Garry Marshall Movies
The career of producer/director Garry Marshall has been marked by many peaks, the highest of which include such classic television sitcoms as The Odd Couple (1970-1975), Happy Days (1974-1984), and Mork and Mindy (1978-1982), and the phenomenally popular feature film Pretty Woman (1990). A Brooklyn native, Marshall (born Gary Marsciarelli) is the son of an industrial filmmaker and a dance instructor. His sister, Penny Marshall, is a comic actress and noted film director. Marshall majored in journalism at Northwestern University and subsequently served a stint in the army before becoming a reporter for the New York Daily News. He was also a jazz drummer in a band before becoming a television comedy scriptwriter for such artists as Joey Bishop and Phil Foster and the writer for Jack Parr on The Tonight Show.Marshall moved to Los Angeles in 1961, but he didn't make it big until he teamed up with writer Jerry Belson. Together, they penned numerous episodes for several sitcoms, notably The Dick Van Dyke Show and The Lucy Show. In 1970, Marshall produced The Odd Couple, which starred Jack Klugman and Tony Randall and was based on a popular Neil Simon play and movie. He reached his apex as a television producer during the '70s, with such hits as Laverne and Shirley (1976-1983) (a Happy Days spin-off starring sister Penny) and Mork and Mindy. In addition to his producing and television directorial efforts, Marshall occasionally appeared as a supporting actor.
In features, Marshall co-produced and co-wrote (with Belson) his first film, How Sweet It Is!, in 1968. A year later, the two produced and penned The Grasshopper. Marshall made his directorial feature film debut in 1982 with Young Doctors in Love, a comic look at daytime serials. As a film director, Marshall's output has received uneven critical reviews. Films such as the Goldie Hawn/Kurt Russell vehicle Overboard and the Bette Midler/Barbara Hershey melodrama Beaches (1988) had good box-office business, but were considered of average quality. 1990's Pretty Woman was Marshall's first big movie hit. Following its tremendous success, he tried his hand at a serious drama with Frankie and Johnny (1991) starring Al Pacino and Michelle Pfeiffer. Since then, Marshall's films have tended more toward sentimental and straight dramas such as The Twilight of the Golds (1997) and The Other Sister (1999). Marshall returned to comedy -- and to his teaming of Julia Roberts and Richard Gere -- in 1999 with Runaway Bride.
In addition to his work behind the camera, Marshall has occasionally appeared as an actor in films and television shows alike. During the mid-'90s, many TV audiences came to recognize him for playing Candice Bergen's ratings-crazy boss, Stan Lansing, on Murphy Brown. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1983
Laverne & Shirley was Laverne & Shirley in name only as the series entered its eighth and final season. For a variety of reasons, chief among them her feelings that she was being overshadowed by co-star Penny Marshall (Laverne) and that the producers were insensitive to the work limitations imposed by her pregnancy, Cindy Williams had walked off the series after completing only two season-eight episodes. Providentially, the first of these, the season opener of September 28, 1982, had contrived to marry off Shirley to an army medic named Walter Meany (making her Shirley Feeney Meany!), thereby explaining away the many absences that Williams was expected to take before giving birth. No one (except perhaps the actress herself) could have suspected that the next episode telecast, "Window on Main Street, would constitute Williams' last appearance on the series. Thus, Laverne soldiered on throughout the rest of the season without Shirley, as the writers tried to recapture the old magic by briefly teaming Penny Marshall with such guest stars as Julie Brown, Carrie Fisher, Laraine Newman, Carol Kane, and Vicki Lawrence, the latter reprising her role as bombastic WAC sergeant Plout. And in an unrelated distaff development, series co-star David L. Lander, normally cast as the goofy Squiggy, shows up in drag as Squiggy's sister Squendolyn! Perhaps the highlight of the season is future Tonight Show host Jay Leno's guest appearance as duplicitous radio DJ Bobby Bitts in the episode "Do the Carmine." Ranking 25th in the ratings during its terminal season -- not bad, but far below its onetime ranking as America's Number One series -- Laverne & Shirley concluded with the unremarkable episode "Here Today, Hair Tomorrow." ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Penny Marshall, Cindy Williams, (more)
- 1983
This unique episode features only one of the series' regulars--namely, Lavrne (Penny Marshall). Depressed over recent events in her life, Laverne retreats to a monastery in hopes of getting her head together. Under the watchful eye of the Mother Superior (Fran Ryan), Shirley does her best to fit in with the other pilgrims, tackling duties ranging from pottery-molding to bell-ringing. But our usually loquacious heroine has a lot of trouble--a LOT of trouble--adhering to the monastery's strict vow of silence. Also appearing in this episode is former Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman star Louise Lasser as Sister Margaret. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1976
Laverne DeFazio (Penny Marshall) and Shirley Finney (Cindy Williams) are promoted from their memorable Happy Days guest appearance to their own spinoff series as Laverne and Shirley launches its first season. In the opener, the girls--lifelong friends and fellow "bottle-cap technicians" at Milwaukee's Shotz Brewery--have just settled down in their new apartment when Shirley is invited to a ritzy party held by the nephew (Richard Stahl) of their boss. Though Shirley is thrilled at the prospect, Laverne is upset that she wasn't invited as well. Of course, both girls ultimately show up at the facilities wearing gowns borrowed from a wax museum, courtesy of their wacky would-be suitors Lenny (Michael McKean) and Squiggy (David L. Lander). Happy Days' resident cool guy Fonzie, aka Henry Winkler, makes a guest appearance. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Bored with their cushy suburban existence, yuppie David (Albert Brooks) talks his wife Linda (Julie Hagerty) into selling everything they own and hitting the road to "see America." As a starting-over gesture, David and Linda are romantically remarried in Las Vegas -- which, ironically, proves to be the beginning of the end of their idyll. In short order, Linda loses their life's savings, the couple nearly self-destructs at Hoover Dam, they take blue-collar jobs in a go-nowhere Arizona town, and....Well, if you know your Albert Brooks, be prepared for a steady stream of manic social satire. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Albert Brooks, Julie Hagerty, (more)
- 2002
In the final episode of Monk's first season, the ultra-phobic Mr. Monk (Tony Shalhoub) is forced to take his first plane ride. Galvanized by sheer terror, Monk spends the first part of the flight driving his fellow passengers crazy with his anxious questions. Before long, he really has something to obsess over when he deduces that passenger Stephan Chabrol (Carl Marotte) has murdered his wife in mid-flight--even though a woman claiming to be Mrs. Chabrol is seated right next to him. The topheavy guest cast includes Tony Shalhoub's former Wings costar Tim Daly) as himself; Shalhoub's real-life wife Brooke Adams as a suspicious stewardess; and prolific producer-director Garry Marshall as a garrulous extension-cord salesman. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1988
Making its first appearance on November 14, 1988, the long-running, Emmy-winning CBS sitcom Murphy Brown starred Candice Bergen as the title character, the driving, driven, often overbearing but essentially likable star reporter of the Washington, D.C.-based TV magazine "FYI." A thorough professional, Murphy never gave less than her best before the cameras -- but behind the cameras, it was a different story. Constitutionally incapable of doing anything by halves, Murphy told her colleagues exactly what she thought of them at all times, seldom made a comment that wasn't laced with sarcasm, and was addicted to tobacco and, for a while, booze (this last shortcoming required her to do some time at the Betty Ford Clinic). Though the rest of the "FYI" staffers were accustomed to Murphy's mood swings and idiosyncrasies, outsiders tended to be scared off by our heroine: indeed, one of the series' most famous running gags was the fact that Murphy had a different secretary in practically every episode! Also in the cast were Charles Kimbrough as "FYI"'s uptight, humorless anchorman Jim Dial; Joe Regalbuto as the show's gonzo (and obviously toupeed) investigative reporter Frank Fontana, Faith Ford as "FYI"'s voluptuous, somewhat vacuous cub reporter and ex-Miss America Corky Sherwood, who considered Murphy to be her role model (often to Murphy's dismay) and who eventually married staff writer Will Forest (Scott Bryce), thereby becoming -- are you ready? -- Mrs. Corky Sherwood Forest; and Grant Shaud as "FYI"'s nebbishy executive producer Miles Silverberg, not exactly what one would call a born leader of men (or of Murphy!).
When not on the set of her show, Murphy could be found in her townhouse apartment, often conversing with quirky, philosophy-spouting house painter Eldin Bernecky (Robert Pastorelli), who spent day and night trying to finish redecorating Murphy's living room -- a job he still hadn't entirely completed when he left the series in season seven. Murphy also hung out with her co-workers at a neighborhood bar owned by another erstwhile philosopher named Phil (Pat Corley), at least until he reportedly died, whereupon Murphy and company purchased the bar themselves (as it turned out, reports of Phil's death were slightly exaggerated -- by Phil!). Additionally, Jay Thomas appeared intermittently as Geraldo-like journalist Jerry Gold, with whom Murphy frequently clashed -- when they weren't romancing one another, that is. As the series progressed, the basic throughline, and the characters, underwent a few changes. After her divorce from Will Forest, Corky eloped with Miles Silverberg, though she stayed in Washington when he left to run a CNN-style news service in New York. Murphy's brief fling with her ex-husband, Jake (Robin Thomas), produced a baby named Avery (who apparently grew up rather quickly, since he was played during the final season by Haley Joel Osment) -- and also stirred up a controversy when no less than Vice President Dan Quayle chastised Murphy Brown for eroding "family values" in America by bearing a child out of wedlock. Later on, dashing international reporter Peter Hunt (Scott Bakula) joined the "FYI" staff, sweeping Murphy off her feet and ultimately asking her to marry him (she didn't). Other additions to the cast included Garry Marshall as new network president Stan Lansing, who waged an ongoing war with Murphy over her non-PC attitude; Paul Reubens (aka Pee-Wee Herman) as Stan's whiny nephew Andrew, who was forced upon Murphy as her secretary -- and actually kept the job for more than a single episode; Christopher Rich as "FYI" co-anchor Miller Redfield, just the sort of gorgeous-looking, empty-headed TV personality whom Murphy despised with every fibre of her being; and Lily Tomlin as Kay Carter-Shepley, "FYI"'s imperious, and not altogether competent, new executive producer. In addition to the main and supporting cast, the series featured a number of real-life news personalities as "themselves," among them Walter Cronkite, Connie Chung, Larry King, Katie Couric, and Paula Zahn. The series' tenth and final season found Murphy undergoing treatment for breast cancer, an outwardly grim situation that, amazingly enough, never intruded upon the laughter. Murphy Brown ended its network run on August 10, 1998. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
When not on the set of her show, Murphy could be found in her townhouse apartment, often conversing with quirky, philosophy-spouting house painter Eldin Bernecky (Robert Pastorelli), who spent day and night trying to finish redecorating Murphy's living room -- a job he still hadn't entirely completed when he left the series in season seven. Murphy also hung out with her co-workers at a neighborhood bar owned by another erstwhile philosopher named Phil (Pat Corley), at least until he reportedly died, whereupon Murphy and company purchased the bar themselves (as it turned out, reports of Phil's death were slightly exaggerated -- by Phil!). Additionally, Jay Thomas appeared intermittently as Geraldo-like journalist Jerry Gold, with whom Murphy frequently clashed -- when they weren't romancing one another, that is. As the series progressed, the basic throughline, and the characters, underwent a few changes. After her divorce from Will Forest, Corky eloped with Miles Silverberg, though she stayed in Washington when he left to run a CNN-style news service in New York. Murphy's brief fling with her ex-husband, Jake (Robin Thomas), produced a baby named Avery (who apparently grew up rather quickly, since he was played during the final season by Haley Joel Osment) -- and also stirred up a controversy when no less than Vice President Dan Quayle chastised Murphy Brown for eroding "family values" in America by bearing a child out of wedlock. Later on, dashing international reporter Peter Hunt (Scott Bakula) joined the "FYI" staff, sweeping Murphy off her feet and ultimately asking her to marry him (she didn't). Other additions to the cast included Garry Marshall as new network president Stan Lansing, who waged an ongoing war with Murphy over her non-PC attitude; Paul Reubens (aka Pee-Wee Herman) as Stan's whiny nephew Andrew, who was forced upon Murphy as her secretary -- and actually kept the job for more than a single episode; Christopher Rich as "FYI" co-anchor Miller Redfield, just the sort of gorgeous-looking, empty-headed TV personality whom Murphy despised with every fibre of her being; and Lily Tomlin as Kay Carter-Shepley, "FYI"'s imperious, and not altogether competent, new executive producer. In addition to the main and supporting cast, the series featured a number of real-life news personalities as "themselves," among them Walter Cronkite, Connie Chung, Larry King, Katie Couric, and Paula Zahn. The series' tenth and final season found Murphy undergoing treatment for breast cancer, an outwardly grim situation that, amazingly enough, never intruded upon the laughter. Murphy Brown ended its network run on August 10, 1998. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Candice Bergen, Charles Kimbrough, (more)
- 1996
Hoping to get Kay (Lily Tomlin) off her back, Murphy (Candice Bergen) arranges for Kay to produce an afternoon talk show--hosted by network president Stan Lansing (Garry Marshall), and featuring a band fronted by "FYI" investigative reporter Frank (Joe Regalbuto). Unfortunately for Kay, the first telecast of the new show threatens to be the last when guest star Tom Hanks flees from the studio in terror. But Murphy's triumph turns to disaster when she is forced on-camera as Hanks' replacement! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1996
Having resigned from "FYI" in the wake of his controversial confrontation with Big Tobacco, Jim (Charles Kimbrough) accepts the position of news-division head at the upstart ICN network. Much to dismay of the "FYI" staffers, dimbulb Miller Redfield (Christopher Rich) is chosen as Jim's replacement. It finally falls to Murphy (Candice Bergen) to try to coax Jim back into the fold--a job which she thinks will be easy considering the cacophonous chaos within ICN headquarters. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1997
The newly unattached Jim (Charles Kimbrough) looks forward to escorting the Raven-Haired Receptionist (Mary-Margaret Humes) to Mr. Lansing's testimonial dinner (actually a charity benefit for strippers!) Unfortunately, a few wires get crossed, and Miller (Christopher Rich) ends up with the "dream" date instead. Meanwhile, the relationship between Frank (Joe Regalbuto) and Dana is sorely strained by Frank's sudden upsurge in popularity with the opposite sex. Hector Elizondo and Jane Seymour appear as themselves. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1997
Murphy (Candice Bergen) desperately seeks an ally at the network when Kay (Lily Tomlin) presumptively decides to move the entire "FYI" staff to California. The situation prompts Murphy to join forces with Mr. Lansing's weaselly nephew Andrew (Paul Reubens), now ensconsed in a Buddhist monastery. Unfortunately, Andrew proves to be an even greater threat to "FYI" than Kay, whereupon Murphy comes up with "Plan B" (or is it "Plan C"). Watch for a hilarious cameo by Drew Carey Show regulars Diedrich Bader and Ryan Stiles. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1995
Shelley Long makes her first appearance as Dottie Wilcox, one-half of the hosting team of the popular daytime talk show "Dick and Dottie" (based on guess-which syndicated talkfest). Unable to hide her disdain for the lightweight Dottie, Murphy (Candice Bergen) makes a catty comment about the woman during an "FYI" broadcast. Forced by the network to apologize to Dottie, Murphy proceeds in her own inimitable fashion to make a bad situation worse. Comedian Dom DeLuise and Hollywood columnists Army Archerd and Liz Smith appear as themselves. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1996
As the ninth season of Murphy Brown gets under way, the staff of "FYI" is still adjusting to the loss of longtime producer Miles Silverberg. Network president Stan Lansing (Garry Marshall) wants to install his "little weasel" nephew Andrew (Paul Reubens) in the producer's chair, but Murphy Brown (Candice Bergen) and her colleagues angrily reject this idea out of hand. Lansing's second choice is former game show producer Kay Carter-Shepley (Lily Tomlin in her first series appearance)--a tough customer indeed, and one who may well prove to be Murphy's match in every way. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1995
After nearly getting killed during a jailhouse interview with a multiple murderer, Frank (Joe Regalbuto) wants nothing more to do with "action" stories. Network president Lansing (Garry Marshall), however, has other ideas, and insists that Frank continue risking his neck for big ratings. Thus it is that the hapless Mr. Fontana is subjected to one hazardous on-the-air stunt after another--and if this keeps up, he will be literally riding for a fall! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1997
Murphy (Candice Bergen) is stunned when, in the course of a live TV interview, billionaire media mogul Duncan Briggs (Ian Ogilvy) proposes marriage. Though flattered, Murphy refuses, only to discover that Briggs is willing to go to any lengths to get an affirmative answer--even if it means "buying" our heroine from network president Stan Lansing (Garry Marshall). Politician-comic actor-game show host Ben Stein also appears in this episode (though he doesn't mention "Bueller" even once). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1995
Network president Stan Lansing (Garry Marshall) enters the hospital after an alleged heart attack, but he's actually covering his behind while executing a series of radical changes on the "FYI" format. His most controversial move is to hire an ultra-hip MTV veejay named McGovern (Paula Korologos in her first series appearance) as an "FYI" anchorperson in order to cater to youthful viewers. Though uncomfortable at first, Murphy begins to warm up to McGovern--until she finds out a deep dark secret about the girl's political persuasion. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1994
This episode was inspired by the recent defections of several long-time CBS, affiliates to the upstart Fox network. It all begins when the ever-outspoken Murphy (Candice Bergen) uses her "FYI" forum to trash her own network's new fall-lineup. In retaliation, network boss Stan Lansing (Garry Marshall) orders Murphy to do a major suck-up job at a convention of angry network affiliates. Somehow or other this leads to a rare photo-op in which Murphy puts her arms around network "star" Jeri the Orangutan. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1995
Murphy (Candice Bergen) is still upset that network president Lansing (Garry Marshall) has hired former MTV veejay McGovern (Paula Korologos) as "FYI"'s newest anchorperson. But Murphy's reaction is entirely different when McGovern poses nude for the cover of "Rolling Stone" magazine. Now, Murphy reasons, Lansing will see the light about McGovern and fire the girl for besmirching the integrity of "FYI"--or will he? ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1996
In the conclusion of a two-part story, Murphy (Candice Bergen) protests the severe cut-backs at "FYI" by quitting the network, with Frank (Joe Regalbuto) and Corky (Faith Ford) following suit. Forced by Miles (Grant Shaud) to admit he has made a mistake, network president Lansing (Garry Marshall) tries to woo back the "FYI" staff--and even attempts to bring Jim (Charles Kimbrough), now head of the ICN network news division, back into the fold with an offer he can't refuse (well, maybe he can't). This final episode of Murphy Brown's eighth season also marks the last regular appearance of costar Grant Shaud. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1996
Acting on orders from Mr. Lansing (Garry Marshall), Jim (Charles Kimbrough) takes on the challenge of transforming vapid "Front and Center" host Miller Redfield into a "real newsman." The "FYI" staff is astonished that stuffed-shirt Jim would accept such an demeaning (and seemingly impossible!) assignment. But as it turns out, Jim has his own personal reason--one might even call it payback--for helping Miller gain respectability. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1994
Murphy (Candice Bergen) defies network policy to accept a role in a film directed by Louis Malle (then the real-life husband of star Bergen, playing "himself") No sooner has she stepped on the set, however, than Murphy goes into full "diva" mode, insisting upon script changes so that she will be able to maintain her image as a serious journalist. Garry Marshall makes his first appearance as new network president Stan Lansing. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1996
The 200th episode of Murphy Brown is actually the first episode of a two-part story, bringing the series' eighth season to a close. Now that she's been clean and sober for eight whole years, Murphy (Candice Bergen) now dedicates herself to healing the wounds of those whose feelings she has hurt during that same period. This may prove impossible when Murphy finds out that "FYI" will be moved to a less choice timeslot, and that the staff will be severely reduced--two facts which she is forced to keep secret from her colleagues! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1995
Paul Reubens returns as Andrew Lansing III, geeky nephew of network president Stan Lansing (Garry Marshall) and former "secretary from Hell" to Murphy Brown (Candice Bergen). Newly promoted to the position of Vice President of Current Affairs, Andrew entices Murphy with an offer to cohost "The Awful Truth", a hard-hitting news program with Walter Cronkite. But by the time the program gets out of development and on the air, it has degenerated into a vapid info-tainment series specializing in brain-dead trivia contests and "special features" about hot new sitcom stars--and cohosted by Murphy's longtime bete noir Miller Redfield (hristopher Rich)! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1995
Shedding his familiar "Pee-wee Herman" persona, Paul Reubens makes his first series appearance as Andrew J. Lansing III, the nephew of network president Stan Lansing (Garry Marshall). On the strength of his family ties, Andrew is hired as Murphy's 76th secretary--and contrary to expectations, he does a great job. Unfortunately, the obnoxious Andrew rubs everyone on the "FYI" staff the wrong way...and there's a strong possibility that he's a few bricks shy of a full load. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1995
It is bad enough when the insufferable Miller Stanfield (Christopher Rich) wins the Humboldt Award for a story which the "FYI" staff had labored on to save Miller's behind. It's even worse when the clueless Miller displays a mile-long streak of ingratitude, acting as though he and he alone was responsible for his success. Curiously, Murphy (Candice Bergen) makes no move to exact vengeance upon Miller--at least not right away! Edwin Newman makes a cameo appearance. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1994
While his wife Doris is out of town, Jim decides to cut loose in his own inimitable--and essentially innocent--fashion. Alas, through no fault of his own, Jim gets involved in a series of compromising situations, which serve to make him choice fodder for the tabloid press. Complicating matters is the presence of a tall, middle-aged gent (Michael Zemenick) who looks exactly like our boy Jim. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
