Larry Shaw Movies
- 2005
Using her unwanted pregnancy as a bargaining chip, Gabrielle (Eva Longoria) sets up several conditions before agreeing to help Carlos (Ricardo Antonio Chavira) reduce his prison time -- but it looks like all bets are off when Carlos finally learns about Gabby's affair with John (Jesse Metcalfe). Armed with all the facts pertaining to his mother's suicide -- not to mention a deadly weapon -- a vengeful Zach (Cody Kasch) takes Susan (Teri Hatcher) hostage. Lynette's (Felicity Huffman) hubby, Tom (Doug Savant), intends to extract full retribution for her getting him fired. Bree (Marcia Cross) still hasn't figured out why Rex's (Steven Culp) health has taken a turn for the worse (the "reason" does not appear in this episode). And in anticipation of things to come, new neighbor Betty Applewhite (Alfre Woodard) already shows signs of having dark secrets of her own when she shuns a friendly welcoming visit from Edie Britt (Nicollette Sheridan). This ironically titled cliffhanger was the final episode of Desperate Housewives' first season. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2005
Edie (Nicollette Sheridan) is a far from disinterested witness when Bree (Marcia Cross) goes out to lunch with the charming but slightly sinister George Williams (Roger Bart). Meanwhile, Bree's husband, Rex (Steven Culp), continues to suffer from ill health (can there be a connection somewhere?). And in other developments, Susan (Teri Hatcher) forgives Mike (James Denton) for his fatal "indiscretion"; Felicia (Felicity Huffman) takes a hand in Zach's (Cody Kasch) problems; and Gabrielle (Eva Longoria) finds out that birth control is not 100 percent effective -- especially when it's been tampered with. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2005
Lesley Ann Warren makes her first appearance as Sophie Bremmer, who descends upon her daughter, Susan (Teri Hatcher), after calling it quits with her current boyfriend, Morty (Bob Newhart). Elsewhere, Bree (Marcia Cross) enrages Lynette (Felicity Huffman) when she disciplines Lynette's incorrigible son Porter. Andrew (Shawn Pyfrom) has another shocking surprise for his parents. And Carlos (Ricardo Antonio Chavira) fiddles with his prenuptial contract while wife Gabrielle (Eva Longoria) burns. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2005
Susan (Teri Hatcher) is more than a little put out when her beau, Mike (James Denton), is arrested for the murder of Mrs. Huber. Gabrielle (Eva Longoria) has a new gardener named Justin (Ryan Carnes) who knows all about her affair with previous gardener John (Jesse Metcalfe) -- and he intends to profit by his knowledge. Bree (Marcia Cross) suspects the worst when she finds a condom, but the truth is even worse than she first thought. Lynette (Felicity Huffman) tries to sabotage her husband when he is offered a job that will consume all his time. And the troublesome Andrew Van De Kamp (Shawn Pyfrom) has a big, big surprise for everyone concerned. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2004
A dowdy student journalist from Maine moves to Manhattan to find work, romance, and the perfect makeover in this made-for-cable movie. Celeste Blodgett (Majandra Delfino) arrives in New York ready to take on the world. But her hopes deflate when she learns that her supposedly fabulous new apartment is only a step up from a crack den -- and that her job at a prestigious newspaper is as a fact checker, not a reporter. Enter cousin Dana (Nicholas Brendon), who's shed both the closet and his clunky last name for a fabulous existence in the gay hot spot of Chelsea. Aided by a phalanx of similarly stylish friends (including one played by Deborah Gibson), Dana transforms Celeste from a frizzy-haired, bespectacled mouse to a glamorous vixen. Soon Celeste finds herself hanging out with a hunky, sexually ambiguous neighbor (Ethan Embry) and pursuing a romance with an ethically questionable editor (Michael Boisvert). Celeste in the City premiered Sunday, March 14, 2004. Buffy the Vampire Slayer star Brendon and Roswell actress Delfino join Charisma Carpenter (Buffy and Angel) and Holly Marie Combs (Charmed) in the ranks of WB network alumni who have found work on the ABC Family channel. ~ Brian J. Dillard, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Majandra Delfino, Nicholas Brendon, (more)
- 2004
One of ABC's most popular series of the 2004-2005 season, the weekly, hour-long Desperate Housewives took place on Wisteria Lane in an upscale suburban neighborhood. That Wisteria Lane was not as quiet and respectable as it appeared at first glance was brought home forcibly in the opening episode, when housewife Mary Alice Young (Brenda Strong) committed suicide right in the middle of her comfortable living room. From her vantage point in the great beyond, Mary Alice served as the series' wry, all-knowing narrator, filling the viewer on the various sordid details in the lives of her four best friends. There was divorcée Susan Mayer (Teri Hatcher), ever-looking for love in all the wrong places and agonizing over the behavior of her daughter, Julie (Andrea Bowen). There was Lynette Scavo (Felicity Huffman), who every day of her life kicked herself over her decision to give up her business career to care for her highly competitive husband, Tom (Doug Savant), and her irritating children. There was Bree Van De Kamp (Marcia Cross), the all-too-perfect, control-freak homemaker who eventually drove her husband, Rex (Steven Culp), to divorce court and her son, Andrew (Shawn Pyfrom), into malevolent misanthropy. And there was ex-model Gabrielle Solis (Eva Longoria), who despite having married into money and luxury couldn't stop herself from fooling around with teenaged gardener John (Jesse Metcalfe). Though her controlling husband, Carlos (Ricardo Antonio Chavira), was not privy to her infidelity, he had his suspicions that she was less than faithful. Prone to extreme displays of machismo, he took many measures to maintain the marriage. Weaving in and out of the proceedings was the oft-divorced Edie Britt (Nicollette Sheridan), with whom Susan competed over the affections of supposedly widowed plumber Mike Delfino (James Denton). The sexual intrigues of Wisteria Lane were augmented (during the first season at least) by the mysterious activities of Mary Alice's husband, Paul (Mark Moses) -- including digging up the backyard swimming pool in the dead of night -- and the strange emotional outbursts of their tormented, unstable son, Zach (Cody Kasch). Created by Marc Cherry, Desperate Housewives debuted October 3, 2004. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2004
The predatory Edie (Nicollette Sheridan) horns in upon the romantic dinner date between Susan (Teri Hatcher) and Mike (James Denton). Gabrielle (Eva Longoria) wonders if her wealthy husband, Carlos (Ricardo Antonio Chavira), knows about her indiscretion with her 17-year-old gardener, John (Jesse Metcalfe). Lynette (Felicity Huffman), who would have no trouble handling a boardroom, continues to struggle with riding herd on her kids. Bree (Marcia Cross) makes more trouble than intended when coercing Rex (Steven Culp) into therapy. Mrs. Huber (Christine Estabrook) obviously knows something about Susan's role in the burning of Edie's house. And the mysterious Paul Young (Mark Moses), husband of the late Mary Alice (Brenda Strong), just simply can't keep a bad secret down. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2004
Burdened with guilt over her past behavior, Gabrielle (Eva Longoria) throws herself into a "mission" -- to stage a fashion show featuring her female friends on Wisteria Lane. Meanwhile, Susan (Teri Hatcher) is caught in the middle when she finds out about Gabrielle and John (Jesse Metcalfe) -- while John's mom, Helen (Kathryn Harrold), thinks her son is fooling around with Susan. Bree (Marcia Cross) uses her own judgment in dealing with the repulsive behavior of her son, Andrew (Shawn Pyfrom). And Lynette (Felicity Huffman) suffers unexpected consequences when she "steals" a nanny for her kids. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2004
Having already made trouble for Susan (Teri Hatcher), Mrs. Huber (Christine Estabrook) now turns her sights on Bree (Marcia Cross) -- who has plenty of marital headaches already. As for Susan, she is kept busy spying on Mike (James Denton) during his tête-à-tête with the toothsome Kendra (Heather Stephens). Elsewhere, Gabrielle (Eva Longoria) finds herself vying with Bree's daughter (Joy Lauren) for the attentions of hunky gardener John (Jesse Metcalfe). Bree's shiftless son, Andrew (Shawn Pyfrom), causes an accident that puts Gabrielle's mother-in-law (Lupe Ontiveros) in the hospital. And Lynette (Felicity Huffman) is secretly partaking of the medication prescribed for her twins. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Two of the Disney Channel's brightest young sitcom stars, Hilary Duff (Lizzie Maguire) and Christy Romano (Even Stevens), team up for laughs and tears in the made-for-cable Cadet Kelly. The life of cool, artistically inclined 14-year-old Kelly Collins (Duff) is turned upside down when she is uprooted from Manhattan and whisked off to the campus of George Washington Military School in upstate New York. The move was instigated by Sir (Gary Cole), a retired general and the new husband of Kelly's mother. Hoping to impress her stepfather, Kelly enlists in the school, where her freewheeling eccentricities immediately run afoul of her hard-hearted, 17-year-old squad leader, Jennifer Stone (Romano). Though Kelly does her best, the pressure brought to bear upon her by military protocol is enough to have her contemplating desertion -- and even her growing fondness for upper classman, Brad (Shawn Ashmore), may not be enough to bring her back. Originally broadcast by the Disney Channel on March 8, 2002, Cadet Kelly made its ABC network debut on July 14, 2002, as an episode of the weekend "Wonderful World of Disney" anthology. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Hilary Duff, Christy Romano, (more)
In response to the public's insatiable fascination with the Kennedy family, the NBC network brought forth this two-part miniseries, based on a book by Randy Taraborelli. Described by the author as "Knot's Landing goes to Capitol Hill," Jackie, Ethel, Joan: The Women of Camelot covers a time span of 25 years, from the marriage of John F. Kennedy and Jacqueline Bouvier to the 1980 presidential bid of JFK's brother Teddy. To many observers, the film seemed to consist primarily of TV news bulletins announcing various and sundry Kennedy tragedies, punctuated by long, long discussions between the wives of JFK, Bobby, and Teddy regarding their husbands' various infidelities. Some of the intrigues are based on fact, notably the uneasy relationship between Jackie and Bobby's wife Ethel, and the drinking problems shared by Teddy and his wife Joan. Other segments, however, fall back on rumor and hearsay, notably the scenes involving Marilyn Monroe. At the very least, the three actresses chosen to play the title roles -- Jill Hennessy (Jackie), Lauren Holly (Ethel), and Leslie Stefanson -- looked, sounded, and behaved exactly like their real-life counterparts. Jackie, Ethel, Joan: The Women of Camelot originally aired on March 4 and March 5, 2001. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jill Hennessy, Lauren Holly, (more)
- 2001
Dreamy Danny Kessler (Byron Fox) invites the adoring Lizzie to his upcoming pool party. Alas, Danny's bash falls on the same day (May 20th, to be exact) as the 80th birthday of Lizzie's grandma. Of course, Lizzie's mom, Jo (Hallie Todd), sternly demands that her daughter bypass the pool party for grandma's sake -- at least, until Jo herself is caught trying to wriggle out of one commitment in favor of another. Also: troublesome Kate (Ashlie Brillault) threatens to drive a wedge between Lizzie and her pal Miranda (Lalaine). This was the pilot episode of Lizzie McGuire -- though not the first episode to be telecast. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Traumatized by the death of her sister, who smashed through a loose railing and plummetted down a steep cliff, Carla Engel (Megan Ward) has developed a debilitating fear of heights. On the advice of a therapist, Carla joins a support group consisting of others suffering from acrophobia. Then, one by one, the members of the group are killed--each of them falling to his or her death. A bizarre coincidence? Or is someone deliberately, and literally, trying to literally push Carla completely over the edge? With the name Wes Craven in the film's title, that question virtually answers itself. Don't Look Down first aired October 29, 1998, on ABC. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1997
The double trauma of seeing his wife Vivian (Gail O'Grady) walk out on him and having his government funding eliminated causes nuclear scientist Rogers Henry (John Glover) to go off the deep end. But Vivian doesn't know about her husband's insanity when she agrees to deliver what she thinks is his model of a thermonuclear device called Medusa to the Pentagon. Nor do charter pilot Scott Nash (Vincent Spano) and researched Linda McCoy (Lori Laughlin) suspect anything amiss when Vivian boards Scott's plane en route to Washington. Only when the plane is aloft is it discovered that the "model" is a genuine bomb that has armed itself and will explode should it be taken any more than fifteen feet away from Vivian, whose pacemaker is the bomb's "control." Even worse: There's a hurricane threatening Washington, and the plane is unable to land--and someone on board requires emergency heart surgery! Based on the best selling novel by John J. Nance (who appears in a cameo role), the two-part TV movie Medusa's Child first aired November 16 and 20, 1997, on ABC. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1997
Ruthless social climber Celeste Cooper (Joanna Kerns) is determined to maneuver her grown daughter Laurel (Christine Elise) into a wealthy and prestigious marriage. But Laurel wants no part of her mom's machinations and weds the likeable but "socially undesirable" Ted Rogers (Grant Show). After doing everything in her power to break up the marriage, the increasingly unhinged Celeste decides to take Ted out of the picture permanently--by hiring a hit man. Purportedly based on an actual event, the made-for-TV Mother Knows Best was first seen over the ABC network on April 13, 1997. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
This made-for-TV shocker was inspired by a true story which occurred in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Housewife Jessica Rayner (Joanne Kerns) becomes the latest in a long line of victims when she is attacked in her own home by a vicious serial rapist and murderer who preys on blondes. The difference is that Jessica manages to survive the attack--the first victim to do so. Despite Jessica's testimony and a trail of clues, the police seem incapable of tracking down her assailant, forcing Jessica's husband Dan (Anthony John Denison) to militantly guard his wife round the clock. But it is ultimately Jessica herself who must devise the trap that will bring her attacker to justice. No One Could Protect Her debuted February 11, 1996 on ABC. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Joanna Kerns, Anthony John Denison, (more)
To assuage the pain endured by his wife Pattie (Sharon Lawrence) after she bears a stillborn child, truck driver Charles Johnson (Beau Bridges) pools his savings and moves himself and Pattie into a new house in an attractive neighborhood. Before long, however, strange and inexplicable things begin occurring in the house--and then there's the matter of those eeries nocturnal noises. Pattie is convinced that the joint is haunted, but Charles concludes that she is merely suffering a nervous breakdown. Made for television, The Uninvited was purportedly inspired by actual events which occurred in Indiana. But once the plot's BIG SECRET is revealed (that ugly tree on the Johnsons' property didn't become gnarled all by herself) we are deeply into Poltergeist territory, replete with a "stacking" scene (with eggs rather than furniture) and an eccentric old psychic (Shirley Knight). Originally telecast by CBS on October 29, 1996, The Uninvited has since been seen on cable TV under the less ambiguous title Victim of the Haunt. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1996
A father and his teenaged daughter get the shocks of their lives the night he surreptitiously rings for a high-class hooker and she shows up for the appointment. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kristin Davis, Blair Brown, (more)
- 1995
A true-life story of sexual harassment in the workplace is told in this thought-provoking made-for-television movie. Gail O'Grady stars as Lt. Paula Coughlin, the Navy officer who lodged sexual harassment complaints after the infamous 1991 Las Vegas Tailhook convention. Coughlin took on the military and a scandal erupted as the story became public. ~ Bernadette McCallion, All Movie Guide
- 1993
Scotland Yard detective Phoebe Greene (Amanda Pays) is assigned to guard a prominent member of the British aristocracy after two of his peers are killed in highly suspicious fires. FBI agents Mulder and Scully become involved in the case when Phoebe, an old sweetheart of Mulder's from his Oxford days, solicits his aid. The two agents begin tracking a most unusual arsonist, while Scully does a little "burning" of her own as she jealously watches Mulder and Phoebe rekindle their relationship. Written by X-Files creator Chris Carter, "Fire" first aired December 17, 1993. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1993
Insisting upon investigating the crash of a UFO in rural Wisconsin, Mulder faces expulsion from the FBI, which is currently conducting its own investigation under the cover of cleaning up a chemical spill. Ultimately, Mulder is arrested and placed in Scully's custody. Against her better judgment, Scully allows Mulder to continue his investigation -- with the usual startling results. Written by Howard Gordon and Alex Gansa, "Fallen Angel" was first broadcast November 19, 1993. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
While heading towards a makeshift medical outpost deep into the Mexican jungle, one of three planes crashes, stranding a group of doctors and student nurses, some of whom are critically injured. This taut adventure follows the attempts of the others to locate the downed plane and save the lives of the survivors. Once the search party finds the injured medics, their next challenge is to get them to a proper medical facility. One in particular could die any moment. The searchers could have treated them on the spot had not local natives appeared and looted the downed plane of its drugs. A nearby landing strip promises a chance to get the injured passengers to safety, but unfortunately that would precipitate a night flight and recent anti-drug operations laws strictly prohibit flying after dark. One brave doctor volunteers to traverse the jungle to a nearby town in hopes of convincing authorities to make an exception. Meanwhile the rest of the entourage must somehow make it safely to the airstrip by daylight. Nurses On the Line: The Crash of Flight 7 features the acting talents of Robert Loggia,, Lindsey Wagner and Jennifer Lopez, ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lindsay Wagner, Robert Loggia, (more)
- 1991
CBS's scheduled resolution of a Murphy Brown cliffhanger (is she pregnant or not?) cut a vital portion of the audience for Living A Lie upon its initial September 1991 telecast. Those who did tune into this TV movie were in for a well-intentioned if preachy anti-prejudice piece. The scene is a rural Southwestern community, where Jill Eikenberry has been happily married to Peter Coyote for years. An Hispanic family moves into the area, and is promptly subjected to violence. The principal suspect is Coyote--who is, as Eikenberry discovers for the first time, a fire-breathing bigot. As the body of evidence increases, she finds it difficult to stand by her husband, as the community expects her to. Ultimately her conscience wins out over misguided matrimonial loyalty. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1990
Donor is a variation on a familiar theme, played to the hilt by a topnotch cast. Doctor Melissa Gilbert-Brinkman is shocked when her close friend is strangled by an elderly patient. Before she has a chance to investigate, the killer himself dies in a mysterious accident. Probing further, Melissa deduces that the hospital administators are hiding something from her. She's right: there's a conspiracy in the making, and it's all traceable to a new organ-donor program. Pernell Roberts and Jack Scalia costar in Donor, which made its broadcast premiere December 9, 1990. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Melissa Gilbert, Jack Scalia, (more)
