Sarah Chalke Movies

ABC and Walt Disney Studios team to deliver this jovial holiday special detailing the Christmas adventures of Prep & Landing, an elite, high-tech unit of elves whose job it is to prepare homes for a visit from the big guy in red. Devoted elf Wayne (voice of Dave Foley) has been working Prep & Landing duty for 227 years, and he's ready for a promotion to Director of Naughty List Intelligence. But North Pole Christmas Eve Command Center Coordinator Magee (voice of Sarah Chalke) has other plans for Wayne. When Magee teams Wayne with enthusiastic rookie elf Lanny (voice of Derek Richardson), it becomes obvious that this Christmas is going to be anything but typical. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide

By this time a key element of NBC's Thursday-night sitcom lineup, Scrubs launches its sixth season as protagonist/narrator J.D. Dorian (Zach Braff), an attending physician at Sacred Heart Hospital, learns to his astonishment that his urologist girlfriend Dr. Kim Briggs (Elizabeth Banks) is pregnant. Also in "a family way" this season is nurse Carla Espinosa (Judy Reyes), impregnated by Dr. Christopher Turk (Donald Faison), and Jordan Sullivan (Christa Miller), ex-wife of Sacred Heart's long-suffering chief of surgery Perry Cox (John C. McGinley). In fact, virtually the only principal female character who isn't pregnant is the hapless Dr. Elliot Reid (Sarah Chalke), who's miserable about her non-preggie status. This year's plot developments include Elliot's desire to go into private practice, whereupon she is mercilessly needled by Dr. Cox, who at one juncture begins acting exactly like the antihero of the TV medical drama House; a curious malady which causes J.D. to black out at inconvenient times; the unfortunately-not-permanent vacation of J.D.'s nemesis The Janitor (Neil Flynn); the sudden departure of Sacred Heart's resident gossip Nurse Laverne Roberts (Aloma Wright); and a touching story arc involving an Iraq war veteran (Michael Weston). Other choice moments include an impromptu musical comedy inspired by a patient (played by Broadway actress Stephanie D'Abruzzo); the change-of-pace episodes His Story IV, narrated by Dr. Bob Kelso (Ken Jenkins), and "Their Story," with the narration chores shared by Sacred Heart's lawyer Ted (Sam Lloyd), sex-obsessed doctor Todd (Robert Maschio), and Jordan Sullivan; and the guest appearance of Keri Russell as Elliot's freewheeling sorority sister. In the events leading up to the season finale, Elliot becomes engaged to mild-mannered resident Keith Dudemeister (Travis Schuldt), causing J.D. to have second thoughts about breaking up with Elliot -- even as he prepares to move in with Kim. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

A single and freewheeling travel writer finds that adapting to the nine-to-five lifestyle isn't as easy as it looks when her ailing father hires her to take control of his successful bridal magazine in this marriage-minded comedy starring Heather Graham, David Sutcliffe, Sandra Oh, and Taye Diggs. Upon returning to her hometown to once again be a bridesmaid in yet another wedding, jet-lagged, gin-soaked travel writer Pippa McGee (raham) soon learns that her tyrannical publishing magnate father has been hospitalized after suffering a serious heart attack. As Pippa rushes to his bedside and the ailing mogul asks her to take editorial control of one of his most popular magazines, her excitement soon turns sour upon learning that the magazine in question is not a political or travel magazine, but the one and only Wedding Bells monthly. Determined to succeed despite the constant reminders of just how single she truly is, Pippa is horrified to learn that the man her father has chosen as her publishing mentor is the same man that she drunkenly came on to at her close friend's recent wedding. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide

Season three of Scrubs is distinguished by the spectacular fashion makeover undertaken by sexy Dr. Elliott Reid (Sarah Chalke), who, after concluding that she has had nothing but bad luck since signing on at Sacred Heart Hospital, figures she has nothing to lose by changing her appearance. Meanwhile, J.D.'s chronic jealousy of his fellow physicians figures into a story arc featuring Scott Foley as Elliott's old flame Sean Kelly (whom she dated briefly in season one). Also, Turk and nurse Carla's (Judy Reyes) wedding planning makes it difficult for them to work together; bombastic Dr. Cox (John C. McGinley) is willing to sell his soul to be residency director; J.D. begins a relationship with Danni (Tara Reid), the sister of his former fling (and Dr. Cox's former wife) Jordan Sullivan (Christa Miller); and Jordan's brother Ben Sullivan (Brendan Fraser), introduced during season one, makes a brief return to the series. Season-three guest stars include Spin City veterans Michael J. Fox, Barry Bostwick, Brady Bunch alumnus Maureen McCormick, and Dayna Devon, co-host of the TV magazine show Extra, whose one-line bit was later expanded into a George Plimpton-like "special feature" on Devon's own series. Sadly, John Ritter passed away just before making his third appearance as J.D.'s father. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

What would life amongst the Muppets have been without their unofficial leader Kermit the Frog? That's the question posed by this made-for-TV confection, which not only spoofs the Yuletide classic It's a Wonderful Life, but also takes satirical aim at such pop cultural phenomena as Moulin Rouge and Fear Factor. The plot is set in motion when typically evil banker Rachel Bitterman (Joan Cusack) forecloses on the Muppets' famous variety theater, with the intention of building a gaudy nightclub. But Bitterman's machinations take a back seat when apprentice guardian angel, Daniel (David Arquette), shows Kermit (voiced by Steve Whitmire) what conditions would have been had Kermit never existed. Without going into full detail, suffice to say that a Kermit-less world would have found Miss Piggy (voiced by Frank Oz) running a fraudulent psychic hot line, Fozzie Bear as a homeless derelict, and Sam the Eagle as a caged dancer at a rave. Decked out with cameo appearances by everyone from Whoopi Goldberg to the cast of the TV series Scrubs, It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie debuted over NBC on November 29, 2002. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Season nine of Roseanne begins with the Conners winning one hundred million dollars in the lottery, and the rest of the season maintains the same sort of unbelievability. A prince falls for Jackie, the Conners party with rich people, and Roseanne battles terrorists just in the first few episodes. Dan almost has an affair in California and Roseanne almost has an affair with her old boss' son (James Brolin). D.J. grows up and gets a girlfriend (Heather Matarazzo), and Bev comes out of the closet and gets a girlfriend, Joyce (Ruta Lee). Finally, Dan's mentally unstable mother, Audrey (Debbie Reynolds), pays a strange visit, and Darlene's baby is born premature. The admittedly bizarre series of events in season nine are dealt with in the conclusion episode, "Into That Good Night," where Roseanne delivers a monologue. Apparently, Dan was supposed to die during his heart attack at the end of season eight, and season nine was all in the imagination of the character of Roseanne. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide

This fact-based TV movie stars John Ritter as Ed Chandler, whose life is torn asunder when his daughter Missy (Anna Chlumsky) is diagnosed with cancer. The nature of Missy's illness obliges Ed to spend many hours away from his job as a car salesman to commiserate with her daughter's doctors at the hospital. Then one day, Ed shows up at work to be coldly informed that he has been fired--and there is no one to whom he can go to plead his case. The plight of the Chandler family ultimately leads to the creation of the Federal Family and Medical Leave Act, which allows persons up to six weeks' leave from their jobs when their family members are suffering from serious illnesses. Telecast by CBS on January 21, 1997, Child's Wish (cable title: Fighting for Justice made headlines when it first aired because of the appearance of President Bill Clinton in the final scene--the first time that a sitting President ever starred as "himself" in a dramatic film (as well as the first such scene to be lensed on location in the Oval Office!) ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

After she is sexually harassed and molested by two football players, a courageous high-school cheerleader ignores the advice of her peers and takes a stand against them in court. As a result, she and her family become pariahs in their previously friendly, football-crazed town. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

Season seven opens with Roseanne announcing her pregnancy, which later becomes medically complicated. Darlene and David break up and Roseanne tells Darlene she can't go back to school. Meanwhile, David still lives in the Conner family house, causing increasing tensions between him and Mark, which leads to an even bigger fight between Darlene and Becky. Eventually, Mark and Becky move out of the house and into a trailer. Darlene gets a new boyfriend (Danny Masterson), and David shows an interest in a couple of girls (Lisa Rieffel, Traci Lords). However, they get back together toward the end of the season when Darlene reluctantly confesses her true feelings to him on the front porch. This season contains two really memorable episodes: "All About Rosey" is the hour-long clip show featuring classic sitcom moms and the season finale, "Sherwood Schwartz," is a hilarious tribute to the legendary television writer/producer and his magical creation Gilligan's Island. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide

In this outing a city boy learns the meaning of manhood after he struggles to protect the ancient and beautiful Limberlost forest from those who would destroy it. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

Strange happenings occur when California teenager Sarah (Sarah Chalke) and her mother Rosemary (Markie Post) relocate to the small New England town of Pinecrest. It seems that Sarah shares the same name with a notorious witch who'd been burned at the stake three centuries earlier. Before her death, the "original" Sarah had vowed to get even with all the descendants of the people who persecuted her. A group of snotty high schoolers who've formed The Descendants' Club decide to give the hapless Sarah a very, very hard time -- but the fun is over when, while posing as a fortuneteller at a Halloween party, Sarah discovers that she possesses genuine psychic powers, and foresees a series of disasters that foment a frenzy of mass hysteria in the tiny community. Also tossed into this witches' brew is a mentally challenged serial killer, decked out in a Mike Myers-style mask. Adapted (and heavily laundered) from Lois Duncan's novel Gallows Hill, the made-for-TV I've Been Waiting for You debuted over NBC on March 22, 1998. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide