Penny Santon Movies
- 1997
While drunk, Chandler (Matthew Perry) has a fling with one of Joey's (Matt LeBlanc) sisters. Once his head clears up, he can't remember which sister was the lucky one (Gina or Dina?). On other fronts, Phoebe's (Lisa Kudrow) new date is both very charming and very loud. And Rachel (Jennifer Aniston) is offered a job at Bloomingdale's by a handsome stranger, arousing Ross' (David Schwimmer) suspicious nature. Steven Eckholdt makes his first series appearance as Mark. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1996
Frank (Joe Regalbuto) manages to mount a stage production of his autobiographical play, but it is Murphy who is placed in charge of the show when Frank is forced to go out of town. Under normal circumstances, Murphy's autocratic nature would run roughshod over the proceedings, but she promises to maintain a strict "hands-off" policy as the rehearsals proceed. All this changes, however, when at the very last minute the play's director makes a VERY radical cast change! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1993
Cybill Shepherd stars in this heart-tugging drama as a mother whose baby was abducted out of his bed. Fifteen years pass and she is working as a middle-school teacher in a different town. One of her students is a defiant 15-year-old. Despite the trouble he gives, there is something about the boy that draws her to him. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Cybill Shepherd, John Heard, (more)
An honest man struggles to do the right thing, even if it means breaking the law, in this drama. Artie Lewis (Michael Keaton) is a scrupulously ethical cop who believes in his work, loves his wife Rita (Rene Russo), and stands by his partner Stevie Diroma (Anthony LaPaglia). Stevie is a single parent, and when he's shot and killed on duty, his three daughters (Grace Johnston, Rhea Silver-Smith, and Blair Swanson) are left with nowhere to go. Artie and Rita want to adopt Stevie's girls, but Child Welfare Services decides that their apartment is too small for three children. Artie needs to buy a house, which would require a $25,000 down payment that he doesn't have. Desperate, Artie grabs his gun and robs Beniamino (Tony Plana), a particularly scummy drug dealer who was peripherally involved in Stevie's death. Artie uses most of the take to buy the house, and he gives the rest to Father Wills (Vondie Curtis-Hall), who runs a local orphanage. However, what Artie doesn't know is that Beniamino's girlfriend Grace (Rachel Ticotin) is actually an undercover cop who won't stand by as Artie plays Robin Hood. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Michael Keaton, Rene Russo, (more)
- 1988
When one of her former students adapts her novel Mainly Murder as a stage play, Jessica (Angela Lansbury) is honored to attend the show's opening night. Not long afterward, the reviews come out, with one critic lavishing praise on the production, and the critic's chief rival penning a devastating pan. When then "positive" critic is murdered and the "negative" critic is accused of the crime, Jessica must come to the defense of a person who obviously despises her! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1987
In this conclusion of a two-part story, David (Bruce Willis) attempts to escape from a chain gang in order to be reunited with his pregnant sweetheart Maddie (Cybill Shepherd, who is represented only by her voice in this episode). It looks like David's only hope for freedom is to follow the "musical" advice of his fellow inmates. Meanwhile, with one of the Moonlighting stars out of circulation, the nervous ABC executives begin auditioning potential "David Addison" replacements! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Struck by lightning, an endearing little robot known only as "Number 5" escapes from an experimental electronics firm. Technician Newton Crosby (Steve Guttenberg) and his indecipherable East Indian assistant, Ben Jabituya (Fisher Stevens), set out to locate Number 5 before the military can go through with its plans to destroy the robot. Number 5 takes refuge with loopy Stephanie Speck (Ally Sheedy), who is convinced that the mechanical man is an extraterrestrial. Hoping to teach the "alien" all about Earth, she fills Number 5's memory banks with reams of pop culture -- and then the real fun begins. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ally Sheedy, Steve Guttenberg, (more)
- 1986
On his deathbed, a syndicate hitman confesses that it was he who killed Hunter's mobster father fifteen years earlier. No sooner has Hunter (Fred Dryer) digested this news than he learns that the man who put out the contract was his father's former partner--still very much alive. To prove the culprit's guilt, Hunter must locate a prostitute (Kay Lenz) who has vital information before the homicidal ex-partner can strike again. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Chevy Chase added a classic comic hero to the film landscape with Fletch, one of his few truly popular star vehicles in a famously misguided post-Saturday Night Live career. Chase plays Irwin M. Fletcher, known to everyone as Fletch, a Los Angeles Lakers-loving investigative reporter with a gleeful disdain for deadlines and a knack for pushing the buttons of his frustrated editor (Richard Libertini). He's also known for donning numerous disguises and assuming zany false identities to help gain information. While pursuing an ongoing story about a powerful drug dealer who operates from Venice Beach, he comes across an intriguing offshoot in which he becomes intimately involved. Aviation executive Alan Stanwyk (Tim Matheson) has an unusual proposition for Fletch: If Fletch agrees to an elaborate plan to kill him, for reasons Stanwyk refuses to divulge beyond explaining that he has bone cancer, Fletch will walk away with a healthy sum of money and a plane ticket to Brazil. Curious yet suspicious by profession, Fletch begins investigating Stanwyk's true motives, which leads him through numerous misadventures. Among them are a visit to a stuffy country club; a high-speed car chase with an unwitting passenger; repeat encounters with Stanwyk's wife (Dana Wheeler-Nicholson), although she may not be his only one; and a trip to Provo -- that's Utah, not Spain. Inspired by a novel of the same name by Gregory McDonald, Fletch went from thriller to comedy as it was adapted into a vehicle for Chase. ~ Derek Armstrong, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Chevy Chase, Dana Wheeler-Nicholson, (more)
After a big-time country singer (Dolly Parton) brags that she can turn anybody in to a country-singin' star, she's out to prove she can live up to her talk when she recruits a cab-driver (Sylvester Stallone) as a country singer. He's scheduled to sing at a big-time NYC country night club and Dolly puts her ample powers to work in preparing her protege. ~ All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sylvester Stallone, Dolly Parton, (more)
- 1984
Probationary angel Jonathan Smith (Michael Landon) and his ghostly sidekick Mark Gordon (Victor French) tackle two difficult assignments in this episode. It is Jonathan's task to provide comfort and solace to Evelyn Nealy (Carrie Snodgress), a young widow whose son, Arthur (Barret Oliver), is terminally ill. As for Mark, his challenge is to straighten out a surly young thief named Tony (Tony LaTorre), whose parents have deserted him. Inevitably, the lives of Tony and Evelyn intersect -- almost as if by divine intervention! ~ All Movie Guide
- 1983
In this made-for-television comedy drama, a divorcee reels even further when her married lover dumps her too. On the rebound, she takes up with a peculiar policeman. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1979
Jonah (Jeffrey Bravin) is a lonely deaf child who has been misdiagnosed as retarded. Jonah's mother (Sally Struthers) and father (James Woods) struggle to establish communication from their withdrawn son. As the specialists shake their heads and cluck their tongues, Jonah's parents finally manage to teach the child sign language, thereby opening up his world both intellectually and emotionally. And Your Name is Jonah is proof enough that Sally Struthers once had potential for greatness, and confirmation that James Woods was on the right artistic track as early as 1979. Despite competition from the network premiere of Taxi Driver, And Your Name is Jonah managed to post excellent ratings upon its original telecast. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1979
Though apparently killed at the end of the previous episode "To Protect and Serve", mob hit man "Anthony Boy" Gagglio (George Loros) actually survived to serve a prison term. Now a free man, Anthony Boy has sworn vengenace against the person who sent him up--namely, Jim Rockford (James Garner), who already has enough to worry about with an impending IRS audit. In an effort to get his tax documents in order in as peaceful a manner as possible, Jim retreats to a mountain cabin in the company of pretty accountan Sharon Acker (Adrianna Danielli. Unfortunately, Angel (Stuart Margolin) lets slip the location of the cabin, and soon Anthony Boy and his sidekick Syl (Luke Andreas) are on their way to bump Jim off--followed closely by gangster Joseph Minette (Joe Sirola), who has plans of his own to kill Anthony Boy and leave no witnesses behind. Originally a 90-minute episode, "The Man Who Saw the Alligators" is usually pared to 60 minutes in syndication. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1978
In the conclusion of Laverne and Shirley's two-part Season Four opener (originally telecast as a single hour-long special), the gang is still in New York, there to visit Frank's mother (Penny Santon) and to attend an Italian-American festival. The fun and games resume when Frank enters a greased-pole contest in hopes of winning his mother a vacation to her native Italy. Meanwhile, Laverne (Penny Marshall) has a fling with a handsome "local" (John Lansing). Marc Sotkin, who cowrote this episode, appears as one of the contest judges. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1978
Season Four of Laverne and Shirley gets under way with the first episode of a two-part story (originally telecast as a single hour-long special). Laverne (Penny Marshall) and Shirley (Cindy Williams) bid a temporary farewell to Milwaukee so they can accompany Frank (Phil Foster) and Edna (Betty Garrett) on a bus trip to New York. The purpose of the trip is twofold: to attend a lavish Italian festival, and to spend time with Frank's old-world mother (Penny Santon). While Grandma DeFazio is happy to see Frank, she is even happier to see tag-along Squiggy (David L. Lander), who adores Grandma's home-cooked spaghetti. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1974
Having passed his California Bar exam, Mark Sanger (Don Mitchell) is now qualified to practice law. This means that he no longer has time to work as bodyguard for Chief Ironside (Raymond Burr), compelling police sergeant Ed Brown (Don Galloway) to move in with the chief until a replacement can be found. Other new developments in Mark's life include his engagement to fellow lawyer Diana (Joan Pringle in her first regular series appearance)--not to mention his first case, involving an elderly grocery-store owner accused of murder. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1974
Theo Kojak (Telly Savalas) is both disturbed and perplexed by the appearance of Peter Ibbotson (John R. Ryan, an ex-convict whom the lieutenant had sent to prison. Staying carefully within the limits of the law, Ibbetson begins methodically stalking Kojak and his family just before the wedding of Theo's niece. Clearly, Ryan has revenge in mind--but what exactly is he planning, and how can Kojak figure it out before it's too late? Listen for Kojak's now-famous warning to the slippery villain, which was used repeatedly in the promotional material for the series' first season. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1974
Previously filmed with Paul Muni in 1959, Gerald Green's novel The Last Angry Man was adapted for television by Green himself, who restored the original book's Depression-era setting in the process. Pat Hingle steps into the Muni role as crusty, temperamental Dr. Sam Abelman, who tends to the residents of a seedy Brooklyn tenement neighborhood. Refusing to treat his patients as victims of society, Sam practices his craft with a heady combination of common sense and tenderness. He is particularly interested in the welfare of a hostile teenager (Paul Jabara), whose violent temper may be attributable to a serious brain condition. Since this was the pilot for a proposed TV series, Dr. Abelman was not permitted to "die" in as spectacular a fashion as his counterpart in the 1959 film, but instead soldier on at fadeout time with the assistance of his daughters Sarah (Lynn Carlin) and Eunice (Tracy Bogart). This version of The Last Angry Man was broadcast by ABC on April 16, 1974. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1974
Pint-sized sixth-grader Mouse Fawley (Christian Juttner) is tired of being picked on by school bully Marv Hammerman (Jim Sage). Out of frustration, Mouse labels Hammerman as a "Neanderthal" -- and alas, word of this insult quickly reaches our hero's tormentor. Advised that Hammerman is coming after him, Mouse spends the bulk of this ABC Afterschool Special trying to run away from a dire fate -- until he finally realizes that he can't run away from himself. Ultimately, Mouse learns a valuable (if somewhat painful) lesson in self-respect. ~ All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Christian Juttner, Jim Sage, (more)
- 1973
In the conclusion of a two-part story, Ironside (Raymond Burr) has degenerated from a respected law enforcement officer to a seedy skid-row bum, apparently because 10-year-old murder witness Jerry Abbott (Lee H. Montgomery) was killed while in the Chief's protective custody. What even Ironside's loyal assistants are unaware of is that little Jerry is still alive, and that the Chief is only posing as a derelict to flush out the murderer. The situation reaches the crisis stage when two attempts are made on Ironside's alive--and the Chief can't summon the aid of his associates without blowing his cover. This episode features two original songs by David and Marty Paich: "Street Song", peformed by Carol Carmichael; and "Way Up Here", sung by Marty Paich. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1973
In the first episode of a two-part story, a flu epidemic has decimated the Rampart division, forcing Officers Jim Reed (Kent McCord) and Pete Malloy (Martin Milner) to take over an unusually large caseload. Admist the plethora of emergency calls, burglaries, and public disturbances, the two mobile officers find time to issue a traffic ticket to a rather formidable woman named Edna Dixon (Juanita Moore)--who turns out to be the new police commissioner. Producer Jack Webb introduces this episode, which features a brief appearance by former series sem-iregular Robert Donner, who for several years appeared in the role of police informant TeeJay. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1973
Officer Pete Malloy (Martin Milner) is in for quite a drubbing from his partner Jim Reed (Kent McCord) and the rest of the police force when he decides to grow a mustache. But the kidding diminishes as the day wears on and the two mobile cops tackle a variety of tough cases during their brief sojourn with the Van Nuys Division. Foremost on the docket tonight is a plane crash in which a passenger is injured, and a scatterbrained female shoplifter. Featured in the cast is Priscilla Pointer, the mother of film star Amy Irving. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1973
In the first half of a two-part story (originally telecast as a single two-hour episode), Chief Ironside is assigned to protect little Jerry Abbott, an autistic 10-year-old who has witnessed a murder. Not long afterward, the newspapers are reporting that Jerry himself has been killed--and that Ironside, tortured by guilt, has quit the force, crawled into a booze bottle, and ended up a derelict on Skid Row. But is this grim situation everything it appears to be? ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1972
The Fergusons are a family of nomadic con artists, led by the father-son team of Angus (George Voskovec) and Albert (Michael Ansara), who have managed to bilk an entire San Francisco neighborhood in their latest scam. The newest addition to the clan is greedy son-in-law Josh Evans (Christopher Jones), who adds murder to their litany of crimes. With Stone (Karl Malden) and Keller (Michael Douglas) breathing down their necks, the Fergusons' family solidarity is rapidly disintegrating--and in the process, the lives of several innocent bystanders are placed in jeopardy. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
