Danny Dayton Movies

Just in case of emergency, Paul and Jamie Buchman (Paul Reiser, Helen Hunt) decide to line up a guardian for their unborn baby. Alas, no one seems to want the job -- not even the people whom Paul and Jamie don't want for the job. Meanwhile, 18-year-old Bobby Rubenfield (Seth Green) develops a hopeless crush on Jamie. Friends regular Lisa Kudrow makes a return appearance as Ursula Buffay, and the name of a long-forgotten first season regular is unexpectedly invoked ("Please don't call him!"). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Monica (Courteney Cox) and Rachel (Jennifer Aniston) inherit the worldly possessions of the late and very odd Mr. Heckles (who evidently died in mid-complaint). Meanwhile, Chandler (Matthew Perry) realizes that he had more in common with Heckles than he ever imagined -- or wanted to imagine. And a question of evolution causes friction between Ross (David Schwimmer) and Phoebe (Lisa Kudrow). This is the episode in which virtually everyone in the cast imitates the irritating Janice (Maggie Wheeler). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Cynical Philadelphia lawyer-turned-p.i. Jamey Sheridan aims his investigatory skills at an international smuggling ring. Sheridan wants to know who's supplying the weapons that are leaving the country, and who's supplying the drugs that are rolling in. The deeper he digs, the dirtier it gets; Sheridan unearths unholy alliances among idealistic freedom fighters, Central American drug lords, and corrupt American officials. Shannon's Deal was written by John Sayles, directed by Lewis (Jewel of the Nile) Teague, and scored by musical wizard Wynton Marsalis. Those concerned about Jamey Sheridan's wellbeing in this film should be advised that there was no way he'd turn up dead: Shannon's Deal was the pilot for an unsold TV series. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The latest client of the Blue Moon Detective Agency is Kathleen Kilpatrick (Alexandra Johnson), an Irish lass who claims to be a leprechaun. Kathleen hires David (Bruce Willis) and Maddie (Cybill Shepherd) to protect her pot of gold--and herself--from a sinister criminal. Although the detectives have their doubts about Kathleen's authenticity as a leprechaun, there is no doubt that a very dangerous individual is out to get her. This week's chase climax occurs in and around an airport luggage carousel, leaving our two protagonists positively giddy. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the conclusion of the series' tenth-season opener "That's Show Biz", the arrival of a USO troupe sends the 4077th into a tizzy. The entertainers are especially welcomed by Col. Potter (Harry Morgan), who remembers seeing lead dancer Brandy Doyle (Greg Verdon) strut her stuff during WW1. But a pall hangs over the festivities when it becomes apparent that Brandy is going to need emergency surgery. Originally telecast as a 60-minute "special", "That's Show Biz" has since been re-edited as two half hour episodes for syndication. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The irrepressible Pinky (Eugene Roche) plays another practical joke on Archie while attending an out-of-town VFW convention. Thus, when Archie awakens from a drunken stupor, he finds that he is sharing his motel bed with an attractive black woman named Marabel (Jonelle Allen), who insists that the two of them had engaged in an evening of unbridled passion. Both amused and touched by Archie's flustered efforts to apologize, Marabel reveals the joke, and agrees to help Archie get even with Pinky. Written by Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf, "Archie's Other Wife" first aired on November 5, 1978. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Richard Mckenzie guest stars as Archie's long-estranged brother, Alfred Bunker. After 29 years, Alfred pays a visit to Archie, hoping to patch up their differences before Alfred undergoes radical surgery. An already tense situation is made even more so by a mysterious letter from Alfred, which Archie is told not to open until his brother leaves. Written by Larry Rhine and Mel Tolkin, "Archie's Brother" originally aired on February 26, 1978. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Panic reigns in the Bunker household when an insurance-company physical reveals that Archie has a spot on his liver. Convinced that he is at death's door, Archie disconsolately retires to his bedroom to await the inevitable. The ubiquitous Phil Leeds appears as Mrs. Stanley. Written by Nate Monaster, "End in Sight" originally aired on October 1, 1978, holding its own in the ratings despite the formidable competition of the NBC miniseries Centennial. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Surprise, surprise! It is Archie Bunker, who, as head of his lodge's membership committee, demands that a minority-group member be allowed to join. Actually, Archie is covering his own behind: The lodge has been threatened with legal action from various civil-rights groups if it does not open its doors to either a Jew or an African American. Hoping to kill two birds with one stone (so to speak), Archie lobbies for the membership of a black Jewish man named Solomon Jackson (James McEachin). Written by Ben Starr and Charles Stewart, "Archie the Liberal" originally aired on March 5, 1977. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In this first episode of a two-part story, the pressures of the saloon business lead Archie to begin taking unprescribed pep pills. Inevitably, he develops a dangerous addiction to amphetamines. The script was written by Mel Tolkin and Larry Rhine in collaboration with medical consultant William C. Rader, M.D. The guest cast includes A. Martinez as Manuel and Arny Freeman as Watkins. Part one of "Archie's Bitter Pill" first aired on November 6, 1977. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Reversing the usual procedure, it is Mike and Gloria who are angry at Archie. The reason? Against their wishes, Archie entered their son, Joey, in a beautiful-baby contest. Criticized in some quarters as a banal episode, "The Baby Contest" at least served as a non-controversial safety valve in the overall saga of All in the Family. Written by series stalwarts Larry Rhine and Mel Tolkin, the episode originally aired on December 11, 1976. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

This 1955 film began life as two Runyon short stories, the most prominent of which was "The Idyll of Miss Sarah Brown." This material was fleshed out into a 2-act libretto by Abe Burrows and Jo Swerling, then set to music by Frank Loesser and directed by George S. Kaufman. Opening late in 1950, Guys and Dolls was one of Broadway's hottest tickets for several seasons. The plot involves a certain Broadway citizen by the name of Nathan Detroit (Frank Sinatra), who maintains the "Oldest Established Permanent Floating Crap Game in New York." Seeking a location for his latest high-stakes game, Nathan has an opportunity to rent out the Biltmore Garage, but he needs $1000 to do so. He decides to extract the money from high-rolling Sky Masterson (Marlon Brando), known for his willingness to bet on anything. Nathan wagers that Sky will not be able to talk the virginal Salvation Army lass Sarah Brown (Jean Simmons) into going on a date with him. While Sky goes to work on Sarah, Nathan endeavors to fend off his girlfriend Miss Adelaide (Vivian Blaine, repeating her Broadway role), who has developed a psychosomatic cold because of her frustrating 14-year engagement to the slippery Mr. Detroit. Thanks to some fast finagling, Sky is able to take Sarah on that date, flying to Havana for this purpose. By the time they've returned to New York, Sky and Sarah are in love, but their ardor cools off abruptly when Nathan, unable to secure the Biltmore garage, attempts to use Sarah's mission as the site of his crap game. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Barry Sullivan plays an eager young lawyer who is willing to sacrifice any and all scruples on the upward climb. He is put on retainer by a gangster, and soon is ankle-deep in an insurance racket. When he wants to pull out, Sullivan is framed for a gangland murder. No Questions Asked was in line with the harsher, less frothy fare produced by MGM during the Dore Schary regime. The screenplay was by former radio gagman Sidney Sheldon, who would later carve a literary niche for himself in the best-seller market of the 1970s. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide