Bebe Drake-Massey Movies
- 1993
Having spent everything he has (and then some) to open his own club, Ron (Darryl M. Bell) panics when the band he has booked walks out on him. Fortunately, Ron's partner Mr. Gaines (Lou Myers) has four country-bumpkin grandnieces whom he believes are pretty fair singers. Indeed they are: the rustic foursome is portrayed by the popular girl group En Vogue, who perform their hit song "Free Your Mind". This was the final Different World episode to air in the series' traditional Thursday-night timeslot. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1993
To afford a second honeymoon at a remote mountain cabin, Dwayne (Kadeem Hardison) and Whitley (Jasmine Guy) agree to share the place with Mr. and Mrs. Gaines (Lou Myers, Bebe Drake-Massey). This romantic getaway proves to be anything but thanks to a rampaging skunk and the less-than-stellar managerial skills of the Gaines' son Darnell (T.K. Carter) who has been left behind to run The Pit. This is one of several "leftover" episodes telecast after the official series finale of A Different World. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1993
In the conclusion of a two-part story, Dwayne (Kadeem Hardison) lands a lucrative job with the Kineshawa company--one that will force him and Whitley (Jasmine Guy) to move to Japan. En route to her new home, Whitley delivers her baby, somewhat to the surprise of her friends, who hadn't even been informed that she was pregnant. Back at Hillman, Ron (Darryl M. Bell) prepares to sue Dwayne for copyright infringement, thereby alienating Freddie (Cree Summer); and Kim (Charnele Brown) and Spencer (Michael Ralph) announce their engagement. Though intended as the series finale for A Different World, this episode was ultimately followed by seven "leftover" episodes, two of which did not air until the series left NBC and entered syndication. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1992
In the conclusion of A Different World's two-part Season Five finale, Whitley (Jasmine Guy)is just about to wed Byron Douglas III (Joe Morton) when she realizes that she is still in love with Dwayne (Kadeem Hardison). Whitley's social-climbing mom Marion (Diahann Carroll) works overtime to convince her daughter to go through with the ceremony whether she wants to or not. Wackiness ensues (as wackiness often does), and the episode comes to a surprising and slightly surreal conclusion. "Saving the Best for Last" marks the final series appearance of Dawnn Lewis as Jaleesa Taylor. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1991
Dr. Taylor (Glynn Turman) invites Dwayne (Kadeem Hardison) to join himself and Jaleesa (Dawnn Lewis) for Christmas dinner. Unbeknownst to both men, Jalessa has also invited Dwayne's former fiancee Whitley (Jasmine Guy). Adding to the confusion, Whitley's psychiatrist Dr. Langhorne (played by episode director Debbie Allen), who is currently having domestic difficulties of her own, is likewise coming to dinner at the Taylors' . With this episode, Bebe Drake-Massey returns to the role of Velma Gaines. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1989
McCall (Stepfanie Kramer) suspects foul play when her new friend, a pregnant ER nurse, dies in a car crash. The official report indicates that the woman had been drinking, but McCall refuses to accept this: even though the nurse had a history of alcoholism, she would never have mixed liquor with her morning-sickness medicine. Investigating on McCall's behalf, Hunter (Fred Dryer) discovers that the real villain of the piece is one of the victim's coworkers--who is inextricably linked with that most ubiquitous of 1980s TV heavies, an evil land developer. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1989
In her efforts to maintain good grades while keeping up her work schedule, Kim (Charnele Brown) worries herself into a frazzle. Even worse, she begins to stay awake around the clock--with near-disastrous results. Meanwhile, Velma Gaines (BeBe Drake-Massey) has a nasty argument with hubby Vernon (Lou Myers), whereupon Vernon moves in with Col. Taylor (Glynn Turman) (and we thought that Jack Klugmanand Tony Randall were an "Odd Couple"). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Made for television, Moving Target bears a few faint echoes of the 1986 theatrical feature Out of Bounds. Jason Bateman plays a teenaged musician returning home from summer camp. He is hardly greeted with open arms; as a matter of fact, his family has moved out in his absence. Compounding this traumatic turn of events, Jason becomes the quarry of a syndicate hit man (Jack Wagner)--and of the US Justice Department. It dawns on the boy that he'd better locate his family before anyone else does. Jason Bateman's leading lady in Moving Target is Chynna Phillips, daughter of musicians John and Michelle Phillips, and later the star of the TV biopic Roxanne: The Prize Pulitzer. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
The election of Sandra Day O'Connor to the Supreme Court rendered the premise of First Monday in October anachronistic before the picture was even released; ignoring this, however, the film is supremely entertaining (no pun intended). Jill Clayburgh stars as Ruth Loomis, the first lady justice ever appointed to the Court. She's a conservative, while her principal foe on the bench, Dan Snow (Walter Matthau), is an old-line liberal. The film glides along on a predictable Tracy-Hepburn course until Snow comes to Loomis' defense when her late industrialist husband is accused of improprieties which might compromise Loomis' effectiveness. First Monday in October was adapted by Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee from their own Broadway play, which starred Henry Fonda. Actress Martha Scott co-produced the film, while several other Hollywood veterans, including Herb Vigran and Ann Doran, dot the supporting case. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Walter Matthau, Jill Clayburgh, (more)
