Diagnosis: Murder (season 5)

Diagnosis: Murder's fifth season originally aired Thursdays at 9:00–10:00 pm (EST).[1][2]

Diagnosis: Murder
Season 5
Country of origin	United States
No. of episodes	25
Release
Original network	CBS
Original release	September 25, 1997 (1997-09-25) – May 14, 1998 (1998-05-14)
Season chronology

The season was released on DVD in two parts and as a whole by Visual Entertainment, Inc. When the split season was released, the episode of Obsession Part 2 wasn't included. The scene where Mark meets Rob Petrie at the radio station is absent in the single releases but was included in the complete collection set.

Cast

• Dick Van Dyke as Dr. Mark Sloan
• Victoria Rowell as Dr. Amanda Bentley
• Charlie Schlatter as Dr. Jesse Travis
• Barry Van Dyke as Steve Sloan

Episodes

No. overall	No. in season	Title	Directed by	Written by	Original air date	U.S. viewers (millions)
86	1	"Murder Blues"	Christian I. Nyby II	Lee Goldberg & William Rabkin	September 18, 1997 (1997-09-18)	14.00
The investigation of a councilman's wife's murder uncovers a possible conspiracy within the police. Guest Stars: Fred Dryer (plays Police Chief Masters), James Darren, Kent McCord, Angie Dickinson, and Martin Milner.
87	2	"Open and Shut"	Christopher Hibler	Jacquelyn Blain	September 25, 1997 (1997-09-25)	15.10
A judge's son, David, also a judge, has been having an affair with Allison Porter (Marisa Coughlan), the daughter of a media mogul, since she was 13. On her 18th birthday she announces to David that she is going public, saying "I'm an adult now, and you're not married, so there is no need for secrecy", whereupon he drowns her in the bathtub. Guest Stars: Carol Huston, James Read, and Robert Stack.
88	3	"Malibu Fire"	Christian I. Nyby II	Teleplay by: Gerry Conway & Wayne Berwick Story by: Gerry Conway	October 2, 1997 (1997-10-02)	13.90
While investigating the death of an ecologist who had a long list of enemies, Sloan's house is threatened by a fire spreading through Malibu. Guest Stars: Robert Fuller, Randolph Mantooth, Brian Patrick Clarke, and Richard Gross.
89	4	"Deadly Games"	Christopher Hibler	Jeff Peters	October 9, 1997 (1997-10-09)	12.90
A wealthy blue blood is stabbed as part of a plot concocted by her chief security guard.
90	5	"Slam-Dunk Dead"	Vincent McEveety	Teleplay by: Larry Brody and Lee Goldberg & William Rabkin Story by: Larry Brody	October 16, 1997 (1997-10-16)	13.90
Jesse faces being fired and losing his State license because he is blamed for the death of a professional basketball star who took a lethal mixture of medications. Mark and Amanda quickly discover evidence that implicates murder, but Jesse's intent to clear his name puts him in more trouble. Guest Stars: Dan Gilvezan (plays Kent Beaudine), Mark Taylor, Pooh Richardson, Malik Sealy, and Brent Barry.
91	6	"Looks Can Kill"	Christopher Hibler	Craig Tepper	October 23, 1997 (1997-10-23)	15.00
A seemingly healthy model, Julia Brush (Signy Coleman), drops dead, and her condition may be related to plastic surgery. The clinic that did her work is investigated.
92	7	"Fatal Impact (Part I)"	Christian I. Nyby II	David Bennett Carren & J. Larry Carroll	October 30, 1997 (1997-10-30)	14.90
Sloan and Amanda participate in the investigation of an airliner's deadly crash. Guest Stars: Harry J. Lennix (as F.B.I. Agent Ron Wagner), and Steven Anderson.
93	8	"Fatal Impact (Part II)"	Christian I. Nyby II	Jacquelyn Blain	October 30, 1997 (1997-10-30)	14.90
Amanda's boyfriend Special Agent Ron Wagner declares he's taking over the investigation of the plane-crash and its hijack and smuggled Russian nuclear fuel rods for the FBI, but soon realizes he couldn't make anything like the necessary progress without the ingenious doctors trio and Steve. They team up for the investigation which becomes desperately urgent as there are indications that the nuclear material is used for a bomb likely to be used to cause an LA Apocalypse by surprising, personally vindictive suspect Diane, the spokesperson of the bereaved.
94	9	"Must Kill TV"	Christopher Hibler	Lee Goldberg & William Rabkin	November 6, 1997 (1997-11-06)	15.50
A TV executive's death from a second heart attack leads Sloan to uncover the fact that her nitroglycerin tablets had been replaced by sugar pills. Guest stars: Michele Greene, Molly Hagan, Jaleel White, John Aniston, Erik Estrada, Peter Graves (plays himself doing a Pilot of Doctor Danger as Dr. Mark Sloan), Jane Seymour, Fred Willard, Stephen J. Cannell (plays Jackson Burley), Reginald VelJohnson, Doug E. Doug, Tom Gallop (as Phil Zarkin), and Dr. Joyce Brothers.
95	10	"Discards"	Christian I. Nyby II	J. Larry Carroll & David Bennett Carren	November 13, 1997 (1997-11-13)	16.10
Jesse gets involved in a deadly web of international intrigue when he discovers his father is a secret agent being hunted, and it's soon discovered that an old case may hold the clues to catching the culprit. Guest stars: Robert Culp (plays Dane Travis, Jesse's Father), Barbera Bain (played Cinnamon Carter, the same character she played on the Mission Impossible TV Series), Robert Vaughn, Phil Morris, and Patrick Macnee.
96	11	"A Mime Is a Terrible Thing to Waste"	Christopher Hibler	Lee Goldberg & William Rabkin	November 20, 1997 (1997-11-20)	13.30
In this comedy, Rachel York stars as an attractive in-your-face polymath who finds a murdered mime in her bed. She will do anything to solve that murder, including stealing Steve's badge and calling herself Lieutenant Stevie Sloane. In the end, Mark and Steve agree that "She is really something!" Guest Star: Ken Kercheval.
97	12	"Down and Dirty Dead"	Ron Satlof	Barry Van Dyke	December 11, 1997 (1997-12-11)	14.90[3]
A motorcross daredevil's fatal crash during the filming of a stunt turns out to be sabotage, and the list of suspects and motives quickly rise. Guest Stars: Carey Van Dyke, and Shane Van Dyke.
98	13	"Retribution: Part 1"	Christian I. Nyby II	Lee Goldberg & William Rabkin	January 8, 1998 (1998-01-08)	13.90[3]
Sloan blames a crime lord for Steve getting hurt in a shoot-out, only to be accused of slaying the mobster. Sloan is also sentenced to death and gets to see whats it like on the other side. Guest Stars: Susan Gibney (who plays Tanis Archer), Fred Dryer (plays Police Chief Masters), Dennis Lipscomb, Jack Carter, and Connie Blankenship (who plays A.D.A. Sharon Ellison).
99	14	"Retribution: Part 2"	Christian I. Nyby II	Lee Goldberg & William Rabkin	January 15, 1998 (1998-01-15)	16.00
Sloan comes face to face with an old enemy on death row who may have set him up, whilst Steve and A.D.A. Ellison team up to prove Sloan's innocence. Guest Stars: Susan Gibney, Fred Dryer, Dennis Lipscomb, James Stephens, Neal McDonough, and Robb Skyler.
100	15	"Drill for Death"	Ron Satlof	Robin Madden	January 22, 1998 (1998-01-22)	15.60
During an emergency drill at the hospital the nursing administrator and an artist patient are murdered. Halfway through the episode a subway tunnel collapses and they have a real emergency on top of the drill. Lots of activity, suspects, stars and subplots. Guest stars: Kim Little (plays Nurse Susan Hilliard, Jesse's Girlfriend), Sally Kellerman, Elliott Gould, Loretta Swit, Jamie Farr, William Christopher, and Christopher Norris.
101	16	"Rain of Terror"	Christian I. Nyby II	Craig Tepper	January 29, 1998 (1998-01-29)	14.40
Sloan and Amanda are dinner guests on a rainy night of murder and intrigue that involves a mother and daughter. Guest Stars: John O'Hurley, Phina Oruche, and Adrienne Barbeau.
102	17	"Baby Boom"	Vincent McEveety	Jacquelyn Blain	February 5, 1998 (1998-02-05)	13.20
A man holds a child-birth class hostage, along with Amanda, claiming that one of the expectant women used his sperm without permission. But when the doctor suspected of the practice us murdered, Sloan must find a way to defuse the situation whilst solving the murder. Guest Star: Sam McMurray
103	18	"Talked to Death"	Christian I. Nyby II	Joyce Burditt	February 26, 1998 (1998-02-26)	15.30
A pair of talk-show hosts pull a ratings stunt that ends with one murdering the other. But Sloan quickly discovers someone may have set them up and discovers the cutthroat business of daytime talk shows gives him quite a few suspects. Guest Stars: Phyllis Diller, Army Archerd, Mary Frann, Kathie Lee Gifford, Regis Philbin, Ian Ogilvy, Greg Lauren, and Tod Susman.
104	19	"An Education in Murder"	Frank Thackery	Teleplay by: Jacquelyn Blain Story by: Jacquelyn Blain and D. O'Brien & Paul Rendle	March 5, 1998 (1998-03-05)	15.00
A social butterfly plots multiple deaths at a prep school. Guest Star: Kim Little (Nurse Susan Hilliard)
105	20	"Murder at the Finish Line"	Christopher Hibler	J. Larry Carroll & David Bennett Carren	March 26, 1998 (1998-03-26)	13.80
Sloan's investigation of a speedway crash that killed a stock-car racer takes a bizarre turn when the autopsy reveals he was dead before the crash even happened, leading him to believe the crash was a cover up. Guest Star: Marina Sirtis (voiced Demona in Disney's Gargoyles) and Tommy Kendall as himself
106	21	"First Do No Harm"	Vincent McEveety	Ernest Kinoy	April 16, 1998 (1998-04-16)	14.60
A young patient dies in the ER due to red-tape delays involving an HMO, leading Sloan to question managed care. Guest Stars: Alan Oppenheimer, Jason Schombing, Richard Fancy (plays Harold Lomax the new Administrator at Community General Hospital), Neil Dickson, Nancy Youngblut (plays Nurse Nancy Rush), and Davenia McFadden (plays Betty Pearson).
107	22	"Promises to Keep"	Christian I. Nyby II	David Bennett Carren & J. Larry Carroll	April 23, 1998 (1998-04-23)	15.00
Security guard Ryan Matthews (Gary Graham) shows up to identify the body of his murdered ex-wife, but it's not her. Little does the hospital know that Matthews is being blackmailed by a con artist who is holding her hostage. When the hospital is scammed and Matthews is the sole suspect, Sloan hatches a plan to expose the con man and clear Matthews name. Note: This episode concludes a story that begins on Promised Land in "Total Security". Guest stars: Troy Evans, Gary Graham, and Christopher John Fields.
108	23	"Food Fight"	Ron Satlof	Jacquelyn Blain	April 30, 1998 (1998-04-30)	13.10
Jesse volunteers to elect the caterer for the annual Benefactor's Ball when a murder is committed. Little does he know just how cutthroat it can get. Guest Stars: Kim Little (plays Nurse Susan Hilliard), Pat Morita, David L. Lander, Leslie Easterbrook, Conrad Janis, Erin Moran, and Donny Most.
109	24	"Obsession: Part 1"	Christian I. Nyby II	Lee Goldberg & William Rabkin	May 7, 1998 (1998-05-07)	13.40
Sloan believes that a serial bomber he helped condemn to death is guilty, even when there's another one after his execution. Guest stars: Harry J. Lennix (plays F.B.I. Agent Ron Wagner), Orson Bean (plays Lewis Sweeney, the son of Reagen Sweeney, and father of Carter and Catlin Sweeney), Arye Gross (plays Carter Sweeney), Stephanie Niznik (plays Catlin Sweeney), and Dennis Boutsikaris (plays D.A. Neil Burnside).
110	25	"Obsession: Part 2"	Christian I. Nyby II	Lee Goldberg & William Rabkin	May 14, 1998 (1998-05-14)	12.00
After being fired from his job, Mark, Jesse, Amanda,Wagner and Steve go on an unauthorized investigation into the bombings in L.A. Guest Stars: Harry J. Lennix (plays F.B.I. Agent Ron Wagner), Arye Gross (plays Carter Sweeney), Stephanie Niznik (plays Catlin Sweeney), Jasper Armstrong Marsalis (plays Amanda's child C.J.), and Dennis Boutsikaris (plays D.A. Neil Burnside). The first two episodes of the next season, with the same writers, Retribution Parts I and II, continue these episodes with Carter Sweeney and his sister Catlin. Also, one of the writers, Lee Goldberg has written a book: Diagnosis Murder #8: The Last Word, which is the last book in his series, in which Carter Sweeney appears again, coming up for an appeal.

References

1. TV Listings for September 18, 1997
2. TV Listings for May 14, 1998
3. "Diagnosis Murder - Series - Episode List". TV Tango. Retrieved 2020-03-09.