Murder, She Wrote – “Class Act”

Original Air Date: December 3, 1989

Directed by: Allen Reisner

Cat Out of the Bag Alert! This review contains a spoiler for this episode!

Synopsis: Jessica Fletcher (Angela Lansbury) narrates the story of Lt. Amos Ballinger (Barry Newman), a police detective assigned to teach a class in criminal investigation at a local university and whose students help him solve a woman’s murder.

Kitty Cameo: Ballinger lives with his adult daughter Jane (Heather McAdam) who finds him about to eat a breakfast of burned eggs, bacon and toast. She quickly takes the plate away and sets it on the floor, calling for their cat Caesar. The gray and white longhaired cat approaches the plate, sniffing, then backs away.

Murder, She Wrote - Class Act - gray and white longhaired cat Caesar approaching plate of burned food
Murder, She Wrote - Class Act - gray and white longhaired cat Caesar pulling back from plate of burned food

Caesar tries to approach the plate again but turns away. It would appear the cat actor’s trainer is setting the cat down just off screen and is positioned behind the cat the whole time, just in case the feline thespian decides to bolt.

Murder, She Wrote - Class Act - gray and white longhaired cat Caesar approaching plate of burned food
Murder, She Wrote - Class Act - gray and white longhaired cat Caesar pulling back from plate of burned food
Murder, She Wrote - Class Act - gray and white longhaired cat Caesar approaching plate of burned food and backing away animated gif

Final Mewsings: Don’t insult your cat with bad food!

Many thanks to Ted Davis for letting us know about the cat in this episode!

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