It would seem that after a long and satisfying run on A&E's sister network, The Biography Channel, Murder, She Wrote has been dropped from the schedule for good. Although this has minimal impact on me personally (like a lot of people, I don't get Bio on my cable system), I nevertheless grieve with the fans that have been affected. True enough, the Hallmark Channel now has MSW, a great boon considering Hallmark is a lot more common among cable subscribers than Biography ever was. But after a rousing start in which they showed MSW literally morning, noon, and night, Hallmark has settled in with showing it only in the late night slots of 11 PM and 12 AM Eastern Time. The Biography Channel, by contrast, showed it at reasonable times - midmorning, and primetime. If you had the option of both channels, and you weren't a habitual night-owl, there was little question as to which channel you'd be getting your MSW fix on.
And now? Now it's late night on Hallmark or nothing, and MSW fans, legion though they are, find themselves once again shunted aside in favor of a reality tv show that follows the goings-on at an airport (insert yawn here).
The Biography Channel may not hear your cries of anguish, loyal fans, but The Definitive Guide does! Here, then, immortalized on this blog, are some of the comments left at Bio.com's MSW message board - perhaps one of the last lively threads that message board will ever see:
"I do realize that not everyone gets the Bio channel through their cable company, but I really enjoyed watching MSW in the morning. Thank goodness I have my tapes and DVD's!!!" --Elena53
"I am very disappointed they removed it from the schedule. ...When I went to watch it this morning it was gone. 
Now I see at 11 they are putting that ridiculous Airline show - what a shame they remove quality programs for trash tv." --Yarbo
"I cannot believe that you could remove this show from your lineup - it is one of the greatest series created. It is so much more enjoyable to tune in instead of being subjected to shows that insult your intelligence. " --kathi46
"I, too, was stunned when I went to watch MSW this afternoon. And now that Hallmark has changed its schedule in the afternoon, our options are almost nil. Watching Jessica solve mysteries was a highlight. Too bad. " --Nancy B
"I am terribly dissappointed in the removal of MSW from your lineup. MSW was the reason for requesting the biography channel from my cable provider. I have cancelled my subscription to your channel and I would like to mention I am not the only one I know that is cancelling the biography channel due to the removal of MSW." --Majik
"I too miss Murder She Wrote. As someone else said, cold turkey is going to be rough. Murder She Wrote is a quality show and is being replaced with low grade shows." --Photo Bug
My father, sister and I are Murder She Wrote fans. We plan to drop the Biography channel from our cable subscription because Murder She Wrote is no longer on the t.v. schedule." --Linda Lou
I was shocked to see MSW was gone from the line up. I watched both episodes every day if I could! I am going through withdrawals!...That was pretty much the only thing I ever watched on tv. These reality shows are really taking over. Airline is not at all entertaining to me, and certainly not a good replacement for a classic show like Murder, She Wrote." --cpmorris
"MSW will be missed. there are so few shows of that caliber." --chassim
"I`m very disappointed that MSW has been dropped. First Midsommer Murders now this. I will no longer be watching the Biography Channel. Let me know when you come to your senses and put these shows back on!!!" --ksellenwood
"I live in Alaska and the 12noon to 2pm schedule of MSW is wonderful. This is my break time. The ONLY reason that I have the this channel was for MSW and Sherlock Holmes. Now that you do not have these two shows, I will call my cable provider and unsubscribed to this channel." --arcticwhite2002
"I just set up an account solely to voice my disappointment over Murder She Wrote being removed. I am a 31-year-old consultant who works from home and Angela Lansbury has become my quasi-coworker over the past few years. I am so bummed out that the programming was yanked – in what feels like such a sudden manner. I’ve written a letter to A&E since the Biography.com feedback page returns an error message. It sounds like I will need to check out Hallmark, although MSW doesn’t air until 11pm PST on our cable system. Without the Mystery series, I have absolutely no desire to watch the Biography channel any further." --magpie76
And this, perhaps the most poignant posting of all:
"I agree, I miss watching MSW. I watched it as much as possible. To be honest, when it was on originally I didn't watch much but it was always one of my Mom's favorite shows. My Mom has since passed and it makes me think of her to watch it. I know it sounds kind of silly. I guess I just want as many things to remind me of her as possible." --kelliemarie
I should note that many of the irate posts came from first-time posters, moved to comment by their unhappiness with The Biography Channel's unpopular decision. Sadly, these irate posts are unlikely to change anything, as veteran Bio.com poster JayJay points out:
"Biography has already made it's decision regarding MSW. The courtesy of notifying it's viewers? What would one expect from someplace connected to A&E? Cut from the same cloth. Begging Biography to change it's mind? Remember A&E, anyone? Been there, done that."
And that is likely to be the final word on the subject. See y'all over at the Hallmark Channel's MSW message board.
