Jessica investigates when an artist is murdered and his prized painting is missing.

Season 3, Episode 17: Simon Says, Color Me Dead (March 1, 1987)

Simon Thane is a celebrated artist living in Cabot Cove. For the last several years, Thane has jealously guarded his favorite painting, which he has never allowed to be seen publicly. Jessica becomes involved in the story when Thane is murdered and his prized painting stolen, leading our heroine to conclude that the mysterious work of art may contain a clue as to the killer’s identity.

Who’s in it, outside of Angela Lansbury?

As always, Tom Bosley as Sheriff Amos Tupper and William Windom as Dr. Seth Hazlitt are here.

Diane Baker (The Haunted, The Old Man Who Cried Wolf) is Eleanor Thane.

Comedian Foster Brooks plays Simon Thane.

Ann Dusenberry, Tina from Jaws 2, is Carol Selby.

Leonard Frey is Felix Casslaw.

Tess Harper (Tender Mercies) is Irene Rutledge.

Steve Inwood (Cruising) is Cash Logan.

Dick Sargent (Bewitched) is George Selby.

Chris Hebert (Invaders from Mars) is Tommy Rutledge.

In smaller roles, Phillip Clark is Deputy Collins and Daryl Lynn Wood is Martha Sommers.

What happens?

Simon and Eleanor Thane have been staying in Cabot Cove, but haven’t even tried to spend time with J.B. She’s busy being, well, Jessica. Ever the mediator, she steps in when Martha Sommers accuses young Tommy Rutledge of bike theft. Jessica’s solution is to gift Tommy a bike once owned by her late husband, Frank. This highlights her maternal warmth, contrasting sharply with the cold, pretentious salon hosted by the Thanes later that evening, which they at least remember to invite her to.

Yes, Simon Thane isn’t just a celebrated artist. He’s a man who thrives on being the smartest and most elusive person in the room. Living in Cabot Cove for the quiet atmosphere, he has spent his final years obsessively guarding a secret masterpiece.

Man, the guest list is a powder keg. Felix Casslaw is a gallery owner smelling a massive payday; Carol and George Selby seem to have a deep, albeit strained connection to Simon and Eleanor, Simon’s wife, who has spent years in the shadow of his genius and his moods.

Hours after everyone leaves, young Tommy wakes up to a bloody Irene who tells him to go back to bed. Everyone else wakes up to a dead Simon and a missing painting. Irene swears she didn’t kill him, but Amos is convinced that it’s a crime of passion, remarking that “Just because there’s snow on the roof doesn’t mean there’s not fire in the hearth.”

Is he projecting his cop boner onto his favorite mystery writer?

Now, Carol believes that Cabot Cove should have a Simon Thane exhibition and it seems like everyone wants to get richer off his death. Irene claims that before Eleanor went to bed, she went to see Simon to get the money he owed her, but he was already dead. Somehow, in the middle of all of this, we learn that Irene isn’t Tommy’s real mom. An awful lot happens in Cabot Cove.

Anyway, we got a dead artist, and this is why Simon and Eleanor were not talking to J.N. Simon had to die to learn that lesson.

Who did it?

Jessica realizes that the painting wasn’t stolen just for its monetary value. It was stolen because it was a confession in oil. The painting revealed Simon’s true obsession with Carol Selby, but it also captured a truth about their relationship that Carol couldn’t allow to become public. Simon was in love with her; she just would cock tease him by letting him paint her, but the truth is that she never loved him.

Who made it?

Kevin G. Cremin, who was an assistant director on several other episodes, directed. It was written Robert E. Swanson, one of 87 episodes he told the story of.

Does Jessica dress up and act stupid? Does she get some?

No. I say it’s high time we get that.

Was it any good?

Haven’t we already had another artist die on this show? Yes. Many more will die before we’re done.

Any trivia?

Diane Baker and Steve Inwood would be in three more episodes as different characters.

Give me a reasonable quote:

Jessica Fletcher: I wouldn’t be a bit surprised if they started seeing quite a lot of each other. How about some more coffee, Amos? And I will tell you something else to put into your amnesia file.

What’s next?

Jessica investigates when an artist is murdered, and his prized painting is missing.