season 17, episode 15 Margaret Atwood has a cameo as Loren Quinnell, an amateur birder, which is an interest she shared with her late husband Graeme Gibson.{{cite web |author= |date=Feb 25, 2025 |title=Margaret Atwood acts on Murdoch Mysteries |url=https://www.facebook.com/cbcgem/videos/margaret-atwood-acts-on-murdoch-mysteries/1105419627258879 |location=Canada |publisher=CBC GEM |access-date=Jan 9, 2025}}{{cite web |last=Leber |first=Jessica |date=March 29, 2021 |title=Margaret Atwood Talks Bird Lore To Celebrate the 'Bedside Book of Birds' |url=https://www.audubon.org/news/margaret-atwood-talks-bird-lore-celebrate-bedside-book-birds |website=www.audubon.org|publisher=Audobon Magazine |access-date=Jan 9, 2025}} Astronaut Chris Hadfield appears as a amateur "Rocketman" in the episode Murdoch at the End of the World centering around the arrival of Halley's Comet. He reassures listeners that the comet is harmless and should be enjoyed as a once-in-a-lifetime event.{{cite web |last=Ransome |first=Noel |date=Jan 12, 2023 |title=Astronaut Chris Hadfield to guest star on 'Murdoch Mysteries' episode Monday|url=https://toronto.citynews.ca/2023/01/12/astronaut-chris-hadfield-to-guest-star-on-murdoch-mysteries-episode-monday/|website=www.audubon.org|publisher=The Canadian Press |access-date=Feb 11, 2025}}
In 2013, Murdoch Mysteries aired a fictional crossover with another CBC Television crime drama, Republic of Doyle.[http://arts.nationalpost.com/2013/11/25/stinson-celebrating-the-can-combo-of-republic-of-doyle-and-murdoch-mysteries/ "Celebrating the Can-combo of Republic of Doyle and Murdoch Mysteries"] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20131212035932/http://arts.nationalpost.com/2013/11/25/stinson-celebrating-the-can-combo-of-republic-of-doyle-and-murdoch-mysteries/ |date=December 12, 2013 }}. National Post, November 25, 2013. With the two shows set over 100 years apart, Allan Hawco appeared on the November 25, 2013, episode of Murdoch Mysteries as Jacob Doyle, a 19th-century ancestor of his regular character Jake Doyle, while Bisson appeared on the January 29, 2014, episode of Republic of Doyle as Detective Bill Murdoch, a 21st-century descendant of Detective William Murdoch. The end of the latter episode references the previous episode.
In 2017, Colin Mochrie appeared on Murdoch Mysteries as a hotel detective, after joking on Twitter that he was the only Canadian actor left who had never done a guest spot on the show.[https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/television/2017/10/04/from-a-tweet-to-a-guest-spot-colin-mochrie-takes-his-bow-on-murdoch-mysteries.html "From a tweet to a guest spot: Colin Mochrie takes his bow on Murdoch Mysteries"]. Toronto Star, October 4, 2017.
Production
Murdoch Mysteries is produced and developed by Shaftesbury Films in association with Citytv, ITV Studios Global Entertainment, UKTV and with the assistance of the Canadian Film or Video Production Tax Credit, the Ontario Film and Television Tax Credit, and the Canadian Television Fund. It features the distinctive theme music of the composer Robert Carli.
Prior to being picked up as a regular weekly series, three television movies, Except the Dying, Poor Tom Is Cold and Under the Dragon's Tail, aired on Bravo Canada in 2004. These films starred Peter Outerbridge as William Murdoch, Matthew MacFadzean as George Crabtree, Keeley Hawes as Julia Ogden, and Colm Meaney as Inspector Brackenreid.
Seasons one and two were filmed at the Toronto Film Studios facility on Eastern Avenue in Toronto. However, that facility was closed at the end of 2008,{{cite web|url=http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/toronto/archive/2008/08/19/filmport-arrives-with-a-flourish-but-without-work.aspx|title=Filmport Arrives with a Flourish, But Without Work|work=National Post|access-date=August 25, 2008}}{{dead link|date=May 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} forcing the third season to be filmed elsewhere in Toronto, in the area near Kipling Subway to the west of the city.
For seasons one, two and three, filming locations included the Galt district of Cambridge, Ontario. Sidewalks and driveways were covered in earth, and in season one the Dobbie Mansion was used for about a week of indoor filming. Parts of the opening episode of season three were filmed in Bristol in England.
In August 2010 production on the fourth season began and continued through November 2010 with filming in Toronto and Hamilton.{{cite press release|url=http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/August2010/16/c2926.html|title=More Murdoch Mysteries in store with production underway on season four of Shaftesbury's hit drama series for Citytv and Alibi|via=newswire.ca|access-date=January 29, 2011|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706191129/http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/August2010/16/c2926.html|archive-date=July 6, 2011}} Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper filmed a cameo appearance as a constable in the fourth season on October 15, 2010, when he visited the set with his daughter.{{cite news |url=http://www.citytv.com/toronto/citynews/entertainment/news/article/96876--prime-minister-harper-shoots-cameo-on-murdoch-mysteries |title=Prime Minister Harper Shoots Cameo on Murdoch Mysteries |work=City News Toronto |publisher=citytv.com |access-date=March 11, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629104848/http://www.citytv.com/toronto/citynews/entertainment/news/article/96876--prime-minister-harper-shoots-cameo-on-murdoch-mysteries |archive-date=June 29, 2011 }}
Filming of season five began in July 2011 and included a visit to Dawson City in the Yukon.{{Cite news|url=http://www.toronto.com/article/695718|title=An up close and dirty view of Murdoch Mysteries|work=Toronto.com|accessdate=November 16, 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111112105559/http://www.toronto.com/article/695718|archive-date=November 12, 2011}} In September 2011, Rogers Media decided not to continue with Murdoch Mysteries beyond the fifth season.{{Cite news|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/arts/television/citytv-killing-murdoch-mysteries-after-upcoming-season/article2182210/|title=Citytv killing 'Murdoch Mysteries' after upcoming season|work=The Globe and Mail|access-date=November 16, 2011|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111128012357/http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/arts/television/citytv-killing-murdoch-mysteries-after-upcoming-season/article2182210/|archive-date=November 28, 2011}} In response to the cancellation of the series Christina Jennings, executive producer and CEO of Shaftesbury Films said: {{blockquote|We've watched the show grow with the passionate support of audiences in Canada and around the world, and look forward to bringing the storyline to a fulfilling conclusion for fans during our final season.}}
Murdoch Mysteries was described as an "odd fit" for Citytv's schedule, which consists of more contemporary, urban hip, imported programming. Shaftesbury's British partners in the production of the series, broadcaster UKTV and the international distributor ITV Studios Global Entertainment, were both interested in additional seasons. Christina Jennings approached Kirstine Stewart, executive vice-president of CBC's English services, about continuing the series, and she felt that "a home at CBC made absolute sense". Reports of the change of broadcasters and commitment for a sixth season appeared in the evening of November 15 with the press releases being issued on November 16.{{cite web|url=http://shaftesbury.ca/home/announcements/murdoch-cbc-release/Murdoch_CBC_Release.pdf|title=MURDOCH MYSTERIES MOVES TO A NEW HOME ON CBC TV|accessdate=November 16, 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120425231011/http://shaftesbury.ca/home/announcements/murdoch-cbc-release/Murdoch_CBC_Release.pdf|archivedate=April 25, 2012}} Production of the sixth season began in April 2012 to be ready for CBC in September 2012, but later the premiere for season six was changed to January 2013, and instead an encore of season five aired in September. Production of the 13th season started in May 2019.{{cite press release |date=May 21, 2019 |title=Lucky 13! Cameras Roll on Season 13 of #1 Canadian Drama 'Murdoch Mysteries' for CBC and UKTV |url=https://www.shaftesbury.ca/de/cache/news_stories/45/PressRelease-FrankieDrakeMysteries%20Season3%20SOP%20FINAL.pdf |location=Toronto |publisher=Shaftesbury Films |access-date=May 21, 2019 }}{{Dead link|date=March 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
On June 1, 2022, CBC announced the sixteenth season, which again will have twenty four episodes.{{cite web|url=https://www.cbc.ca/mediacentre/press-release/cbc-unveils-2022-23-programming-slate-featuring-over-40-original-series-and|title=CBC UNVEILS 2022-23 PROGRAMMING SLATE FEATURING OVER 40 ORIGINAL SERIES AND SPECIALS FROM CANADIAN STORYTELLERS|work=CBC.ca|accessdate=June 1, 2022}}
The show's 17th season features a musical episode, directed by Laurie Lynd.Greg David, [https://www.tv-eh.com/2024/03/16/preview-murdoch-mysteries-offers-up-pitch-perfect-musical-episode/ "Preview: Murdoch Mysteries offers up pitch-perfect musical episode"]. TV, eh?, March 16, 2024.
Web series
In addition to the regular television series, several short run web series have also been created under the Murdoch Mysteries banner.
In 2011, Murdoch Mysteries: The Curse of the Lost Pharaohs debuted on citytv.com, blending live action and animation to depict a storyline in which Crabtree, Murdoch, Dr. Ogden and Inspector Brackenreid were forced to battle mummies who were attempting to kill Queen Victoria.[http://www.canadaonscreen.ca/productions/television/murdoch_mysteries_the_curse_of_the_lost_pharaohs canadaonscreen.ca Murdoch Mysteries: The Curse of the Lost Pharaohs] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121221202848/http://www.canadaonscreen.ca/productions/television/murdoch_mysteries_the_curse_of_the_lost_pharaohs |date=December 21, 2012 }}. Canada on Screen. The storyline of the webseries was also integrated into the regular television series; within the main television plot Crabtree, as an aspiring writer, spent much of the season working on The Curse of the Lost Pharaohs as a fantasy novel manuscript. The Curse of the Lost Pharaohs garnered nominations for Best Digital Program: Fiction at the 2012 Emmy Awards, Cross-Platform Project, Fiction at the 2012 Banff World Media Festival and Cross-Platform Project, Fiction at the 1st Canadian Screen Awards.
The 2012 season web series The Murdoch Effect featured a time travel plotline in which William Murdoch suddenly found himself transported to the 21st century, and had to solve a case with eerie parallels to one he was investigating in his own timeline.
The 2013 series Nightmare on Queen Street featured an interactive story in which the viewer was called upon to solve the case by piecing together clues from each webisode. This series also garnered a nomination for Best Cross-Platform Project, Fiction at the 2nd Canadian Screen Awards.
The 2023 webseries Macy Murdoch stars Shailyn Pierre-Dixon as the titular Macy Murdoch, a 21st-century descendant of William Murdoch who is transported back in time to 1910.[https://www.tv-eh.com/2023/04/03/cbc-gems-macy-murdoch-is-worthy-of-the-murdoch-moniker/ "CBC Gem’s Macy Murdoch is worthy of the Murdoch moniker"]. TV, eh?, April 3, 2023.
Broadcast
In Australia, Murdoch Mysteries airs on 13th Street Monday to Friday at 7:30 pm, with the latest series also airing at 7:30 pm on Saturdays.{{Citation needed|date=March 2015}} In 2017, Channel 7two ran three episodes back to back every Thursday night commencing from 8.30 pm.[https://mumbrella.com.au/7two-program-schedule-week-commencing-may-21-2017-444290 7two Program Schedule for Week Commencing May 21, 2017] at mumbrella.com.au
The series airs in the United Kingdom on Alibi (formerly known as UKTV Drama).{{cite web|url=http://alibi.uktv.co.uk/shows/murdoch-mysteries/|title=Murdoch Mysteries – Alibi Channel|work=uktv.co.uk|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151019001319/http://alibi.uktv.co.uk/shows/murdoch-mysteries/|archive-date=October 19, 2015}}
In the United States, Murdoch Mysteries is broadcast on several digital subchannel networks, streaming services and even some local network affiliates:
- Episodes of Murdoch Mysteries are broadcast on several networks, usually at night or early in the morning on weekends with some episode overlap. Digital subchannel networks such as Retro TV and NBC's Cozi TV subchannel provide broadcasts at various dates and times.{{cite web|url=http://www.cozitv.com/tv-listings/|title=TV Listings|publisher=Cozi TV|access-date=May 2, 2019}}{{cite web|url=http://www.wfmz.com/station/listings|title=WFMZTV 69.1 Program Schedule|publisher=WFMZ|access-date=May 2, 2019|archive-date=April 24, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190424032000/http://www.wfmz.com/station/listings|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=https://abc7ny.com/tvlistings/|title=TV Listings - ABC7 News, Shows & Schedules|website=ABC7 New York|access-date=May 2, 2019}}
- American Public Television acquired the first season of Murdoch Mysteries from ITV Global Entertainment in 2009 for broadcast syndication to public-television stations throughout the U.S.[http://www.aptonline.org/catalog.nsf/AlphaLookup/C5DFD9CD21E9C4F8852575AE0057DBE7 Murdoch Mysteries] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090605214335/http://www.aptonline.org/catalog.nsf/AlphaLookup/C5DFD9CD21E9C4F8852575AE0057DBE7 |date=June 5, 2009}} at American Public Television
- Genesis International took over the American syndication rights to Murdoch Mysteries after they acquired the rights from ITV Studios Global Entertainment and American Public Television in mid-summer 2014 for broadcast syndication to commercial television stations in the U.S.{{Citation needed|date=March 2015}} Like the digital subchannel networks, several of these stations, including ABC network flagship WABC-TV in New York City, WFMZ-TV in Pennsylvania's Lehigh Valley region, KHOU in Houston and WEWS-TV in Cleveland,{{cite web|url=http://www.tvpassport.com/tv-listings/stations/wews/215|title=ABC (WEWS) Cleveland, OH|work=TV Passport|publisher=TV Media Inc.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161023052153/http://www.tvpassport.com/tv-listings/stations/wews/215|archive-date=October 23, 2016|url-status=live|access-date=October 22, 2016}} also carry the show overnights during the early morning hours.
- The series began airing on the Ovation cable TV network in 2013 under the title The Artful Detective.{{cite web|url=https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/television/2013/10/09/murdoch_mysteries_picked_up_in_us.html|title=Murdoch Mysteries picked up in U.S.|date=October 9, 2013|work=Toronto Star|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150928182616/http://www.thestar.com/entertainment/television/2013/10/09/murdoch_mysteries_picked_up_in_us.html|archive-date=September 28, 2015|url-status=live|access-date=September 6, 2015}}{{cite web|url=http://www.ovationtv.com/series/artful-detective|title=The Artful Detective|work=ovationtv.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150906013318/http://www.ovationtv.com/series/artful-detective/|archive-date=September 6, 2015|url-status=dead|access-date=September 6, 2015}} Starting with Season 12, the show will now go by its original name of Murdoch Mysteries on Ovation. The network also shared the series with the Fox Broadcasting Company on certain stations on Sundays at 2AM ET until June 2020 when it was removed from some stations. In late July 2020, ION TV's ION Plus network picked up the series and started airing it on Sundays. The series also available to stream all seasons on Acorn TV.
- {{As of|2015}}, Seasons 1–6 are being streamed on the Hulu video, on-demand subscription service.{{citation needed|date=June 2015}}
- In 2013, Acorn.tv began showing the first seven seasons on its online premium service and made Season 8 available in 2015.{{Cite web|url=http://acorn.tv/help/faq|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140417084654/http://acorn.tv/help/faq|url-status=dead|title=Frequently Asked Questions|publisher=Acorn TV|archive-date=April 17, 2014}}{{Cite web|url=https://acorn.tv/murdoch/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140612000528/http://acorn.tv/franchise/murdoch|url-status=dead|title=Murdoch Mysteries|archive-date=June 12, 2014|publisher=Acorn TV}}
- Amazon Prime made the series available adding season 8 in 2015.{{citation needed|date=September 2015|reason=a primary source would satisfy verifiability, but a secondary source would be preferred.}}
In France, the series is shown on France 3 and has been retitled Les Enquêtes de Murdoch (Murdoch Investigations).{{Cite web|url=https://www.france.tv/france-3/les-enquetes-de-murdoch/|title=Les enquêtes de Murdoch|website=france.tv}}
In Greece, Murdoch Mysteries airs on ERT2 under the title Ντετέκτιβ Μέρντοχ (Detective Murdoch) on Saturday and Sunday at 9:00 pm{{Cite web|url=https://series.ert.gr/ntetektiv-merntoch-epeisodia-13os-kyklos/|title=Detective Murdoch|website=ert.gr}}{{Dead link|date=March 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
Home video releases
Acorn Media has released ten seasons of Murdoch Mysteries on DVD and Blu-ray in North America and Australia.
ITV Studios Home Entertainment has released four seasons on DVD in the UK and has also released a box set of the seasons 1–3. Season 4 onward, are available through Amazon UK, but in Region 1 format only. The first seven seasons are available for home viewing via streaming from Acorn.
= DVDs =
class="wikitable" |
Title
!Region 1 !Region 2 !Region 4 !Extras !Discs |
---|
Murdoch Mysteries – Season One
|
| 4 |
Murdoch Mysteries – Season Two
|
| 4 |
Murdoch Mysteries – Season Three
|
| 4 |
Murdoch Mysteries – Season Four
|
| 4 |
Murdoch Mysteries – Season Five
| December 24, 2012 | May 6, 2013{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00B8X518O |title=Murdoch Mysteries: Series 5 (DVD) |website=Amazon UK }} | August 1, 2012 |
| 4 |
Murdoch Mysteries – Season Six
|
| 4 |
Murdoch Mysteries – Season Seven
|
| 5 |
Murdoch Mysteries – Season Eight
| |
Murdoch Mysteries – Season Nine
|
| 5 |
Murdoch Mysteries – Season Ten
|
|
Murdoch Mysteries - Season Eleven
| July 31, 2018 | May 14, 2018 | May 16, 2018 |
| 5 |
Murdoch Mysteries - Season Twelve
| July 30, 2019 | May 20, 2019 | May 15, 2019 |
| 5 |
Murdoch Mysteries - Season Thirteen
|rowspan=6|n/a | 5 |
Murdoch Mysteries - Season Fourteen
| August 31, 2021 | 3 |
Murdoch Mysteries - Season Fifteen
| April 25, 2023 | rowspan=3|TBD | 6 |
Murdoch Mysteries - Season Sixteen
| October 24, 2023 | 5 |
Murdoch Mysteries - Season Seventeen
|November 5, 2024 |6 |
= Blu-ray =
class="wikitable" |
Title
!Region A !Region B !Extras !Discs |
---|
Murdoch Mysteries – Season One
| April 17, 2012 | rowspan=13| n/a |
| 3 |
Murdoch Mysteries – Season Two
| March 5, 2013 |
| 3 |
Murdoch Mysteries – Season Three
| May 3, 2011 |
| 3 |
Murdoch Mysteries – Season Four
| May 29, 2012 |
| 3 |
Murdoch Mysteries – Season Five
| December 24, 2012 (direct from Acorn Media) |
| 3 |
Murdoch Mysteries – Season Six
| November 26, 2013 |
| 3 |
Murdoch Mysteries – Season Seven
| October 18, 2014 |
| 5 |
Murdoch Mysteries – Season Eight
|
|
Murdoch Mysteries – Season Nine
|
| 4 |
Murdoch Mysteries – Season Ten
|
| 4 |
Murdoch Mysteries – Season Eleven
| July 31, 2018 |
| 4 |
Murdoch Mysteries – Season Twelve
| July 30, 2019 |
| 4 |
Murdoch Mysteries – Season Thirteen
| July 7, 2020 |rowspan=5|n/a | 4 |
Murdoch Mysteries – Season Fourteen
| TBD |3 |
Murdoch Mysteries – Season Fifteen
| |rowspan=3|n/a | |
Murdoch Mysteries – Season Sixteen
|5 |
Murdoch Mysteries – Season Seventeen
|November 5, 2024 | 6 |
= Season sets =
class="wikitable" |
Title
!Region 1 !Region 2 !Region 4 !Discs |
---|
Murdoch Mysteries – Complete Series 1–3
| rowspan="3" | n/a | August 30, 2010 | n/a | 12 |
Murdoch Mysteries: Series 1–5 Collection
| n/a | November 7, 2012 | 20 |
Murdoch Mysteries: Seasons 1–4 Collection (DVD & Blu-ray)
| March 5, 2013 | rowspan="2" | n/a | 16 DVDs/12 Blu-ray |
Murdoch Mysteries: Seasons 5–8 Collection (DVD & Blu-ray)
| rowspan="2" | n/a |
Murdoch Mysteries: Series 1–9 Collection (DVD)
| rowspan="2" | n/a | September 11, 2016 | |
Murdoch Mysteries: The Collection - Series 1–11 (includes the Christmas Specials and TV Movies)
| November 12, 2018 | rowspan="2" | n/a | 53 |
Murdoch Mysteries: Seasons 9–12 Collection (DVD & Blu-ray)
| July 30, 2019 | n/a | 20 DVDs/16 Blu-ray |
= TV movies =
class="wikitable" |
Title
!Region 1 !Region 2 !Region 4 !Discs |
---|
The Murdoch Mysteries
| n/a | n/a | 3 |
= Christmas Special =
class="wikitable" |
Title
!Region 1 !Region 2 !Region 4 !Extras !Discs |
---|
Once Upon a Murdoch Christmas
| n/a | n/a | Behind the Scenes Featurettes | 1 |
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Portal|Television|Canada}}
- {{official website|http://www.cbc.ca/murdochmysteries/ |name=Official page at CBC Television}}
- [http://uktv.co.uk/alibi/homepage/sid/8089 Murdoch Mysteries] at Alibi
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20131004022647/http://www.ovationtv.com/artful-detective/ The Artful Detective] at Ovation
- {{IMDb title|1091909|Murdoch Mysteries}}
- [https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/murdoch_mysteries Murdoch Mysteries] at Rotten Tomatoes
{{CBC Television Shows (current and upcoming)}}
{{Murdoch Mysteries}}
{{Authority control}}
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