Tanya Wright Movies
- 2003
No sooner had actor Joe Pantoliano's character literally lost his head as mobster Ralph Cifaretto on the HBO crime series The Sopranos than he switched to the "right" side of the law on the CBS weekly The Handler. Pantoliano was cast as veteran FBI agent Joe Renato, who was placed in charge of a group of rookie undercover agents operating in L.A. Each of Renato's chameleon charges was a master of disguise and deception, ideally suited for the various FBI stings to which they assigned -- but still not yet dry behind the years insofar as surviving deadly situations. Featured in the cast was another Sopranos expatriate, Lola Glaudini, as eager young agent Heather, Anna Belknap as Lily, Ken Weiler as Roy, Hill Harper as Darnell, and Tanya Wright as Marcy. The Handler debuted September 26, 2003. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Joe Pantoliano, Anna Belknap, (more)
- 2002
Officer Maya Anderson (Tanya Wright) finds herself in deep trouble when her story of her partner's death during a shoot-out does not jibe with the testimony of other eyewitnesses. This incident culminates in a clash between Det. Baldwin Jones (Henry Simmons) and his sweetheart, ADA Valerie Haywood (Garcelle Beauvais-Nilon). In other developments, while making living arrangements for her late sister's baby, Connie McDowell (Charlotte Ross) joins Rita Ortiz (Jacqueline Obradors) in investigating a child abduction. And suspicion mounts that John Clark Jr.'s (Mark-Paul Gosselaar) detective father (Joe Spano) may be a player in the IAB's scheme to get some damaging dirt on the 15th precinct. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Henry Simmons
- 2002
Season ten of NYPD Blue opens during the investigation of shooting suspect Lyle Dennison (Lahmard Tate). After getting into a rhubarb with an angry young woman near the shooting scene, Andy Sipowicz (Dennis Franz) is marked for death by the woman's boyfriend, dangerous drug dealer Money T (Lamont Johnson). Meanwhile, Andy's partner, John Clark Jr. (Mark-Paul Gosselaar), sifts through the date book left behind by one of his secret informants, a murdered hooker. The book contains the name of a high-ranking NYPD detective, bringing John himself under scrutiny -- and suspicion -- from Internal Affairs. And it looks as though the romance between Andy and Detective Connie McDowell (Charlotte Ross) is on the right track. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Henry Simmons
- 2002
A judge and a lawyer receive suspicious-looking envelopes in the mail -- envelopes which both explode, revealing themselves to be full of nothing more than harmless white powder. Or maybe the powder isn't so harmless, since one of the recipients goes into cardiac arrest. As the 15th precinct investigates this case, Capt. Fraker (Casey Siemaszko) of the IAB offers to turn the heat off John Clark Jr. (Mark-Paul Gosselaar) in the matter of his dead prostitute informant -- provided that John turns up evidence to destroy his own partner, Andy Sipowicz (Dennis Franz). Meanwhile, John's detective father (Joe Spano) cuts a deal that bodes ill for the future, and gay cop John Irvin (Bill Brochtrup) makes plans to lavishly spend his huge inheritance. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Henry Simmons
- 2002
A stolen-goods fence is fatally shot in the groin by an elusive gunman. The investigation of this killing leads to the victim's girlfriend and one of his disgruntled customers -- and, inevitably, to another murder. Elsewhere, Connie (Charlotte Ross) suspects that her sister Michelle (Katherine La Nasa) is being abused by Michelle's no-good husband Frank Colohan (Nicholas Lea, in the first of three guest appearances). The guys at the 15th precinct decide to help Connie out by "talking" to the scuzzy Frank. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Henry Simmons
- 2002
In the concluding half of NYPD Blue's ninth-season finale, a baffling case involving an apparently murdered 12-year-old child takes yet another twist when a surprising new suspect looms on the horizon. Meanwhile, another homicide case is investigated, this one involving a man named Larry Tyner (Ted Marcoux), who claims to be a serial rapist despite the fact that everyone who knows Larry thinks the world of him. And still reeling from a plethora of personal crises and setbacks, Andy Sipowicz (Dennis Franz) draws up papers to make certain that his son Theo (Austin Majors) will have a legal guardian "just in case." Finally, John Clark Sr. (Joe Spano) admits that he loves his son John Jr. (Mark-Paul Gosselaar) -- to everyone but John Jr. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Henry Simmons
Federal agent Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland) is having a very bad day in this unique, action-packed drama series in which events unfold in real time and the entire season takes place within one 24-hour day. Bauer is the director of the Counter Terrorist Unit in Los Angeles. He's also a married man who is attempting to rebuild a trust-depleted relationship with his wife Teri (Leslie Hope), and a father to independent-minded teen daughter Kim (Elisha Cuthbert). Shortly after midnight on the morning of the California Democratic presidential primary, Jack receives information that an assassination attempt will be carried out against Maryland senator David Palmer (Dennis Haysbert) -- the first African-American with a legitimate chance of capturing the White House -- sometime within the next 24 hours. Jack's mission is made even more difficult when he learns from his boss Richard Walsh (Michael O'Neill) that someone within CTU may be a mole involved with the foreign-based conspiracy. Meanwhile, Palmer, unaware of the assassination plot, receives a phone call from a dogged reporter who says she has evidence that his son Keith (Vicellous Reon Shannon) committed murder. He allegedly killed his sister's rapist. Palmer initiates an investigation to uncover the truth and must decide whether to break the story himself or wait. Jack is contacted by terrorist Ira Gaines (Michael Massee), who informs him that his wife and daughter have been kidnapped by Gaines' henchmen. Gaines threatens to kill them if Jack refuses to follow his detailed instructions. Gaines' goal is simple: Jack is to carry out the assassination against Palmer himself. As the hours pass, the conspiracy deepens, and Jack learns the surprising truth behind the plot and his role in it. ~ Tim Holland, Rovi
- Starring:
- Kiefer Sutherland, Leslie Hope, (more)
- 1999
- PG13
This made-for-television docudrama that aired on March 28, 1999 on NBC, relates the story of an actual event that occurred during World War II, but is centered around the lives of fictional characters. On July 17, 1944 at a U.S. naval base near San Francisco, a ship exploded causing the deaths of 323 men and injuring another 390. Just over 200 of the dead and another 200 of the injured were African-American Navy personnel. The story begins with the events that led up to the tragedy, with the second half of the film describing the actions of the men who refused to report back to work the next day after the explosion. Initially, 250 of the men refused to return, fearing another catastrophe. When base officers threatened to charge them with mutiny, 200 returned to work. The 50 who refused to return were given dishonorable discharges, in addition to 15 years of hard labor from the mutiny convictions. Eventually, the sentences were reduced to 4 years, but no official governmental acknowledgment of wrongdoing has ever been made. ~ Rovi
- Starring:
- Michael Jai White, David Ramsey, (more)
- 1986
Theo (Malcolm-Jamal Warner) is torn between his steady girlfriend Tanya (Tanya Wright) and another girl named Randi (Alsicia Pringle). Though sympathetic, Cliff (Bill Cosby) refuses to give any advice to his son, having previously been burned when advice offered to his daughters has backfired. In the final analysis, however, Theo doesn't have to make a choice--the choice is made for him. Elsewhere, Rudy (Keshia Knight Pulliam) entertains a "special guest" at a tea party. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1986
Roscoe Lee Browne won an Emmy award for his first appearance as Dr. Barnabus Foster, Cliff's former college English professor and future recurring character on the Cosby Show spinoff A Different World. Having been regularly trounced at pinochle by his dad Russell (Earle Hyman) and Russell's old pal Homer (Bill Gunn), Cliff (Bill Cosby) hopes to turn the tables when Dr. Foster subsitutes for Cliff's ailing partner. Meanwhile, Theo (Malcolm-Jamal Warner) worries that his girlfriend will be less than impressed by the "faux" diamond ring he has purchased from a TV shopping show. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
