Cynthia Steele Movies

Linda Marsh (Mary McDonnell) may have been hoping for a surprise on her 16th wedding anniversary, but she certainly doesn't welcome the news that her school-principal husband George (William Russ) has been carrying on an affair with the teacher of the Marshes' daughter! The breakup of Linda and George's marriage is quite a shock for the small town in which they live--almost as shocking as Linda's subsequent actions as she grimly embarks on "a search for a new life." As part of that search, Linda has enlisted her kids in her campaign to land a "replacement" head of the household. Wavering erratically between broad comedy and sentimental slush, the made-for-TV Replacing Dad was based on a novel by Shelley Frasier Mickle, and first aired March 14, 1999 on CBS. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

This made for cable movie premiered over the Lifetime network on August 21, 1996, barely one year after the court case which inspired it. Though they have adopted a son, infertile couple John and Debbie Challender (Randle Mell, Marilu Henner) still feel unfulfilled. Desperate to have a child of her own, Debbie submits to experimental fertility treatments conducted by the brilliant and arrogant Dr. Ash (Castullo Guerra), the self-proclaimed miracle man of Irving University. The treatment, involving "hyperstimulated" ovaries, nearly kills Debbie, but it all seems worth it when she gives birth to a healthy son. But this is not the end of the story by a long shot: As Debbie discovers to her outrage that her own eggs have been implanted in other women without her permission, Marilyn Killane (Linda Lavin), office manager for Dr. Ash, unearths evidence that the doctor's staff has been regularly mishandling embryos--and that several of his nurses aren't even certified. Ultimately, Dr. Ash ends up in court, facing charges that, in so many words, he has been illegally "Playing God" with unwary women for the sole purpose of elevating his own reputation. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

In the conclusion of a two-part story, Al (Ed O'Neill holds firm to his policy of banning nursing moms from Gary's Shoe Store. In order to discourage all female patronage, Al stocks the store with manly-man shoes and other icons of machismo. But his scheme is foiled when the long-unseen "Gary" makes a very surprising appearance. Without giving any more of the plot away, it can be noted that this evening's guest star is actress Janet Carroll. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

A sex therapist is forced to turn detective to keep herself out of prison in this steamy thriller. Journalist Shoshona Reed (Elizabeth Sandifer) has a knack for digging up incriminating information -- enough so that she's begun blackmailing a number of people and threatening to run incriminating stories about them if they don't pay up. Shoshona is a client of sex therapist Rebecca Mathis (Shannon Tweed), and when Shoshona is killed, Rebecca becomes a suspect in the murder investigation. To save her own skin, Rebecca begins investigating Shoshona's death, and she discovers that there are a number of people who might have wanted her dead, including Darrell Martine (Chad McQueen), a disturbed ex-convict, and Tom Mueller (Craig Stepp), a businessman with a secret. Indecent Behavior III followed this picture a year later. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

After the sudden death of the network's Sunday night anchorman, both Murphy (Candice Bergen) and Jim (Charles Kimbrought) vie to fill in for the unfortunate man until a permanent replacement is chosen. The rivalry between the two coworkers spills over into their weekly "FYI" duties, resulting in a "Battle of the Divas" than no opera house could ever boast! While this may be funny to the viewer, it's anything but amusing to network executive Kinsella (Alan Oppenheimer), who may be forced to take drastic action. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Though Harry (Harry Anderson) is in love with Margaret Turner, he balks at the notion of moving in with her. Meanwhile, Bull (Richard Moll) arranges for matchmaker Wanda Finn (Cathy McAuley in her first series appearance) to find him a wife--in the classified ads--while Christine (Markie Post) mopes around the courtroom in the wake of her divorce. With all this emotional intrigue, is it any surprise that famed psychologist Dr. Joyce Brothers makes a guest appearance? This episode was originally scheduled for January 30, 1990. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Night Court begins its third season as Judge Harry T. Stone (Harry Anderson) and his staff resign themselves to the death of caustic, chain-smoking courtroom matron Selma Hacker (actress Selma Diamond had passed away a few months after shooting wrapped on Season Two). Taking things hardest is bailiff Bull (Richard Moll), who goes out on a drunken bender--only to be hauled back into court with a batch of bibulous circus performers. This episode marks the first appearance of Florence Halop as Selma's equally cranky replacement Florence Kleiner; as a bonus, Markie Post joins the cast in the previously recurring role of public defender Christine Sullivan, replacing Ellen Foley as Billie Young. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi