Travis Schuldt Movies
Ebenezer Scrooge gets the parody treatment from veteran writer/director David Zucker (Airplane!, Scary Movie 4) with this comedy starring Kevin Farley as a derisive documentarian (à la Michael Moore) who's visited by three ghosts intent on instilling the American spirit in the disillusioned filmmaker. Kelsey Grammer, Jon Voight, Leslie Nielsen, James Woods, and Dennis Hopper co-star in the Vivendi Entertainment production. ~ Jeremy Wheeler, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kevin Farley, Kelsey Grammer, (more)
A lonely stretch of highway leads to a date with terror in this thriller. Jim Halsey (Zachary Knighton) and Grace Andrews (Sophia Bush) are a young couple in the midst of a long-distance road trip when, during a rainstorm, they take pity on a hitchhiker, John Ryder) (Sean Bean), and give him a lift. Jim and Grace soon come to regret their benevolence when Ryder reveals himself as a violent madman determined to see them dead. Luck is with Jim and Grace, and they're able to throw off Ryder and get back on the road, but as it happens their troubles are just beginning. Ryder has already killed a handful of people and is planting evidence that suggests Jim and Grace are the murderers; now the couple is on the run from the law as they search for Ryder in a bid to clears their names. The Hitcher is a remake of the 1986 cult horror classic of the same name; the new version was produced by Michael Bay, Andrew Form, and Brad Fuller, who previously produced remakes of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and The Amityville Horror. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sean Bean, Sophia Bush, (more)
By this time a key element of NBC's Thursday-night sitcom lineup, Scrubs launches its sixth season as protagonist/narrator J.D. Dorian (Zach Braff), an attending physician at Sacred Heart Hospital, learns to his astonishment that his urologist girlfriend Dr. Kim Briggs (Elizabeth Banks) is pregnant. Also in "a family way" this season is nurse Carla Espinosa (Judy Reyes), impregnated by Dr. Christopher Turk (Donald Faison), and Jordan Sullivan (Christa Miller), ex-wife of Sacred Heart's long-suffering chief of surgery Perry Cox (John C. McGinley). In fact, virtually the only principal female character who isn't pregnant is the hapless Dr. Elliot Reid (Sarah Chalke), who's miserable about her non-preggie status. This year's plot developments include Elliot's desire to go into private practice, whereupon she is mercilessly needled by Dr. Cox, who at one juncture begins acting exactly like the antihero of the TV medical drama House; a curious malady which causes J.D. to black out at inconvenient times; the unfortunately-not-permanent vacation of J.D.'s nemesis The Janitor (Neil Flynn); the sudden departure of Sacred Heart's resident gossip Nurse Laverne Roberts (Aloma Wright); and a touching story arc involving an Iraq war veteran (Michael Weston). Other choice moments include an impromptu musical comedy inspired by a patient (played by Broadway actress Stephanie D'Abruzzo); the change-of-pace episodes His Story IV, narrated by Dr. Bob Kelso (Ken Jenkins), and "Their Story," with the narration chores shared by Sacred Heart's lawyer Ted (Sam Lloyd), sex-obsessed doctor Todd (Robert Maschio), and Jordan Sullivan; and the guest appearance of Keri Russell as Elliot's freewheeling sorority sister. In the events leading up to the season finale, Elliot becomes engaged to mild-mannered resident Keith Dudemeister (Travis Schuldt), causing J.D. to have second thoughts about breaking up with Elliot -- even as he prepares to move in with Kim. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Zach Braff, Sarah Chalke, (more)
A group of underachieving college students hoping to boost their GPAs by taking a wildlife field trip are stalked by a chainsaw-wielding serial killer in this low-budget stalk-and-slash laugher featuring Burt Young, William Forsythe, Kane Hodder, and Lochlyn Monro. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
Many more trials and many more tribulations await the staff of Sacred Heart Hospital in the fifth season of Scrubs. Carla (Judy Reyes) wants to "make a baby" with husband Turk, who exhibits enormous reluctance but finally gives in. And troubled (and troublesome) Dr. Elliot Reid (Sarah Chalke) begins her fellowship at another local hospital, only to lose her position virtually before it begins, forcing her to take extreme measures to get her old job back. J.D. continues to be tormented by Sacred Heart's taciturn Janitor (Neil Flynn), whose sociopathic behavior this season includes befriending a stray crow at work. Dr. Perry Cox (John C. McGinley) is no happier this season that J.D. insists upon treating him like a mentor and role model. This, however, is not the reason that Dr. Cox shows up to work one day drunk as a skunk, thoroughly disillusioning our hero...for a while, anyway. Standout episodes include "Her Story II" and "His Story III," which break from tradition by being narrated by Carla and The Janitor, respectively; and the Wizard of Oz-inspired 100th episode, which shows up in complete, director's-cut version on the DVD release. Among the guest stars are Cheryl Hines as Cox's born-again Christian sister Paige; Jason Bateman as a strange man with a love for cigarettes and...ostriches; Mandy Moore as the latest of J.D.'s blind dates; and, in a recurring role, Elizabeth Banks as Dr. Kim Briggs, a urologist who captures J.D.'s heart -- and who has a stunning surprise for him in the season's cliffhanger finale. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Zach Braff, Sarah Chalke, (more)
- 2003
The title of this ABC cop series referred to the patrol-car code used to indicate that said car was "in service." The central character was Rico Amonte (Danny Nucci), a former Brooklyn street punk who after relocating to Los Angeles opted to work on the right side of the law. A deputy trainee with the LAPD robbery-homicide division, Rico was assigned to irascible, South Central-born Senior Deputy John Henry Barnes (Ernie Hudson). It perhaps goes without saying that there was little love lost between the no-nonsense Barnes and the wisecracking Rico, but this odd-couple duo managed to do their job well and get the best results. In the fine tradition of the old series The Rookies, several other trainees were placed under the tender care of Deputy Barnes: would-be Romeo Matt Jablonski (Scott William Winters) and his partner, ghetto-raised Gabriella Lopez (Mercedes Colon); and bookish, politically ambitious Chase Williams (Travis Schuldt) and his partner, tough cookie Anna Li (Christina Vidal). 10-8 premiered on September 28, 2003. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Danny Nucci, Ernie Hudson, (more)
