Diagnosis: Murder season 5

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Diagnosis: Murder – Season 5 (short, easy-to-understand version)

Season 5 of Diagnosis: Murder has 25 episodes and originally aired on CBS from September 25, 1997, to May 14, 1998. It aired on Thursdays at 9:00–10:00 pm ET and includes the series’ 100th episode. This was the first season without Michael Tucci’s character, Norman Briggs. The season was released on DVD in two parts and also as a complete set by Visual Entertainment, Inc.; the split release omits Obsession Part 2, and some scenes differ between releases (a scene with Mark meeting Rob Petrie is missing in the split version but included in the complete collection).

What the season is like
- The show blends crime mysteries with the human humor that fans expect. Dr. Mark Sloan and his team solve a variety of cases at Community General Hospital and beyond.
- A major storyline in this season points to possible corruption inside the police department, sparked by the murder of a councilman’s wife. This episode features guest stars who were famous in classic U.S. police shows.
- The season also features a strong lineup of guest stars, including actors who previously appeared on classic cop series.

Notable episodes and guests
- One episode centers on a judge’s son involved with a powerful media family, ending in a deadly confrontation.
- A Malibu-area fire investigation and the involvement of a local volunteer firefighter add intensity and suspense.
- The 100th episode features several guest stars connected to M*A*S*H, including Sally Kellerman, Loretta Swit, Jamie Farr, and William Christopher, along with other TV veterans.
- Other memorable installments include a comedy episode about a murdered mime, a hostage situation with a suicide vest, and a case involving medical and cosmetic surgery clinics, airliner crashes, and hospital politics (including issues with an HMO).
- The season often uses big-name guest appearances, such as Fred Dryer, Kent McCord, Martin Milner, Shelley Hack, Anthony Michael Hall, Marina Sirtis, Jane Seymour, Phyllis Diller, Regis Philbin, Elliott Gould, Loretta Swit, Jamie Farr, and many others.

Story threads and style
- The episodes mix standalone mysteries with ongoing character-driven moments and occasional longer arcs, including fallout from past cases and a continuing tension with mob-related intrigue.
- FBI involvement appears in some episodes, with Special Agent Ron Wagner helping move certain plots forward.
- The season ends with setup for the next season, continuing some story threads and bringing back familiar characters and dynamics.

Endnotes
- Resurrection Parts I and II, which begin the next season, continue some of the season’s ongoing storylines with Carter Sweeney and his sister Caitlin.
- A related note for fans of Diagnosis Murder novels: writer Lee Goldberg later published Diagnosis Murder #8: The Last Word, featuring Carter Sweeney.