Michael Zinberg Movies

All signs point to success when Rory (Alexis Bledel) organizes her first DAR event on behalf of her grandparents. Alas, the occasion is ruined by the arrival of Logan's parents, with Mitchum Huntzberger (Gregg Henry) squaring off against Richard Gilmore (Edward Herrmann) and Mitchum's wife Shira (Leann Hunley) getting into a shouting match with Richard's wife Emily (Kelly Bishop). Elsewhere, Luke (Scott Patterson) is put out when Lorelai (Lauren Graham) does not invite him to Miss Patty's annual dance recital; Paris (Liza Weil) is overwhelmed by her first real job; and Sookie (Melissa McCarthy) and Jackson (Jackson Douglas) get into a fight over baby Davey's TV privileges. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The relationship between Rory (Alexis Bledel) and Logan (Matt Czuchry) arrives at the crossroads. Paris (Liza Weil) presses her old nanny (Soledad St. Hilaire) into service to care for ailing Yale Daily News editor Doyle (Danny Strong). And though confined to her bed for the duration of her pregnancy, Sookie (Melissa McCarthy) cannot keep herself from interfering when Lorelei (Lauren Graham) seeks out a temporary cook for the Dragonfly. This episode introduces Gregg Henry in the role of Logan's imperious publisher father Mitchum Hunzberger. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Both Lorelai (Lauren Graham) and Emily (Kelly Bishop) are on the outs with Richard (Edward Herrmann), who is treating his ex-partner Jason (Christopher Eigeman) abominably. Later, Lorelai doesn't quite know how to react when Luke (Scott Patterson) tells her that his divorce is soon to be final. Elswehere, Lane (Keiko Agena) is convinced that she has been replaced in her mother's affections by a surrogate daughter -- namely, a Korean exchange student (Susane Lee). And Rory (Alexis Bledel) wonders if the unexpectedly high grade she has received from Professor Fleming (Michael York) has anything to do with the relationship between Fleming and Paris (Liza Weil). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Only Korean couple Jin (Daniel Dae Kim) and Sun (Yunjin Kim) know the real reason that Jin savagely beats Michael (Harold Perrineau) before the eyes of the astonished survivors, but they aren't talking. Actually, they couldn't talk even if they wanted to, since they are still separated from the others by impenetrable language barriers (or so it seems). Another crisis arises when several of the castaways quarrel over where everyone should pitch camp, leading to a schism between two separate factions. And the truth about Charlie (Dominic Monaghan) is made known to the equally secretive Locke (Terry O'Quinn). Flashbacks in this episode focus on Jin and Sun and reveal that they were once madly in love. He was of a lower social standing, but convinced her powerful, rich father to allow them to marry, if Jin would come to work for him...a job that Jin soon learned required a lot of dirty work. ~ All Movie Guide

In the wake of his father's death, Lorelai (Lauren Graham) is anxious to make Luke (Scott Patterson) feel better. Meanwhile, Miss Patty (Liz Torres) marks her 40th anniversary in show business in her own inimitable fashion. And back at Yale, Paris' (Liza Weil) foray into speed-dating pairs her up with "Daily News" editor Doyle (Danny Strong), while Rory (Alexis Bledel) is faced with double duty, escorting a new student around the campus and getting even for a practical joke perpetrated by Logan (Matt Czuchry). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Produced for the USA cable service, Accidental Meeting stars Linda Purl as Maryanne and Linda Gray as Jennifer. Meeting by chance, the two women begin discussing the men in their life. Maryanne expresses a wish to see her boss dead, while Jennifer would sooner see an odious male of her acquaintance drop dead. When Maryanne's hateful employer is killed, Jennifer re-enters her life, admitting to the murder and demanding equal reciprocation. While Accidental Meeting's 1951 role model Strangers on a Train is virtually suitable for the whole family, the later film is laden with "parental guidance suggested" violence and sex. Accidental Meeting premiered March 17, 1994. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The "first time" usually refers to romance in TV movies of this nature. Corin Nemic is an impressionable young Jewish kid who falls hard for girl next door Cheryl Pollak. Ah, but this is San Antonio in the early 1960s, and Pollak is Catholic. Before you can say "Bridget Loves Bernie" (or even "Abie's Irish Rose") the two young spooners are stymied by parental pressure. It is the girl who takes the initiative in quelling the fears and doubts of the grown-ups, while shy Corin stands by in moonstruck admiration. For the Very First Time is nearly stolen by Donovan Leach (son of rock singer Donovan and sister of actress Ione Skye), who plays a beatnik artist. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Making its NBC debut with a two-hour TV movie on March 26, 1989, the weekly, 60-minute science fiction series Quantum Leap starred Scott Bakula as physicist Sam Beckett, who, as the result of a botched experiment, was sent hopscotching through time and space, "leaping" into the bodies of strangers. During the series' first season, Sam was confined to traveling within his own lifespan, which began with his birth in 1953; later on, however, he made an occasional jaunt into the 1940s. Though he was able to change the lives of the people whose bodies he had briefly "inherited," he was not permitted to alter the course of history. In the tradition of Here Comes Mr. Jordan and other soul-transmigration stories, Sam always looked like "himself" to the series' viewers, but those around him saw him as the person he was supposed to be. (This set-up provided some amusing moments whenever Sam leapt into the form of a woman -- and especially in one episode, in which he became a chimpanzee!) Throughout his cosmic perambulations and permutations, Sam was observed and advised by Admiral Al Calavicci (Dean Stockwell), who was seen as a holographic projection, and who kept in contact with "Ziggy," the computer controlling Sam's leaps, by means of a pocket-sized electronic device. Except in special cases, Al could be seen only by Sam. After five seasons on the air, Quantum Leap concluded on August 15, 1993, with a somewhat existentialist finale which brought things full circle -- and which, to many savvy viewers, invoked memories of the similar finale to the cult series The Prisoner. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Miracle of miracles! After years of being perfectly comfortable with his "gross and disgusting" self, Louie (Danny DeVito) is suddenly anxious to turn over a new leaf. The reason? He has the chance to move into a plush co-op apartment -- a chance bolstered by the 48,000-dollar down payment he has borrowed from cabbie Jim (Christopher Lloyd). There's only one hurdle standing in his way: Louie must be approved by the ultra-snooty Co-op Board, headed by the ever-so-particular Mrs. Bascombe (Gayle Hunnicutt). Danny DeVito's fellow comedian-director Penny Marshall makes an uproarious cameo appearance. ~ All Movie Guide

Tony (Tony Danza) is apprehensive about his upcoming reunion with his father Angie (Donnelly Rhodes), a merchant seaman who was largely absent while his son was growing up; however, the meeting goes off quite well. In fact, Angie has magnanimously arranged for Tony to take a job aboard his ship, which is bound for Singapore. While Tony certainly could use a scenery change, is he prepared to forsake his friends and his lifestyle for the "call of the sea?" Cult-film favorite Dick Miller appears as Fergie. ~ All Movie Guide

To pick up extra money, cab driver Tony (Tony Danza) hires himself out as a chauffeur for a wealthy woman named Christina (Rebecca Holden). Perhaps it goes without saying that Tony becomes enamored of his attractive new boss, and it is equally unnecessary to add that this romance is not going to be smooth sailing by any means, especially since Tony is too shy to let Christina know how he feels about her. ~ All Movie Guide

In this unforgettable episode, WKRP station manager Carlson (Gordon Jump) endeavors to prove once and for all that he's truly in charge of things by secretly planning a "brilliant" Thanksgiving promotion for his station. The plan involves flying a helicopter over the Pinedale Shopping Mall--and then releasing twenty live turkeys into the air. Oh, the humanity! Acknowledged by innumerable fans and pundits as one of the greatest TV sitcom episodes of all time, "Turkeys Away" is, incredibly enough, based on a true story. And at the risk of tipping off the ending, we herein quote Mr. Carlson's classic closing line: "As God is my witness, I thought turkeys could fly." ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide