Jayne Brook Movies

Izzie (Katherine Heigl) tries again to get to know the "real" George (T.R. Knight), with minimal success. Derek (Patrick Dempsey) has a revealing discussion with divorce attorney Gwen Graber (Jayne Brooks). Addison (Kate Walsh) treats a staunchly Catholic woman (Rose Ward) who, after bearing seven children, has decided to secretly have her tubes tied--only to look on in horror as the ever-tactless Alex (Justin Chambers) spills the beans to the woman's family. And Burke (Isaiah Washington) attempts to talk sense to his idol, concert violinist Eugene Foote (Albert Hall), who demands that his pacemaker be removed immediately. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

This NBC sitcom went into production as The Hank Azaria Show, giving a pretty good indication of the star's identity. The versatile Hank Azaria, best known for his many voices on the animated series The Simpsons, was cast as Josh Miller, head writer of the late-night sketch comedy series Barb Thompson's Laugh Riot. Using events in his own life for material, Josh frequently served up sketches about powerful women and nerdish men -- appropriately, since he felt intimidated not only by his egotistical boss Barb Thompson (Katey Sagal), but also by his self-assertive Assistant D.A. wife Wendy (Jayne Brook). Also on hand were Josh's co-writers, the wisecracking Rina (Suzy Nakamura), the womanizing Kenny (Joshua Malina), and Kenny's buxom "assistant" Tabitha (Julia Schultz). Sort of a multicultural Dick Van Dyke Show, with bizarre fantasy sequences thrown in to show off Hank Azaria's vast vocal gifts (he also talked directly to the camera, à la virtually every other sitcom of the early 21st century), Imagine That made its first network TV appearance on January 8, 2002. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Still grappling with his recent psychiatric visits, Dan (Josh Charles) decides he'll skip his next visit with Dr. Abby Jacobs (Jayne Brook), but instead goes to her office and rattles off his day's highlights for the full length of his appointment. Later, back in the studio, he and the rest of the Sports Night crew are bribed by Casey (Peter Krause) -- who uses ethnic food as a bargaining chip -- into staying up to watch a track and field competition in New Zealand. As they watch the event, a nearly washed-up athlete breaks the long-standing long jump record -- only to watch his record fall minutes later by another, previously unknown athlete. Since the championship will be seen during the regular broadcast day tomorrow on tape delay, a decision must be made about whether to pre-empt tomorrow's broadcast with the historic news. Jeremy (Joshua Malina) begins to feel badly about giving porn actress Jenny (Paula Marshall) the cold shoulder, especially now that he thinks he likes her. Caught in a thunderstorm while out and about, Dana (Felicity Huffman) takes refuge in a church -- which eerily coincides with a conversation about attending church that she had with Isaac (Robert Guillaume). ~ Ryan Shriver, All Movie Guide

Craig T. Nelson stars as Jack Mannion, a policeman brought in to fight crime in the nation's capital in this television drama series. After a controversial but successful stint as chief of police in Newark, NJ, Mannion makes a positive impression on Deputy Mayor Mary Ann Mitchell (Jayne Brook) and is hired to do the same job in Washington, D.C. But the D.C. police's Chief of Patrol, Joe Noland (Roger Aaron Brown), isn't quite as impressed with his new boss, whose tough exterior is leavened with a broad sense of humor. Don Baker (John Amos), D.C.'s mayor, often butts heads with the new chief of police, who takes a firm stand against internal corruption and doesn't shrink from placing responsibility on his own officers. Working alongside Mannion are statistics clerk Ella Farmer (Lynn Thigpen), public affairs director Nick Pierce (Justin Theroux), and Irish beat-cop David McGregor (David O'Hara). The District premiered on the CBS television network on October 7, 2000. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

Dan (Josh Charles) continues to see psychiatrist Abby Jacobs (Jayne Brook), who continues to analyze Dan's neuroses -- a development that begins a very introspective time for the confused sportscaster. Meanwhile, Casey (Peter Krause) enthuses about his upcoming interview with old friend and new Yankees star player Shane McArthur (Richard Steinmetz), prompting Jeremy (Joshua Malina) to assert his belief that McArthur is an idiot. As the interview is underway, the baseball player casually and ignorantly announces his disdain for everything about New York City -- which Casey finds unnerving and makes assurances to edit the disparaging comments out of the interview. Unfortunately for Casey, Dana (Felicity Huffman) is overjoyed with the resultant interview and refuses to cut anything from it, leaving Casey in a very uncomfortable position with his old friend. Both Dan and Casey are thus forced to partake in some serious soul searching as Dan begins to come to terms with his past while Casey must choose between his loyalty to his friend or maintaining his journalistic integrity. ~ Ryan Shriver, All Movie Guide

Sean Smith and Anthony Stark co-directed this romantic drama about an extramarital affair. At Columbia University, during the week of John Belushi's death, lifelong friends Ben (Rob Morrow) and Adam (Jake Weber) meet Nina (Claire Forlani) at a student bar. After Nina and Adam marry, she goes to grad school in New York, while he begins a career as a writer. Ben marries Stanford law student Kat (Jayne Brook), and they both find work in New York. Lives are altered after Ben and Nina enter into an affair. Filmed in Manhattan and the Berkshires, and shown at the 1998 Deauville Festival of American Film and the 1998 Venice Film Festival. ~ Bhob Stewart, All Movie Guide

New Zealand screenwriter Andrew Niccol (The Truman Show) made his feature directorial debut with this science fiction drama, set in a future when one's life is determined by genetic engineering rather than education or experience. The wealthy can choose the genetic makeup of their descendants. People are designed to fit into whatever role is decided before birth. But what happens when someone desires another way of life? Citizens in this impersonal future-world are fashioned as perfect specimens, so those in the natural-born minority are viewed as inferior to the pre-planned perfect specimens (aka "Valids") who dominate. One of the natural-borns (aka "In-Valids"), Vincent Freeman (Ethan Hawke), has several defects (poor vision, emotional problems, and short 30-year life expectancy), but he also develops a different outlook on his pre-ordained fate. He yearns to break free from society's constraints, and he dreams of a journey into space as a Gattaca Corp. navigator. To accomplish his goal, he enlists the aid of DNA broker German (Tony Shalhoub) and makes contact with Jerome Morrow (Jude Law), who was paralyzed in an accident and is willing to sell his superior genetic materials. Vincent assumes Jerome's identity and is scheduled for a flying mission. However, a week before his flight, a Gattaca mission director is murdered, and all members of the program are the suspects. Meanwhile, he develops a romantic interest in a beautiful Valid, Irene (Uma Thurman), prevented from going into space because of her heart defect. Tracked by a relentless investigator who is methodically jigsawing all the pieces together, Jerome finds his aspirations dissolving into stardust. ~ Bhob Stewart, All Movie Guide

The relationship between an unproven lawyer and the female convict he attempts to save from execution is detailed in this death-row drama. Sharon Stone plays against type as Cindy Liggett, convicted of murder at the age of 19, who has spent over a decade in prison awaiting execution. Having resigned herself to her eventual death, she cares little when her case falls into the hands of newly appointed clemency board attorney Rick Hayes (Rob Morrow). Hayes devotes himself to her case, however, and uncovers several inconsistencies regarding her earlier trial. Seeing a chance to save Liggett's life, Hayes fights for a stay of execution but finds himself facing opposition from powerful political figures and even Liggett herself. Largely ignored at the box office, the film suffered in comparison to Dead Man Walking (1995), the Academy Award-winning drama whose treatment of the death penalty theme may still have been fresh in the minds of audiences. ~ Judd Blaise, All Movie Guide

Three divorced fathers, played by Paul Reiser, Matthew Modine, and Randy Quaid, experience the joys and hardships of their former marriages, their relationships with their kids, and getting back into the dating scene in this whimsical comedy. Dave (Modine) is diligently playing the field, while Vic (Quaid) is enraged over his ex-wife's spending problem and Donny (Reiser) is struggling with the love he still feels for his ex and his own feelings of rejection. However, what develops over the weekend changes each man's life forever. Vic goes on a nightmare date with a neurotic woman (Janeane Garofalo), Dave loses control of his female interests when they all show up at the house simultaneously, and Donny finds himself literally out on a limb in order to communicate with his teenage daughter. Though it deals with serious subject matter, Bye Bye Love is a lighthearted look at modern American divorce and the often humorous ways in which people adjust to a new life. ~ Don Kaye, All Movie Guide

Dana Carvey plays a private detective who forgets everything when he goes to sleep at night, waking up each morning with a "clean slate," in this hit-and-miss comedy that plays like a companion piece to the much funnier Groundhog Day. Pogue (Carvey) is afflicted with his unique form of amnesia after getting injured in a car explosion. With the aid of a mysterious woman (Valeria Golino) who allegedly died in the bombing, he must find a priceless coin and evade the murderous clutches of the mobster (Michael Gambon) who executed the explosion and who wants to silence Pogue before he can testify against him. Carvey fares reasonably well in his role, but the best moments are provided by Pogue's dog, a one-eyed Jack Russell named Barkley who makes a habit out of running into things headfirst. ~ Don Kaye, All Movie Guide

Christina Applegate stars in this convoluted comedy that comes across as a teen fantasy combination of Home Alone and Working Girl. The premise is all in the title -- when the mother (Concetta Tomei) of a sniveling group of surly kids goes on a much-deserved summer vacation, she leaves her kids under the charge of an elderly distaff granny (Eda Reiss Merin). When granny ups and dies, the kids load her dead body in a trunk and deposit the package on the steps of the local funeral home. The kids are ecstatic thinking that with the big wad of cash Mom has left, they can have a summer of consumer madness. But when they find out that the money has been buried with the baby-sitter, the kids have to fend for themselves to make ends meet. Dream teen Sue Ellen (Christina Applegate) tries working at a fast food restaurant but she can't stand the grease. So, she puts together a false resume and, posing as a twenty-eight-year old, she applies for a job as a receptionist at a garment manufacturing company. The company vice president, Rose (Joanna Cassidy), is so impressed by her resume that she hires her on the spot as her executive assistant. Her deception looks to be working out great -- Sue Ellen manages to hold off the office lady killer Gus (John Getz), avoids exposure by the embittered receptionist, borrows money from the company's petty cash box for household incidentals, and continues her relationship with restaurant employee Bryan (Josh Charles). But suddenly, the clothing firm is set to go under, and Sue Ellen must use her teen fashion sense to save the company and her job . . . and she has to get the rest of the brood involved. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide

Superman (Christopher Reeve) tries to save the world from nuclear destruction at the hands of Lex Luthor (Gene Hackman) in this action film featuring the man of steel. In a speech to the United Nations, Superman declares he will rid the world of all nuclear weapons. Arch-villain Luthor emerges from prison obsessed with killing Superman and creates an adversary known as Nuclear Man (Mark Pillow). The two engage in a fight to the finish in various landmarks on Earth before taking their battle into outer space. When Lois Lane (Margot Kidder) invites both Superman and Clark Kent to a double-date dinner, Superman's powers are tested so that both men can be present. Jackie Cooper plays the gruff veteran newspaper editor Perry White, with Marc McClure as Jimmy Olsen. Sam Wanamaker plays tabloid tycoon David Warfield, the millionaire who buys the Daily Planet. Mariel Hemmingway is Warfield's daughter Lacy, Clark Kent's date at Lois' luxury apartment. This is the least interesting of the four Superman movies starring Christopher Reeve. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide