Abbot fingered for Eye's 'Murder'

Exec producer, supervising producer, consultants inked

By SUSANNE AULT

Pumping fresh blood into its seventh season, CBS' "Diagnosis Murder" has tapped Chris Abbot the show's newest executive producer, and added five other staffers.

Abbot will join the current "Murder" exec producing team of Fred Silverman, Dean Hargrove and Dick Van Dyke, star of the show.

Abbot created and exec produced UPN's "Legacy," which was not picked up for next season.

Her other TV credits include "Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman," "Magnum P.I.," "Cagney and Lacey" and "Little House on the Prairie."

In other "Murder" moves, Steve Brown comes on board as supervising producer. He won an Emmy for his involvement with "Cagney and Lacey." Recent work includes "Sliders" and "Columbo."

And signing up as series creative consultants are Mark Solomon ("Grace Under Fire," "Newhart"), Joel Steiger ("Jake and the Fatman") and Terry Curtis Fox ("The Marshal").

"Diagnosis Murder" is produced by the Fred Silverman Co. and Dean Hargrove Prods. in association with Viacom Pictures.