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It’s impossible to have grown up in the 90s and not know
about Murphy Brown. The hilarious
sitcom that starred the amazing Candice Bergen in the title role was iconic.
Bergen’s character was witty and brilliant, but I most remember her for being a
staunch feminist and social justice activist.
In 1992, when Vice President Dan Quayle attacked the show because
Bergen’s character had a child out of wedlock and was raising the baby as a
single mother, Bergen’s response was swift. Using the show as a vehicle, she
addressed the nation as Murphy Brown and reminded us that families come in all
shapes and sizes and that blaming her for the “poverty of values in the
country was absurd.” Bergen/Brown stood up for families and single mothers
everywhere; it was truly a watershed moment in TV history.
What people might not know about Bergen is that she doesn’t
just stand up for people; she stands up for animals too. In fact, in 2015 she
partnered with Mercy For Animals, narrating a shocking
undercover video that exposed horrific abuses to chickens raised and killed
for Tyson Foods. The video went viral, garnering nearly half a million views on
YouTube alone. A few months later, she appeared on the
cover of MFA’s magazine, Compassionate
Living.
So it should come as no surprise that the reboot of Murphy Brown (which premiered this fall)
has something to say when it comes to farmed animals. In the episode that aired
on Thanksgiving, Brown invites all her friends and co-workers to her house. As
she tries and fails to cook a turkey, Pat, hilariously played by actor Nik
Dodani, lectures the room on the horrors turkeys
experience before they become food. Dodani’s character, a proud vegan,
brings his own Thanksgiving dinner, an endless supply of soy steak, soy
sausage, soy turkey … you get the picture. He is the only one who gets to eat
while the other characters look on with envy.
As an activist, it’s thrilling to see Murphy Brown take this opportunity to plant a seed, especially on
Thanksgiving. The reboot shows no sign of shying away from the important issues
of the day and will continue to challenge people to open their hearts and
minds. It was absolutely fantastic to see Dodani’s character speaking out for
turkeys on prime-time TV.
Whether it’s to help curb climate change, take back their
health, or stand strong against animal cruelty, millions of people around the
globe are moving away from animal products and switching to a delicious
plant-based diet. Want to join them? There’s never been a better time. Visit ChooseVeg.com to learn more and make sure to
follow MFA on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.